In the words of Ricky Bobby from the movie Talladega Nights, “if you’re not first, you’re last.” The same saying applies to college football recruiting but in the case of Clemson and uber-recruit Jadeveon Clowney, it was a very close second to South Carolina.
That much is apparent after reading what Clowney and his mother told Charleston Post and Courier beat writer Travis Haney.
“When I did go to Clemson, I did like Clemson a lot,” Josenna Clowney said. “When it all came down, it was his decision. That’s what he wanted to do. There’s where he wanted to go. I think he was more comfortable with the South Carolina staff and the people down there.
“Coach (Dabo) Swinney came to my house and he sat down and he talked to me. He really sounded good about Clemson. We took the visit. We weren’t even going to take the Clemson visit. He talked us into coming to Clemson.”
The in-home visit with Swinney and subsequent visit certainly left Ms. Clowney holding the Tigers in high regard.
“I really liked the way he talked me to me and the things he said,” she told FoxSports.com. “(Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier) talked good, too, about their school and their program. It just seems more sincere from Dabo.”
The comments from Clowney’s mother are certainly interesting but mesh with what many had heard prior to today’s announcement, that the Tigers became a major player down the stretch. Clowney himself also offered some insight into how Clemson and Alabama (his other finalist) were major players before South Carolina made a push.
“(In 2009-10), I thought Clemson and Alabama had a little more to offer,” Clowney said. “They’re big schools. Clemson’s in the ACC and they were winning at that point in time.”
Judging by a few of the message board posts, finishing second isn’t much of a consolation for Clemson fans. I would suggest they take a look at their class of 2011 though.
It’s a pretty good list of talent and should make up for the sting of not getting Clowney’s signature today. Sort of.
