Last Post Of 2007

Hello from the Georgia Dome.

Clemson and Auburn are battling on the field below me, and I'm waging a fight of my own. Located directly behind me is the media food line which, in this instance, happens to have one of the best dessert sections you'll find this side of a Swiss chocolate factory.

Good Lord, will temptations never cease.

Well, of course they won't. I've been good, though, sticking to salad, broccoli and two chick-fil-a patties (minus the bun). And of course water, water and more water.

My work here tonight will keep me busy and away from the food line, so I think I'm in pretty good shape here. Time to concentrate on football.

So, this is the last post of 2007. New Year's Eve in Atlanta sees me about three weeks into my attempt to take back part of my life. Two more days until my third weigh-in.

What will I look like this time next year? Follow me in '08 and see.

Happy New Year everyone.

Another Temptation

Another family gathering tonight. Another chance to fall off the wagon. But overall I think I did pretty well.

Stayed away from the chocolate cake, the lemon drop cake, various cookies and even ice cream that came out later. Needless to say it was extremely difficult sitting there watching others indulge, but I made up for it by focusing on the music trivia game were were playing and beating hell out of the entire room.

You have your moments of triumph. I have mine.

Thankfully the holidays are almost over. Up next is a night or two in Atlanta to cover the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Once that's done, my follow-up visit to the doctor is Jan. 3.

Get through the out of town temptations, get clearance from the doc to begin physical workouts, and we will be ready to kick this thing into another gear.

My friends and family continue to be very supportive in all this (though they offer said support through a mouthful of cake. But I digress...LOL).

I hope they stay on my case and don't let me waver.

Next weigh-in day (Wed., Jan. 3) seems like a long time away.

Post-Christmas Good News

I could hardly believe it when I stepped on the scale today.

Through a weekend that included a Christmas party, a big dinner with our friends from England and the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, I still lost three pounds. Since last Friday.

That's 12 pounds in the first nine days.

It was somewhat astounding, by my standards anyway. But I continue to maintain that the two biggest factors at the moment are the amount of water I'm taking in and the sugar I'm not.

That, along with maintaining my no white carbs approach has been successful so far.

I go back to the doctor on Jan. 3, and immediately following that I intend to begin a workout schedule of some sort. I know that's a key to getting major weight off, but I also know me. I've learned from my past failures.

If my mind isn't exactly right heading into working out, it won't happen. Much like the overall lifestyle change. I had to be shocked into changing the way I eat. Now adding the exercise is the next step.

So far I couldn't be more pleased with the way things have gone. I know there will be difficult days ahead. However, I hope now I have the strength to get through it.

I know I have the support. Thanks to all of you again for the emails and phone calls.

They mean more than you can possibly know.

Christmas Eve musings

The last couple of days have been interesting.

Christmas party on Friday. Work for a bit at Wingin' It on Saturday. Friends from England over for dinner on Sunday.

Holiday temptations are bad enough anyway, much less when you're finally getting serious about losing weight.

All things considered, though, things went reasonably well. Stayed away from all sweets. Had zero cake, cookies, candy, etc. That, alone, is quite the accomplishment this time of year. Also stayed extremely light on the white carbs (though I had to have bit of spaghetti noodles with my Skyline Chili. You can't eat Cincinnati chili without it).

Otherwise, it was turkey, a bit of ribs and lots of good veggies over the weekend. Wanted to weigh myself on Monday to see if I had been as good as I thought I was, but the Wellness Center at OMH - where they have the small elephant-sized digital scale - was closed.

So, we wait until Friday I suppose. I know after a full week I feel a bit better, system-wise. All the water I'm drinking is doing its trick.

***
Good to see Doug Hogan honored by Collegiate Baseball as a Third Team All-American.

The Clemson catcher is coming off a surprise year in 2007, and now will be counted on to lead Jack Leggett's Tigers this spring. Knowing his work ethic, I can say with full confidence he'll be equal to the task.

Incidentally, most folks seem to be expecting a bit of a down year from the Tigers in '08.

I'm not so sure. Jack seems quietly confident that this team will surprise some people. I tend to agree. I told folks after last season that the 2008 team would be better than most expected, and that was before fall workouts.

If what we saw in the fall is any indication, the Tigers will surprise some folks.

Remember, you heard it here first.

A New Start For Me, A New Start For The Blog

It has been well over a month since I've posted anything here. As things got busier along the Clemson trail I admittedly slacked off where the blog was concerned.

But now I'm back, and trying to get this thing going again. I'm also trying to get something else going again - my mission to lose weight.

Most of you may have seen the post on TigerNet, or heard my radio show a couple of weeks back. I have had a couple of warning shots fired across my bow from a medical standpoint. Fortunately, nothing major has been found out of whack and what areas of concern there are will be remedied by dropping major pounds.

Easier said than done, to be sure. Goodness knows I've failed at a number of different attempts to take it off, but none of those had the weight (pun intended) behind it that this one does.

Not only do I have a couple of medical issues out there, but my dad has been diagnosed with more serious issues that are weight related. He, almost 60, is now trying to do the same thing I am. Only he's doing it out of reaction to bad news.

I'm doing it to try and stay out of his situation when I get his age (I'm 40).

Anyway, I've started a low carb-related diet plan. No potatoes, bread, pasta...basically anything white. Perhaps a piece of wheat bread once in a while, but that's it. Also, no sugar - which means cutting out candy and any other type of goody that might be available this holiday season.

The only sugars I'll get are natural, from fruit. And I'm limiting myself to no more than two diet sodas a day. Everything else is water. Tons of it. And maybe the occasional unsweetened tea with dinner if we eat out.

So far, so good. In the first five days I dropped nine pounds. At this point, I intend to weigh myself every Friday if possible - using the same industrial strength scale each time for consistency.

How much was my starting weight? I'll tell you that after I drop a few more pounds. But needless to say, when i joke about being "twice the man I used to be," it really isn't a joke.

My intention is to keep this blog updated on more of a regular basis, providing frequent updates on my weight, ups and downs of the process, and of course drop in my sports opinions as well.

It's good to be back. And while I hope you're seeing more of me here, I hope you'll be seeing less of me out there.

Know what I mean?

Catching Up

A few things that have been knocking around the ol' cranium the last few days:

- It seems to me that Clemson's coaches and players have dialed in 100 percent on Wake Forest this week, which is good. Lose this one and next week's Boston College game means nothing. Further, I've been encouraged by what I've seen from the fan base. It's beginning to look like Saturday's Noon start will be loud and rowdy in the stands.

