Season Previews: Clemson

Its almost here. Just 14 days until the return of college football....11 technically if you count Georgia State and Abilene Christian who kick off Wednesday August 27th at 7pm..(I don't). The Thursday night tilt provides a much more entertaining match up with Texas A&M at South Carolina kicking off on the SEC Network at 6pm. Pre-season camp is almost over and its about time for teams to start week 1 preparations. I already gave you my preseason thoughts on both Georgia and South Carolina and now its time to wrap up this series with Clemson. Here we go!

Clemson Tigers

Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (51-23 in 5 years at Clemson) 

Last year's record: 11-2 (7-1 in ACC) beat Ohio State in Orange Bowl

Returning Starters: Offense: 5  Defense 7

Key Losses:  QB Tajh Boyd, WR Sammy Watkins, RB Roderick McDowell, LB Spencer Shuey, PK Chandler Catanzaro

Players to Watch- QB Cole Stoudt, WR Mike Williams, RB D.J. Howard, DE Vic Beasley, DT Grady Jarrett, LB Stephone Anthony 

2014 Schedule: 

August 30th @ Georgia 

September 6th South Carolina State

*September 20th @ Florida State# 

September 27th North Carolina#

October 4th North Carolina State#

*October 11th Louisville#

October 18th Boston College#

October 25th Syracuse#

November 6th @ Wake Forest# 

*November 15th @ Georgia Tech#

November 22nd Georgia State

*November 29th  South Carolina 

*-denotes key game

#-denotes ACC game

Overall Thoughts: .Ok, I'm gonna come out and say it. My Tigers have their work cut out for them on offense this year with the departure of Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins, Roderick McDowell and Martavis Bryant. Not to mention the loss of two of our anchors and big boys up front in LT Brandon Thomas and RG Tyler Shatley. And while some may say this is a rebuilding year, I'd argue that reloading would be more accurate. Yes, one of the best quarterbacks in school history is gone. Yes, one of the biggest play makers in all of college football last season (Watkins) is also gone but their replacements aren't too shabby. Cole Stoudt has waited patiently for his time and it has finally arrived. The 6-4, 210 Senior from Dublin, Ohio has played back up to Boyd the past three years and knows Chad Morris' system and this offense as good as anybody. In fact, Stoudt is probably a better fit for the offense than Boyd was. He has better mobility and is a much better runner while also having a good arm with accuracy. Experience is an area of concern for the new starter though with limited playing time under his belt. That being said, in his time on the field, he has done well. Last season he made an appearance in eight games completing 79.7 % of his passes (best in the nation w/ minimum of 50 pass attempts) going 47-59 for 415 yards and 5 TDs. He's only thrown one interception in his Clemson career in a total of 119 pass attempts. Freshmen sensation and backup Deshaun Watson will  see the field some this season as well and promises to be a very special player. Trust me, you'll be hearing his name and get to know him soon. We've already learned the the dual threat quarterback from Gainesville, Ga will see the field at some point in the season opener.

 This year's squad will operate with a running back by committee system with D.J. Howard likely leading the way, at least for the season opener. Be prepared to see Zac Brooks, Daniel High School standout C.J. Davidson and Wayne Gallman in the mix as well...all of which are battling and performing at a high level through spring ball and into pre-season camp. There is still plenty of talent in the wide receiver department with Senior Adam Humphries leading the way. Freshmen Artavis Scott and Demarre Kitt will also see the field in addition to Mike Williams, Charone Peak and Gerome Hopper. The Tight Ends have also been getting it in and received high praise from the coaching staff. They are expecting big things out of Senior Sam Cooper, Junior Staton Seckinger and Sopohmore Jordan Leggett. On defense, Brent Venables has brought together one of the best front seven he's had in his entire career. Not only do Tigers have reliable talent and experience up front, they have depth. Guys are pushing each other to be better and if they can stay healthy, the Tigers could very well have a top five or top ten defense this season. With the likes of future NFL first rounder DE Vic Beasley (23 tackles for loss last season) along with DT Grad Jarrett who has emerged as a major leader for this squad this off-season, this defense will resemble one of the "old days" where Clemson's defense was its strength. The line is backed up by linebackers such as Stephone Anthony and Tony Steward along with backup Ben Boulware. The Tigers defensive front is talented and DEEP. I'm talking "four and five start 2nd stringers" deep. In the secondary, redshirt Freshmen Mackensie Alexander has impressed coaches as well as Safety Jayron Kearse who was hit-or-miss last season. The loss of Catanzaro hurts in the special teams unit but the staff will look to PK Ammon Lakip or P/PK Bradley Pinion who was a reliable punter for the Tigers last season.

Bottom Line: The Tigers have two of the best coordinators in the game right now in Chad Morris and Brent Venables and talent wise have the personnel to make this another special season in Tigertown. With the new playoff system into place and with conference foe Florida State in prime position to make it back-to-back titles in Tallahassee, Clemson could find its way back to Miami again this season if it take care of business at home. There will be some growing pains and I don't expect to see the Tigers drop 40 every game this year, but with a much improved defense, they might not have to. I think Cole Stoudt will hold his own and the defense should play well enough to keep the Tigers in every game this season. The key will be holding on to the football, something that struggled to do in its two losses to South Carolina and Florida State. They have a brutal start to the season with difficult road tips to Athens and Florida State...both very hostile environments with top 25 teams. But if the Tigers can find a way to at least go 1-1 in those games, they should be favored in every other game  the rest of the season with the only exception being the showdown in November against arch rival, South Carolina in Death Valley. The visit from ACC newcomer Louisville will be interesting but I think they get the job done at home. Another game of interest will be the game at Georgia Tech in mid November. Clemson hasn't won there since 2003...a 39-3 woodshed beating in which the Tigers wore the purple uniforms. Charlie Whitehurst (aka Clipboard Jesus) and company had a pretty fun night in Atlanta that evening. The last time the Tigers were in Bobby Dodd Stadium though, Tech brought the 8-0 and #6 rank Tigers BCS title dreams to a screeching halt with a 31-17 defeat. While 10 or 11 wins will be tough to reach this year, I do think its possible. However, until I see these guys on August 30th there is no way I'd put money on anything more than 8-9 wins. Heard a guy on 105.5 FM The ROAR, Clemson's flagship radio station, predict a 31-17 win in Athens...I'm drinking the kool-aid but lets not get too carried away. Nevertheless, should be a fun season.

