The Ideal Schedule
By: Roy Philpott
While the official 2008 schedule with exact dates won't be released until the end of January, four game dates and all of the opponents are already known.
With that in mind, here's a look at what an ideal schedule would be:
GAME ONE: VS. ALABAMA*
Aug. 30, 2008
The Alabama game is one of four contests on this year's schedule that is already known (Aug. 30 at 8 PM in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on ESPN.) While it's not the ideal timing on the schedule for a game of this magnitude, the Crimson Tide are still building under second-year head coach Nick Saban. In addition, a loss here would have no impact on the conference race, and there's still plenty of time to rebuild your ranking after the fact. Of course, a win sends the already high expectations for next season through the roof.
GAME TWO: THE CITADEL*
Sept 6, 2008
Defending the high-flying passing attack of the Bulldogs is no easy task- just ask the Wisconsin Badgers who were tied at 21 with The Citadel early last season. Despite this, you'd rather play a FCS opponent at home the week after playing Alabama than have to go on the road to face a team like ... Boston College. Good thing this one is already firmed up.
GAME THREE: AT FLORIDA STATE
Sept 13, 2008
Why the Seminoles so early? Simple. Because as many as 25 players (the exact number varies pending on which report you read) have been suspended for the first three games of the 2008 season. You know the ACC schedule makers won't do it, but if there is an ideal time to play these guys, this would be it. Suspensions or not, FSU is nowhere near what it was earlier in this decade.
GAME FOUR: S.C. STATE*
Sept 20, 2008
Like the Sept. 6 matchup with The Citadel, this game is already in place on Clemson's 2008 schedule. Coming off what will be a not-so-easy task of beating FSU on the road, the Bulldogs offer a test, but somewhat of a break before heading back into conference play.
GAME FIVE: DUKE
Sept 27, 2008
One more cupcake before things get interesting the following week in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Fred Goldsmith, Ted Roof, David Cutcliffe. It doesn't mattter, Duke is Duke. It won't be close.
GAME SIX: AT BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct 4, 2008
It seems like every year the Tigers catch Boston College at the beginning or end of a brutal stretch of the schedule. In 2005 it was one week after a triple overtime loss to Miami. In 2006 it was the week before traveling to Florida State. Last year it was the week after Wake Forest and the week before South Carolina (okay so maybe that wasn't so brutal but you get the picture). Sandwiched in between Duke and open date would be the best option when facing a team with a physical style of play like B.C.
OPEN DATE I
Oct. 11, 2008
Get two of the four toughest road games done before the off week before healing up for a run at the ACC.
GAME SEVEN: N.C. STATE
Oct. 18, 2008
Tom O'Brien-coached teams tend to play their best football at the end of the year. N.C. State will be an improved club in 2008, but still building during the early part of the season. Better to get this game out of the way now than wait any longer.
GAME EIGHT: AT WAKE FOREST
Oct. 25, 2008
The Deacons aren't going anywhere but up under Jim Grobe. This game will be tough no matter where you put it on the schedule. We will put it in week nine in between home games with the Wolfpack and the Terps.
GAME NINE: MARYLAND
Nov. 1, 2008
Maryland still isn't a good team but an upset loss at home to the Terps in 2006 is still a painful reminder for Clemson fans.
GAME 10: AT VIRGINIA
Nov. 8, 2008
Clemson hasn't played the Cavs in football since 2004 and after looking at what Virginia did this past year, who knows what to expect in 2008? Remember, Virginia was pounded by Wyoming to open the season before winning nine of its next 10 games. Save this game until the end of the schedule so you at least know what you are dealing with.
GAME 11: GEORGIA TECH
Nov. 15, 2008
No more Gailey. No more Tenuta. It's a home game. This one should be nearly as tough as the last two meetings in Atlanta. A good time to play the Yellow Jackets with the second open date of the season before facing the Gamecocks.
OPEN DATE II
Nov. 22, 2008
Again, another week to rest up before facing archrival South Carolina.
GAME 12: SOUTH CAROLINA*
Nov. 29, 2008
While the official 2008 schedule with exact dates won't be released until the end of January, four game dates and all of the opponents are already known.
With that in mind, here's a look at what an ideal schedule would be:
GAME ONE: VS. ALABAMA*
Aug. 30, 2008
The Alabama game is one of four contests on this year's schedule that is already known (Aug. 30 at 8 PM in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on ESPN.) While it's not the ideal timing on the schedule for a game of this magnitude, the Crimson Tide are still building under second-year head coach Nick Saban. In addition, a loss here would have no impact on the conference race, and there's still plenty of time to rebuild your ranking after the fact. Of course, a win sends the already high expectations for next season through the roof.
