Coaching Carousel: Chad Morris to SMU is Done Deal

((ht: dallasnews.com))

We told you about this report during the week, it's now all according to multiple reports--been made official.

The first rider to connect via the coaching carousel--Chad Morris.

Morris, will be announced as the new head coach at SMU on Monday.

Morris, the highest paid assistant in College Football, will reportedly pull in a cool $2 million a year to take over the nations only winless team in 2014. (Currently 0-11)

Read more from the Morning News RIGHT HERE

CBSSports.com says it's official RIGHT HERE

Morris, who's roots are in Texas High School football and was a graduate of Texas A&M will take over for June Jones who tried to rebuild the once proud Mustang football program which was shut down back in the early 1990's.

He leaves a Clemson team that just defeated arch rival South Carolina and though not going to the ACC title game, still have a bowl berth awaiting them.

The move also raises questions about Clemson coach Dabo Swinney who according to some reports has a mutual interest in the opening at the University of Florida.

We will see...the Coaching Carousel is just starting to roll...

Reports: Chad Morris Will Be The Man at SMU

((ht: usatoday.com/sports))

Let the Coaching Carousel begin. Reports began surfacing Thursday night that Clemson's offensive coordinator and target of many a job rumor Chad Morris may have a head coaching gig lined up.

The job: At SMU.

Yes, the same SMU that is 0-10 with little chance of winning a game this season.

USA Today Sports says Morris, a former Texas High School coach would replace June Jones who left on his own after two games this season.

USA Today says SMU has no deal in place with anyone, but it sounds an awful lot like one is being negotiated.

It should be noted Morris is also the highest paid assistant in College Football making over $1.3 million a year.

Read the USA Today story RIGHT HERE

If indeed Morris is the man in Mustang land, it lends more credence--and fuel to the rumors that his current boss, Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney may be the man at the University of Florida.

Which would create all kinds of chaos as the December college coaching carousel begins to swirl in full motion...

Things You Can't Unsee: Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney Doing the Happy Dance

((ht: cbssports.com))

Whoa! On a day where you should never say you've seen it all, somehow a video like this pops up and reassures us that the Internet always gives....

We won't go into a lengthy description of this video other than to say "Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney, Clemson Homecoming, Dabo Dances to Happy".

Yeah...some others appear in the video and while the lip synch is really, really badly edited there is little bad you can say about the Pharrell song because really, we do feel better after hearing it...

If we could just get Dancing Dabo out of our brains...

Clemson Football Program Receives Complaint From Freedom From Religion Foundation

[HT: Greenville (S.C.) News]

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a complaint to Clemson University citing "constitutional concerns about how the public university's football program is entangled with religion."

According to their website the FFRF is a non-profit that works to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism, and to promote the constitutional principle of separation between church and state.

Their complaint zero's in on head coach Dabo Swinney who the FFRF says promoted a culture in the program that violates stipulations toward the separation of church and state.

Here's a copy of the complaint the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent to Clemson University.

James Trapp is mentioned several times in the FFRF complaint regarding Swinney's insisting that Trapp consider the position as teams official Chaplain.  According to the 2013 Clemson football media guide Trapp position is Volunteer Team Advisior.

There is other issues as far as distribution of Bibles and doing a number of things meant to promote Christianity.

Clemson University chief public affairs officer Cathy Sams said the review of the FFRF's letter is not complete but said Coach Swinney did not force religion on the players.

"I can't comment on any of the specifics in the letter or any of the specific concerns," Sams said. "No one is required to participate in any religious activities related to the football program. It's purely voluntary. Religion and faith is a big part of Coach Swinney's personal beliefs, but it is in no way required. There is no mandatory participation."

Steve Spurrier Just Can't Resist

((HT: ESPN on ABC))

And the HQ enjoys when he gets in his shots...

Like after winning in the Citrus Bowl earlier today...


See...???

We told you...

Guess What...??? Texas Regents Talked About Saban To Agent, Dodds Not Retiring

Surprising no one...