Preseason Prediction:  9-3 Overall (Regular Season) 

Season Previews: South Carolina

Once again, I'm opening up a post on a not so happy topic. While I will not try to start a debate on the issue, I just want to acknowledge the situation taking place in Missouri. While we may never know the full and true story, we do know that yet another young man has had his life cut short and been killed while coming home from a convenience store. I'm not claiming innocence or guilt or either party but I do know the things taking place right now in Missouri are unacceptable. It is 2014, in the greatest country in the world, yet the pictures and stories surfacing from Ferguson mirror the scenes of the 1960's in the South and it looks like a war zone in a 3rd world country. Right here, in America. While it is easy to point fingers at either side, we must all take a step back and work together so that these tragedies can stop and stop NOW. Not after another two or three are killed. The time is right NOW!!! People in Missouri and across the nation are angry...and rightfully so! However, that doesn't make looting and rioting acceptable. On the same token, covering a town in tear gas, shooting residents with rubber bullets and referring to them as animals, and arresting journalist for DOING THEIR JOB is also unacceptable. While at times it seems we have finally made progress as a country and moved forward as ONE nation under God, events like this remind us we still have a long, long, way to go. Praying for all involved and that justice is served and that we can come together and bring an end to all of this violence. Praying that we will not have another Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis or Mike Brown before something is done. Lastly, I'm praying for a mother, father and family that is supposed to helping their son pack and head to college. Instead, they are planning his funeral. I can't imagine the pain, anger and frustration they are enduring right now.


Now lets once again move on to (less important) but more exciting and celebratory things like the return of college football. I gave you my rundown of Georgia last week and today I take a look at South Carolina. Next up, I will close out the previews with Clemson.

South Carolina Gamecocks 

Head Coach: Steve Spurrier (77-39 in 9 years at South Carolina) 

Last year's record: 11-2 (6-2 in SEC) beat Wisconsin in Capital One Bowl

Returning Starters: Offense: 8  Defense 6

Key Losses:  QB Conner Shaw, WR Bruce Ellington, DE Jadeveon Clowney, DE Chaz Sutton, CB Victor Hampton

Players to Watch- QB Dylan Thompson, RB Mike Davis, RB Brandon Wilds, WR Shaq Roland, DT J.T. Surratt

2014 Schedule: 

August 28th Texas A&M#

September 6th East Carolina

*September 13th Georgia#

September 20th @ Vanderbilt#

*September 27th Missouri#

October 4th @ Kentucky#

October 18th Furman

*October 25th @ Auburn#

November 1st  Tennessee# 

*November 15th @ Florida#

November 22nd South Alabama

*November 29th @ Clemson 

*-denotes key game

#-denotes SEC game

Overall Thoughts: The loss of the greatest QB in school history who never lost a game at home cannot be exaggerated....its huge. In addition, the loss of WR Bruce Ellington is also very significant and he will be missed greatly by the Gamecocks this season. However, QB Dylan Thompson is no scrub and not only has significant experience but also has picked up a few wins including a win in (The REAL) Death Valley against Clemson two years ago. He also has one of the best running backs in the nation in Mike Davis in the backfield and will have the support of an offensive line that will be among the best in the country, hands down. While I expect the Gamecocks to remain more of a run-first offense, I don't foresee quite as much zone read as we've seen the past few years with Conner Shaw. I envision more of a power running attack with the Gamecocks lining up and running it down your throat until you prove you can stop it. Don't overlook the passing game though, there are some talented options for Thompson through the air in Shaq Roland and Damiere Byrd among others. Things aren't as pretty or clear cut on the other side of the ball. Jadeveon Clowney, Kelcy Quarles, and Chaz Sutton, all of which were major components of the D-line and responsible for the Gamecocks recent success on defense are gone.  Not to mention CB Victor Hampton who left a year early to head for the NFL draft and signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals. Defensive tackle J.T. Surratt will likely emerge as the face and leader for the defense. The secondary will be tested with a group that has little-to no game experience and will start a upperclassmen walk-on in Sidney Rhodes. In fact, Sophomore Rico Williams will be the only corner who has started a game at the college level when the Gamecocks take the field for the first time in 2014 at home against the Aggies. Yikes.

Bottom Line: At the end of the day, Steve Spurrier is still running the show and has a quarterback he can trust and a running back that will be playing on Sundays in a few years. Behind what might be the best starting offensive line the old ball coach has ever had, there is reason for optimism despite the loss of Shaw and Ellington. The key will be how Dylan Thompson adjusts to being THE guy and how an inexperienced secondary will respond. The schedule for the Gamecocks sets up a very reasonable path to winning the SEC Eastern division. The season opener against A&M should be a win...the Gamecocks have won 18 straight in Williams Brice and you can guarantee the house will be rocking Aug 28th in Columbia under the lights. Throw in the fact that the Aggies may start a true freshmen QB into the mix, and things favor Spurrier's crew even more. The Gamecocks get UGA at home early in the season along with Missouri and Tennessee down the stretch. South Carolina has to travel to Vanderbilt to face the Commodores who will have a new face on the sidelines in Derek Mason who replaces now Penn State head coach, James Franklin. The Gamecocks also travel to Kentucky which screams trap game in my opinion. The Wildcats always seem to hang around much longer than anyone in garnet and black would like despite being the inferior opponent...definitely a game to approach with caution. Arguably the toughest game on the schedule might be the trip to Auburn in late October. I fully expect them to steamroll the Gators November 15th in what should be the nail in the coffin for Will Muschamp. Once again, things hang on the showdown against UGA. As always, the season finale against Clemson will be a big one. The Gamecocks will look to make it 6 (!!) in a row against Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers this season when they travel up the road to Death Valley in Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Preseason Prediction:  9-3 Overall (Regular Season) 