It better be.

- Special teams and turnovers. Always important parts of any game, magnified this week when the Deacs visit. With two of the top return men in the country, Wake Forest will test Clemson's improved kick coverage. And the Tigers' plus-11 turnover margin will be challenged by a team that has seven fumble/interception returns for scores. Add two kick returns, and that's nine non-offensive touchdowns Jim Grobe's team has scored this season.

Talk about intangibles.

- Funny how things work, isn't it? Two horrific losses throw everyone into a tizzy a few weeks ago. And yet here we are, three games left in the season, and Clemson has its best shot ever at playing in the ACC title game. Up and down. Down and up. The emotional roller coaster continues to run a breakneck speed.

Six Flags should have a ride like this.

- Prediction: Though he will have the usual freshman struggles, Demontez Stitt will be just fine as Clemson's point guard. The young man seems to have a presence about him that great point guards have, and his ability to penetrate the lane and kick the ball out to the open man will make Oliver Purnell's halfcourt offense that much more dangerous.

This should be a fun season.

- Today's scoreboard:

Upstate Challenger Sports kids - 28,365
Apathy in the Upstate - 0.

Thanks so much to everyone who made Thursday's fundraiser a tremendous success. By the time the golf tournament figures are added in, the organization's only fundraiser of the year will have raised over $40,000 for the special needs kids.

Puts all the other things we do on a daily basis into perspective, doesn't it?

Yet More Random Thoughts

Random thoughts after another long weekend:

- I was glad to see the Tigers prove my prediction wrong last Saturday at Maryland.

In many ways, Clemson did to the Terps what Maryland generally does to the opposition: They won with balance, ball control, solid defense and, yes, a strong kicking game. Save for the hiccup at the end, it may have been as complete a game the Tigers have played in some time.

- Of course, this has been the baffling thing about this program for much of Tommy Bowden's tenure. One week Clemson can look like a world-beater, the next as if collectively the players have never seen a football. The up-again, down-again nature of business around here is the reason fans get so worked up year after year. There's no consistency.

Just when Joe Fan thinks it's time for Bowden to go, the embattled coach pulls out a fantastic finish. And then, when it appears maybe the engine is running smoothly down the highway, a rod is thrown or a wheel falls off for no reason.

Maddening, ain't it?

- Of course, the real winners through all this are the press/Internet site operators. Regardless of what happens each week, the readership/hits/listeners just keep on coming.

- So here's the next real test.

Home games with Wake Forest and Boston College loom in two and three weeks, respectively. Games which could be very well decide Clemson's postseason future.

But wait. Don't forget about Duke this Saturday. Noon start. No free television. Wallace Wade Outdoor Stadium. Blue Devil fans more concerned about a basketball scrimmage later that afternoon...You've lived this nightmare before, haven't you?

Yep. A number of times in Durham, in fact. The last of which spelled the end of Mike O'Cain as Clemson's offensive coordinator.

Free this Saturday? Might want to take a road trip and see if you can't turn this one into a quasi-home game.

With what's on the line the next few weeks, it might mean more than you think.

More Random Thoughts

A drizzly Monday night and some random thoughts to go with it:

- So James Davis guaranteed a win over Maryland. Good for him. Despite the guarantee coming so often these days that it is almost rendered toothless, Davis is doing what a leader should do. Challenge his teammates. Take the pressure off them and on himself. Set the bar high.

Now, if only he can figure a way to score more than 12 points vs. the Terps...

- When some fans can't think of any legitimate criticism of Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen, they stoop to juvenile measures and break out the fat jokes. Happens all the time. Even to me at the local level. Of course I just laugh because, if you look at it, we're taking over. The Fridge, Mangino out in Kansas, Charlie Wei....um, well, two out of three ain't bad...

- The truth is Friedgen has been a thorn in Clemson's side for years, first as offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech and now as the main Maryland man. And his teams seem to share a common characteristic, almost without fail. As the season wears on, they seem to get better and better. Injuries may slow that progress this year, but anyone taking the Turtles lightly this weekend might want to rethink their position...

- Same goes for anyone getting too giddy after Clemson dropped 70 on Central Michigan last Saturday. Sure, the Tigers did what they were supposed to do vs. and inferior opponent. Maybe even beyond what they were supposed to do. But even TB himself said it's hard to gauge exactly how much the team has improved since the twin Tech losses. Only a better caliber of competition will tell that tale...

- And finally, how about this argument: Carson-Newman should play in the Rose Bowl.

Why? Well, using fan (and sometimes TV talking head) logic:

- Carson-Newman beat Chattanooga
- Chattanooga beat Georgia Southern
- Georgia Southern beat Appalachian State
- Appalachian State beat Michigan

Makes sense, eh? Thanks Hunter...

Notes From Tommy Bowden's Sunday Teleconference

Quick notes and quotes from Tommy Bowden's Sunday phone session with the media:

- The open date helped us in a lot of areas. I think you could tell it on the offensive line. I thought they did a good job.

- Communication improving on line. Last year those guys had all played together for a long time. Defenses move a lot late, and you might only get half a call out. It's anticipation. Hopefully that's where we're improving.

- Thomas Austin: Major adjustment from guard to center. If someone plays over you at center you have to worry about snapping the ball first. Big adjustment. He practices snapping every day, but different animal to do it in game competition. He was originally real erratic, but feeling more comfortable now.

- Hard to read a lot into Saturday's win, because the rest of the teams we have on the schedule have better talent. Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Florida State and N.C. State all had better talent.

- Maryland: Defensively they always give us problems. We never score a lot of points against them. They're well coached.

- Right now we can't rush the passer. We're last in the conference in sacks. We're going to have problems the rest of the way as the talent level picks up...We've got to get a lot better up front. We're getting single-blocked a lot, and that's not good...I don't refer to stats a whole lot, but being last in sacks kind of jumped out at me. Got to make sure the effort is there...Got to make sure we're going the right things in practice to get better.

- Harper has been real consistent for seven games. From the first game on, he's been real accurate.

- Chemistry between Harper and Kelly is because they're both older guys, both fourth-year juniors. They have a lot of confidence in each other, and Rob (Spence) directs a lot of plays toward Aaron as the primary receiver.

It's E-Mail Time Again!

Dan Scott answers emails from the previous week:
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Dan,

We haven’t had Special Teams that were prepared since the Boston College game of 2006. Elite athletes are being beaten by lesser athletes whose coaching staffs are doing their jobs-preparing the team for all aspects of the game.