Regent Wallace Hall along with one of the Hicks brothers, Steve (yes his brother Tom is the former Liverpool and Texas Rangers owner) talked to Nick Saban's agent, Jimmy Sexton about his client's possible interest in being the head coach at the University of Texas.

Hall and Hicks had a conference call with Sexton a few days after the national title game. Then, Tom Hicks had a meeting with Mack Brown to see if he was still interested in coaching the Longhorns. Brown told Hicks he was not interested in retiring, so the matter wasn't pursued any further.

Mack Brown is set to be paid $5-million a year through 2020...

Saban is getting $5.6-million, but with Brown's buyout at only $3.25-million, this could be a very quick eventuality after the conclusion of the 2013 season.

"Wallace Hall brought this to the chairman and myself. Nothing was authorized by the board and the chairman and myself thought the board should not be involved," Steve Hicks told the Associated Press. "Tom and Mack are friends and talk often. They simply visited and just talked the idea through. It was dropped and nothing happened ... It was a short conversation."

Along that same line, rumors are swirling about AD DeLoss Dodds retiring- which would make another piece of the puzzle for the removal of Mack Brown- forced or otherwise...

Dodds, of course, is denying it...
((HT: Longhorn Network))


Conventional wisdom is saying that a 5-year, $50-million offer is on the table for Saban to succeed Mack Brown- which lends itself to Carousel...

The HQ anticipates three names tied to Alabama: Bob Stoops (whose message has grown stale in Norman), Will Muschamp (whose move from Gainesville might be thought of as "sideways"), and Dabo Swinney- the alum with the hot name after an allegedly successful season-to-be in Clemson.

HQ's coin is on Swinney- who will get destroyed...

OSG High: Nkemdiche Decommits from Clemson- Ole Miss and Bama On The Clock...???

((HT: ESPN))

From FOSG Kipp Adams, it appears the first step in the process of finding the nation's number one recruit a new home is in place...

Grayson (GA) High head coach Mickey Conn has confirmed to Adams, via modern technology, that Clemson is not the current number one place for Robert Nkemdiche's services...

"I'm not talking to anybody about anything," Robert's mother, Beverly Nkemdiche told Adams. "I'm not talking about recruiting anymore. I'm not talking about recruiting with anybody."

Robert Nkemdiche told Adams separately that he expects Ole Miss defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff and Georgia running backs coach Bryan McClendon to attend his regular-season game Friday night when the Rams play Brookwood.

Nkemdiche is also in line to take another "unofficial" visit to Ole Miss with his parents on Saturday. It will be his fourth trip to Ole Miss where his older brother, Denzel, is a linebacker for Hugh Freeze and one of the team's leading tacklers.

Nkemdiche committed to Clemson over the summer in a now-famous (or infamous) Twitter photo with fellow Grayson teammates Alvin Kamara and Wayne Gallman. QB Nick Schuessler, who helped lead the team to its state title last year transferred from Mississippi State to add to the Grayson connection...

Here's Grayson making an early statement on GPB playing in the Corky Kell Classic...
((HT: GPB Sports/GHSA))

The HQ is still of the belief that the decommit is just the beginning and that Ole Miss and Alabama are still chasing Nkemdiche's talents...

Enjoy The Clemson Offensive Show. Tigers Bomb Deacs

Clemson and Thursday night wasn’t a good mix.  Heading into Thursday night’s game against Wake Forest the Tigers were 1-9 when the ESPN cameras are focused on Clemson on a Thursday night. 

In fact the last time Clemson played Wake Forest at BB&T field on a Thursday night the Deacs won 12-7 and Tommy Bowden was gone, Dabo Swinney began his head coaching career soon after.

With a 1-9 record on Thursday night it’s not surprising that it’s been three years since Clemson wanted some national exposure on a Thursday night.

“Everybody has been reminding me all week that Clemson is 1-9 on Thursday night games.” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “So maybe we can start a new tradition now of winning those games."