Season Previews: Georgia

I'm back....again. It has been quite the summer to say the least!  My life has been shaken up a bit the past few weeks. On Father's Day, my house burned down and my family and I lost everything in the fire, including my mother's car. As you can imagine, its been a REALLY tough time and I haven't had the time or energy to keep up and discuss all the major headlines this summer. However, things are slowly starting to look up. If you know me personally, you know that life has thrown me quite a few hurdles the past couple of years but I've cleared them all...and will continue to come back stronger and better than before! The job search has continued to be a headache but I have found a part-time gig with Event Partners Inc and will be working Clemson football games this year as well as the opportunity for other sporting events, concerts and other events around the area moving forward. Still looking for that first "real" job but for now going to work on just finding another job to keep me busy during the week until things become more settled in my personal life. Have a few leads on what that second job....will keep you guys posted on that. Special shout-out and thank you to all my friends, family and neighbors that have rallied around us and supported us the past few weeks. Its has been truly amazing and I can't thank you enough! But now on to more positive and fun topics....like the return of college football! We are just under a month away from the return of, in my opinion, the best sport in the world. With that being said, I'm well overdue to chime in with my two cents and bring you my annual pre-season predictions and previews for Georgia, Clemson and the University of South Carolina. First up I'll take a dive into Georgia and look at what is going on in Athens and what to expect from the Dawgs this year as they look to bounce back after a season that was filled with numerous significant injuries.

Georgia Bulldogs 

Head Coach: Mark Richt (126-45 in 13 years at Georgia) 

Last year's record: 8-5 (5-3 in SEC) loss to Nebraska in Gator Bowl

Returning Starters: Offense: 6  Defense 9

Key Losses:  QB Aaron Murray, WR Rantavious Wooten, FS Tray Matthews, SS Josh Harvey-Clemons 

Players to Watch- RB Todd Gurley, RB Keith Marshall, WR Michael Bennett, WR Isaiah McKenzie, QB Hutson Mason, 

2014 Schedule: 

*August 30th Clemson

*September 13th @ South Carolina #

September 20th Troy

September 27th Tennessee#

October 4th Vanderbilt#

*October 11th @ Missouri#

October 18th Arkansas#

November 1st Florida#

November 8th @ Kentucky#

*November 15th Auburn#

November 22nd Charleston Southern

November 29th Georgia Tech  

*-denotes key game

#-denotes SEC game

Overall Thoughts: The Bulldogs could easily kick off the 2014 season with an 0-2 start as they open with games against Clemson and South Carolina, however I don't expect that to happen. The Dawgs get an early bye week before they head to Columbia. In theory, that should be beneficial to Hutson and company but having it so early in the season not sure how significant it will be. Nevertheless, you'd be hard pressed to find someone upset about having an extra week to prepare for a Steve Spurrier coached team. The rest of the schedule sets up relatively nice in my opinion for Georgia....no Texas A&M, Alabama or LSU. They do have to travel to last year's eastern division champ, Missouri, but get a shot to shake things up in mid November when Auburn comes to town. I'm not buying the hype that Florida will be "back" this year. I think Muschamp is in his final hours in Gainesville (Cue Chad Morris Watch 2014)  and the Dawgs should come out on top in that historic rivalry game. The Dawgs out of conference games shape up well with Clemson, Troy, Charleston Southern and Georgia Tech. I'd be surprised if they go anything less than 3-1 in those games. Hutson Mason has a tough act to follow with the departure of Aaron Murray...make no mistake about it. However, having the best running back in the nation  (Todd Gurley) who can also catch the ball...that will definitely help take a bit of the pressure off. Mason isn't exactly a stranger to the first team with two starts under his belt in an overtime win over rival Georgia Tech and loss to Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. If Georgia 's key players can stay healthy, (and out of trouble) and Mason can play within his element and not try to do too much, this could be a rebound year in Athens after last year's rather disappointing, injury-ridden season. 

Bottom Line: Heading into the season I would be most inclined to say that the Dawgs will take either the game against Clemson OR break the Gamecock's 18 game win streak in Williams Brice Stadium and take down South Carolina. The way the schedule sets up, if the Dawgs take care of business in their first two games, they will likely head to Missouri in October a perfect 5-0. With games against Troy, Vandy and Tennessee leading up to the showdown against last year's eastern division champ, Missouri...that seems like a reasonable possibility. Although I don't want to discredit the Vols who SHOULD have knocked off the Bulldogs last year in Knoxville had Alton Howard been able hold on to the ball and score in the first overtime. However, he fumbled and the ball rolled out of the back of the end-zone for a touch back and Tenneesee's upset bid eventually fell short. I would have trouble picking them to win on the road...for me the Vols are another one of those teams that really don't have an identity right now. Nothing about them scares me. Nothing. Only time will tell how good (or bad) Huston Mason will be either way, it should be a overall good year for Mark Richt's squad. 

