Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Season Predictions

With just a few weeks left until the pads go on and teams begin preparation for week 1, we can now officially say we are in football season. With that being said, I've never been one to buy into preseason polls but its always fun to make predictions about the upcoming season and I have a few (some more gutsy than others) for the 2013 football season. In no particular order, here they are:


1. Championships in October- It is almost a given these past couple of seasons but once again I'm confident that the winner of the Clemson-FSU showdown will not only win the Atlantic Division but most likely claim another ACC Championship as well. This year's game is in Death Valley, a place where the Seminoles haven't won since 2001. That is not a typo. The last time FSU left Clemson with a win I was Elementary school. For those who don't know me personally, I'm now a senior in college. I've grown accustomed to beating FSU (at least at home), a trend that didn't exist in my "younger" days as a Clemson fan and I hope to see this streak continue this fall.





2. High Tide- Alabama is more than capable of running the table this year and playing for another SEC and BCS Championship this season. Say what you want about Nick Saban but he's the best (active) coach in the business. Bama adds another one to the ole trophy case this year and the dynasty grows stronger. 








3. Sammy will bounce back- After a rough sophomore season plagued by an off-season arrest and injuries/sickness, Sammy should be back and ready to go full speed ahead this year. And with Deandre Hopkins playing on Sundays now, Watkins will definitely have to step up and produce big plays as he did during his freshman year. Last year was Hopkins time to shine and now 2013 belongs to Watkins. A more mature and hungry Sammy Watkins spells trouble for defenses this year.





4. Not Again- Oregon will reveal (another) new uniform-- not so gutsy here but be on the look out for Oregon to turn heads again with another (most likely) hideous uniform combination when they take the field this season. I can only imagine what they will come up with this time around. I will say though, I was big fan of the chrome helmets. The rest of the uniform though...eh, not so much. 








5. Not so fast, my friend-- Ole Miss turned many heads with their stellar recruiting class this off-season but we have to remember, Its still Ole Miss and they still play in the SEC. They get LSU, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas A&M at home in conference play but travel to Vanderbilt, Alabama, Auburn, and Mississippi State. Going .500 in those games would be a huge accomplishment for them in my eyes. 






6. Sophomore Slump- Johnny Football caught everyone off guard last season in TAMU's first year in the SEC. This year will not be as easy. Defenses will be ready for Manziel this year and he'll have a bulls eye on his chest and get every one's best shot. And speaking of shots, he will likely be taking many more of those this year as defenses put the pressure on him and try to force him into hurried throws and mistakes. 







7. Benched- Conner Shaw is a solid QB and has been a major puzzle piece in South Carolina's recent success. However, the guy can't seem to stay healthy and at times has been really suspect in his play and decision making. That being said, Dylan Thompson proved last year he is more than capable of leading his team to wins. By mid-season I see Thompson taking over the reigns as the starter for the Gamecocks.





8. Boyd in NYC- Last year Clemson's Tajh Boyd was like a different player. He dropped some weight, became more mature on and off the field, improved his accuracy and his running game. The result was a 10-2 season along with throwing for 3,896 yards and 36 touchdowns breaking record upon record along the way. If Clemson can stay healthy up front Boyd should put up big numbers again this year and have a solid argument as a finalist for the Heisman.




9. Overrated- USC struggled last season under Lane Kiffin going 7-6 overall. Though I think they will fare slightly better this season, don't expect to see them in a BCS bowl, or anywhere close to it, for that matter.  Its going to be another tough, long year for one of the most hated coaches in College Football.








10. "Don't Forget About Us"- Ohio State went undefeated last year but were ineligible for post-season play. 2nd year coach Urban Meyer will have his guys ready again this year and though I'm not calling for another undefeated record, don't be surprised if the Buckeyes are back in the top 10 and play in a BCS bowl this year. 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Countdown To Kickoff: Greatest Moments of 2012 Season

Only 40 days separate us from the much anticipated showdown between the Tigers and Dawgs on August 31st in Death Valley. But while we wait, today I want take a look back at some of the highlights of last season. The Tigers went 10-2 on the year and both of their losses came to top 25 competition in Florida State and South Carolina. The 2012 season provided Clemson fans with many reasons to celebrate and be proud and today I'm going to look back at some of those moments and rank the ones that stood out the most to me. Here we go!