I am not asking that he be fired now. I am asking you as a journalist not to put up with his excuses and blame shifting.

He owes the players an apology...Penn

Hey Penn,

There's no putting up with excuses here. I've said, and written, that the special teams struggles are embarrassing, and that had I been in the stands as a Clemson fan for the Va. Tech debacle I'd have booed too. And loudly.

The trick now, for at least the next six games, is to try and move forward. That goes for the coaches, players and fans. This can still be a very good season with a strong finish. Then, when it's all said and done, the athletic director will do what needs to be done.
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Dan,

I enjoyed your article titled: Shooting Down One Very Large Rumor There was just one name not mentioned in your list of possible Head Coaches to pull Clemson out of the mire, and put a "fresh new face on" that would IMMEDIATELY attract TOP recruits across the country... BILL COWHER

Don't know why his name has never been brought up... but he is, hands-down, my personal favorite. My understanding is that he recently moved south to North Carolina. Maybe he'd like to move just a little further south where the weather's a little warmer and it's "God's Country." He's been out of coaching just long enough to know whether he misses it or not. Why don't we give it a shot and put the feelers out on him? He'd be AWESOME! What do you think?

BTW, Love your show...HMS

Hey HMS,

First, the coaches in the article weren't "my list." They were just names I had heard being bandied about by fans who want a coaching change.

Secondly, if Bill Cowher wants to return to coaching, he'll pretty much be able to name his job. And price.

But again, it bears repeating, there's no job opening at Clemson. And it's going to be that way until late November. Maybe beyond.
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Dan,

As Mark Twain once said: "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." By the same token, speculation re: TB's demise is grossly premature at this point.Yes, we've now experienced two (2) "Games from Hell" in succession, but there's still time for righting of the ship.It's all about discovering "TEAM CHARACTER," and whether or not he and his staff can develop it.Best be sooner than later...Milnor

Hey Milnor,

Six more games. Is that soon enough? We'll have an answer one way or another after the South Carolina game.
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Dan,

Do you see the irony? Everyone believes their sources when it comes to rumors, even you. Funny that you expect us to believe that your "source drawing" contract guy would divulge info to a member of the media.

Let me guess you will soon reveal that it was not actually the "contract guy" but his assistants husband.Welcome to rumorville Dan. Ain't it fun when you think you have "the real" scoop?

"The guy that drew up the contract..." Now that's funny...GLumpkin

Hey GLumpkin,

It may be funny, but it's true. Whether you want to believe it or not. The source I used, Mitch Vingle, has covered WVU for more than 20 years. And he's connected enough to, yes, pick up the phone and place a direct call to the administrative office and get such an answer.

You just settle back and root for whoever it is you root for, and I'll handle things on my end.
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Dan,

You are nothing more than a West Virginia apologist. So isn't it funny you have such a scoop drop in your lap? If Clemson wants Rich Rodriguez, Clemson will get Rich Rodriguez. And no amount of made up information you spew will change that.

You, sir, suck...J.R.

Hey J.R.,

I never said Clemson couldn't get Rich Rodriguez (if the job here ever opens). What I did was dispel a rumor that he had an escape clause that would allow him to walk out of WVU for free. There is no such clause. So yeah, RichRod can leave if he wants. But either he or his new school would have to pay his buyout to WVU, and if you're Clemson that would be on top of paying Tommy Bowden's buyout (if they made such a move at season's end).

Don't let your emotions cloud the facts, or cause you to make accusations about something you know nothing about.

Shooting Down One Big Rumor

One thing about times of crisis surrounding a college football team. You can always count on the rumor mill to stir, both early and often.

Officially, of course, there is no job opening at Clemson. Tommy Bowden is and remains the Tigers' head coach despite the back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. And, if we're being honest, despite the wishes of at least a portion of the Clemson fan base.

Those wishes lead to rumors, and once rumors start flying about they're almost impossible to ground.

Jimmy Johnson has Clemson ties and is friends with Terry Don Phillips. Maybe he'll return to coaching here. Or how about Brian Kelly, the Cincinnati head coach who last year won the MAC championship at Central Michigan? Jim Leavitt, who is the only coach South Florida has ever had, might be a good fit. Since their inaugural season of 1997, Leavitt has led the Bulls from a fledgling I-AA team to a consensus Top 5 team in the country.

Could Jimbo Fisher be lured from Florida State? What's Norm Chow up to these days?

Or the big one:

What about Rich Rodriguez?

Ever since coach Rod left Clemson after the 2000 season to take over for Don Nehlen at West Virginia, a portion of the Tiger "faithful" remains convinced the wrong coach left. As Bowden's offensive coordinator, both Clemson and Tulane had revved-up offenses. And since his arrival in Morgantown all RichRod has done is put the Mountaineers in the national spotlight - winning the Sugar Bowl two years ago, the Gator Bowl last season and currently sitting at No. 8 in the country.

So it's easy to see why there would be an attraction. It is said that RichRod's wife, too, loved the Clemson area. The fit would be a natural, some say.

Adding fuel to the fire as the week has gone on are whispers about RichRod's brand new contract at WVU, the one he ultimately signed after a serious courtship with Alabama. Word on the street is that RichRod may have a one-school escape clause in that contract.

The school? Clemson.

Now, this isn't just fan rumor. This one is actually running through the halls of dear ol' Clemson U., as well, with certain people in certain positions certain that what they are hearing is true.

It isn't.

I called a buddy of mine back in the Mountain State today. He is, as they say, connected. I told him what I heard, and he picked up the phone and made a call.

Not just to anyone, but to the man who wrote the contract between RichRod and WVU.

There is no escape clause. For Clemson or anyone else. No free way out. No Houdini act. No no-huddle offense coming to Death Valley.

Sorry folks. That's one rumor officially shot down.

But it's only one. And until Bowden's future is finally settled - which won't be for another six-plus weeks - you can bet there will be another "sure thing" pop up to take its place.

Special Work For Special Teams

Tommy Bowden has maintained that he, his staff and his football team can't work any "longer or harder" to try and solve serious special teams issues. Turns out they can, at least during an off week.

Clemson held the first of three off-week workouts Tuesday afternoon. And with no immediate game for which to prepare, Bowden put his team through an extra 20-25 minutes of work on special teams, or roughly double what he does in a normal practice.