Preseason Prediction:  9-3 Overall (Regular Season) 

The Rise of Social Media in the World of Sports

From 12 year old children on their Kindles to 50 year old corporate CEOs on their Iphones, just about everyone has some type of social media account whether it be Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Even most celebrities are now on social media attracting as many as millions of followers. People all over the world can be connected with virtually anyone at any given time. It is a pretty cool thing, really. (and also somewhat scary) The explosion of social media over the past few years has been quite interesting to watch. The rise of Twitter has been arguably the most popular and allows users to quickly send out short messages that can be seen instantly around the world. And while twitter and other social media sites can be used in good ways (World/Local news, connect with family friends, networking, etc) it can also be used in negative ways as well. From advertisements to connecting with people during popular TV shows and sporting events via "live-tweeting", Twitter has become the go-to app for people all over the world. Today's post will look at social media and how, in my opinion, it has effected sports over the past few years.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Twitter is one of the fastest growing social networks out there right now and is gaining popularity due to its effectiveness in being able to quickly send a brief message or thought out to your friends, family, fans etc with a few clicks from your smart phone. Even further, virtually everyone seems to be on it these days. And while Twitter can be great in a lot of ways...in others...not so much. This post has been an idea in the making dating back to the 2011 football season when former Clemson QB Tajh Boyd allegedly sent out a tweet saying South Carolina's defense was "average". Whether his account was compromised or he actually sent the tweet himself is somewhat irrelevant in my opinion because either way, it goes to show just how quick a tweet can go viral can be seen by a lot of people in a very, very, short amount of time. That saga went on to a battle of words that has gone on between both players and coaches including Spurrier and Swinney every since. No matter if its a golf tournament in June or the week of the big game in November, both coaches have been seen taking shots at the other with Spurrier clearly winning the battle the past five years....on the football field....where it matters most. But this twitter and football connection (and sports in general for that matter) goes far beyond this Palmetto State Rivalry. 

One thing that I've noticed in the past few years is that social media doesn't care...and as some people say, "has no chill". Nothing is off limits anymore and when you play poorly, run your mouth (and can't back it up), do something crazy off the field, get arrested, "come out" etc...social media can and WILL hear about it and you can almost guarantee that they will weigh in. From Tim Tebow's religious views, the Jonathan Martin/Richie Incognito saga, Lance Stephenson's on-court shenanigans, and Jameis Winston stealing crab legs from a Publix grocery store, to the first openly gay NBA and NFL players in Jason Collins and Michael Sam to Richard Sherman's post game rant after winning the NFC Championship, social media can bring out the best...and worst of people. One of the great things about Twitter has been the ability to interact not only with friends, family and other sports fans across the world but to interact with and follow our famous athletes as well. Now while I'm not interested in knowing what Jameis Winston had for breakfast...seeing other celebrities weigh in on sports news and ongoing games while they happen and just simply interacting with their fans is kinda cool. Of course some people are more active on twitter than others and some should probably not have an account all together....but one thing is for certain....it makes it all more fun and entertaining.  

When I think of some of the most interesting people to follow in the sports world one individual jumps into my mind every time and if you know of him or follow him yourself...you will understand why. First up on my list is none other than Metta World Peace. The thing about the former Ron Artest is that everyone knows he's a little...um, "off his rocker" so nobody every really takes ANYTHING he says serious, but he is quite an interesting tweeter. I remember I used to follow him when I first really got into Twitter and learning who to follow. But after a while enough was enough for me. He's definitely the class clown on twitter and sometimes you aren't quite sure if he is serious or not...and that is the part that kind of worries me. For example, the screenshot of a tweet I have here. As you can see he's wishing everyone a happy labor day. Great...nice gesture...except if you look closely at the date...its May 28th. Labor day is in September. Oops? And then there is Mike Tyson. (Another shocker, I know) They say its good when you can laugh/poke fun at your self sometimes and although I'm not sure if this exactly falls into that category, it surely is worth sharing. This one comes to us from 2012 and...well just check it out yourself.  I've always wondered what exactly when through his head before he decided to take a chunk out of another man's ear.....HIS EAR!!!! Another celebrity that should probably never, and I mean NEVER, EVER, tweet again goes back to your boy Jonathan Martin. We all by now know about the story between him and Incognito. Well of all people to attack Lebron about his cramping in Game 1 of the NBA finals, Martin jumped on twitter to give his two cents and basically called Lebron out for being soft and that he needed to "get back on the court." TIME OUT. Flag on the play. Personal Foul. HOLD. UP!!! I know good and well the same 300lb grown man and NFL linemen who quit on his team and cried to the media about being bullied by a teammate is not telling ANYONE, let alone the greatest basketball player in the league right now, to "toughen up". Please don't ever tweet anything ever again. Trust me, it is for your benefit, Martin. As a matter of fact...just delete twitter all together. You're welcome.

The rise of the hashtag has been unreal. Hashtags allow you to wrap up your tweet or show people what you are talking about be it the NBA Finals, American Idol, Orange Is The New Black..whatever. Hashtags have taken social media and the world by storm here lately. Even my alma mater, Presbyterian College, went as far as to have #GoHose (We're the Blue Hose) painted on our  field this past football season. It appears my generation will be the last to recognize it as the pound sign on the telephone. Kids growing up these days will be like..."ohh you mean, a hashtag?" We can blame Twitter for that one, I guess. As I said, the social media world and sports fans can be very, very cruel. The first time I realized this was during the Tim Tebow era at Florida and his brief time in the NFL. Tebow was very open about his devout religious beliefs and didn't hold back from praying publicly and letting everyone know he was a follower of Christ. His signature move of kneeling and praying on the sidelines, after TDs, etc turned into a world-wide mockery called Tebowing. Tebowing spread like wild fire and people began imitating the 2-time BCS National Champion and 2007 Heisman winner. People near and far took part...(and I'll admit I may have participated as well...see picture below) And while Tebow was under fire and criticized for his actions and beliefs I do feel that Tebwowing was light-hearted fun and definitely not as aggressive or cruel as other popular poses that have went viral.