5. High Scoring Frenzy- At times, this game had all the makings of a nightmare for Tigers fans. Late in the season the Wolf Pack of North Carolina State came calling and came into Memorial Stadium with a mission and they nearly accomplished their goal. In one of the most exciting (at least from an offensive standpoint) Clemson games I've seen in a while, the Tigers and Pack went punch for punch en route to a basketball-style score. However, the Tigers made a few more big plays and escaped with a 62-48 win. And although the Tigers gave up 597 yards of total offense, they posted a impressive 754 of their own en route to a critical division victory over their rivals from Raleigh.



4. A Sign of What Was To Come- Anyone who has been around the Clemson area knew of Hopkins well before he stepped foot on Clemson as a student-athlete and we all knew just how special of a player he was. However, his junior season put him among the best ever to play at Clemson. He showed us a glimpse of just how ready he was for the 2012 season from the start when he broke the single game reception record against Auburn in week 1. He hauled in 13 catches, none bigger than the fade pass from Boyd from 4 yards away that he secured in a over-the-shoulder catch that ultimately gave the Clemson Tigers victory over the Auburn Tigers for the second straight season. Hopkins would go on to make big-time play after big-time play all season long.


3. Army Strong-Clemson has a long and respected military history that dates back to the days from its establishment in 1889 through 1955. It was only fitting that we had our very own Army hero and Purple Heart recipient lead us down the hill on Military Appreciation Day-- a day Clemson fans and players look forward to every year. Daniel Rodriguez will be a sophomore for the 2013 season and has already given a great deal to this University and community, although you won't find his contributions popping off the page of the stat book. The WR is a class act and was featured on ESPN's College Gameday and is bound to only become more popular this season. Rodriguez was honored by the Orange Bowl with its FWAA Courage Award, won the  USAA Athletic Inspiration Award and was a finalist for the ESPY's Jim Valvano Perseverance Award. I hope and pray we get to see #83 in the end zone at some point this season...what a moment that would be!




2. "The Kick"- This should be #1 on the list but without my top pick, this one not only doesn't make the list, but doesn't even exist at all. After rallying from being down 24-13 in the fourth quarter, Clemson made one last defensive stop and moved the ball down field and capped off an thrilling comeback victory with a textbook two minute drill. The Clemson offense put kicker Chandler Catanzaro aka "CatMan" into perfect position and with ice cold water running in his veins he booted it right down the middle and gave Clemson the stunning 25-24 victory over LSU.


1. 4th and 16- A play that instantly went down in Clemson football history. I saw it unfold live in the Georgia Dome and still to this day can't believe it actually happened. With the game on the line and the LSU faithful making their presence felt, Tajh Boyd remained poised in the pocket and delivered a perfectly thrown ball to none other than Deandre Hopkins to move the sticks and keep Clemson's dreams alive. After I saw Hopkins stand up with the ball in his hands, I knew there was no way the football gods were going to let us walk out of that stadium with a loss. It was just our night and meant to be. 4th and 16 will be talked about when I'm an old man and I will tell my kids and grandchildren about the day the Clemson offense beat all the odds on 4th and 16 and proved all the nay-sayers wrong.



