NOT SHOCKED BY OLIVER PURNELL LEAVING CLEMSON!

Most people associated with Clemson University, fans, coaches, players, administration and the Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips were shocked by Oliver Purnell leaving Clemson to go to DePaul. The ArmChair Coach was not shocked. I knew his time at Clemson was drawing near, as he had gotten the Clemson basketball program to places that it had not been before. The Tigers had won 20-plus games four years in a row, a program first. The Tigers had gotten to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, even though they lost in the first round all three years. Just two years ago the Tigers made it all the way to the ACC Tournament Championship Game a feat that had not happened since the 1960's. Oliver Purnell has made basketball relevant at Clemson University, where football is king. Purnell has taken a little heat recently because he hasn't won a NCAA Tournament game in his career. He was 0 and 3 at Clemson and 0and 3 at his other stops at Old Dominion and Dayton. Oliver Purnell has made the expectations for Clemson basketball higher than it has ever been. Just getting to the NCAA Tournament is not enough any longer at Clemson, they expect to win NCAA Tournament games. Purnell has also brought in some very talented players in recent years to Clemson. Players that they would not have gotten in years past. So the bottom line is Oliver Purnell has done a very good job at Clemson but the writing was on the wall for The ArmChair Coach and for Purnell himself, HE HAD TAKEN CLEMSON AS FAR AS HE COULD TAKE THEM! I sort of thought that he might stay one more season, but the challenge of rebuilding a former proud program at DePaul was to intriguing to pass up, for a coach that has a passion for building programs. Clemson needs to take its time to bring in the right coach, one that can take their basketball program to the next step. Whom ever that coach might be should thank Oliver Purnell for laying the ground work by resurrecting Clemson basketball. THANKS COACH OLIVER PURNELL!

Until Next Time.