         

     

For example, just within the past week, we've seen both #Lebroning and #Parkering go viral on social media...both poking fun at the star players for the Heat and Spurs and their injuries. Yupp, that's right. It is 2014 and when a player goes down...sports fan find a way to make humor of of it. Way to go, guys.  Like I said, sports fans have no chill and nothing is off limits. Even injuries. And while both Lebron's cramping in Game 1 and Chalmers cheap shot on Tony Parker in Game 2 didn't lead to or cause serious injuries, nevertheless, the players went down in pain and social media jumped on the opportunity....quickly. Fans of opposing teams and others just watching from the outside jumped on social media and took photos of themselves "cramping" (Lebroning) or laying on the floor (Pakering) and criticized both for faking it, being soft, etc. To take it a step further, even Gatorade jumped in on the fun following the aftermath of Lebron's cramping in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Some random guy tweeted at the sports drink company after Game 1 about how one of its major clients was cramping up in crunch time in the NBA finals. Gatorade fired back and not only corrected the ill-informed fan but trolled on Lebron in the process. (Can you say SHOTS FIRED?!!) And that was two birds with one stone. Taking a shot not only at Lebron, but Powerade as well. Of course the guys at Powerade had a reponse following Miami's Game 2 victory...Coming from someone who has no dog in the fight I have absolutely loved the social media war going on between Spurs and Heat fans. Unfortunately, there is always a few bad apples that go too far and don't know when to stop. All in all though, it usually is all in good fun. I can say that I've gotten into sports debates with both friends and strangers both in person and on twitter but at the end of the day we can shake hands, hug it out and agree to disagree and that we both understand its all in fun and "friendly" trash talk and not to take anything personal. After all..its just a game. (Seriously!)

Along with the rise of the hashtag, social media has been ambushed by memes. These can be the most hilarious/clever/ruthless jokes in pictures that you'll find anywhere online. And just like #pakering or #lebroning, takes only a matter of minutes before it takes over social media, becomes a "trending topic" and flat out goes viral online. Memes are one of the better parts of sports on twitter these days because they they usually bring something from outside the sports world but that is everyone is familiar with and incorporate a real time event. Sometimes, when the right and creative minded person creates it, you end up with pure gold. From Lance Stephenson blowing into Lebron's ear to Winston's trip to Publix for some crab legs, social media works fast and literally sometimes before a game is even over, pictures and memes surface that make you think some people have entirely way too much time on their hands. Nevertheless, its hilarious...so please don't stop. Below are some of my  favorites from the past few years.

                                                                                        

Then there's times when the sports world does good and serious work and rallies around a community or person in their hour of need on Twitter. From the tornado disasters in Oklahoma to the untimely and tragic passing of Vikings RB Adrian Peterson's son to watching South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore go down for a second time at home against against Tennessee that ultimately ended his college career, twitter can rally together in unison for support. And when it happens....its a beautiful thing. Simple things like seeing these athletes show support to each other and to those around the world, not only reminds us that they are people too and feel pain but that in the end, we're all in this together. We may play for different teams, wear certain colors or Saturday or Sunday but when the time comes we can set all that aside for the greater good and focus on things that matter. And that is another great thing about sports in general. We may not all like each other all the time but we can all agree we love the sport(s) and what they provide us as fans but there are more bigger and important things in life.

So whats my take on all of this? You can probably already guess that I'm in support of it. Social media is so big right now and doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon. It is hard to watch just about anything on TV without hearing..."join us this conversation on twitter with the hashtag _____, like us on Facebook," etc. Its growing larger by the day. I don't think it takes away from sports and in fact think it makes more fun. We are now entering the dead zone of sports where there isn't going to be much to talk about/watch until fall camp opens up. With all do respect to the World Cup and MLB, a good deal of people are uninterested in sports this time of year. Now the World Cup is different and effects..well, the entire world with teams from everywhere participating. So this year we are lucky and get a little some extra to look forward to. (U-S-A....U-S-A!!!)  My gripe with baseball is that, similar to the NBA, there are so many games that its almost like.... who really cares all that much what's happening right now? Baseball games are long and typically have little "exciting action". Its a long season and although I love me a good baseball game as much as the next guy...its June....talk to me around Labor Day. (For Metta World Peace or anyone who might have it confused with Memorial Day...that's the Monday holiday in September) Lastly, Twitter often helps set the stage for big games for fans and build up the hype. I remember last season how heated and entertaining it got the weeks and days leading up to the Clemson-Georgia game in Death Valley. From Aaron Murray and Tajh Boyd having some friendly trash talking to the fans going back and forth, twitter gives us something else to occupy our minds in the off season and during game week before we reach the weekend. There has been many times when I've been tailgating and away from a TV or actually in the game and hopped on twitter to CollegeGameDay's feed to find a score or kick-off time. Its quick and convenient...well, that is..if you have a service signal at the time. Overall I think social media and twitter specifically has added to the sports watching experience. What do you think? 

The Biggest Game of the Year

Each year as the new schedule is released sports fans, reporters, "experts" etc talk about the strengths and weaknesses, trap games and of course...the biggest game of the year. When I was younger, I used to always believe that the South Carolina game was the biggest of the year, every year. No matter what. I grew up becoming accustomed to always beating the Gamecocks and I'll be the first to let you know that these past five (!) years have not sat well with me...AT ALL. I'm not used to it, I don't want to be! I remember hearing at a young age that the biggest game of the year is always your next game. When I was young I didn't really get it but after maturing and witnessing some of the greatest (and worst) moments in the past decade of Clemson football, I now not only understand, but agree. There is never a bigger game than your next and the next game should always be the most important. Whether it is App State (ask Michigan 2007) Boise State (ask Oklahoma 2007) or Florida State 2013 (ask anybody)...every time you step on the field, your opponent should be the only thing on your mind. And yes, I get it..sometimes it is very easy to look pass a Wofford,  or App State or even a Vanderbilt or North Carolina State and look ahead to an Alabama or Florida State that is looming on the schedule. However, if you aren't careful, the little guys or underdogs can sneak up on you and be your worst nightmare at the absolute worst time.



