QB controversy? No, and sorta yes
Seems QB Cullen Harper’s last two games have opened a crack for the Willy Korn followers to surface on message boards with their pitch forks and torches.
In the interest of full disclosure, several of my fellow beat writers (jokingly, I think) consider me an underground ringleader of the Korn camp, tracing from my days covering Byrnes High for another newspaper.
Yet here’s my take.
Should there be a quarterback controversy?
In my opinion, no.
Is there a QB controversy brewing?
Perhaps, but in an entirely different context.
There is quite an interesting game unfolding publicly between Harper and coach Tommy Bowden.
Who knows how things are playing out behind meeting room doors and the closed practice fences, but here is the summary of what has transpired:
In his Sunday teleconference with reporters after beating The Citadel, Bowden was asked a specific question about Harper under-throwing a few passes. In response, Bowden said Harper needs to improve his play, which Bowden then added could be said of a lot of their players.
Can’t speak for every reporter on that call, but I, and a couple others I’ve since talked to, didn’t consider it a jab. And Bowden later said that when you beat a lower team that handily, you go hunting for areas to nit-pick.
Well, Harper clearly had read the comment in a transcript somewhere and taken it personally. And after Bowden’s weekly Tuesday presser, a media member who was not on the teleconference and perhaps unaware of the comment’s context asked Harper about Bowden’s criticism.
“I just take it with a grain of salt,†Harper said. “I don’t mind being coached. Just come to me and say it.â€
Harper didn’t seem to think going 14 for 18 against The Citadel merited this degree of discussion about his faults. And at that point, he disclosed for the first time that he suffered a first-degree sprain of the AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder vs. Alabama, and his arm had felt “fatigued†and “tired†vs. The Citadel because of constant treatments that week.
Neither Bowden nor coordinator Rob Spence acknowledged having known of the injury. Spence said he had not seen any evidence that Harper’s shoulder had bothered him in practice, nor would he play Harper if it risked further injury.
The injury did not show up on Clemson’s injury report, yet Harper could be seen favoring the shoulder after practices, often with an ice pack strapped to it.
Fast forward to the N.C. State game.
First quarter, Harper’s showing plenty of zip on his passes, showing no ill effects from the injury.
Second quarter, third-and-13 from the Wolfpack 16. Harper tucks the ball while scrambling left, but instead of 1) cutting back across the field, or 2) lowering his right, allegedly sprained shoulder and trying to burrow for first-down yardage, he 3) pulls up and glides out of bounds untouched at the N.C. State 5, a full 2 yards shy of the marker.
Bowden and at least two assistants were visibly upset.
A TV reporter asked Harper about his miscues afterward. Again, Harper completed 71 percent of his passes, going 20 for 28 for 262 yards and two TDs. So I think he was a tad surprised and miffed by the nature of the question.
His response: “I think I missed one (pass), so ….â€
Later he said he had been motivated to prove his shoulder was fine.
Or, as I read between the lines, to prove that he was getting the job done and doing so through the pain of injury. But instead of getting credit for it, his coaches didn’t have his back.
Of course, Bowden could then come back and say he was protecting Harper by downplaying the injury and its severity in order to keep a bull’s-eye off the shoulder.
Ah, but there was more.
In his postgame address, Bowden was asked about Harper’s handful of questionable decisions.
Bowden identified the slant that was intercepted and returned for a TD, but asked what the other one was. The run out of bounds was brought up.
To which Bowden answered: “Yeah, I thought he could have … my point was to him, if you don’t get it, you’re in four-down territory, go lower your shoulder and try to get it. If you’re short, I’ll go for it, but give me something better … we’re not good in fourth-and-2. Go ahead and lower your shoulder and give me a foot and a half. I thought he could have made it.â€
When pointed out Harper would have needed to use his sore shoulder, Bowden replied bluntly: “Yeah, lower the shoulder. We’ve got another quarterback. Go ahead and lower the sore one and go win a conference game. So take the sore one, lower it, run over him and get us close to it. And make them both sore.â€
Wow. Hmmm. And wow again.
Right now, this mini-drama has more questions than answers – answers we will probably never get on the record.
