Friday April 27, 2007
Friday E-Mail Bag
Friday E-Mail Bag
Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions with our E-Mail Bag segment. To submit questions or comments send them to mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.
Mickey,
Hi Mickey,
Let me begin by saying thank you for all the work you put into T-net and the blog. For the Tigers that live outside of the south, it really helps keep people informed.
Your blog entry today (Thursday, April 26) invites a comparison I would like to make. First, let me state I have been a graduate student at the University of Maryland for the past four years. After receiving my undergraduate degree from Clemson and now my graduate degree from Maryland I can testify, living in Clemson exponentially nicer than living in College Park, MD. While at UMD I have had the good fortune to get to know the Friedgen family. Yes, I have only met the coach a few times but the family is an incredible family, who genuinely love the University of Maryland. His daughters do get a little upset when I ask them why?
I will say this, Ralph Friedgen is one hell of a coach. You mentioned yesterday that he won a number of close games last season. Compare that to our coach, who continues to make excuses and always states the team was 4 points away from the ACC championship (or 5 points or 3 points or whatever the current number is). The one thing I believe about coaching is this-big losses are a result of a lack of talent (Duke) but close losses are a result of a lack of coaching. Friedgen wins close games. Bowden has lost them.
My question to you is this, can you tell if there is a sense of urgency this spring among the coaches or the team about the coming fall? And, is the alumni base in South Carolina still as unhappy with Bowden as they were at the end of last season? I read T-net but that doesn't give me a good sense of what the overall mood is of those who do not post.
I know its spring and everyone is full of hope but I didn't know if people were still smarting from last fall.
Thanks for everything. Please keep up the good work.
Cheers,
Cu0295
Cu0295,
Thanks for the e-mail. I too believe that Friedgen is one of the nation's finest coaches. He got more out of less last year than any coach in the country. On the College Park issue, I just don't like the area. Parts of Maryland are beautiful but College Park is not one of them. I tend to find a percentage of some Maryland fans to be nasty and rude but I know that every school has that segment of fans.
I think Bowden understands the environment he is in. He knows he has to win now but he knows that every year. Many fans were very upset about the way the season ended last year. The coaches understand that and the ones that I have talked to always feel that sense of urgency.
Mickey,
Two quick questions:
1. What's the scoop on Dendy re-opening his recruitment? His comments make it sound like Clemson has backed off him. Is this for admissions/academic reasons or other reasons? He certainly seems to be a much sought after player that could help the team.
2. All in all, do you believe the review and changes to the recruiting process have put Clemson on a genuinely level field with the SEC and ACC?
Thanks,
Tobin
Tobin,
I am scheduled to interview someone close to the Dendy situation on Monday and will write a blog next week on basketball recruiting. Sorry but I will have more answers Monday.
I think the playing field is much more level on paper but like any policy, it depends on the people who will implement it.
Mick,
I have read your blogs regarding the CU baseball team and you have been a great optimist for about as long as you can. I think the reality is about to set in.
This is not a good team. I wish this wasn’t the case. With one more USC game, and then the weekend games with Tech, NC State and what appears to be an embarrassing trip to Tallahassee, it is a strong possibility that even a visiting trip to the regionals is a stretch. The starting pitching is not as strong as last year, but the overall staff has basically held its own. Not replacing Colvin has been a killer. Losing Widman has hurt in several ways. Harbin hitting way under 300 all year is apart of that, plus just can’t happen for this team to win.
D’Alessio needed to have 15 or more homers with at least 50 rbi’s at this point. Chalk has to be healthy to play every day. Your comment about this being a one season slump or a trend is a great question. My concern is the recent players that have come into the program. Since CU signed Harbin, Widman & Chalk, name another prominent player at Clemson. At this point, there is not one. This year’s team has only 4 or 5 bats in the order that if they do not produce, then there’s deep trouble.
It is way past time for someone else to step up. I would of course, love to be wrong, but if this season continues as it is now, I would see a record heading into the ACC round robin tourney of 34 – 22 overall and 16 – 14 in the conference. What a difference a year makes. Anyway, one fan’s observation. Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Bill
Bill,
I think you have legitimate concerns. This team has issues. However, they had issues before and Jack Leggett has found a way to get them past those issues. This is not the most talented team but it is still talented. I am more concerned about next season. The draft could hurt and there are a ton of question marks next season. But again, this program usually comes out of it stronger than ever.
Hey Mickey,
Just wanted to get the word out about a comment the 'ole ball coach made Friday night 4-20-07. At a concert I attended in Columbia, they pulled Spurrier up on stage to wish him a Happy Birthday and his comment was .."to you Clemson Fans, I am just getting started!"
Thanks,
Billy
Billy,
I saw where he said that. It is Spurrier just being Spurrier. I think it is fun and makes the rivalry more interesting.
Mickey's Blog also brought to you by:
864-834-6060
The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
|
