So BLESSED! 38 years
@postandcouier
and to be able to leave 1 of the great jobs on earth - sports columnist in CHS - on my own. Got to work with/compete vs. AMAZING folks.
Thrilled about a few exciting opportunities, plus service projects in SC/GA and abroad. ❤️ y’all!
400 ticked off Clemson cadets marched on the South Carolina campus armed with bayonets and swords after the 1902 game, turned back by SC students bearing rifles and handguns. You know, you just don't see passion like that in college football anymore.
Clemson's Will Swinney, asked if his dad will ever leave Clemson for his alma mater: “Alabama, they already have so many championships and stuff. I mean, what else can you really bring there? Clemson, we’re doing something really special here and he helped create that.”
LSU (and ex-Clemson) linebacker Mike Jones at SEC Media Days on the impact of Brent Venables leaving Clemson: "I don't think it's really going to affect Clemson that much. They have a veteran group, they play to a standard and they have Wes Goodwin. I believe in Wes a lot."
Dino Babers on Clemson fans: “You can’t take away how difficult it is to play in Death Valley. Coach Swinney and the guys did a hell of a job coming back to win this game in the fourth quarter. We wish those guys the best. They’re the flagship for the ACC.”
Deion Sanders during a 59-0 win over South Carolina at Williams-Brice in 1988 told fans in the front row, "You people should ask for your money back."
Now his son has committed to play for the Gamecocks.
I have covered the NCAA Tournament in 16 cities now and last week's games at CLA were as well-staged as any; heard so much kudos among visiting fans and media for
@UofSC
and
@CityofColumbia
#MarchMadness
Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Austin Bryant are in NOLA for the game but
@AtlantaFalcons
star DT Grady Jarrett will serve as Clemson's honorary captain
Spencer Rattler on DJ Uiagalelei: "I think he's a good player. He went through kind of what I went through. ... He's been through a lot. A lot of unfair treatment."
BTW, former Clemson QB Tajh Boyd is a really good football analyst, more insightful and honest than most young ex-players. Can do this on radio or TV for a long time.
Shane Beamer said he saw former Gamecocks QB Stephen Garcia, in town for the reunion of Steve Spurrier's 2010-2013 teams, after the Jax St game.
Beamer: "It appeared as if he had a hell of a time at the pre-game tailgate."
To: Engaged couples in South Carolina even considering inviting a college football fan to your wedding
From: Athletic departments at South Carolina and Clemson
Re: Oct. 5, Nov. 23 open dates for both football programs in 2019
Note: Plan accordingly
BC head coach Steve Addazio on Clemson: "That's one of the top elite teams in America. Absolutely. Unquestionably. Whatever anybody else was saying, I don't know what they're talking about."
You are witnessing one of the great college championship game performances ever, or in any sport. A masterpiece of Clemson strategy and execution vs. a really good foe.
13 Florida Gators on D that Will Muschamp coached or recruited were picked in the 1st 2 rounds of the last 6 NFL drafts, including Taven Bryan and Duke Dawson in 2018. Incredible run that bodes well for the Gamecocks.
When Tony Elliott was a Clemson WR in 2001, he sent me a hand-written thank you letter for a
@postandcourier
story I wrote about his rise from a tragic childhood.
When he was a Furman asst., I wrote a column saying he'd one day be a Clemson HC.
Still think so.
Clemson transparency on its drug test investigation will be critical to credibility. Need an official report soon that's something other than "We don't know."
Clearing something up: A radio guy reports today that on
@finebaum
yesterday I said 90% of the media that regularly covers Clemson is soft. Did not say that. I said 87%
A few years ago, I went down to Alabama to take Nolan Turner to dinner and hear the incredible family story about his late great dad, his wonderful mom, Dabo Swinney's loyalty. And a guy who's turned into a very good Clemson football player:
Gage Cerevenka is on an incredible winning streak, undefeated as a Clemson football starter after going 199-1 as perhaps the greatest wrestler in S.C. history. I found the one guy who beat him and found out how the loss still inspires Cervenka:
CBS and Turner Sports adds
@FrankMartin_SC
as NCAA Tournament guest analyst. Not surprised. Perfectly cast. Frank could immediately become one of the great personalities in college hoops TV.
Ubiquitous
@RazorbackMBB
HC Eric Musselman knows how to make all kinds of friends: wore Angels shirt in visitors dugout before Friday night game in ATL, Braves shirt in home dugout
Fine, Muschamp promotes McClendon. But in the presser to say Michigan was the "best defense we've played this year" ...
Oh, I get it. "This year" ... Played Michigan on Jan. 1, 2018 and Clemson game isn't until Nov. , 2018
Dabo on Trevor Lawrence: “The No. 1 player in the country... One of the lowest maintenance recruits I’ve ever had. ... Way ahead of Deshaun from a physical standpoint.”
Mt. Pleasant resident Elliott Fry drills a field goal for
@Chiefs
Mt. Pleasant Wando HS grad Parker White hopes to break Fry’s
@GamecockFB
career scoring record on Thursday in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Brandon Streeter, a big spot for him. Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott often picked his brain b/c Streeter was an OC at Liberty and Richmond after serving as an asst. at Charleston Southern
Re: Kai Kroger snub
Emailed the Ray Guy Award people at the Augusta Sports Council last week asking for elaboration on their finalist nomination process, voting panel, the process, a comment.
So far, crickets.
Really smart Clemson, ND move by the ACC amid the chaos. Protecting the ACC Championship Game teams and a better shot at getting 2 teams in the CFP is a reward to the whole conference for getting out there first in Sept.
The Clemson BOT has received a legal opinion that they believe allows them to can the name of the Calhoun Honors College b/c it's not subject to Heritage Act silliness that covers statutes, buildings etc. Oh, and they heard from
@deshaunwatson
and pals
Shane Beamer mentions Dabo's rant: 'Proverbs was quite the theme for one of my friends in the Upstate last night.'
Then says he leans right now on Proverbs 18:2:
"Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions."
Undefeated in a good SoCon, easily the best team in the state, an NCAA Tournament victory, gave Kentucky a scare. What a tremendous season for
@WoffordMBB
Greinke could have been a 2-way star when he signed with Clemson. Part of the 2002 class lost to MLB that also included baseball/football star Jeff Francouer
I have only worked with
@TimBourret
for 32 of his years at Clemson. But over that time no member of the Clemson athletic department has been more widely respected. Next step: Death Valley Ring of Honor
Another Spurrier take on Vols-Gamecocks: "Someone told me Tennessee is probably headed for the Citrus Bowl now. I guess that's kind of a mean thing to say."
Vintage HBC
@ClowESPN
@finebaum
@ESPNMcGee
Just confirmed with
@TimBourret
that Notre Dame has failed to score 1st in every season-opening conference game played on Saturday afternoon in each of the last 2 centuries