Possibly the best game of the short season was played in Tallahassee last Saturday night as the nationally ranked Clemson Tigers took on Florida State, the defending National Champions. Going into the game, the Tigers had a QB battle going on between senior Cole Stoudt and true freshmen DeShaun Watson. After Clemson’s third offensive series, the Head Coach, Dabo Swinney make a decision to go with the freshmen, who played the remainder of the game and nearly pulled the upset. Cole, who had dreamed of this moment his whole life, had been prepared well by his Dad Cliff, who had played for several years in the NFL as a successful QB. Playing the defending National Champions on National TV!!! Everybody you knew, friends, family, your second grade girlfriend, and the whole nation would be watching. Then you get pulled in the first quarter for a true freshmen?!
I believe it was the right decision. I watched as the cameras caught Dabo Swinney trying to console Stoudt and explain why he made the decision to make the change. I was reminded how difficult the job of the Head Coach could be and the tough decisions you had to make. Here was a player who had done exactly what you had asked him to do. He had waited patiently behind Tajh Boyd for 3 years and told repeatedly by his Dad and coaches, “Just be patient son, your time will come.” I had to make a similar decision as a Head Coach and can still remember the difficulty of telling the player and the pain and disappointment I saw in his eyes. It’s times like this I rather be writing this blog instead of making those kind of decisions!!!
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