Special teams has been an issue for much of Bowden's tenure at Clemson, and in the last two weeks mistakes and that area have heavily contributed to a pair of losses. Most recently, Virginia Tech returned both a punt and a kickoff for scores last Saturday in a 41-23 win at Death Valley.

So after analyzing the game tapes, Bowden and his staff have forged a plan of attack for this week's practices - all of which will include extra special teams work.

"After looking at the film we need to be concentrating on the personnel moreso than the schemes," he said. "Especially on the kickoffs."

Bowden said on the Hokies' kickoff return score, there were coverage team members in place to make a tackle. They didn't. So next on the agenda, he said, is finding players who will.

Meanwhile, punter Jimmy Maners is being asked to sacrifice a bit of distance in exchange for better hang time on his kicks, an attempt to give the coverage team more time to get into place.

"He's averaging 44 yards per kick right now," Bowden said. "I'll take 40 with better hang time."

Elsewhere Tuesday, 12 Tigers were in yellow jerseys (no contact) for the workout, though none of them are expected to be ruled out for the Oct. 20 Homecoming game with Central Michigan.

Among the newest injured were Jacoby Ford (sternum), Scotty Cooper and Rashaad Jackson (shoulders), Michael Hamlin (shoulder and ankle) and Chris Clemmons (thigh bruise).

Random Thoughts After A Typical Losing Weekend

Random thoughts from what is proving to be a typical post-loss weekend:

- Listening to Tommy Bowden say the Tigers "can't work any longer or harder" on special teams doesn't really sit well. I would think I could find extra time somewhere if I were having such troubles.

- I then remind myself I'm not Tommy Bowden. I host a talk radio show. He's likely forgotten more football than I'll ever know. His happens to be a cutthroat business.

- Still, you would think...

- Those fans calling for Bowden to be fired now, as in today, need to step back a bit. If, at season's end, the ship is still taking on water at an alarming rate then the athletic director will do what needs to be done. But Bowden deserves the chance to coach these final six games and see what happens.

Were he continually embarrassing the university with player arrests, poor on-field conduct, awful graduation rates, etc., then yeah. Fire away. But wins, losses and special teams gaffes aside, Bowden has always represented Clemson University with class. He deserves the same consideration.

- Of course, Terry Don Phillips has played Russian Roulette with this weapon before. In 2003, if you recall. Is he willing to gamble again?

- Sometimes the quick notes need a bit more clarity to them. I'll work on that.

- Wednesday, I can promise you it will be good to talk some basketball with Oliver Purnell.

Catching Up With Another Bowden

Had a chance to chat with Terry Bowden earlier this week.

Tommy's brother - or Bobby's son, depending on with whom you talk in what part of the country - is on a mission to return to the coaching profession, nine years after his sudden departure from Auburn. In the interim, he is continuing his life as a talk show host and game analyst, all the while visiting various practices and gearing himself up mentally for a return to the grind.

We visited for roughly 20 minutes, which really was barely enough time for this Bowden to get warmed up. But he was very candid about his desire to coach again, his time as a member of the media and the state of coaching around the country these days.

But his most telling comments came when discussing the criticism Tommy has faced at Clemson, as well as that of brother Jeff when he was offensive coordinator at Florida State.

Terry acknowledged the stress, the hurt even, that comes when a member of the family is under such attack. That he has multiple family members in that position makes it even worse.

But to his credit, Terry also admitted that in his role as an analyst, sometimes he is the one doing the criticizing.

"You have to be objective," he said. "When I see things I don't agree with, I call them on it."

He continued.

"When you get paid $1.5 million, $1.2, two million dollars a year, it comes with the territory," Terry said. "I stayed at Tommy's house last night. That's a pretty nice house. That's a nice boat dock he has. Nice boat, too.

"So when you make that kind of money, criticism comes with it. You have to expect it in this profession."

But when push comes to shove, Terry's blood is indeed thicker than water.

He still expects brother Tommy to win big here at Clemson.

"Sometimes it takes a while," he said. "Bobby Bowden didn't win a national championship until he was 63 years old. Sometimes you go along winning eight and nine games year after year, and then suddenly you break through.

"Tommy's a good coach. And it's going to happen for him at Clemson."

Buchholz Does Well With New Routine

CLEMSON - The first day of the new routine for Mark Buchholz came off without a hitch Wednesday.

The Clemson kicker was run onto the field at varying stages during practice, without notice, to kick under game-like conditions. Every time head coach Tommy Bowden called, Buchholz delivered. He didn't miss a kick all practice.

"I even did the Urban Meyer thing on him," Bowden said following the workout.

Meyer, in Florida's last-second loss to Auburn last Saturday, called a timeout from the sideline a split second before the snap was made on the field goal attempt. The kick was good, but didn't count because Florida was granted the time out.

The strategy, which is being employed by an increasing number of coaches now at both the college and NFL level, ultimately failed when Auburn's kicker also made the second attempt and gave the Gators their first loss.

"I blew the whistle and the players all thought practice was over," Bowden said. "I said 'No, no. Time out was called. You've got to kick it again.'"

Of course, making kicks in practice hasn't been a problem for Buchholz.

He was perfect in workouts last week prior to the Georgia Tech game. Buchholz went on to make just one of five attempts vs. the Yellow Jackets in a game Clemson lost 13-3. Three of the misses were from 47 yards or better.

But the miss from 30 yards - as well as a missed 29-yarder the week before at N.C. State - prompted Bowden to take a second look at how he was using the two-sport star during practice. Thus the change this week.

Buchholz was also in the news because of an unintentional secondary violation of NCAA rules committed by Clemson.

Rules state that a student-athlete can only participate in his or her sport 20 hours a week and must have a full day off. If Buchholz had a day off from soccer he would go to football practice, and vice versa. But Bowden and soccer coach Trevor Adair were informed that Buchholz had to take a full day off from both sports, thus the rules violation.

There is not expected to be any major issue raised by either the ACC or the NCAA because of the uniqueness of the situation. Meanwhile, Adair pointed out earlier Wednesday that both he and Bowden were more focused on the big picture from the beginning.

"We were concentrating on the 20-hour rule," Adair said. "Mark never went over 20 hours. We made sure of that. This is the first time anyone has been through something like this, so any violation was unintentional. But through it all we were looking out for Mark's well-being. He's not being abused."

NOTES
- Bowden said it was still too early in the week to talk about any possible changes on the offensive line;

- Wide receiver Rendrick Taylor looks "doubtful" for Saturday's game vs. Virginia Tech, according to SID Tim Bourret;

- Bowden's brother, Terry, was at practice again Wednesday. Earlier in the day he hosted his two-hour national college football show on Sirius Satellite Radio from the broadcast booth at Death Valley.

