re: Parity in the West

quote:

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Steele is a proven commodity too. Save for one bad game he has been consistent. His 3 years at Clemson show that.

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The last time Kevin Steele was a Defensive Coordinator.

2009.

Georgia Tech vs Clemson. Clemson leads 27-24 after kicking a field goal with 11:33 remaining. Georgia Tech gets the ball on their own 14 after the kick off. Georgia Tech then picks up 4 1st downs, including a converted 3rd and 9 and 3rd and 1 to move in to field goal range. The kick is good. 27-27. Clemson's offense punts and Georgia Tech receives their ball on their own 35. The Yellow Jackets then pick up 2 1st downs, including converting on 3rd and 11 to move in to field goal range. The kick is good. Georgia Tech wins. Final score 30-27.

TCU vs Clemson. Clemson is winning 10-7 entering the 4th quarter. Kevin Steele gives up a 5 play 56 yard drive to give TCU the lead. It would remain unchanged as 7 of the next 8 TCU offensive plays were rushes that chewed up the clock. TCU wins. Final score 14-10.

Maryland vs Clemson. In a game where Maryland went 7 of 14 on third down before the 4th quarter began, they were able to run out the clock and hold the score. Maryland wins. Final score 24-21.

ACC Championship Game. Also against Georgia Tech. Clemson retakes the lead with 6:11 remaining on the clock after a TD that made the score 34-33. On the following possession, Georgia Tech gets the ball on their own 14. They then engineer a 13 play 86 yard TD drive where Steele's defense let Georgia Tech picked up 6 first downs. Georgia Tech wins. Final score 39-34.


2010:

Auburn vs Clemson. Losing 17-3 at half, Auburn rallies in the 3rd quarter. A TD drive with two converted third downs cut the lead to 7, an 8 play, 72 yard drive tied it up, and a 78 yd TD pass gave Auburn the 7 point lead. Auburn wins in OT. Final score 27-24.

Miami vs Clemson. Jacory Harris dominated the day. His 4 TD passes were not only a season high, but a career high. Miami wins. Final score 30-21.

UNC vs Clemson. UNC leads 14-10 entering the 4th. With 14:50 left, they march down the field in a 14 play, 76 yard TD drive, converting a 3rd and 9, 3rd and 7 and 4th and 4 along the way. After Clemson scores a TD to put themselves back in the game with 5:31 remaining, UNC attempts to run out the clock. On 2nd and 3, Kevin Steele's defense concedes a 13 yard rush, followed by another 10 yard rush. On 3rd and 9, UNC completes a 12 yard pass to pick up the crucial first down. Clemson takes their timeouts and the game is essentially over. UNC wins. Final score 21-16.

Florida State vs Clemson. Clemson leads 10-6 entering the 4th quarter. FSU gets the ball and marches down the field in a 12 play 85yd TD drive, converting 2 third downs along the way. With 0:53 seconds remaining, Clemson kicks a field goal to tie the game 13-13. After the kickoff, with under a minute left, FSU methodically rips apart Kevin Steele's coverage and easily makes it in to field goal range. Florida State wins. Final score 16-13.

Meineke Car Care Bowl. USF vs Clemson. USF takes a 31-13 lead with 13:58 remaining. They run the ball on 10 of their final 12 plays so chew the clock to seal the victory. USF wins. Final score 31-26.


2011:

Georgia Tech vs Clemson. Georgia Tech converted 7 of 14 on third down to win a game that was basically over at half. Clemson scored a TD late to make it closer than it appeared, but it wasn't close to being enough. Georgia Tech wins. Final score 31-17.

NC State vs Clemson. NC State score 27 in the 2nd quarter to completely demoralize Clemson before the second half even started. NC State wins. Final score 37-13.

South Carolina vs Clemson. Converting on 8 of 18 3rd downs on the night, South Carolina hadn't completely put away Clemson entering the 4th. With 13:48 remaining, the Gamecocks only lead by 9 points. To rectify the situation, South Carolina masterminds a 14 play 50 yard FG drive, converting 3 different 3rd downs including a pivotal 3rd and 6. After a South Carolina TD that shortly followed, Clemson had too much to overcome. South Carolina wins. Final score 34-13

Orange Bowl. West Virginia vs Clemson. Kevin Steele conceded 70 points to a Big East team with a month to prepare. 6 TD passes, 10 for 16 on third down, and 595 total yards later... WVU wins. Final score 70-33. Kevin Steele is fired.