Commentary: Start to Korn's tale: 'What if?'

CLEMSON

AS BACKUP QUARTERBACK Willy Korn took the offensive reins early in the third quarter Saturday, clouds parted and sunshine burst across Death Valley.

The 49-3 romp of Coastal Carolina was a rare cameo appearance for the prodigal son.

"It was an opportunity to show people I can still play," Korn said. "Because in the limited opportunities I have gotten to play this year, there hasn't been a whole lot to show for it."

As Korn guided the Tigers to three third-quarter touchdowns in as many drives, it was hard not to wonder whether the performance will wind up as his swan song at Memorial Stadium.

Given how the season has unfolded, the question no longer figures to be whether Korn will transfer.

It's where and how soon. The redshirt sophomore would theoretically want to spend spring practice with his new team, yet he is on track to graduate from Clemson in May.

Korn maintains he will not plot his future until after the season. He playfully scoffed at conjecture that he has looked into Appalachian State or Gardner-Webb as possible Football Championship Subdivision destinations.

Five weeks ago, it became clear through their respective comments that Korn and coach Dabo Swinney had not been on the same page about whether Korn was guaranteed playing time in every contest this year.

Korn said he approached Swinney shortly thereafter, and the two clarified their positions. He has been used in five of Clemson's eight contests. The other three games were close outcomes that went to the wire.

"I knew the games I hadn't gotten into, why I hadn't gotten into them," Korn said. "Anybody who's a competitor at all, if you're a backup, you're not happy with your role. But I understand what my role is, so I went and talked with him to clear everything up. I wasn't (ticked) off at him or anything.

"Maybe earlier in the year it was frustrating because you think to January and how long you've been busting your butt. But right now I'm just kind of enjoying it, trying to take every practice and continue getting as good as I possibly can be. So that when I do get opportunities, I can make the most of it and enjoy it. It's been a lot easier that way."

Should Korn as a recruiting bust - someone who failed to live up to the hype bestowed on the instate product who led Byrnes High to two state titles?

But a bust should be defined as someone who clearly lacked the talent to play at a certain level or someone who wasted his potential.

It is impossible to ascertain what effect, if any, two shoulder injuries in as many years have levied on Korn physically and psychologically. Those who have closely monitored his development insist he has yet to recover the passing abilities that were part of his pre-injury skill set.

Furthermore, the respect for Korn's work ethic and leadership qualities appears to have been part of the reason Clemson coaches took so long to go public with their decision to tag redshirt freshman Kyle Parker the starter.

After stringing together a series of good runs and throws on his initial scoring drive Saturday, Korn was mobbed on the sideline. Locker room leaders Thomas Austin and Michael Palmer approached for extended congratulations, as did Parker.

To be fair, Korn's story might be far from over, even at Clemson. He's one injury away from being handed the keys.

Here is what can safely surmise: He was beaten out by a supremely talented Parker in the offseason, for which there should be no shame. All signs suggest the gap has widened. Freshman Tajh Boyd could factor into the mix next spring.

It would be fascinating to see how Korn's career would have unfolded if, in the fifth game of the 2007 season, Tommy Bowden would have pulled rank and inserted Korn for Cullen Harper during the team's struggle at Georgia Tech, as two sources have said Bowden desired.

Then-coordinator Rob Spence supposedly chose to stick with Harper. The Tigers lost 13-3, but Harper proceeded to post impressive stats and guide a veteran-laden team within a Boston College win of the ACC title game. It should also be noted that conversation took place two games after Korn endured his first shoulder injury, for which he later received a medical redshirt.

Regardless, the amazing part is that Korn could leave his dream school with no real closure as to how he could have fared on the major college football landscape.