Viewer...er, Reader Mail

Letters! We get Letters! We get lots and lots of letters...(Thank you Paul Shafer). Today a new feature: Letters to Dan Scott from readers and the occasional email to his sports talk show, and Dan's response.

Dan,

I appreciate your views and enjoy reading your articles. I'm interested in your perspective on the following.

Bowden and Spence seem to me to be so focused on the x's and o's and the complexity of the next play and their plan, that it seems like no one is watching the game. Who is looking at the bigger picture and making decisions accordingly? The tree and the forest thing. We want to clear the forest so we are very focused on cutting down trees. We have a plan and feel for the most part that we are executing except for a few miscues here and there, but we can fix them. All the while no one is looking at the big picture so they completely miss the fact that the new trees are growing faster then we're cutting down the old ones. Doing pretty good on cutting down trees but the forest is not being cleared.

One can work very hard and feel they are doing a good job, but if they don't see what is going on in total, the end result can be failure.

With all of the tools we have on offense, to only score 3 points seems to me like someone doesn't see the big picture. Great incision doctor but your patient just died.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks...Bill

Bill,

I'm not sure if it's a lack of seeing the big picture. I think it's more of just getting beaten in a chess game.

The offensive staff puts in a game plan based on what they see in film study, and then once the game rolls around it becomes a matter of calling the right play vs. the right defensive alignment. In other words, the simple explanation is that when Spence and Co. see seven in the box, they call run. When they see eight, they call pass. Then if the defense changes alignment before the snap, it's up to either the quarterback - or sometimes the staff - to adjust. A defense can disguise coverages, blitzes...pretty much anything. That's where all the film study comes in.

Saturday Georgia Tech got the better of it, made the better calls with better timing and kept Clemson off balance to a certain degree. However, one can't discount the dropped passes and other mistakes. Catch a few balls and make a kick here and there and the outcome is different.

Then you can see the forest despite the trees.
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Dear Dan,

I normally do not get involved or contact sports commentators. But after Saturday, I have been thinking.

I began dating my current husband in 1991 and began attending Clemson football games. I loved the excitement of each game even though in those years, I didn't really understand football. We married in 1998. By that time, I understood the basics and the fundamentals. But at times, even now, I have to ask 'What happened?' or 'Why did they do that?' or 'What was the penalty call?'.

But today, I have been reflecting. I understand that the players are young men with many things on their mind - their college, their major, friends, family, and future employment. Additionally, I try not to blame the staff for the team's performance.

So, I guess here's my problem. I feel like I have made a time and financial commitment over the past 15 years. I have spent many New Years' days cheering at games and some in the rain (Jacksonville). I have gone on road trips to Boston, Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville, and many more cities. I have sacrificed time with my friends and family members and have even missed Homecoming at my alma mater in order to support Clemson.

Basically I want a return on my investment of time and money. I want Clemson to do well and succeed. I want Clemson to perform at their best for every game. I want the Coaches to led the athletes through promoting a team spirit. The entire team and staff need to lift one another up and be supportive. I am not sure what is going on or what happened Saturday. But I can tell you, I would rather be 0 - 11, and leave a game feeling like every fan, player, and coach left knowing they did every thing possible to help this program than to leave not understanding why we all fell apart that day.

Tommy Bowden said in his highlights that many teams would love to be 4 -1. I don't believe that mentality. To allow any involved person in this program to have no remorse for the lack of effort on Saturday's game is unacceptable.

I think Coach Ayers from Wofford might have it figured out. When they played South Carolina last year, they understood the dynamics and still pulled-off the most exciting game I have seen in years. Their success and commitment to that program is unmatched. They bravely fought and defeated App. St. - who was coming off of a big win.

So I close with this thought, each person involved in this program - coach, player, or fan - what type of return do you expect from your investment? I want something that is more than obtainable, more than mediocrity, more than 'settlin', more excitement, and more collaboration between everyone. American football great Vince Lombardi once said, "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."

Let's want to win. We won't solve Cancer, or the Middle East conflict, or the economic troubles of this world. But for a few hours a week, we will all be a part of something larger than ourselves that will engage and empower us with the knowledge of knowing we cannot create this excitement individually.

Sincerely...Kara

Kara,

Wanting a return on your investment is natural. I understand. But the ups and downs are all part of being a fan.

I know the feeling. As a West Virginia fan, I watched for years as Don Nehlen got the Mountaineer program to a certain level but never reached the mountain top. I cursed every draw, screamed for the team to throw the ball more, and wondered aloud why he wasn't keeping up with the changing times in college football.

While you can hope for more, write letters, email the administration or call talk shows, the bottom line lies with you. Are you a fan regardless? Or have you had enough?

I'm not saying you can't be displeased, upset, or even outraged. As someone who pulls for a team and makes such an emotional and financial investment, that's your right. However, what it usually comes down to is love and loyalty. And I usually find that no matter how upset I get at WVU, or my Reds or Bengals, my love for the teams and the sport always brings me back.

At some point, every fan has to face such a decision. Just make sure it's one you can live with.
---------------------------------------
Dan,

Is it true that Bowden is actually blaming the players for the Tech debacle? Hard to believe. It appears that the coaching staff took the week off - mystery game plan, schizophrenic play-calling and players not even knowing where to line up on a call like they haven't practiced in a month. That’s all coaching. And blaming a kicker for missing 3 kicks from 50 yards is terrible.

What are your thoughts on why it was such a disaster?

Thanks...Phil

Phil,
I don't know that he was blaming players. I believe he was just pointing out the obvious.
He also said as head coach it's up to him to get it corrected, so there is personal accountability. Everyone - coaches, players, support staff - has to self-evaluate, correct mistakes and get better for the next game.

And they'd better. Because the Hokies are on the horizon.

Praise Flowing A Bit More Freely

While "cautious optimism" has been the hip phrase surrounding Clemson football again this week, some of the optimism is beginning to come a little closer to the surface. Even if it has to be lured.

Wednesday after practice, head coach Tommy Bowden was quick to offer praise to certain areas of his team when prompted by reporters. For instance:

- The offensive line.

"It would be hard to argue with 600 yards of offense," Bowden said, referring to the output last Saturday at N.C. State. "There's not a whole lot going wrong there."

