Clemson Football: Playing Wofford is ‘weak,’ but Bama vs. Western Carolina is okay?
Many national analysts told the world that Clemson football playing teams like Wofford needs to stop, but that doesn’t seem to be the standard.
The Clemson football team dismantled FCS-opponent Wofford this past weekend, winning the game 59-14, and improving to 9-0 on the season.
The Tigers were able to build valuable depth, have young players get game experience and give Wofford a nice check that will help the Terrier athletic program. Despite the fact that every single FBS program around the nation plays an FCS team, Clemson football should be held to a higher standard according to many national analysts.
Because the ACC is down, it’s somehow Clemson’s responsibility to schedule quality non-conference opponents- even though scheduling for the 2019 season was done years in advance.
The Tigers are the only program in the nation to consistently schedule two SEC teams in their non-conference. Every single year, Clemson plays South Carolina and the Tigers have played the likes of Texas A&M, Auburn and Georgia in the past few years.
Somehow, though, that’s not good enough. Somehow, Clemson was supposed to know that in 2019 that Texas A&M would be no good. They should’ve scheduled Alabama, right? Oh wait, these fans and analysts forget that Alabama refuses to play anyone with a pulse in its non-conference.
The Crimson Tide’s 2019 non-conference schedule consists of a neutral-site game against Duke, New Mexico State, Southern Miss and FCS-opponent Western Carolina.
Alabama is propped up because it plays in the SEC- and because it is Alabama. The Crimson Tide remain ranked No. 2 in the nation despite not playing any tougher of a schedule than Clemson has all season. Alabama has two quality opponents- at most- this season in LSU and Auburn. That’s great and all, but it has nothing to do with scheduling.
To take a shot at Clemson’s non-conference scheduling is misinformed. Yes, the ACC is down. But what about back in 2015 when the ACC was one of the top conferences in the nation? The Tigers still played two quality FBS opponents in the non-conference (Notre Dame and South Carolina). Clemson football challenges itself in the non-conference more so than almost any other elite program in the nation.
The Tigers don’t just mail it in and schedule teams with no pulse. They actively pursue home-and-home series- not weak neutral-site games- against some of the top historical brands around the country. Over the next few years, Clemson will play Notre Dame, Georgia and LSU in the non-conference. The Tigers are looking to schedule a series with Florida, as well.
They won’t just play these teams one time, they will host them in Death Valley and make a subsequent trip on the road. That’s the epitome of scheduling games to challenge a program.
When the SEC was down last season- and yes, it was down- no one faulted Alabama for playing The Citadel. No one spoke a word about how the Crimson Tide “should’ve scheduled better in the non-conference.” Instead, we heard about how great Alabama was and how this Crimson Tide team was the “best we’ve ever seen.”
Next. Travis Etienne makes history, on pace for more. dark
You can’t have it both ways. Trying to hold Clemson to a higher standard while allowing Alabama to continue its absolutely atrocious scheduling is exactly what’s wrong with those in the media right now. You can’t continuously praise Alabama for being ‘dominant’ against subpar competition and then punish Clemson for playing subpar competition.
Oh, by the way, Wofford beat Western Carolina 59-7 earlier this season.