GAME TWO: THE CITADEL*
Sept 6, 2008
Defending the high-flying passing attack of the Bulldogs is no easy task- just ask the Wisconsin Badgers who were tied at 21 with The Citadel early last season. Despite this, you'd rather play a FCS opponent at home the week after playing Alabama than have to go on the road to face a team like ... Boston College. Good thing this one is already firmed up.
GAME THREE: AT FLORIDA STATE
Sept 13, 2008
Why the Seminoles so early? Simple. Because as many as 25 players (the exact number varies pending on which report you read) have been suspended for the first three games of the 2008 season. You know the ACC schedule makers won't do it, but if there is an ideal time to play these guys, this would be it. Suspensions or not, FSU is nowhere near what it was earlier in this decade.
GAME FOUR: S.C. STATE*
Sept 20, 2008
Like the Sept. 6 matchup with The Citadel, this game is already in place on Clemson's 2008 schedule. Coming off what will be a not-so-easy task of beating FSU on the road, the Bulldogs offer a test, but somewhat of a break before heading back into conference play.
GAME FIVE: DUKE
Sept 27, 2008
One more cupcake before things get interesting the following week in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Fred Goldsmith, Ted Roof, David Cutcliffe. It doesn't mattter, Duke is Duke. It won't be close.
GAME SIX: AT BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct 4, 2008
It seems like every year the Tigers catch Boston College at the beginning or end of a brutal stretch of the schedule. In 2005 it was one week after a triple overtime loss to Miami. In 2006 it was the week before traveling to Florida State. Last year it was the week after Wake Forest and the week before South Carolina (okay so maybe that wasn't so brutal but you get the picture). Sandwiched in between Duke and open date would be the best option when facing a team with a physical style of play like B.C.
OPEN DATE I
Oct. 11, 2008
Get two of the four toughest road games done before the off week before healing up for a run at the ACC.
GAME SEVEN: N.C. STATE
Oct. 18, 2008
Tom O'Brien-coached teams tend to play their best football at the end of the year. N.C. State will be an improved club in 2008, but still building during the early part of the season. Better to get this game out of the way now than wait any longer.
GAME EIGHT: AT WAKE FOREST
Oct. 25, 2008
The Deacons aren't going anywhere but up under Jim Grobe. This game will be tough no matter where you put it on the schedule. We will put it in week nine in between home games with the Wolfpack and the Terps.
GAME NINE: MARYLAND
Nov. 1, 2008
Maryland still isn't a good team but an upset loss at home to the Terps in 2006 is still a painful reminder for Clemson fans.
GAME 10: AT VIRGINIA
Nov. 8, 2008
Clemson hasn't played the Cavs in football since 2004 and after looking at what Virginia did this past year, who knows what to expect in 2008? Remember, Virginia was pounded by Wyoming to open the season before winning nine of its next 10 games. Save this game until the end of the schedule so you at least know what you are dealing with.
GAME 11: GEORGIA TECH
Nov. 15, 2008
No more Gailey. No more Tenuta. It's a home game. This one should be nearly as tough as the last two meetings in Atlanta. A good time to play the Yellow Jackets with the second open date of the season before facing the Gamecocks.
OPEN DATE II
Nov. 22, 2008
Again, another week to rest up before facing archrival South Carolina.
GAME 12: SOUTH CAROLINA*
Nov. 29, 2008
Coming off an open date should allow the season long bumps and bruises to heal. This game will always be at the end of the schedule so there's really no room for debate.
* denotes pre-determined game date
Keep in mind no schedule is perfect. Playing in a major conference in the FBS will leave a head coach with a stretch of games hd like to change in some way. Have a better schedule in mind? Let's hear it! Post your responses below!
posted by Roy Philpott @ 2:27 PM
4 Comments
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4 Comments:
only thing i'd do different, Roy, is put the open date in front of GT. If they are running a triple option pro wing T blah blah blah it definitely wouldn't hurt to have an extra week of practice to try and prepare for that.
That's actually a good point. Paul Johnson is the equivalent of bringing an evil Jim Grobe to the conference ... and Clemson will have to face Georgia Tech every year because that's how the schedule is setup. Ouch.
You watch we will kill florida state this year regardless of their suspended players play or not. They are nowhere near what they used to be. There is a reason weve punked them 4 out of the last 5 years- THEY ARE SORRY!
Florida State will be hosting UT-Chattanooga on September 13, so might want to rethink the ideal schedule and move some games around.
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