Is there a discrepancy about the severity of the injury? Is Bowden trying to get a higher caliber of play from Harper by challenging him publicly? Toughen Harper’s level of sensitivity to criticism, knowing a player in such a high-profile position must develop a thick skin to have a successful career? Simply holding Harper publicly accountable for his mistakes, thus setting an example for team members that the bottom line is getting the job done, regardless of stature? A combo of some of these, or none of the above?
Stay tuned.
Because blogs are supposed to come in concise doses, not volumes, allow me to touch on why Harper’s job should be secure – as things stand now – a little later, as well as other observations from the State game.
Hope y’all have a blessed Sunday.
18 Comments to “QB controversy? No, and sorta yes”
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Clemson Beat writer Paul Strelow blogs about Clemson University athletics.
September 14th 2008
He should have tried to pick up the two yards,that shows we are a solf team.When the team see him stick his nose in there,that makes them want to play harder and toughter.
james
Harper has to make that cutback. This games matters and that’s third down. You either man up and make that play or check yourself out.
We got away with it Saturday versus NC State. Against the better teams, that could cost us the game.
I am happy that Bowden called out Harper for not “lowering his shoulder” and going for first down. If Harper would get his ego out of his way, he would sit the next game at least, and finally hopefully get full healing on his shoulder.
He is a good quarteback even with a sore shoulder, but he is an Heisman-type All-American qb with a fully healed shoulder.
He would be much better against Wake Forest, if his shoulder was healed and he will be a first round NFL draft choice if it is healed.
I am pro-Harper and not pro-Korn, unless there is a shoulder problem, and despite Harper’s continual denials, he still does not throw long to Kelly like he did last year.
Sit out SC State, and get healed for Wake Forest and your future pro career, Harper! It would be better for you and your future millions, even if you had to sit out the rest of the year. I hope not! Do what is best for you and the Tigers! Let your ego go! and GO TIGERS!
THE CONTROVERSY IS ABOUT HEART, TOUGHNESS AND LEADERSHIP. I SEE HARPER GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF QUARTERBACKING, BUT HE IS NOT A LEADER. I SEE HARPER BUILDING THE STATS ON PAPER, BUT ON THE FIELD BUT DOES NOT HAVE THE TOUGHNESS TO GO THE EXTRA ” TWO YARDS” TO SHOW HIS TEAM TOUGHNESS. FINALLY, HE DOES NOT SHOW ME HE HAS THE HEART TO BE A CHAMPION!
WILLIE, ON THE OTHER HAND, CAME FROM A CHAMPIONSHIP HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM AND HAS EXHIBITED THE THREE CHARACTERISTICS LISTED ABOVE. GIVE WILLIE A CHANCE WHILE WE HAVE THE SKILLED PLAYERS IN PLACE. THANKS, CHRIS
Wasn’t there also a fumble in there? CH has proven he is a very capable QB on many occasions—but we all have our slump days—and when we do CU justs lets the slump continue. Sometimes you need a spark and if it’s not happening you need a change in THAT game (differs from naming a new starting QB) not waiting till it’s a tick in the loss column (like it did last year). Actually it may not be a question of the QB but the play–I am surprised Davis can get any yards. Hand offs to him are like an orange flare to the sky-everyone knows it’s so obvious. The QB needs a bit more finesse handing off to a JD caliber player -everyone is on him. Have to admit the N.C. game did have 1 trick backfield reverse that threw everyone off. QB controversy–no Actually I was looking for Speweik to touch a few not necessarily Korn but if that is the spark so be it. Last year I would have liked to see Tribble (there was a team worth of spirit there) with a shot at it on slump day. Now if the CH–JF connection can be shared with the rest of the team –you got something exciting. I commend CJS & AK for their spectacular records but they need more calls—there is so much talent here the other team should have no idea what is going on. Congrats to the “TEAM” win and showing in the N.C. game that this is still a “TEAM” much different from opening night. ps: I won’t get into my opinion on red shirt and graduate students.
sounds like the rift here is between Harper and conniving sportwriters. Why isn’t the game ever enough for you guys ? Lay off.
