Pawsitive Press

The news that Texas DC Will Muschamp has agreed to hang around Austin as the head coach-in-waiting raises some interesting theories about Clemson’s coaching search.

Muschamp was believed to be a prime, if not a leading, candidate to replace Tommy Bowden.

First off, schools don’t just go throwing $900,000 offers to coordinators without a substantive explanation for doing so. Especially a coordinator who had been at Texas for only one year.

Clemson is not known to have interviewed Muschamp, but certainly if there was strong interest there, it would have been relayed through Muschamp’s agent, Jimmy Sexton. (And don’t get too caught up in whether someone has “formally” interviewed – more often than not, coaches are hired at this level without such interviews).

Not only does this make you wonder how strong an interest Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips might have expressed – it brings into question how much interest Texas perceived/was told Clemson had.

Could Texas officials justify throwing that kind of dough to a coordinator if they were in fact really only bidding against themselves?

Yes, the Longhorns could probably afford it regardless. But there must be more to it. Perhaps they must really feel, contrary to their stated belief, that 57-year-old Mack Brown is going to hang it up sooner rather than later.

Because for one, Muschamp isn’t going to wait five-plus years to be a head coach at that salary, especially when he could be making $1.5 million-plus somewhere else. And from Texas’ standpoint, you really get no assurance Muschamp is going to stay until Brown retires, so the major goal of this investment is just trying to hang onto Muschamp as long as you want him by throwing lots of cash and a snazzy title in his direction.

Note that last December, when West Virginia reportedly came calling to FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, Sexton brokered a similarly lucrative coach-in-waiting deal for Fisher.

Did Sexton play Clemson in this deal, or did Texas really have to make a counter move? We might never know.

Here’s where conspiracy theorists can jump “all-in,” to steal a Dabo Swinney term:

Sexton, who is coming awfully close to violating the government’s anti-monopoly regulations, also represents Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville.

Muschamp had also been rumored to possibly succeed Tuberville if Tuberville is bought out of his contract soon.

Sexton obviously has his finger on that pulse, too. So, as conniving as all these backdoor politics go, it makes me wonder whether the Muschamp situation is tied into what is about to transpire at Auburn.

Did Muschamp agree to stay at Texas knowing Tuberville might last another year? Or might he have suckered Texas into a deal with insider knowledge that Clemson has greater interest in Tuberville if and when he might become available?

As for the latter — I highly, highly doubt it.

“Throw in the boat, and I’ll call my real estate agent right now.”

Muschamp cut his teeth as a DC under Tuberville before leaving last offseason, and I don’t have a firm answer on whether he left on the best of terms with either the Auburn coach or its administration. So who’s to say if Muschamp would consider Auburn in the first place.

Of course, the simple solution could be right under our noses.

It could be the cause of Muschamp’s decision or the effect … but all this could emphasize what was thought from the very beginning.

This job remains Swinney’s to lose.

Phillips has not hid his admiration for Swinney’s style, and everything Swinney has done has done in four weeks as the interim appointment has reinforced Phillips’ belief that Swinney “gets it.”

If Clemson wins the final two games, Phillips might find it difficult to not pull the trigger on a guy he feels is a coach-in-waiting.

The name linked most frequently to Clemson’s coaching search is now off the market.

Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has been designated head coach-in-waiting by the university and will take over for Mack Brown when Brown retires, the school announced Tuesday.

Texas AD DeLoss Dodds said he and Brown know they want to keep him at Texas, so they will more than double his salary from $425,000 to $900,000 in January.

Dodds said he wants Brown, 57, to coach for a long time, and now this prevents the trauma of having to conduct a search when that time comes.

On the one hand, I’m suspect Muschamp would hold off on taking another head coaching job if anyone believed this move was a “long” time away. On the other hand, Texas has to be considered a top-five job nationally, if not the most attractive one, so it might well be worth the wait (at a pretty nice $ rate, too).

Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster talked to a few of their local media tonight, his first media availability since interviewing for the Clemson job Friday.

Here’s what he had to say, courtesy of Kyle Tucker from the Virginian-Pilot:

ON THE CLEMSON HEAD-COACHING INTERVIEW: “I did interview. There’s an interest on both parts, and we’ll just see where it goes from there. I’m one of several potential candidates for the job and we’ll see where it goes here in another week or so. That’s all I know, and that’s all I can say.”