Well the Tigers exorcised those Thursday night demons bombing Wake Forest 42-13 much to the pleasure of coach Swinney

Here are the highlights from Winston-Salem, NC (Thanks IPTAY Media)

There are many explosive offenses out there in college football and it seems most reside in the Big 12 Conference.  Those teams would be hard pressed to match the weapons and the consistency of Clemson’s offense.

Thursday night Tiger quarterback Tajh Boyd set a school record for passing yards in a single game with 428 yards.  Boyd threw for five touchdowns IN THE FIRST HALF!  Also a Clemson record.

"Tajh was just lights out.”  Swinney said.

We couldn’t have said it better coach.

Sammy Watkins had his breakout game this season with a school record 202 yards receiving. Watkins broke DeAndre Hopkins’ record he set back on September 29^th.

Oh and theirs running back Andre Ellington too.  Ellington is only the ACC’s second leading rusher and contributed with 61 yards.

Yes Clemson has an embarrassment of riches on offense.  The mad scientist in charge of all this offensive coordinator Chad Morris who has a vast array of formations on his big cheat sheet and can’t stand still with all the Red Bull he consumes.

Here’s Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins and OL Dalton Freeman comments after the Wake Forest game.  (Thanks WSPA-TV Greenville, SC)

Clemson has work to do to return to Charlotte and the ACC Championship Game.  Florida State  owns the tie break advantage over the Tigers.  There is still NC State on the schedule and the Wolfpack control their destiny right now in the ACC Atlantic Division.

This time a year ago Clemson was in a slump, it doesn’t appear history is going to repeat themselves in Tigertown.

"Groh Must Go: Week 2" As Clemson Beats Ga Tech

((HT: ACC Digital Network))

This, really, shouldn't be the most difficult decision on The Flats...

And it's one that the folks in Charlottesville had to endure before bringing in Mike London...

Al Groh, for one reason or another- whether it's scheme, personnel, or both- has given up 1,720 yards of offense in the last three weeks in games that Georgia Tech has (allegedly) participated in...

And we're talking about losses against Miami and Middle Tennessee in Atlanta, and now Clemson in Death Valley. The HQ wonders aloud just how much time he has left as Paul Johnson's DC...

Now don't misunderstand... the Clemson defense is no "Monsters of the Midway," either. The Tigers have given up 1,087 yards on their own going into this game.

But, hey, you only gave up 483 to Tech on this day, right...??? For a 1,570 total...
And you still won...

The conference has the long version of the highlights...
Proibably, too long for Al Groh...

For the record, Clemson QB Tajh Boyd threw for a career high 397 yards and DeAndre Hopkins caught enough passes to total 173 yards receiving as No. 15 Clemson beat Georgia Tech 47-31.

Both teams get a week off to figure out what to do...
Boston College heads to Grant Field for the next Tech home game and Virginia Tech goes to Clemson in two weeks...

OSG High: The Latest On Nkemdiche

((HT: CSS-Sports.com))

The recruiting world was one of two things on the day that the tweet came out with Grayson (GA) High School's Robert Nkemdiche, Wayne Gallman, and David Kamara all wearing Clemson jerseys...

1) Shocked... or,
2) Figured that the recruiting of Robert Nkemdiche was wide open...

The HQ is thinking the latter... and when it came up that his mother was less than pleased that he had declared without her consent...

Well...
FOSG Matt Stewart and Barton Simmons discuss...


The HQ figures that it's going to be one of three things...

He stays because of his head coach, Mickey Conn's, relationship with Dabo Swinney that dates back to Alabama,

He goes to Ole Miss since his brother, Denzel, is there and his mother wants Robert to stay close to or,

He goes to Alabama since it's, well, Alabama...

OSG High BREAKING: Nkemdiche Commits To Clemson

Grayson ((GA)) High School senior DE/RB Robert Nkemdiche has comfirmed to ESPN's Kipp Adams that he has declared to play his football at Clemson University joining close friends RB Wayne Gallman and DB David Kamara.

"I did commit," Nkemdiche said to Adams. "I love Clemson."

Often rated the top defensive player (and, in some circles, the top overall recruit) in the country, here's previous evidence that he enjoyerd the family atmosphere of Clemson and head coach Dabo Swinney-the college roommate of his head coach, Mickey Conn.