- His wide receivers, a group that saw one of its most consistent performers so far this year - Tyler Grisham - go without a catch vs. the Wolfpack. Such has been the depth of the passing game.

"Coach (Dabo) Swinney's done such a good job with that group, and they've all got another year," he said. "We lose LaDante (Harris), and that's it. Those guys have all done a good job."
Of course Bowden was quick to offer up a little criticism, as well.

Returning to the subject of the offensive line, he expressed a concern about quality depth. Several of the backups aren't playing well enough at the moment, and that could cause problems as the season continues.

"We're playing the starters too much," Bowden said. "We need Lambert, Hairston, Grant, Medlin and those guys to step up to the plate. That's been a little disappointing."

NOTES
- Bowden said that Wednesday's practice was better than Tuesday.

"We did not have a good practice yesterday. Same heat. Same dress. It's just attitude," he said. "The attitude was really good today."

- The coach also said that bandit end Ricky Sapp had his best all-around game vs. N.C. State. Every category on which the coaches grade a player - from effort to missed assignments, from run support to rushing the passer - Sapp graded high.

The trick now, Bowden said, is consistency.

"He's been here what, 17 games? That's one. Now we need him to string a whole bunch of them together. Gaines Adams was able to do that, and look at the reward he got."

Don't Pop The Champagne Corks Just Yet

For the moment, they're all saying the right things.

They, of course, are Clemson's players and coaches. Led by Tommy Bowden. So far, four games and four wins into the 2007 college football season, no one in the Clemson camp is jumping off the deep end in attempts to praise these Tigers.

Oh sure, they're happy with the start. The win over N.C. State was, to date, the team's best all-around performance.

But even at that, Bowden was hesitant to proclaim as much during Sunday's teleconference with the media.

"I don't know how good Florida State or N.C. State are," he said. "I want to wait and see how we do once the competition gets tougher."

That attitude, at least publicly, has been shared by Bowden's players. Fans, too, should be of the same mindset. Because whatever the good feelings may be now, it can all unravel more quickly than a dose of castor oil can run through a sick child (you youngsters ask the old folks about castor oil. I still have nightmares of my grandmother coming after me with that oversize spoon).

Bad memories aside, the fact remains that the story of this team has yet to be written to its completion. And if the Tigers are to make hay in the ACC come November, the next two weeks loom large.

By that time, one half of the season - and the conference schedule - will be completed. Sweep Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, you're sitting pretty. Split and things are still okay.

Lose both? Well, the road to Jacksonville could very well become much like the road to Hades - paved with good intentions.

So enjoy the perfect start. Revel in the success of Cullen Harper. Be joyful over the No. 13 ranking.

Just don't get carried away. Yet.

The warning label on this bottle says that premature celebration can lead to unnecessary heart problems.

Just trying to help.

Napier Continues To Impress

It's an old cliche, but it remains true today. Perhaps more than ever before.

Recruiting is the lifeblood of a college football program.

If you can build a relationship with a player, convince them that your school is the right place to be, and do it consistently, your future in the business is a bright one. With the stakes higher than ever before, with terms like "arms race" being thrown around where facilities are concerned, coaches who can recruit successfully will be rapid risers throughout the profession.

Tommy Bowden has a number of good recruiters on his staff.

Veterans like Brad Scott and Ron West have seen and done it all. Dabo Swinney has made a name for himself among the elite players on Clemson's roster. David Blackwell was brought to Bowden's staff in part because of his recruiting prowess.

But who is the brightest star of them all?

It could very well be Billy Napier.

The former Furman quarterback began as a graduate assistant at Clemson, went away for a couple of years, then came back to Bowden's staff to launch his career. And launch it he did, in a major way. Major college magazines have taken notice of Napier's recruiting ability, and it seems the more he works at it the better he gets.

His boss, Tommy Bowden surely is impressed. And not just with his recruiting. It's the total package that still catches Bowden's attention.

"He is productive. We put him in charge of punt blocks last year and we didn't have any punts blocked last year after having five blocked in 2005," Bowden said earlier this week. "His tight ends have been productive. Thomas Hunter had the most yards by a Clemson tight end in 30 years last year, and this year Brian Linthicum already has two touchdown passes.

"His recruiting speaks for itself. He has a pretty good future in this profession. He's got a good pedigree with his father being a coach. When you play quarterback, it really gives you and understanding offensively of every position on offense, plus defensive structure, support, and coverage. Right now after two years with me, he has obviously shown he can recruit, and his unit (tight ends) has been productive on the field."

The only problem, if you can call it that, is upward mobility.

The better Napier does, the more likely another school comes calling with a bigger, better job with even more responsibility. It's the nature of the business, and likely to happen sooner rather than later.

Clemson fans should enjoy his production while they can.

Catching Up...Again

Whose idea was it to write a daily blog anyway?

Well, okay. It was mine. Great in theory. So far a little lacking in execution these last two weeks. But, we will try to do better moving forward.

Anyway, we're facing another busy weekend. The Drive's high school game of the week this Friday night is Daniel at Westside, where Rams tailback Montez Hatten will try to thrill the home crowd by becoming the school's career rushing leader. He needs 126 yards.

Then Saturday it's back to Clemson, where the Tigers take on Louisiana Monroe. I'll be writing a game store for TigerNet (www.thetigernet.com), then scooting over to Wild Wing Cafe in Greenville to co-host the network's Fifth Quarter Show. If you're in the neighborhood, drop by the West Washington Street location and come see us.

Back in studio for Friday's show, after a long run at Fairway Ford Mazda in Anderson. The dealership has been sold, so I want to wish all the friends we've made there over the last year good luck.

See you again soon.

Cullen, Say Hello To Armanti

Cullen Harper, meet Armanti Edwards.

You two sit a while. Get to know each other. And then, Cullen, take as much information as you can away from Edwards' just-completed trip to Ann-Arbor.

Yeah, I know, Edwards is already a championship quarterback at the I-AA level. He has plenty of college football snaps under his belt.

But Edwards had never faced a situation like he did Saturday, when his App. State Mountaineers shocked the college football world by beating No. 5 Michigan. At the Big House. On the first-ever broadcast of the new Big 10 Network.

Nice call on that matchup, fellas.

Anyway, back to my point (fleeting as it may be). There is plenty that Harper - who will be making his first career start Monday night - can learn from Edwards' performance on Saturday.

Things like play loose and cocky from the get-go. Yes, Harper has the advantage of playing at home - something Edwards didn't - and that will help. But nerves are nerves, and Harper will have more than his share of butterflies prior to kickoff.