ON THE TIMETABLE THE CLEMSON OFFICIALS GAVE HIM FOR A DECISION: “Within the next three weeks, probably. We had a good meeting, and that’s it.”

ON WHETHER HE HAS CONSIDERED WHAT HE’D DO IF HE GOT THE JOB BEFORE TECH’S BOWL GAME: “No, not necessarily. Right now, that’s all I’m saying about it. We’re getting ready for Duke.”

ON WHEN AND WHERE THE INTERVIEW HAPPENED: “It was Friday. It was here in Virginia. They came up here. In Roanoke. That’s it, OK.”

ON WHETHER HE TOLD THE DEFENSE ABOUT HIS CLEMSON INTERVIEW BEFORE THE MIAMI GAME: “No. Coach Beamer announced it to the team after the game. He asked me for my permission. I didn’t find anything out until the last moment. We wanted to make sure it wasn’t going to come out in the media and not tell those kids first. They’re the ones that it’s important to.”

A few notes from this morning’s interviews:

Our game day story Saturday for the Virginia game will be a look at how the revised coaching staff has made junior running back C.J. Spiller the focal point of Clemson’s offense.

With that in mind, his backfield mate and close friend, James Davis, tossed out a humorous and telling one-liner about what the Tigers must do to beat the Cavs:

“I think we’re just going to have to bring our A game … and get C.J. the ball.”

Davis is a fascinating study. For someone who came across as a me-guy early in his career, he really has done a 180 and taken this year’s individual disappointment in stride.

You can tell he is being honest and forthright when he claims to have no qualms about his reduced role, and he mentioned earlier in the year he foresaw this becoming Spiller’s team because of Spiller’s immense talents.

But if there is one player who was most affected by Tommy Bowden’s resignation in a negative manner, I’d argue it was Davis. Davis might occasionally voice his concern about a lack of carries, but he considered Bowden to be the one guy he could go to at Clemson and air his laundry. Probably the most poignant moment I’ve experienced covering Clemson for three seasons was when Davis broke into tears at the conclusion of the first post-Bowden practice.

By all accounts, Davis has the utmost respect for interim coach Dabo Swinney. But I think he knew he would no longer be the offense’s focal point when Swinney, formerly the receivers coach, took over. Clemson had to develop a passing game to counter its struggling offensive line, Swinney had a passing background, and – to boot – Swinney recruited and signed Spiller.

In his early Clemson days, Davis would not have been resigned to the apparent fact he will fall short of the school’s career rushing record.

The fact that he is, in my opinion, demonstrates the impressive maturation he has undergone after four years.

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Acting offensive coordinator Billy Napier confirmed suspicions Monday that redshirt freshman backup quarterback Willy Korn has not regained full strength in his right (throwing shoulder).

Nor was it expected to be by now, Napier said.

And nor does the coaching staff care, as it relates to inserting Korn for a predetermined series.

“He can function, but from a strength standpoint, he’s not anywhere near where he was when he first arrived here,” Napier said. “We all remember that guy. He’s had two injuries that have set him back. … I knew personally that it would take him longer. I’ve been through a similar injury.”

In the Georgia Tech game four weeks ago, Korn suffered a bruised humerus bone in the shoulder but returned to practice a week later.

Napier said the staff is well aware Korn’s throws in spot duty against Duke lacked zip, but the point has been to get Korn experience while seeing if he supplies a change-of-pace spark.

Napier was more critical of Korn’s decision-making on a pair of second-half drives in which he failed to throw to the proper read on third down.

“I’m glad he’s getting to play,” Napier said. “Even though it’s not the ideal scenario, mentally it’s the best thing for him. He needs to go out and live and learn a little bit so as he prepares for the future, he has an understanding of what it’s going to be like.”

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Virginia is one of the rare teams that employs a three-man defensive front, wherein it lines up one interior lineman over the center as opposed to the traditional four-man fronts that have a pair of tackles lined up across from the guards.

Few teams try it, especially on the college level, because there just aren’t many interior college defensive linemen who are stout enough to handle two-gap responsibilities and the constant double-teams that scheme invites.

Alabama, as you might remember, uses a similar scheme (and I’m sure Clemson’s lineman do, through the nightmares of 400-pound nose Terrence Cody).

Facing a 3-4 defense presents a different challenge for a center, as now he must quickly engage this beast of a player after he snaps the ball instead of sliding to a protection.