Tiger fans, remember 2004? It was a rocky start to the season if I've ever seen one that saw the Tigers produce a 1-4 start (including losses to Ga. Tech, Florida State, Texas A&M and Virginia) before winning the next four in a row. That is great and all but it should have been (eventually) 6 in a row to close out the roller coaster season. Catching momentum, the Tigers were riding a 3 game winning streak and stood at 4-4 overall with a HUGE opportunity with a road trip to #11 Miami on deck. The post season was basically out of the question already but the Tigers could salvage some respect with a win over a top 15 team on the road...and they did just that. That afternoon, the Tigers put together a stunning 24-17 comeback victory, rallying from a 17-3 halftime deficit, capped off by a Reggie Merriweather touchdown in overtime. The defense then held on four straight passes and sealed the deal. It was a big, big win for the Tigers and things looked a lot brighter than they did just a few weeks prior. However, Clemson got big headed and the next week a combination of riding the wave from the Miami win and looking ahead to the showdown at home the following week against South Carolina led to one of the worst losses in Clemson history....a 16 -13 defeat on the road to Duke. (DUKE!!!) I remember it like it was yesterday listening from the radio and sitting in disbelief as Duke drilled a 53-yard field goal (would have gone for 60 if needed) as time expired. This game was proof of the dangers of not being focused and why your next game is always your biggest...and why you have to play like it.



My theory on the "biggest game of the year" always being the next game is pretty simple.  You (should) play and think one game at a time. If you blow it against Ball State or Temple (no offense...but you get my point) the weekend before the undefeated showdown with the #1 team in the country...all of the sudden that showdown with the top team in the nation loses some of its luster, hype and importance. Looking at this year's schedule, if I "HAD" to pick a game as "the biggest game" it would without a doubt be the South Carolina game. I don't think I have to go into detail or explain to anyone on this planet why that is the case and if you live in South Carolina you FULLY understand the importance of that game. However, overall I believe it starts with Georgia. That is our next game and right now, our most important game. Sure the game doesn't have nearly as much hype as last year's season opener....nor is it a conference game and the loser obviously has plenty of time to make up ground...but this is an old school (and underrated) rivalry that dates back to 1897 and would be a great road win against a respected SEC opponent for both Clemson and the ACC overall. To sum it up, the season opener in Athens will be a big one and a tall test for the Dabo Swinney and the Tigers. More importantly, it is the biggest game of the year (for now). The next week SC State returns to Death Valley.... a game in which these breed of Bulldogs will be highly over matched. However, like I said, looking ahead to that rematch against Florida State in Tallahassee in week 4 (Tigers have open date in Week 3) before they take of business against SC State could lead to disaster.


In my opinion, "the biggest game is your next game" theory is the best because it helps keep players and coaches focused at the task at hand. Last season, I'm willing to say most fans (both Clemson and non-Clemson) probably had the Georgia game as the biggest of Clemson's season. And while it would be hard to disagree with that, by the time late December rolled around and Clemson was headed back down to Miami, you'd be hard pressed to find someone to say that the game against Ohio State was the biggest and most important of the last ten years. Of course, nobody could have foreseen the events that led to the Tigers and Buckeyes match up at the beginning of the season. Heck, some even had the Buckeyes slipping into the National Championship following conference championship weekend. Once again, this shows that the next game is always the biggest. I'm pumped about this season and how the program moves forward with the loss of two of the greatest players in our history in Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins. It should be another exciting season filled with 12 regular season games..each of which will be very important...and the biggest of the year. (at least for a short period of time)

My Top 10 College Football Headlines

With the NBA season on the last leg as we head toward the Finals (likely between Miami and San Antonio) and the College World Series right around the corner....we are now in the final stretch until the return of college football. While I'm not one to buy into pre-season polls, Award Watch list, etc I'll take any opportunity to talk about what we have to look forward to this fall. Last season was arguably one of the best of my lifetime. From Week 1's Clemson-UGA thriller to watching Auburn pull out two unbelievable wins in the final seconds in consecutive weeks to secure a spot in the BCS title game, to watching Duke almost take down Johnny Manziel and the Aggies in Atlanta on New Years Eve in the Chic-Fil-A Bowl and Oklahoma giving Alabama the business in the Sugar Bowl...last season provided us some great games and memories. Now its time for another season and one that promises to be a special one for college football fans. Today I'll take a look at the Top 10 things that I'm most looking forward to watching this season. Here they are (in no particular order):


10.  Quarterbacks in the SEC 

With the departure of Georgia's Aaron Murray, South Carolina's Conner Shaw, LSU's Zach Mettenburger, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, Alabama's AJ McCarron and Missouri's James Franklin, there really is no longer a true "household" name quarterback in the SEC this season. (With all due respect to Auburn's Nick Marshall...I'll get to him in just a bit.) It will be interesting to see who takes over that role this fall. South Carolina's Dylan Thompson has been reliable when called upon and will be Spurrier's #1 guy this season in Columbia. If you're a gator fan (or Will Muschamp who finds himself on the hot seat) you can only hope and pray that Jeff Driskel will come back stronger than ever and lead the team to a rebound year. Last season the Gators started off the season 4-1 before losing the next 7 straight including a 26-20 loss to Georgia Southern at HOME...a game in which the Eagles did not complete a single pass. Yeah it got that bad in Gainesville last year. Finally, can't count out Nick Marshall who nearly led the Auburn Tigers to a BCS title last season, as a front runner. Joined by RB Tre Mason, Auburn had of the nations best QB-RB combination last season and an aggressive and powerful rushing attack. It will be fun to see who emerges as a start this season from a QB perspective in the SEC.


