Clemson football: I’m ready for talking season to be done

One of my absolute “favorite” things of the year is about to take place.  Pre-season Polls.  The USA Today/Coaches Poll has already come out with a top 4 of familiar faces: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and Clemson football.  All four having won national championships in the playoff era.  The Pre-Season Associated Press poll is set to drop on Monday, August 15.

I truly wish there was a sarcasm font because I feel like this is my version of Dan Wolken’s annual column about the old Clemson social media hiatus.  So, in typical (of me) buried lede style, I hate the pre-season poll anything!

Talking season is a thing in most of the major sports around the country, but college football talking season seems to be the worst, by far.  I get it, columnists and pundits make their money by drumming up engagement, and if their focus is on college football they need to come up with something to talk about.  Social media has also ramped up the no-nothings ability to have an opinion and get a reaction.

That’s not to say that I know anything, and this column is strictly my opinion not meant to change anyone’s mind.  Hopefully, with some numbers included I can tell you why I do not like these polls.

Those that know me know that one of my biggest pet peeves is preseason strength of schedule.  ESPN has the Football Power Index and I have also seen a few other lists of strength of schedule.  Here’s my thing: no games have been played yet.  How do we know what teams are going to be?  Now, don’t get me wrong, we know that Alabama still has Heisman Trophy Winner Bryce Young and weapons all over the field.  Ohio State, (spoiler alert and probably shunned by most of the readers here) my pick to win the national championship this year has an offense that (on paper) looks unstoppable.  The point being, we have an IDEA of what teams SHOULD look like in perfect scenarios.  But what if…

As mid-August rolls around patience for “Talking Season” wears thin and fans are ready for actual football

HYPOTHETICALLY, Bryce Young gets hurt, the Ohio State defense is still the personification of swiss cheese, Clemson has Drew Swinney starting 6 games at wide receiver…  The list of hypotheticals is endless.  But, we saw what could happen when two wide receivers go down for Alabama in the national championship a season ago, or, closer to home, when Drew’s brother Will actually does start 6 games for our Tigers.

Nothing in the “pre-season SOS” takes that into consideration.  As Clemson fans, were you a little bit worried about Wake Forest going into the season knowing that their stud Quarterback and two high-quality wide receivers were back?  Speaking for myself, I certainly had some concern.  Did that concern wane a little bit with the news of Sam Hartman’s unfortunate injury this week?  Sure did for me.

I am not sure what the fix is, if there is even one.  And if I am being honest, I would probably complain a little bit if there WEREN’T pre-season polls to get excited about or debate about.  But for now, at least, I despise Pre-Season anything.

As many a Clemson fan says, “Spot the Dang Ball!”  I, for one, am ready for this talking season to be done!