Well, strength is hardly senior Bobby Hutchinson’s virtue, but Napier said the Tigers will stick with Hutchinson at center and Thomas Austin at guard anyhow.

Coaches made the move for the Boston College game to line up Austin’s strength against the Eagles’ cinderblock tackles, then stuck with it against Duke because they saw benefit in having two guys out there who know their assignments.

Austin is believe to have played his best game of the year against Duke, and Napier really thinks the line has improved because it has started having some sense of continuity. Because of injuries, line coach Brad Scott had been tossing out a new lineup on a weekly basis.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how (Hutchinson) holds up,” Napier said. “But the majority of the things we’re going to do, he’s going to have somebody working with him.”

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Believe it matters

Despite all the potential distractions and reasons to have an apathetic approach, Clemson came to play. Even up big after the half, when the offense gathered to take the field for a possession, defensive coordinator Vic Koenning sprinted in to give his motivational two cents. Perhaps interim coach Dabo Swinney’s numerous attempts to reconnect the team and fan base have paid off; Death Valley was still nearly filled to capacity, too. Grade: A

2. Pick up the defensive pieces

Yes, Duke lost its best asset, quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, to injury after the second series. But there is something to be said for coming close to the team’s first ACC shutout in a decade. The Tigers did not allow Duke beyond its 47-yard line until a low, line-drive punt from Clemson’s end zone allowed the Blue Devils to take possession on their fourth-quarter touchdown drive at the Tigers’ 28. Grade: A

3. Throw James Davis a bone

One subtle theme of the Swinney regime has been running back C.J. Spiller’s shift to being the focal point of Clemson’s offense. It was indeed Spiller’s show Saturday, but Davis played a role, scoring two touchdowns and averaging 4.8 yards per carry between the tackles. However, with only 43 rushing yards, Davis’ shot at the school’s career rushing record — he needs 268 the rest of the way — appears out the window. Grade: B-minus

INJURY REPORT

Freshman running back Jamie Harper dinged his right wrist but continued playing. Senior defensive tackle Dorell Scott (strained patella tendon) did not dress out.

Just a quick note for those glued to their computers seeking every last tidbit before this highly anticipated game:

Senior defensive tackle Dorell Scott is not dressed out and won’t play against Duke.

Scott, a senior out of Ridge View High, suffered a strained patella tendon last weekend at Florida State.

The injury was not portrayed as substantial early on, but obviously it bothered Scott throughout the week.

Clemson’s defense should be interesting today. Have heard the team plans to use a ton more man-to-man defense than it typically has under coordinator Vic Koenning.

And I’m not so sure that was Koenning’s call.

These coaching searches make long weeks for us scribes, and it certainly didn’t help that the college basketball season starts this week, either.

Thus a condensed version of a typically elongated “Gameday Forecast.”

It is Duke week, after all.

It’s been a long while since there was such an apathetic atmosphere around this program, to absolutely no fault of interim coach Dabo Swinney.

At 4-5, the Tigers have the same record as Duke but are actually further away from bowl eligibility because they own two wins against Division I-AA programs.

Clemson can and would go to a bowl if it wins its final three games – but does that really inspire anyone at this stage?

I think not. The players aren’t exactly using it as a rallying cry.

And judging by the fact Clemson extended an open-ended offer to all current and former military members of two free tickets – the school obviously has plenty of unsold tickets, because there was no stated limit, and you get them by just showing up at the gate – well, fans could care less about this game, too.

Furthermore, it certainly cuts the legs from under Swinney and the coaching staff when AD Terry Don Phillips has reportedly interviewed three candidates for the head coaching job.

That’s Phillips’ job, and he had to do his due diligence sometime so Clemson can make its hire quickly after the regular season … but there’s just no getting around the impact it would have once the news came out.

Duke is improved … offensively …. by Duke’s standards. First-year coach David Cutcliffe works wonders with a team’s quarterbacks and passing game.

But just as FSU was a horrible match-up for Clemson, the Tigers are that way for Duke.

There is no substitute for speed, and the teams Clemson has consistently plowed through – in spite of coaching – have been those that cannot exploit the Tigers’ lack of physicality, thus freeing C.J. Spiller, James Davis and the skill crew to do their thing.

Duke’s only chance is to beat Clemson in a shootout.

