Friday February 01, 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:
Love the blog. Here is an idea for a blog just in case it is not in the plans.
On the day before signing day, make a list of all of Clemson's targets and possibly some of the top national recruits and predict where each will go. You could provide reasoning as to where you thought each would go, or just keep it simple with a list of names and the schools where you think they are headed. Then, encourage the readers of the blog to copy the list and post where they think the players are headed. Then recognize whoever came the closest in a later blog. It would be kind of like a football pool, except with recruiting. By doing it the day before signing day, you will basically have all the info you could get before they make the announcements, and you really would not take anything away from the online guys like scout and rivals because all the info people are paying to get will be public knowledge the next day.
You are the man, and can certainly make all of the decisions about the blog, but I just thought it would be fun.
Tigerfan
Tigerfan,
Thanks for the e-mail. I think we may do a signing day pool on Tigernet. Maybe we could get a few hundred involved so I will ask Crump about setting something up. Great idea.
Mickey,
Do you know when they will be releasing the ACC Football Schedule?
Thanks,
Chris
Chris,
The schedules are done and these schools have them but have not released them. The ACC releases the schedules all at once instead of each school releasing theirs individually. They used to claim it would be every January but obviously that did not happen. I think it could be any minute now so stay close to your computer.
Mick,
As always, thanks for the great work you do and the valuable insight you provide to us Tigers out here in the world. In reading some of your recent blogs, I have allowed my mind to wander about the possibilities of our offense next year. They seem limitless on paper.
I know you have probably fielded a question or two about Jaime Harper lately. We'll know in a week where he will playing next in 08 and beyond. Hopefully he will be a Tiger.
Jaime Harper is not a redshirt candidate. If he comes to Clemson, he will have to play next year.
Could you imagine a scenario where we line up with James Davis taking the snap from center and either pitching the ball to CJ Spiller or Jaime Harper or keeping it himself?
If not, we'll have to settle (ha ha) with Cullen Harper, Aaron Kelly, James Davis, Jacoby Ford, and CJ Spiller.
Sometimes life just isn't fair.
Go Tigers!
Neil
Neil,
I think you make some very good points. The idea of being balanced on offense is a key and Clemson will have more weapons on offense than any year I can remember. The offensive line will have some issues though. Davis coming back was huge but I also think Jacoby Ford’s rehab is a huge key as well. Ford and his speed make this offense so much better. You have to game plan against Ford.
Mickey,
Keep up the good work. I think I will pay George Coleman a visit the next time I need a new car.
What an exciting time to follow Clemson Football! We were lamenting a loss to USC and watching them pull in a top 10 recruiting class this time last year, and all I can say is "What a difference a year makes". Hopefully the momentum created by the current commits and the return of James Davis to Tigertown will continue through signing day and we will sign a top ten recruiting class of our own which will lead to us taking the next step in the 2008 season.
Question - How do you see this year's class stacking up to others we have signed since you have followed the program? I would love to see a blog which talked about Clemson recruiting over the last 25 years, which classes were the best, the most under-rated, the most over-rated, biggest signing day surprises and disappointments, most hyped recruits, etc. Also, I would be interested in whether or not there is a correlation between how a class is ranked by "the experts" and how they perform on the field. Most of us are familiar with what has transpired over the past five years or so, but many were not around in the 1980's to witness those recruiting classes and how they came about.
Thanks in advance.
Hugh
Hugh,
You guys are too kind today but thanks for the nice words. I think you will enjoy Gregg Coleman and his staff at George Coleman Ford.
Often times today we seem to disrespect history when we say this player, coach or team is the greatest ever. Clemson has had some very good recruiting classes in the past and I will write a blog on some of those in the future. The one that comes to mind right off of the top of my head is the Class of 1982. That year Clemson signed the top running back in North Carolina (Steve Griffin), South Carolina (David Barnett), Georgia (Stacey Driver) and Florida (Terrence Flagler and Kenny Flowers). That will never happen again.
I also know that Jeff Davis and Terry Kinard were in the same recruiting class. How many times do you sign two College Football Hall of Famers in the same class?
Mickey,
Your "concern" article is right on. My old coaches would have called most of our Bball players "gutless wonders". Mind you, he still loved us and I do those young men. But, I think my all time favorite guy, Oliver, needs to start kicking a little. Why is there such a lack of intensity. Cudos for free throws !!!!! but where's the emotion. I think it's silly to 'slap the floor', but for heaven's sake..........slap something. Let's get intense! You may not play well always, but you can hustle and play hard.
Tom
Tom,
Purnell has done a masterful job here and he continues to build this program. He has chosen to be very positive with the players in this building process. He is not a yeller and a screamer. He does not do it get too emotional with players, coaches or referees. Instead, Purnell has chosen to be poised and calm and collective. I agree that sometimes we all would like to see him light into a ref or even a player at times. Teams take on the personality of their coach and that is good when poise is needed in this case. However, I would like to see a little more emotion from the players.
Mickey
Love the blog. Keep up the good work.
I was wondering, with the spread offense becoming more and more prominent in CFB, do you see Koenning putting in a Dime package? Not only would this seem a better match-up (Corners, not LB's, covering WR's) against the
spread, but it seems to put more of our talent on the field at the same time. We seem to be weaker at LB because of recruiting misses, especially MLB. Wouldn't you love to see Butler, Chancellor, Gilchrest, and Maxwell all on the field at the same time?
Mark
Mark,
Clemson plays a lot of nickel and dime coverage already. It is always give and take though. When you play more nickel and dime then you give up size and open yourself up to the draws. I like what he does with the extra defensive backs especially when they bring pressure off of the edge with a nickel back.
Mick
Where can I get tickets for the recruiting bash on signing day? What time is it? Is it in Jervey Gym again? Thanks.
Mike
Mike,
Here is everything you need to know about the event:
Name of event - Tiger Recruiting Wrap-Up with Tommy Bowden
Sponsored by - The Fort Hill Clemson Club
Date - February 6, 2008
Time - 6:00 - 8:00
Location - Jervey Gym
Tickets - $25 per person
Ticket Locations - First Citizens Bank in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Oconee County and Mr. Knickerbockers in Greenville and Clemson
Program - BBQ Dinner
2007 Football Highlight Film
Silent Auction
Speaker - Coach Bowden discussing and showing video clips of signees
Purpose of Event - To provide scholarships to local high school students enrolling at Clemson this coming fall - based on need - last year we gave out a total of 3 $1,000 scholarships to seniors at Daniel, Seneca and Pendleton High Schools.
864-834-6060
The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
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