Friday January 18, 2008

Friday E-Mail Bag

Friday E-Mail Bag
Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.

Mickey,
Last year Cullen had an exceptional year. However, in the Peach Bowl he was not as effective. I am wondering if he has fully recovered from the shoulder surgery he had at the end of the regular season. What have you heard? Is he going to be OK for next year.

Tom

Tom,
During the bowl game my wife asked me about his surgery. She was an orthopedic recovery nurse for years and she said there is no way he could have recovered in that time. I then talked to a surgeon who suggested the same thing. I have a good friend who goes to practice often and he told me he went to two bowl practices and Harper did not look the same. He said he knew something was up then. Harper said at the bowl game that he was 100% but in an interview yesterday he admitted that his shoulder was not well for the bowl game.

As for next season, I would think there would be not long term affects of the surgery.

Mickey,
I'm not a recruiting junkie like some (my wife would beg to differ), but I have been intrigued by Harper and the prospect of having him in our backfield. This body type we haven't seen in years... certainly not combined with his talent. That prospect, at least in my opinion, has grown dimmer by the day. You said it perfectly today in your blog... he's had more than his fair share of chances to be call himself a Tiger and simply won't do it, not even after his buddy commits. (Note his buddy (Andrews?) says he may de-commit and follow Harper if Harper goes elsewhere, but Harper doesn't seem to care about following him. Sounds like this Andrews kid may need to work on expanding his circle of friends.)

Bobby

Bobby,
Recruiting is always a little gamble but sometimes you have to roll the dice. I think the staff has taken a calculated risk with Harper but they know what they are doing and understand the consequences.

For the record, I think they will still get Harper. You can break down recruiting all you want to but most of the times I think it is better to keep it simple. Most of the time there is a very good reason a player chooses his school. Often it is because it is his best offer. Clemson is Harper’s best option. Illinois makes sense since Mendenhall left early but that is a long way from home. Florida’s running back coach left to go to Tennessee because Florida does not use running backs in a tradition way and he said it frustrated him. FSU and Miami are in-state schools that use a traditional running game but both have struggled to commit to the run and both have deeper depth at running back. Since James Davis left Clemson makes more sense than any of the other schools. Jacksonville is close enough. The depth chart is open. The running game utilizes tailbacks. From a rational thought and deductive thought process, Clemson makes the most sense.

Clemson may not make the most sense for Jerrell Harris, Antoine McClain and others but for Harper I think this is pretty simple.

Mickey,
I read where you'd be interested to know about our stories from football games. I have to tell you, the absolute hottest I've ever been in my life was tailgating for the FSU game in 2006 in Tallahassee. A group of about 8 of us went down and luckily one guy bought a gallon jug of water at Publix early that morning. We passed it around all day, I'm sure we looked like a bunch of hicks passing around a 'shine jug. We literally felt like we were baking from the inside, we weren't even sweating that much, just cooking. Great trip, just by far the hottest I've ever been at a Clemson game.

Wes

Wes,
Thanks for the e-mail. I found it interesting that we call cooler temperatures “football weather” but most of football season is played in high temperatures and humidity. You seem to be the norm where heat is more of an influence on your memories than the cold.

Mickey,

Go Tigers!
Seth

Seth,
I think you make a great point. I should have focused more on basketball and this team. Thanks for your input and your advice is well taken.

Hey Mick,
After all of the media coverage on how the draft lured away some key Tiger baseball players and signees, what does the '08 Tiger team look like? Jack Leggett always puts a quality product on the field, but what will the strengths and weaknesses be?

Aaron

Aaron,
I think the baseball program at Clemson has been the best and most consistent of any at Clemson. Unfortunately, going into the 2008 season there appears to be a lot of question marks.

The starting pitching of Hinson, Stoneburner, Mitchell have a chance to be the weekend starters and should be the key to the season. How will Stan Widmann recover from his surgery and missed season? Who fill in at the infield positions? Will Hogan have other great season? Who will be the DH? Which newcomers will be able to help in the bullpen?

These Tigers looked good in the fall but that was against each other. Hopefully this team will be much better than expected.

Mickey,

David

David,
I think their minds were already made up but your facts are alarming. Thanks for sharing.


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