The Ring of Honor should is reserved for only the most elite and historical figures. Nothing in the history of Clemson sports has even came close to the 1981 National Championship. Its significance should allow Danny Ford into the Ring of Honor and it's tim to put the feelings aside and put him in.
Ford took over as coach just before the 1978 Gator Bowl win over Ohio State. From that moment and throughout the 80's, Clemson was one of the premier college football programs in the country. He led Clemson to 6 9 win seasons, 4 10 win seasons and, of course, and undefeated National Championship in 1981. In bowl games, he Ford was 6-2 while at Clemson. No doubt that coach Ford was pushing the right buttons during the Tigers' glory years. And the coach that oversaw the greatest run in school history isn't in the ring of Honor?
After a falling out with administration Ford resigned in January of 1990. The football program was later cleared of any wrong doing by the NCAA. The administration has just never gotten over it. Egos have gotten in the way and maybe even Ford's ego can be blamed. Yet it's clear someone is in the way of the guy Clemson fans clearly love and recognize as one if the all-time legends in school history.
A legend with the legacy of Ford is clearly deserving of Clemson sports' highest honor. Ford put the Tigers on the map. He built a program that beat the finished no worse than 12th every season but 1. Ford led Clemson to that Crystal Ball and that should be enough. It's time to put him in. It makes no sense that the coach of the only National Championship football team is not in the Ring of Honor. Clemson shouldn't wait until its too late to give him reconigntion he deserves
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