9. Iron Bowl Rematch 

I remember the moment I heard about Auburn's Kick-Six that gave them the thrilling victory over arch-rival Alabama. It was something I had never even imagined happening in a real football game. I had spent the day in Columbia tailgating with friends and preparing for my Tiger's showdown showdown against the Gamecocks. It wasn't until about midway through the 3rd quarter that I had heard they (Auburn) had won and in such an exciting fashion. I had just assumed that Alabama would win and never even gave it much thought throughout the day to even check the score. I will never forget getting back to my friends place that night and seeing the highlights on TV and the celebration that followed as the football field became a sea of Orange and Navy. Plays and moments like that are what make me love college football so much. What a moment. I can only imagine how much fuel to the fire that game has added to this old school heated rivalry. Although both teams will look a little different this year, this game should be another classic when the two meet on the field this season. One thing is for sure...I'll be watching this year's game a little closer. Something tells me Saban definitely has this one circled in red ink on his calendar. It won't be an easy or fun trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium for Gus Malzhan and company.


8. James Franklin and Penn State 

If you know me, you know I'm Clemson through and through and don't really pull for any other team unless it benefits my Tigers. (That includes fellow ACC members) That being said, there are two new head coaches that I will be cheering on this season as they begin a new era at their respective schools. The first of those is James Franklin as he trades in the Black and Gold for the classic Blue and White up in Happy Valley. Franklin is a great coach and one that should be successful and fully supported at State College. I got to see Franklin up close and personal when I traveled up to Nashville with my PC Blue Hose for a game back in 2012 as a radio sideline reporter. He's a good guy that has the respect of his players and assistant coaches. Someone that I would love to play for. At Vanderbilt, he simply did not have the support and resources he needed to be successful and playing in the SEC didn't help his cause, either. Looking forward to him bringing back the proud tradition of Penn State football.



7. Clemson Defense 

Clemson lost some important players on the defensive side of the ball heading into this season including linebackers Spencer Shuey and Quandon Christian and CB Bashaud Breeland but have some pretty reliable returners coming back and the Clemson defense is in shape to be the best it has been in the past few years. Brent Venables is a animal and has brought the swag back to this Clemson defense. Sure they got embarrassed against South Carolina and Florida State for the second straight year, the Tigers also made great strides and played a large role in the Tiger's Orange Bowl win over Ohio State to conclude the 2013 season. They return star DE Vic Beasley and have exceptional depth on the defensive line with the likes of Corey Crawford,  Grady Jarrett, DeShawn Williams and Shaq Lawson to name a few, which should help support a talented but rather young and inexperienced secondary. The LB unit should also be rather solid as Tony Steward, Ben Boulware and Stephone Anthony should anchor that group. If they stay healthy, Clemson should not only be among the best defense units in the ACC but in the nation.


6. PLAYOFFS!

After years of relying on faulty system that failed miserably time after time, (See Auburn 2004, Oklahoma St 2011, USC 2003 etc) we are now catching college football up to modern times and implementing a playoff system. It makes perfect sense, every other major college team sport has it! Not really sure what took it so long to come to college football but I absolutely cannot wait to see it play out and have a few more games to enjoy towards the end of the season. Surely there will be come kinks that will need to be worked out moving forward but this is a giant step in the right direction for college football. This years format includes a simple top four-team playoff. With the winners advancing to the National Championship game. In my opinion, that is the perfect number. Typically, there are anywhere between 2-4 teams that even deserve to be in the title game conversation and after that there is a fall-off of another 2-4 really good teams that just aren't quite there yet....four is the magic number. (at least for now)  I would think Bama and FSU will be early favorites to make the four-team field but that is why we play the game! Buckle up football fans....is going to be a fun ride!



5. Cole Stoudt 

When the Tigers take the field August 30th in Athens, they will be led onto the field by a new face, Cole Stoudt. Stoudt has patiently waited his time and his time is now...and he's ready. Last year, he was 47-59 for 415 yards, 5TDs and no interceptions. He also had 58 rushing yards and 2 more TDs on the year. The 6'4 210 signal caller looked solid in spring ball and is a lock as the starting QB for the season opener. He has a pretty talented guy named DeShaun Watson that is right on his heels though and should keep him focused and working hard. I'm confident in Stoudt and think he will be just fine although he has quite an act to follow after Tajh Boyd. Should be fun to watch these two talented guys battle for/keep the starting job this season.



4. Charlie Strong 

I've been following Strong since his days at South Carolina and he's one of those guys that you just knew it was only a matter of time before he landed a big time job, especially after his success at Louisville. Like Franklin, Strong too has his work cut out for him and has to restore the faith and excitement for a program that was 3rd at best just in its own state behind Texas A&M and Baylor last season. However, I'm confident he will right the ship in Austin and bring back Texas football back to its history of a well respected powerhouse and the top dog in football in the state of Texas. He means business and although it may a take a few years, I hope the Longhorn family will give him a chance and I'm confident they will be rewarded in the future.



3. Alabama and Lane Kiffin 

One of the most hated coaches in college football running the offense for one of the most hated teams in college football....this should be interesting. Kiffin is far from a fan favorite and is one of those guys you either love or hate. Not much middle ground exist. Alabama has always been a powerhouse and I don't expect that to change nor do I believe Saban would allow Kiffin to have negative effect on the program, but I would love nothing more to see Alabama stumble this season....you know, similar to how they did in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma. However, it is VERY unlikely. Bama opens up in Atlanta against West Virginia, have to travel to Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU but get Florida, Texas A&M and Auburn all at home. On paper, it seems like a very manageable journey and one that should have them in the top 4 at the season's end. This is nothing knew for Bama though as far as strength of schedule is concerned, last year they ranked 40th in that department.



