Formerly ‘little ole Clemson’ inherits the old Alabama football monkey
By Ronald Evans
Whether or not there has been a changing of the guard in college football, ‘little ole Clemson’ now has the old Alabama football monkey on its back.
For what the rest of the college football world felt like was forever, Alabama football was at the pinnacle. ‘Little ole Clemson’ changed that on a chilly California night last January. There is no question Clemson was the best team in the nation last season.
Which does not mean Nick Saban has given Alabama football a ‘stand down’ order. Just the opposite describes the mood in Tuscaloosa as the Alabama football head man once again intends to lead his charges to the top of the college football world.
The terrain has changed for the two programs. It has changed more and become more difficult for Clemson. Yes, Clemson has an advantage in a schedule making its path to another College Football Playoff easier than most. Certainly easier than the one in front of Alabama football. But that schedule has the downside of possibly not testing the Tigers enough to make them championship-strong.
Clemson’s challenge for the 2019 season is not so much every opponent will be gunning for them. Alabama football has thrived with that monkey on its back for nearly a decade. Clemson’s challenge, which is mostly Dabo Swinney’s challenge, is having to write a new story. The past story of ‘little ole Clemson’ served it well but it no longer applies. Check out how Dabo used the theme last season and see how it no longer fits.
"I read them a quote because I said why not little ole Clemson. Somebody is going to be 15-0 one day. It is going to happen. Why not Clemson? Why not?"
Replicating a dream achieved is no small task. Nick Saban knows well how we humans habitually respond to achieving our dreams. We take what we know to be a well-deserved respite. And it takes only the smallest amount of slippage to cause a very different national championship result.
Whatever story Dabo weaves for the new ‘not-little-ole’ Clemson, may not be enough to counter entitlement. Dabo said in celebrating the 2018 championship, his team was the “best ever.” That the claim has merit makes it a no less dangerous one.
No doubt Dabo is smart enough to already be telling his 2019 team they have not won anything. Gene Stallings would smack him in the face if he is not. But his task has grown harder rather than easier. Just ask Nick Saban.
dark. Next. Agendas getting in the way of Championships
How hard is it to repeat as national champions? Going back to 1948, and not counting any shared championships, National Championship repeats have happened just three times. The three schools were Oklahoma in 1955 and 1956; Nebraska in 1995 and 1996 and the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2011 and 2012. That makes for a pretty big monkey.