So when the coaches call your number, have at it. Don't over-think. Just read and react. Just like Edwards did in the first half Saturday, when he was 7-for-7 passing with three touchdown passes. Edwards and App. State were rolling, and Michigan was stunned.

Also, if you get the chance, check out what happened to Edwards in the second half.

As the game wore on and the Mountaineers kept the lead, it suddenly seemed to dawn on Edwards where he was and what he - and his team - were doing. Suddenly he wasn't as free-wheeling. Suddenly he was trying to be too accurate, rather than just firing away.

Suddenly, he and his team were no longer playing to win. They were playing not to lose. Only when Michigan finally regained the lead was the pressure off. The Mountaineers were underdogs again, and it was in that role that Edwards and Co. relished.

So, Cullen, if you look up late in the third quarter Monday and your Tigers are ahead, don't sweat it. Just keep doing what got you the lead.

Playing smart and carefully is one thing. Playing passively is another.

Playing passively will get you beat.

Preparing For The Seminoles

Tommy Bowden made the first of his weekly guest appearances on my show today.

Now just four days away from the season opener, Bowden still comes across as a man of extreme confidence. It's not the arrogance that he was accused of during his first couple of years here, not by any stretch.

No, this - as I've written before - is more of a quiet, business-like demeanor that shows no signs of stress.

And it could be that Florida State is one team with which he can afford to be confident. After an 0-4 start in Bowden Bowls, son has defeated father in three of the last four. Hard to believe, considering the early years, that the redshirt seniors on this 2007 team have a chance to say their class beat FSU four times.

Yet to do so the Tigers are going to have to overcome a new Seminole offense. Jimbo Fisher, late of LSU, is the new offensive coordinator. Rick Trickett, architect of West Virginia's dominant offensive lines, is also on board.

So Bowden and defensive coordinator Vic Koening are looking at a brand new offense that contains a little bit Seminole, a little bit WVU and a whole lot LSU.

What to expect, you ask?

If Fisher's past is any indication, plenty of running game and play-action pass. So Clemson's chore would seem to be simple - stop the run and make Drew Weatherford's arm beat them.

Of course, nothing is simple in the Bowden Bowl. The stress on the family has reached such a point that Tommy said his mother probably wasn't attending this game.

It's a far cry from the circus atmosphere surrounding the very first meeting back in 1999.

But for the loser Monday, a brand new big top might be in the works.

Don't Panic. We're Still Here

No, the blog hasn't gone away.

I've just taken a few days off while working on some things both at home and for the show. But all is well. We will crank it up hot and heavy again in the next day or two.

Oh, and go Reds.

Successful Season Up For Debate

On my Monday show on WCCP I posed the question to Clemson football fans:

What, to you, would constitute a successful 2007 football season?

I brought up the question because of the buzz swarming around the new Seat Equity Plan coming to Death Valley in 2008, and the fair question many donors are asking:

If I have to give more, shouldn't I expect a better product on the field?

Most would agree that the answer is yes. But what is a better product? What would constitute a successful season in the minds of Clemson fans?

My proposal, simply for the sake of argument (and generating calls) was this - A 10-2 regular season with losses to Florida State and South Carolina, and a spot in the ACC Championship Game. Not that I expect the Tigers to finish 10-2, but the scenario captures a beautiful dilemma for Clemson fans:

Would they accept another loss to the Gamecocks, knowing they were going to play for the ACC title the next week anyway?

Surprisingly, the calls and emails - and there were bunches of both - ran about 50-50. Some fans are simply so unable to get past their hatred of South Carolina that they would rather give up the chance to do the one thing many of them have been screaming for Tommy Bowden to do - play for championships - than lose again to Steve Spurrier's crew.

It made for an intriguing three hours of talk radio, to be sure. But it also required me to take a closer look.

At 60-38, Bowden is averaging less than eight wins a season during his eight years at Clemson. So it's easy to understand the cries for better production this far into his tenure.

Let's say that the non-conference games with Furman, Louisiana-Monroe and Central Michigan are already in the win column. Clemson then has eight conference games remaining, plus the year-ender at South Carolina.

If Clemson goes 5-3 in the conference and beats USC, that's a 9-3 record. But three losses likely eliminate them from the ACC title game. So, then, what about 6-2 in the ACC and a loss to USC? Again, a 9-3 record but this time you have a shot at the title game depending on how things play out.

How about 8-4- beating the Gamecocks but going 4-4 in conference play? Or another 8-4 scenario, losing to USC but finishing 5-3 in the conference?

The possibilities are enough to make your head spin.

The bottom line here is that Bowden is up against a bit of his own history. He's had but one 6-2 conference record in his eight years here (2000). His team's have finished 4-4 on four occasions, 5-3 on three others.

Can he at least equal the 6-2 mark of 2000? Can he finally reach the ACC Championship Game? Is beating USC again (he's 6-2 vs. the Gamecocks) simply a must in 2007?

In reality, though fans will weigh in all season long, right now only one man's opinion really matters - athletic director Terry Don Phillips.

And what he's thinking, no one knows.

Weekend Wrapup

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I say that with approval, with respect. I love my Sunday afternoons.

Of course, in a couple of weeks Sunday becomes just like every other day. One which will require at least some level of work done to fulfill my Clemson coverage requirements. But again, I'm not complaining. It beats digging ditches. And having done that for a summer, I know of which I speak.

Anyway, just a quick take today to mention the great time we had at Easley on Friday night for the first high school football broadcast of the year. Tom, Tosh and I were greeted warmly again, as we always are. And we ended up with another good, exciting game (in case you didn't know, announcers hate blowouts almost as bad as the losing coach).

Check out our website - www.wccpfm.com - each week for a few paragraphs of my thoughts on each game, plus audio highlights. It's another new addition to what we feel is the best high school football coverage in the state.

It gets further enhanced this week when Stan Olenik joins us for the second straight season with his 30-minute Upstate preview show and postgame scoreboard show. He'll be along for the ride the rest of the year.

It promises to be fun, for sure. Now, back to my regularly scheduled nap.

See you Monday morning, 9 a.m.-Noon, for Cruise Control, and then Monday night (7-9 p.m.) at Croc's off Pelham Road in Greenville for some preseason Monday Night Football.

Great Job Green Wave Fans

Wanted to take just a moment to thank the folks at Easley High School.