Here's an interview Bleacher Report did with Nkemdiche about his choices a while back...


Now, this only leaves 8-and-a-half months for Alabama head coach Nick Saban to steal him away like he did a certain RB heading to Georgia the other day.

And people say that football is only seasonal...

For those of you that don't remember Grayson's last game of the 2012 season, here's their title win over Walton in the GHSA 5A title game...
((HT: GPB Sports))

TWTW: Bee-Cee-Ess In Upheaval... Oke State, Clemson, Baylor, Oregon

Just when you thought everything would calm down for a weekend...

Nah...

Where to start...???

With Oke State already losing, that left things in the hands of Oregon...
And a lot of people were just rooting against Lane Kiffin and that toque he sported last night that made him look like he just celebrated his bar mitzvah...

USC went out to a big lead and held on as Alejandro Maldonado hooked a field goal attempt as time expired...
Nick Krupke goes into detail...
((HT: KVAL-TV))


The loss snaps a 21-game winning streak for the Ducks (now 9-2, 7-1 Pac-12) at Autzen Stadium, which was the longest in the nation. It also stopped Oregon's winning streak in conference games at 19.

NEXT!!!

If RG3 isn't back in the college football MVP trophy chase, we don't know what will make it happen...

479 yards passing, which broke his own single-game school record, and 551 total yards of offense in a completely ridiculous performance for a 45-38 win over Oklahoma.

Jenni Carlson and Travis Haney discuss...
((HT: newsok.com))


The ACC thought they had something in Clemson, but Dabo threw in a clunker of biblical proportions getting blown out by NC State...

The win for the Wolfpack ended Clemson's seven-game winning streak in the series, which dated back to 2004. (Thanks ACC Digital Network)



"I was really disappointed in the way we played," Swinney said. "There are no excuses. They wanted it more than we did. It is that simple.

"In the game of football, when you do the things that we did, you are going to get beat."

Like giving up 27 in the second...???
((HT: WSPA-TV))


And the HQ is throwing this one in because we can...
Apparently, Eff-Ess-Yew head coach Jimbo Fisher can't locate his offense...
Up early against Virginia, the Seminoles blew the lead and lost to Virginia 14-13 as a last-second field goal attempt went wide... (Thanks ACC Digital Network)



Gee... that NEVER happens to Florida State...
Here's some Mike London post...
((HT: Newsplex.com))

Clemson Clinches ACC Atlantic Division Title, Charlotte Bound

For the second time in three years the Clemson Tigers are headed to the ACC Championship Game. After a disastrous third quarter in which Clemson gave up 21 points to Wake Forest trailing 28-14, the Tigers overcame.

Chandler Catanzaro kicked a 43 yard field goal as the clock reach quadruple zeros and Clemson clinched the ACC Atlantic Division 31-28.

Here's the highlights from Clemson's Death Valley: (Thanks ACC Digital Network)



Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gladly accepts the ACC Atlantic Division Trophy from ACC Associate Commissioner for football operations Michael Kelly. (Thanks Clemson Athletics)



Here's post game sound from Dabo Swinney Tajh Boyd, and Chandler Catanzaro> (Thanks WSPA-TV Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, SC)

TWTW: Sakerlina Wrap- Clemson For Real, Gamecocks Jury Still Out

((HT: WSPA-TV))

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney is still winning ((much to the dismay of TBH after the smack he ran after beating Auburn earlier this season))... they're off to their best start since 2000 after going into Blacksburg and beating Va Tech Saturday...

Holding them to only 3 points, even...

Here's your post...


Over at the Fairgrounds, Auburn OC Gus Malzahn pulled the Lutzenkirchen throwback out of the rear of the playbook. It was good enough for a 16-13 upset win and it gave the OBC pause to reflect on his quarterback situation since Stephen Garcia went all of 9-for-23 in the loss.

Here's them talking as well... led off by Coach Spurrier himself...
Who is still looking for more time to be put on the clock...