TigerNet Talk is a new audio show(Podcast) about Clemson Sports hosted by El Swann®. This broadcast will be available every Tuesday morning during the football season. If you enjoy the show, please help support it by becoming a donor member. For information on donations, please visit http://tigernet.com/donate.do.

El Swann® will discuss whatever is going on with Clemson Sports and TigerNet. During the season he will talk about upcoming games, review the previous week's game, and answer your questions. He is also going to try and have some guests on as well. I hope you enjoy it and please let us know how you like it.

Please email all feedback, suggestions, topics, and notable posts to tnt@tigernet.com.

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Thursday November 20, 2008

TigerNet Talk #61 - Did Someone Say Pergola? - 11/20/2008

Virginia week on Tigernet tends to lead to two types of posts. Posts from those
who know what pergolas are and posts from those who want to know. This week,
things started off the same, but it seems the coaching situation has replaced
the some of the usual talk of pergola construction. Did anyone hear that
Clemson will be adding one to the east side of Memorial Stadium next season? I
kid, I kid.

There was a time when Clemson fans could chalk the Virginia game up in the win
column before loading up the vehicle for the game. Clemson once owned a 29-0
series advantage and every Tiger fan expected to win verses the Cavilers.
However, that all ended in 1990 and since that time, UVA has led the series
8-6-1. Many Clemson fans still blame Ken Hatfield for this series taking a turn
for the worst. However, Hatfield did finish his career with a winning record
going 2-1-1 against the Wahoo's, but the same can't be said for the two
Tommy's. West finished 1-4 while Bowden went 3-3 in his time at Clemson.

Since the expansion of the ACC Clemson and Virginia don't see each other every
year. These two teams last squared off in 2004. In that game, a 9th ranked
Virginia team dominated the Tigers 30-10 and secured their largest margin of
victory in the series. In an odd event, I don't think either team has a player
with game experience against the other squad. I don't recall that ever
happening for Clemson. I guess this is one of the adjustments that have to be
made with a twelve team conference. It will be interesting to see how Clemson
responds in a must win game on the road.

Switching gears a bit, as the football season begins to wind down, the search
for Clemson's next head coach continues. With Texas seemingly securing Will
Muschamp as "Coach In Waiting", Clemson now turns it's attention towards other
coaching candidates. The one thing that seems to become more apparent each week
is that no one really knows what is going on.
There is tons of speculation and investigation, but very little has come from
any of the information. This week, I talk about the possibility of Lane Kiffin,
my third choice, becoming the next head coach at Clemson.

Anyhow, if you can't get that pergola out of your mind, learn to build one
yourself.
http://www.ronhazelton.com/projects/pergola-construction.htm

http://www.clemsonpodcasts.com

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TigerNet Talk #61 (27 MB)

Thursday November 13, 2008

TigerNet Talk #60 - Shooting For Three - 11/13/2008

If this past weekend's game is any further indication of Clemson's mental
state, it's not looking good for the remainder of the season. I would venture
to guess that the odds of Clemson going 0-3 are slightly higher right now than
of going 3-0. To make that stat worse, the teams remaining on the schedule are
all teams Clemson has dominated in our history.

Duke, Virgina, and South Carolina all seem more daunting than they did in
August. These were supposed to be cupcake wins heading into the ACC title game.
Sure USC is on our schedule, but it's not "The USC". Yet, I still think we might
go 0-3. Did I mention we play Duke too?

It would be one thing if you could pin it all on one specific area, but you
can't. It's not the offensive lines fault that they came in inexperienced and
have been hammered with injuries all year. I have tried to look past that
situation, we can't change that right now. I have yet to see this team respond
to adversity. We seem to lack motivation to get going when the going gets
tough.

For me, it's been the critical mistakes in decision making, by players and
coaches. It boils down to the inability to avoid these mistakes and in turn
make your own breaks. It's the bad interceptions that have led to points for
our opponents, it's losing containment at the worst times, it's the players
looking lost at times during zone coverage, a blitz package that couldn't break
through a wet paper bag, and the inability to move the ball on the ground verses
top tier teams. I'm sure there are more, I'll let you list them if you wish.

Sadly, the odds of this talented Clemson team earning a bowl bid have dwindled
to slim and none. Sure, we could run the table, but the Tigers will have to
play smart football. I just don't know that we are good enough to win these
last three games, if we continue making crucial mistakes. The disappointing
thing is that we will be the most talented team on the field in all three
games.