Tommy just needs to start Willy and be done with it. Harper ain’t got no business playing with an ailing shoulder any longer. Bowden downplayed it when Charlie was here and they kept this under the rug for the Auburn game. We can’t have a quarterback playing scared. Tommy needs to man up and do the honorable thing and just start Willy. Start him and be done with it once and for all. Our players will rally around him. He’s already got the fans on his side.
Willy “crack” Korn time to play.
Bowden knows his team is “soft” he will tolerate anything else but evidence to support being “soft”. PERIOD. You beat reporters need to get a clue…no real smarts required.
I may be in the minority, but I think it’s better to slide or run out of bounds if you’re a starting QB that is a central component of a team with high hopes and the game is not on the line. Let’s be TOTALLY honest here. Clemson beat NCSU “by just 18″ as one reporter so foolishly stated at the press conference, while resting half the team, getting underclassman experience, and basically sleep walking through this game. AND that’s after spotting them 6 on the first play from scrimmage.
I’m not saying you don’t want the best performance out of your team every time you take the field… but c’mon TB, I think it’s ABSOLUTELY IGNORANT to say you’d rather get one first down against a team you are rolling over handily with the game well in control than to lose the most important position player on your roster.
There’s a reason there are so many rules in place to protect QB’s and there’s a reason that so many wise old NFL QB’s slide and get out of bounds. It’s called brains. I don’t have a huge problem with TB, but he may need to rethink the comment that he’d rather CH hurt both shoulders just before the meat of the schedule than kick a field goal and win by 18.
Paul, does the tone ‘really’ sound like Tommy is questioning Harper’s shoulder as an “injury vs pain” or does it sound more like Tommy is upset b/c he wanted to keep Harpers shoulder issues quiet to avoid other teams neglecting the long pass threat and trying to hit him in that injured shoulder?
It seems more to me like CH is worried about his draft stock dropping, so he felt like he needed to “explain” some of his weaker throws, even though his numbers have been good and he said he doesn’t feel he needs to explain them. Maybe Bowden had said let’s keep this under wraps beforehand and CH decided to do what was best for him?
Either way, it’s definitely not a QB controversy, and CH could walk up and tell TB where to stick it and he’d still start b/c TB knows that CH gives him the best chance to win and TB’s job depends on winning.
While part of wishes CH went for it, I have to agree with Mike. The Taco’s don’t taste that good, anyway.
LOL @ “The tacos don’t taste that good, anyway”
I have never redeemed, but I always laugh when I think of 80,000 people eating taco bell…. just think of the drop in air quality the next day!
Haha…can you imagine the line…might head on into “4th meal”!
Why does Clemson rarely play with emotion? Why does Clemson loose every year to someone they shouldnt? Why does Clemson rarely win the big ones? CH, CW it dosnt matter, both skilled – wheres the heart?Selfish, whats in it for me?
How do we end up here? Did you see Stafford Sat? How about the kid at Georgia Tech? LEAVE IT ON THE FIELD MAN!!
Head coaches number one job MOTIVATE. GET IT DONE TOMMY OR GETOUTOFTHE WAY AND LET US HIRE SOMEONE WHO CAN.
Proctor should have been benched, guarantee if CH pulled the slipouta bounds for Spurrier or Richt he woulda been on the bench next snap.
Get mad man these prima donnas are killing you – watchin you CH last week youd be lucky to go in the 7th round. Stats are overrated
Perhaps Harper is a little sore, perhaps we should not forget what HE has done over the last season. I will take an ugly win any day, over a pretty loss. As far as Tommy goes, I support the direction he has taken with the program, and hope that he does talk with players behind the scenes that we are not aware of.
However I would love to see him re-invent himself a little, maybe like his peer in Gerogia. Show some emotion, reward the good, but please get on their behinds when they are not playing with any fire or emotion.
I can’t imagine an experience like rubbing the rock, and running down the hill into the valley. What an experience it would be…..get ‘em fired up Tommy, not saying you need to cuss or anything but lets see some fire.
Ron Alexander: Harper is a first round pick if his shoulder heals?
I want whatever you are smoking.
There shouldn’t be a QB controversy. Korn should be the man and here’s why: How about Alabama? I believe we have a good chance to win that game with above average QB play. And how did Harper play? And how about the games last year where we could’ve walked into the ACC title game? I rest my point!