2. Jameis Winston 

From rape accusations to "accidentally" stealing crab legs from Publix and soda from a Burger King can Winston mature and stay out of trouble so he can remain on the football field? There is no doubting his talent both on the field and on the baseball diamond, both of which have professional potential, but someone needs to pull this kid aside and have a "come to Jesus" meeting. Winston already has a Heisman and National Championship under his belt but if he can't get his head together he might soon be trading in the garnet and gold for orange...and I'm not talking about Clemson or Florida. I'm talking Seminole County Detention Center. Get it together, Jameis. If Winston does settle down and stay healthy, FSU will likely make a return to the National Championship and repeat as champs.



1. Opening Weekend 

Most importantly, I'm just ready for football to be back. This year's opening weekend provides a few intriguing match-ups. South Carolina and Texas A&M square off at 6pm Thursday, August 28th in Columbia. On Saturday, Florida State faces Oklahoma State at 8pm in Arlington, Texas, Clemson heads to Athens to face long-time rival Georgia at 5:30pm and on Labor Day, Miami takes on new ACC member, Louisville on the road. We're now in double-digits in the countdown till college football...it can't get here fast enough! SPOT THE BALL!!!

Clemson: The New Wide Receiver Univerisity

For as long as I can remember in my short life as a Clemson fan, there has never been a lack of talent at the wide receiver position. Even before I came onto the scene in 1992, Tiger fans were honored with players such as Dwight Clark (2-time Pro Bowler, 2-time Super Bowl Champ) Perry Tuttle, (caught game-winning TD in '81 National Championship against Nebraska.)  and Jerry Butler (1-time Pro Bowler), For Tiger fans, Butler is most known for "The Catch" in which he hauled in the game-winning TD from QB Steve Fuller with less than a minute remaining on the clock. Clemson silenced Williams-Brice Stadium that night and escaped with a thrilling 31-27 victory over the Gamecocks back in 1977. That play has gone down in Clemson football history and fans refer to it simply as "The Catch".

In my lifetime, I've seen quite a few solid receivers play in Death Valley as well. I grew up on players such as Derrick "The Noodle" Hamilton and Kevin Youngblood who played in the early 2000's. As well as guys such as Aaron Kelly, Chansi Stuckey, Airese Currie, and Jacoby Ford. And how could I forget Rod Gardner. Gardner is also another memorable Clemson receiver who reeled in what Tigers fans refer to as "The Catch 2". It also came against our arch-rival South Carolina in Death Valley in 2000. Down 14-13 with 19 seconds left in the game, QB Woody Dantzler rolled to his left then threw across the field to his right towards the Clemson sideline and connected with Rod Gardner just inside the 10. Gamecocks fans still argue that it was clearly a push-off and offensive pass interference. Tiger fans will disagree. As you can see the referee was right on top of the play but I'll let you decide that one, (start the video around the 2:23:30 mark) True Freshmen Aaron Hunt would the take the field with about 9 seconds left and kick a field goal as Clemson would survive a nail-bitter, 16-14. Fans rushed the field and took down the goal-post and it was an all night long party in Tigertown.

The string of success with Clemson wide-outs has only gotten better with time as evidenced through back to back years of having 1st round draft picks. In last year's draft, Deandre Hopkins skipped his senior season and was drafted 27th overall by Houston. Clemson fans hold this guy near and dear to our hearts. This hometown guy answered the call and had a coming out party his entire junior season that was capped off in a special way in the Chic-Fil-A bowl against LSU. Down 24-22, Boyd and Hopkins help lead a game-winning drive. Tiger fans know it as "4th and 16"...I saw it first hand and still get chills watching highlights. It was one of those memories I'll cherish and remember for the rest of my life. In this year's draft, Buffalo picked up Sammy Watkins with the 4th overall pick. Watkins also skipped his senior season after a great year that ended with a stellar performance against Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. Along with Watkins, another big play maker for the Tigers has been Martavis Bryant. Bryant was selected by the Steelers 118th overall in the 4th round and is expected to be a factor from day one. Bryant had a spotty career at Clemson. At times he was great (NC State and Ohio State 2014, for example) then at other times he made you want to punch a wall with dropped passes and bad route running. However, the guy is a great player and when he's healthy and focused, is one of the best. He has great speed and can "climb the ladder" for passes. Bryant is the full package and his size makes him a favorable target for quarterbacks and a nightmare match up for cornerbacks and defensive coordinators.

But guess what? The wealth doesn't stop there. The Tigers also have a guy by the name of Charone Peak. The 6'2 205 guy from Dorman High School (Spartanburg, SC) was compared to Watkins by some although they noted that he lacked the worth ethic and attitude. Peak missed last season due to an injury but will be ready to rock and roll when the Tigers take the field in August down in Athens against Georgia. With Hopkins, Watkins and Bryant now in the NFL, Peak will be called upon this season to step up and contribute. Peak along with Gerome Hopper, Mike Williams and Adam Humphries will be the leaders for this unit this season. Hopper also has big-play capability and has some serious speed. Humphries is a great leader and gives you 100%. Although you won't see him in the endzone much, he is a great team player and helps in other ways such as down field blocking and getting those tough yards on quick passes and can stretch our a defense from sideline to sideline. He reminds me of former Clemson and Pittsburgh Steeler Tyler Grisham. Not the biggest in size, but is scrappy, plays with heart and works hard every play.

Of course, a receiver is only as good as his quarterback. Clemson has been lucky to have a guy like Tajh Boyd under center the past three years and he will be missed greatly. However, I'm confident in both Cole Stoudt and freshmen sensation Deshaun Watson to hold their own and be able to get the ball to these talented players. Only time will tell, but make no mistake about it, Clemson is still loaded at the wide receiver position. And while I don't expect Clemson to have another first rounder WR in next year's draft, we'll be just fine from a talent standpoint.



***COMING UP NEXT***
Next week I will stay in college football mode and take a look at the Top 10 things I'm looking forward to this fall. As always, thanks for reading and I'll see ya next week! Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend! Cheers to all those that have served, are severing and will serve in the future. And most importantly, hats off to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the things we do. You are all appreciated. God Bless.