I agree - getting close and vowing to improve so you can finish next season is the kind of attitude that it takes to get back to the big game. I am not sure that the attitude that they are currently taking is the answer. That said, their attitude reflects their head coach, and what he did last year got them there once, so what do I know?
I believed that Clemson was going to be exposed by Alabama. I didn't think that Watson was that great - put his stats on the weak defenses that he faced. I didn't think that their head coach's approach would work in a pressure situation - didn't think that he would have them ready for this stage. I was wrong on all counts.
I'm not second guessing myself. I still believe that the same things win that have always won. But these QBs in these offenses sure give a team a chance when they normally wouldn't have one. And say what you will, Dabo's teams have not given up. They really believe in themselves. I'm not sure what to expect out of them next year, but I'm not surprised that they expect greatness.
I agree. However, I wonder where the Rah-Rah, believe in yourself stuff goes when they take a loss? There's a reason they call it Clemsoning. They were flat better than everybody they played last year except Bama, so there was nothing to trip over. But when your HC is going through the locker room saying "You're the best CB in college football" or "You're the best LB in college football", he comes off looking like a liar when they get roasted. After that, it's hard to maintain focus or believe in the system. That's why they usually drop more than one game in a season and play even more close ones. After that first loss, the coaching style doesn't work.
Saban's method has alway been more of a "succeed in spite of yourself." Pound out the weakness and inconsistency. I wonder if Clemson had dropped that game to OM like we did if they would have been able to run that same schedule? It's speculation, but I don't buy their staying power outside of their ability to recruit. Jump up and down, scream yourself silly, tell your players, your fans, your lockers, your cleats that they are the best in all of college football...Dab all you want, it won't get you a National Championship.