The Tigers might be ready to shoot out of this season, but they have enough pride to not lay an egg in their final ACC home game.

PREDICTION: CLEMSON 38, DUKE 17

Add Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s name to those at least on Clemson’s replacement search list.

Foster is scheduled to interview with AD Terry Don Phillips on Friday, according to a source.

Rivals.com first reported the story earlier this afternoon.

Foster may possess the kind of rugged, hard-nosed persona the Tigers have lacked and the fan base seems to covet. But truth be told, how many times has someone who publicly covets a job ever been the one to get it? It’s kind of the kiss of death.

On the other hand, there’s something to be said for if you can’t beat them, join them (or have them join you). Rob Spence probably sees Foster’s trademarked robber coverage in his sleep.

Former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin interviewed for Clemson’s vacant coaching position last week, a source close to Kiffin confirmed Wednesday.

Last Friday, Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips flew to Detroit to meet with Kiffin. Phillips then flew the next morning to attend the Tigers’ 41-27 loss at Florida State.

Kiffin becomes the second known candidate to interview with Phillips, joining Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables, whom Phillips traveled to see Tuesday.

Kiffin, 33, was fired Sept. 30 because of his severed relationship with Raiders owner Al Davis.

A few notes from interviews today with basketball coach Oliver Purnell:

After lots of thought, Clemson decided not to appeal the NCAA’s five-game suspension of freshman center Catalin Baciu, a k a “Bobo.”

Bobo, a 7-2 native of Romania, was given a brief stint as a benchwarmer several years ago for Mobitelco, a club pro team that plays in Romania’s top pro division.

His U.S. prep coach of two years, John Jordan of Veritas Christian Academy (N.C.), said Baciu wasn’t paid for the stint, never played more than two minutes in any of the games, and his spot on the roster was essentially a token privilege granted by the club to its local high-profile kid.

Purnell had planned to appeal the suspension – which came down about a month ago – but Clemson’s compliance department advised that European recruits in similar-type cases had gotten much harsher penalties.

“I’ve been told we’re fortunate,” Purnell said. “Usually they give you two-for-one if you play in one of those games, not as a professional but playing with guys who are professionals. And he didn’t play very much.

“He was practically a water boy on the team, and supposedly they took that in consideration when they looked at him.”

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Today is the beginning of college basketball’s early national signing period, and this could be Purnell’s landmark class.

As expected, the Tigers signed three players: 6-9 swingman Milton Jennings of Summerville; 6-7 forward Devin Booker of Union; and 6-5 guard Donte Hill of Virginia Beach, Va.

More than anything, I think this class will go a long way toward re-establishing the pressing, up-tempo style of play Purnell prefers. Winning had affored Clemson the luxury of recruiting skill the last couple of years, and I’m not so sure they have athletic enough personnel right now to play as he desires.

Jennings is central to that, IMO. He has the tools to be the disruptive force James Mays was at the front of Clemson’s press. The question will be, with all the hype he has consumed, can he be persuaded to give that type of defensive effort?

Jennings is a marquee name and the highest-touted prospect Clemson has landed since McDonald’s All-American center Sharone Wright in 1991. He is rated as Rivals.com’s No. 12 prospect overall, No. 23 by Scout.com, and picked the Tigers over Florida and UCLA.

Booker, of course, is the younger brother of junior center Trevor Booker.

Purnell had a couple of interesting comments about each, but I was most intrigued by those regarding Hill, an under-the-radar guy had offers from teams (Virginia Tech and Marquette) known for developing quality second-tier recruits.

Re: Jennings – “The No. 1 thing we wanted to do when we got here five years ago was to change our image internally and externally. Guys like Milton Jennings are not only opening the door now and asking us to come in and talk, but they’re coming to campus and taking a look around … and once they do that, we have a shot.
“So I think the message and the symbolism of a Milton Jennings signing with Clemson is certainly very important in terms of changing that image. And I think that image has been changed.”

Re: Booker – “Devin, everybody compares him to Trevor, and I think rightfully so. Explosive, big player who has really expanded his game.
“Trevor doesn’t want to hear it, but I think he has a chance to be as good, if not better.
If Devin comes in here and works extremely hard, the sky is the limit.”

Re: Hill – “Kind of reminds you of the stature and the defensive mindset of a guy like Cliff Hammonds, and that’s important in our scheme. … I think the class is a little better than people think because of Donte Hill.”