There aren’t many people in football who believe Clemson will turn things around. The last 12 months suggest they won’t, but history suggests they will.
Let’s not get too carried away here. Clemson is still a very talented football team and losing to the widely recognized No. 1 team in America didn’t change that.
However, they need to start playing better. There’s no debate about that. They have the opportunity to do that on Saturday against an App State team that could beat them if they don’t play well.
Emmitt Smith, the former Dallas Cowboys all-time star, shared this message. He spoke to Derrian Carter of The Greenville News about how important it is for them to come together and cover an impressive distance.
“The good thing about losing early is that when you gain momentum and the team comes together, get a couple of wins and get going, you never know how the season is going to end up,” Smith said. “They started with the best team, with the No. 1 team in the nation. … Now it’s about not letting yourself down mentally on Saturday and allowing Appalachian State to come and shock you.”
Smith will attend the game in Clemson on Saturday and get a first-hand look at the team.
His advice to Clemson wasn’t the only thing he addressed. Smith also talked about the potential conference change, as the Tigers are embroiled in a legal battle with the ACC.
“The SEC is already full, so don’t come there,” Smith said. “You’re better off staying in the ACC than going to the SEC because there’s not going to be many more national championships. … I think the ACC conference can offer something that the SEC doesn’t. I think the ACC, whether you have Duke or now Stanford, you have great schools there, I think it offers something different.”
His point is valid. The ACC has high-caliber academic schools, and while the SEC has some of them, it cannot compare to the ACC.
However, it’s about money. Whether Clemson wants to admit it or not is fair, but that’s the reality. If they believe they would make more money in another conference, then that’s where they’ll go.
Still, it will be great to have a legend in the building on Saturday night.
