By Ed McGranahan.

By Ed McGranahan

Here are a few words about the WestZone front door at Memorial Stadium, which works equally well as an exit and entry to the Clemson football program.

Upon word that Charlie Harbison would join good friend Ellis Johnson at Auburn, the first thought was, “can Trooper Taylor coach DB’s?” Taylor was the clown who ran the sideline at Auburn games waving a towel in an attempt to incite the crowd. By most accounts he’s a good man and a superb recruiter, though it was revealed recently he’s a person of interest in an NCAA inquiry.

According to his bio, Taylor has never been a defensive coach. Not sure how critical that is for a guy valued primarily as a recruiter. And can the Clemson secondary be in any worse shape?

Granted, some of the problems this season were due to youth and injury and the absence of a sustained pass rush, but you must be glad Clemson didn’t play many teams with quarterbacks like Mike Glennon.

I didn’t get to know Harbison well enough to call him “Cheese,” though he was always pleasant. A reporter must have burned him a time or two because he didn’t care for prying, cynical minds. Interviews were cordial and uninspired, and Dabo Swinney made it easier on Harbison (and the reporters) when he cut off access to all assistants other than coordinators.

So, good luck, Cheese! We hardly knew ye.

The storm swirling around Chad Morris seemed to subside for a couple of days until Tommy Tuberville bailed on Texas Tech for Cincinnati and put Clemson on watch once again. Not every job in Texas appeals to The Chad, but Lubbock would seem to whet his ambitious tastes. Speculation he would interview at South Florida seemed odd. After being mentioned for virtually every major opening, Morris wants to play on the big stage. USF isn’t big stage. The Big 12 would seem suitable.

Texas Tech may – or may not – be the job. Several weeks ago, when it was obvious that Arkansas wouldn’t retain John L., a good friend suggested that Art Briles might be a prospect for the Hogs’ job, which would open Baylor for Morris. Baylor has since extended Briles’ contract, but it may not be impossible to break. So Waco may eventually be a possibility if Lubbock isn’t. Ever been to Waco? I’d take Lubbock sight unseen.

Morris reportedly told Tajh Boyd, when the storm first began to swirl, that he wouldn’t leave first. Of course, there’s a chance they could leave together.

Like most juniors that achieve any measure of success, Boyd planned to submit paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Board for an evaluation, but there are a number of reasons he needs to play one more season at Clemson.

Chances are the NFL will come back with a mid- to late-round projection. It would get him a free pass to camp, but Boyd would likely be the fourth or fifth quarterback with a modest contract. Not exactly the return on investment for a conference player of the year and two-time, all-conference quarterback.

For all his wonderful numbers, Boyd still doesn’t have a couple items that could help his draft stock next year. Clemson needs to win games like the two it lost this season, particularly South Carolina. Next season Boyd will have an experienced offensive line and plenty of capable hands to snag his passes.

The other day he shouldered the blame for the second half of the South Carolina game, which got away from Clemson once Clemson got away from what it did well during the first quarter. Even with his accurate arm, bountiful confidence and charisma, he still makes mistakes.

The blame wasn’t his alone, and if Clemson has any hope of beating LSU in Atlanta, everybody from Swinney to the third-team ball boy needs to be perfect. Then, and only then, would Boyd have something else he has yet to achieve; a win in the final game of the season.

Only then does he need to contemplate a reasonable place in the draft and a pro career.