Free Willy

Here's to Willy Korn starting at quarterback for Clemson on October 9th against Wake Forest. Bowden's not going to do it, but the question is should he?

Even with the agonizing loss on Saturday the Tigers are not out of the ACC race - yet. One conference loss doesn't mean what it used to back in the day. In each of the last three years the Atlantic Division winner not only had a loss - two had TWO losses and one had three.

That doesn't change what's happening on the field though. The Tiger's passing offense is anemic and Cullen Harper is not the same player he was last year. Is he injured? Not according to Harper or Bowden. Has he lost his confidence? Not according to Harper. But it's plain to see that his passes just aren't the same, for whatever reason, as they were last year. His completions are a half step behind the receivers; his incompletions are downright ugly at times. Harper's completing 66.7% of his throws, but through 5 games has only 3 TDs and 5 interceptions. In 2007 he had 27 TDs and 6 interceptions with a completion percentage of 65.1.

But this is about more than stats. It's about leading a team. It's about having confidence that when you need a drive or a play your quarterback is going to deliver. I had that confidence in Harper at one time. Not any longer. So, I've come to the conclusion that Willy Korn needs to play, if not start. Not to give Korn "meaningful" snaps to prepare for next year, but rather because I believe he gives this team a better opportunity to win right now.