I like that Clemson doesn't like that the Media likes to use "Clemsoning"

"Clemsoning: The act of delivering an inexplicably disappointing performance, usually within the context of a college football season." (Source: Urban Dictionary)

If you're a Clemson fan, it makes your blood boil, right Dabo?

Ah, the good ole, er, not-so-good ole days of Clemsoning. Officially posted on Urban Dictionary's website Nov. 21, 2011, two days after an "inexplicably disappointing performance" by No. 7 Clemson at 5-5 NC State. Final score: Wolfpack 37, Tigers 13. #Clemsoning

The word had floated around in various forms prior to that night. Tommy Bowden's teams were notorious for "Clemsoning." By my estimates, the first real "Clemsoning" occurred during the 2003 season. The Tigers were 5-3 and were on the road at pesky 4-4 Wake Forest. Final score: Demon Deacons 45, Tigers 17. #Clemsoning (The Tigers did pull a reverse-Clemsoning the very next week by beating No. 3 FSU, 26-10)

In the years to come, the following "Clemsonings" happened:

• 2004
• Nov. 13 - Clemson had just upset No. 11 Miami on the road, then proceeded to lose at Duke, 16-13, on a walk-off 53-yard field goal. Duke's only other win that season? The Citadel. #Clemsoning
• 2005
• Oct. 1 - After knocking off No. 25 Texas A&M to open the season, the Tigers lost back-to-back OT heartbreakers to Miami and Boston College, both at home. Trying to regroup, Clemson led 27-24 with 2:30 to go. Bowden elected to try a fake field goal, which failed. Wake drove the field and scored. The Deacs finished the season 4-7. #Clemsoning
• Oct. 29 - Later in the same month, the Tigers were on the road in Atlanta and hadn't lost a fumble all season. Three lost fumbles and three field goals later, Georgia Tech pulled out the win, 10-9. #Clemsoning
• 2006
• Nov. 4 - Ranked 19th and needing to beat Maryland and NC State, both at home, to win the Atlantic Division, Clemson got punched in the mouth by the Terps. A 13-12 home loss ended any division title chances. #Clemsoning
• Nov. 25 - South Carolina came to Clemson and the Tigers held a 28-14 lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Two TDs and a field goal later, plus a wide left FG miss by Jad Dean and some suspect play-calling late, and the Gamecocks won, ending a 4-game Clemson winning streak in the series. #Clemsoning
• Dec. 29 - Kentucky hadn't won a bowl game since 1984. The Tigers came in to the Music City Bowl licking their wounds. The Wildcats put Clemson out of its misery, winning 28-20 in a game that wasn't that close. #Clemsoning
• 2007
• Sept. 29 - Another snoozer in Atlanta, as the undefeated Tigers came in ranked No. 13 and scored 3 points in a 13-3 loss to the Jackets, who were 2-2 and had lost two straight. #Clemsoning
• Nov. 17 - A win over BC would clinch the first division title for the Tigers. Leading 17-13 late, Matty Ice happened. #Clemsoning
• 2008
• Aug. 30 - Entering the season ranked No. 9 and facing up-and-comer Alabama, Clemson was poised to make a run at the BCS Championship. A 34-10 demolishing at the hands of the Nick Saban-led Tide, and it was all downhill from there. #Clemsoning
• Sept. 27 - Weeks later, Clemson looked uninspired in a 20-17 loss to Maryland and chatter around Tiger Town was Tommy Bowden's days were numbed. #Clemsoning
• Oct. 9 - The final straw, an even more uninspired 12-7 loss at Wake Forest to drop the once preseason Top 10 Tigers to 3-3. Days later, Bowden was dismissed. #Clemsoning
• 2009
• Oct. 3 - Maryland was atrocious. They won two games in 2009. Are you surprised that one of those was against Clemson? #Clemsoning
• 2010
• This whole season was #Clemsoning. The Tigers went 6-6, then lost to South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. 
• 2011
• Oct. 29 - Undefeated and No. 6 in the country, Clemson was poised to make noise in the BCS. Then, another loss in Bobby Dodd Stadium. 31-17 Yellow Jackets. #Clemsoning
• Jan. 4, 2012 - ACC Champs. Orange Bowl for the first time since the 1981 National Championship season. A Big East opponent. A 70-33 loss. #Clem #Son #Ing

Count 'em, 17 times. At least one every year for nine straight years. Yikes.

Ironically, since that season ended and that definition began circulating, the term hasn't been able to be used, at least not in its purest form of the definition.

Clemson football has won 33 straight games against unranked opponents. That number trails just one team - Alabama. Clemson's only losses from 2012-2014 were to teams which finished in the Top 10 of the final rankings.

Dabo Swinney and Clemson aren't "Clemsoning" anymore.
Photo courtesy WLTX.com

On that note, Dabo Swinney is 7-3 against Top 10 opponents at the time the game was played. The Tigers are the ONLY team over the last four years to be ranked higher in the final Top 25 poll than they were in the preseason. They've taken down the likes of LSU, Ohio State, Auburn, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame. They've finished with 10-plus wins four years running, and on pace to make it five. 

I can understand why Dabo and the team are excruciatingly frustrated by the term. It's worn out its welcome. It's a tired story for lazy pundits who want click-bait. I promise, Coach, I won't be using it from here on out. I got the memo. We've gone nearly an entire recruiting circuit without having one of those types of losses. Deshaun Watson doesn't know it. Ben Boulware doesn't know it. Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse, Artavis Scott, et al -- they don't know it. And if we lose a game this season or next, it doesn't mean anything other than the other team won.

The term is officially dead and buried.

But I sure am glad it still lights a fire in those who don the Pawed helmet.

-BtW