In closing, I am excited to tell you that I plan to continue TigerNet Talk
throughout basketball season. We began a new segment this week, "Beyond the
Arc" with Daniel Alexander. Daniel was on with me the whole show as we wanted
to test the system. The new equipment still has a few bugs, but it seemed to
work pretty well. I hope you continue to tune in during basketball season. It's
an exciting time for Oliver Purnell and the boys. I can't wait for the season to
get rolling! Thanks again for your support.

http://www.clemsonpodcasts.com

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TigerNet Talk #60 (33 MB)

Thursday November 06, 2008

TigerNet Talk #59 - Dabo'wden Bowl I - 11/06/2008

Yeah, I know I should be in marketing. I couldn't resist, maybe ESPN will pick
up on it before Saturday. I mean, my photoshop of Rendrick Taylor as "The Hulk"
seemed to catch on. Why wouldn't I expect "Dabo'wden Bowl I" to be next? I must
be in the wrong business! (Insert Sarcasm)

This season has been a total roller coaster. Clemson has basically played a
palindromic season LWWWLLLW. It's not the first time something odd like that
has happened in Clemson's football history. If you've never noticed, Clemson's
bowl history carries the same odd tendency throughout. WWWLLL WL WL WL
WWWWWLWLLLLL WL WWLL (Twilight Zone music)

None the less, back to what is important. The Florida State game carries the
weight of a season that once seemed completely lost. If the Tigers come out
playing like they have nothing to lose, you can expect great things to happen.
If we come out the least bit tentative, the Seminoles will exploit our
offensive line with an aggressive blitz package. If that happens the Clemson
quarterbacks will be on the run all night.

A win this weekend would instantly put Clemson back in the conference hunt.
However, the Seminoles will be hungry and their trying to protect something
sacred. They have never been beaten four straight times by an ACC oppenent. If
Clemson finds a way to get up early, they have to continue assaulting the
Seminoles. Florida State will be playing with tons of pride and you can bet
they will want this victory.

Unfortunately for the 'Noles, Clemson has surpassed them talent wise. Man for
man, Clemson is the better team. It will be a bitter pill for Florida State to
swallow, but Dabo has built a fire inside each Clemson Tiger player. This is a
new Clemson Tiger team. They stand by each other, they believe in one another,
and I expect their claws to come out in Tallahassee.

http://www.clemsonpodcasts.com

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TigerNet Talk #59 (33 MB)

Thursday October 30, 2008

TigerNet Talk #58 - A Season on the Brink - 10/29/2008

It's mid year and lots of Tiger fans are slowly unpacking their Clemson
basketball gear, hoping for another great season by Coach Oliver Purnell and
the boys. It's doubtful many of the Tiger faithful expected to be talking too
much basketball before the end of bowl season.

Unfortunately, things haven't gone according to plan. Unless your plan
consisted of, losing three out of your first four ACC games, removing Head
Coach Tommy Bowden, releasing Rob Spence, and getting roughly four months to
debate the next head coaching choice. The dreams of going to a BCS bowl game
have quickly turned into hopes of ending the season with a winning record.

Clemson has yet to break through against their relatively new ACC opponent
Boston College. In each of the last three years, the Eagles have been the
stumbling block, that has kept the Tigers from an Atlantic Coast Conference
Championship game. At least that's not one of our worries this weekend, that is
if someone actually wants to win the Atlantic side of the conference.

In the three previous match ups, Boston College has been the more physical
team. The Eagles have played better football during the critical situations.
College football comes down to making plays and in this series Boston College
has dominated that department. In order for Clemson to turn things around this
week, Coach Swinney will have to pack a 55 gallon drum of...well, you know.

http://www.clemsonpodcasts.com

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TigerNet Talk #58 (27 MB)

Friday October 24, 2008

TigerNet Talk #57 - The Flop....All Paint - 10/24/2008

After going "All In" with a pair of tens, the flop comes up all paint. It looks
like there might still be an inside straight draw on the table. Clemson enjoys
a week off, and some much needed recuperation time, in preparation for their
toughest stretch of the season. Coach Dabo Swinney has made an early impression
on many of the Tiger faithful, and has re-energized this team for the final
games. If Clemson expects to keep it's hopes of reaching a bowl game alive, a
win at Boston College is necessary.

I expect most fans to stick by this team for the remainder of the year, but a
loss next week would leave Clemson with it's longest losing streak since the
1970 football season. That's not exactly what Tiger fans expected to be
discussing in late October.

This week, I weigh in on the head coaching position, and the benefits of the
recent change. It appears Tiger fans are more than willing to go "All In", but
bigger things are expected soon. Only time will tell if the turn card will
leave Clemson and Coach Dabo Swinney playing "On Tilt".

If Dabo turns out the be the answer, I wouldn't be upset. I just believe that
Clemson needs to make a statement nationally, and I am not 100% sold on THAT
statement being Coach Swinney. Have I been wrong before? Absolutely. I guess
will find out if Clemson takes a bad beat at on the river, but based on the
effort and enthusiasm against Georgia Tech, I bet there are side pots all over
TigerNet Nation.

http://www.clemsonpodcasts.com

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TigerNet Talk #57 (27 MB)