Monday, July 15, 2013

The Time Is Now

There is plenty of hype surrounding Clemson football this year and for good reason. With a top 10 finish last season capped off by an impressive bowl win over LSU along with a strong recruiting class and most importantly, having both Tajh Boyd and offensive coordinator Chad Morris back for the 2013 campaign, the expectations are as high as ever in Tigertown. Clemson's schedule sets them up to make a run at not only another ACC crown but to take a shot at bringing a national championship to Clemson. A home slate that includes Georgia, SC State, Wake Forest, Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech (Thursday Night), and The Citadel. While on the road, the Tigers will face North Carolina State (Thursday Night), ACC--newcomer, Syracuse, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina. If I had to make a guess right now I'd say Clemson will be favored in every single game with the only possible exceptions (in my opinion) being Georgia, FSU and South Carolina. Two of these games (UGA and FSU) will be played at Death Valley and all three are definitely prime-time worthy. And furthermore, all three are "revenge games". Both South Carolina and FSU got the best of the Tigers last season, and although it was 10 years ago I remember all to clearly sitting in Death Valley watching UGA dominate us in a 30-0 loss to start the 2003 season. I haven't forgotten and I'm sure most other Clemson fans haven't either. Nothing would make me happier than to see us take down the Bulldogs on Aug. 31st in front of a sellout crowd in Death Valley and among millions of viewers across the nation on TV. The best part about this game, for both teams is that its in week 1. The loser has plenty of time to play "catch-up" and maneuver themselves back into BCS title talk down the stretch.



Throughout the latter Bowden years it seemed we were often just a few plays away from taking it to the next level. But time after time we faltered down the stretch and allowed division foes such as Maryland, Wake Forest and Boston College come into Death Valley as the underdog and escape with a win. But times have changed since the Bowden era. Swinney has given Clemson two division titles, one co-division title, and one ACC Championship. Solid recruiting classes and bringing in two of the best coordinators in the game have taken Clemson a step closer and 2013 just might be the year if the Tigers can step up and MAKE this their year and their moment.



Now is the time to take the next step. The pieces are in play and its time to make it happen. There is not a doubt in my mind that if somehow the Tigers were to run the table (and of course win the ACC in the process) we would be playing for a National Championship in Pasadena, California on January 6, 2014.
Though getting through the season without a loss will be extremely difficult, it is more than "doable" and to be honest, I would be shocked if Clemson doesn't at least capture its 2nd ACC Championship in three years this coming season. Now that is not to say that if the Tigers don't win the ACC this season isn't successful, (see 2012 season) but if we are really going to take the next step, we need to have control of our own conference first. I'm tried of being "one play away" or "one defensive stop away" from greatness. As Coach Swinney said "you can stand at door of greatness forever but sooner or later you gotta knock down the door!" Well boys and girls, now is that time. Clemson has been labeled as under-achievers, over-rated and choke artist in years past. Heck, some people have even given us the pleasure of being used as "pulling a Clemson" when their team blows a major opportunity.






Its time to get back to what Clemson football used to be. Teams use to fear coming to Death Valley and facing the Tigers and we need to bring that back. I want to see helmets flying I wanna hear those bone-chilling "pops" from someone laying the wood to the opposing team. Bring back the swagger Clemson's defense used to have. We know the offense is more than capable but if we can stay healthy and get our defense to play to at a high intensity level, we are going to be a darn good football team and awfully hard to beat. And lastly, the fans need to step up. I was disgusted and still am at how many people left the LSU game early and ended up missing one of THE greatest moments in Clemson history. From the Georgia game to the last whistle of our bowl game, we need to be loud and proud and support our team. How great would it be to have Death Valley sold out for the Citadel in November just as it will be for UGA in August? It would be a wonderful thing. The preparation starts now. Practice is right around the corner and its time for us fans to get ready as well. Get those khakis with tigers paws dry-cleaned, get your car flags and stickers ready, and get ready to show up early and in full force Aug 31st and all season long. I don't think I have to remind you how late this rivalry between the bulldogs goes back. Lets show up opening weekend and show the nation why they call it Death Valley and why game day in Clemson is unlike any other experience. There is only 47 days till kick off. Our boys are getting ready and so should you. The time is now. Lets go make 2013 OUR year.


One Team. 
One Dream. 
One Clemson. 




BEAT GEORGIA!!!