With the high school football season set to open Friday night, Easley had a community pep rally downtown on Thursday evening. The Green Wave will take on rival Pickens in the opener at Brice Field, and we at WCCP will make it the first stop again this year for our Friday Night Lights High School Game of the Week.

I was happy to accept when asked to emcee the pep rally. Between the cheerleaders, band, football players and 300 or so fans gathered on an early evening in which the temperature again hovered near triple digits, even I couldn't mess up things.

In fact, the crowd was kind enough to laugh at my feeble attempt at the occasional joke. My youngest daughter, Rebekah, was shocked that her old man was received so well.

But it's that way everywhere we go for our game broadcasts.

Upstate fans have embraced us, and we thank you for doing so. To me, even all these years later, there's still something special about those football Friday nights.

So whether it's Easley this week or anywhere else on our schedule, we look forward to seeing you all.

Let the games begin.

Bowden Searching For Leadership

CLEMSON - Temperatures hovering near triple digits continue to be yet another obstacle for Clemson's football players.

The sun beats down with nauseating consistency. It doesn't care who's hurt, or who's tired. It seemingly has but one function these days - to make the hot even hotter.

This week, more than any other in camp, will be the biggest grind of them all.

Wednesday was the second of three scheduled two-a-day sessions for the week. None of them so far have been given a break from the intense heat.

Add to the formula the usual fall camp ingredients - players tiring of seeing only each other day after day, nothing (even school) to serve as even a minor distraction or mental break from the monotonous routine of meetings, practice, more meetings and sleep - and coaches undoubtedly watch their troops begin to simmer and/or wilt.

It's at this juncture that Tommy Bowden and others like him across the country begin looking for true leadership.

Not the guy who does the most talking, but little else. No, the search this time of year is for the guy who is able to keep his motor running consistently despite the heat; the guy who catches a teammate giving less than his best effort and challenges him to do better.

The guy who, though totally exhausted and perhaps beaten on the previous play, drags himself back into position and wins the battle on the next snap.

Those are the guys coaches look for on the football field.

And at Clemson, it's just about time for such leaders to emerge.

"With so many underclassmen I don't think we're near where we need to be," Bowden said following Wednesday's second workout. "But I think there's a lot of potential, and I think a lot of that will materialize over the course of this week...We're not where we need to be or want to be, but I think there are a few other guys who will emerge before the first game."

The most likely candidates are players chosen by their own teammates.

In the current Clemson media guide, the players were polled as to which teammate they respected most. The top two vote-getters were defensive end Phillip Merling and quarterback Cullen Harper. Running back James Davis was third.

Ironically, most of Merling's votes came from offensive players against whom he has worked in practice. Likewise with Harper, who got most of his votes from Tiger defenders.

But there's room for more on the leadership bandwagon, and Bowden's hope is that a number of different players hop on for the ride. And sooner, rather than later.

Of course Merling, Harper, Davis or anyone else who may show up can be a fine leader in the preseason.

The final test, though, comes once the season gets underway.

"That's the dissertation for the doctorate," Bowden said. "I think that's the only time, really, you can find out. You're in the fourth quarter, down 14 or 21. Second half and you've got to come back...You can't duplicate those things in practice.

"Only when the games begin do you get the true sense of your team."

Seating Issue Coming Up

The new seating plan for Clemson football is being unveiled next week by the University.

Already the source of much speculation and angst, the reseating of Death Valley is a step the athletic department believes will not only get it in line with most other major football programs around the country, but also mean increased revenues.

Some long-time season-ticket holders are going to have a difficult decision to make, to be sure - significantly increase what they give to IPTAY in order to keep their choice seats, or give them up because someone else is willing to pay more for them. Either way, there are going to be many folks more than a little bent out of shape over the new policy.

But, in this current era of big-time collegiate sports, such is life. Clemson either has to try and keep up with the Joneses (or in this case, the Auburns, the Alabamas, the Florida States, the Tennessees, etc.) or be left behind both on the field and in the facilities arms race.

Of course, the other alternative is to drop scholarship sports all together and find an Ivy League-type conference to play in. But I daresay many of the same folks who will scream about reseating will turn around in the next breath and scream about the very idea of downgrading the Clemson athletic program.

Such is the conundrum facing the school, its fund-raising arm, and its fan base.

Hoping to shed a little light on the subject, senior associate AD Billy D'Andrea will be a guest on my show - Cruise Control - at 9:25 a.m. Thursday. You can catch the interview live on 104.9 FM, The Drive, or you can get it live on the Internet at www.wccpfm.com.

New Monday Night Gig

Just a reminder:

Tonight I begin doing weekly appearances at Croc's in Greenville (Pelham Road, Exit 54 off I-85) for Monday Night Football.

Yeah, I know it's preseason, but what the heck? They say go, I go. Should be a fun time had by all. We'll have plenty of Drive gear to give away, plus Croc's no doubt will have several food and drink specials.

So if you can, join us tonight and every Monday night during football season at Croc's in Greenville. Hope to see you there.

Fan Day Fun

Got a kick out of Tommy Bowden today at Clemson's annual Fan Appreciation Day.

I asked the coach how he enjoyed having a day such as Sunday, a day filled with interviews, photo ops and autograph seekers, as opposed to spending the time on the practice field. His answer was predictable enough.

With eight straight days of practice behind them, Sunday was something different. Besides a chance to connect with the fans, he said, it breaks up the monotony which will haunt this team from now until game week finally arrives.

Seeing new faces, other than the ones lined up across from you practice after practice, is never a bad thing.

My follow-up question was about Bowden himself, and what kind of questions he gets on a day like Sunday as opposed to those he might receive on the spring IPTAY speaking tour.

As it turns out, they're night and day.

While the IPTAY functions might get a little sticky at times for a coach whose team lost four of its final five games - including a defeat by the dreaded Gamecocks. But on a day like Sunday, where fans line up for a chance to have Bowden - sitting at a table - autograph some sort of Clemson doodad.

Or something else.

"You want me to sign where? Okay, turn around," Bowden joked.

"No, seriously, there's not time for many questions because the line is so long I have to keep signing and keep them moving. If I hear anything at all, it's usually "Win that first one (Florida State) and beat South Carolina this year."

His response?

"Okay," he said to much laughter.

After all, what's a coach to say to requests such as those?

Another lighthearted moment from a coach many believe to be under the gun. So far, he has handled himself remarkably well.

Of course, Daddy's boys haven't shown up yet, either. So we will see.

Prep Football

With almost 22 years in the media business (wow, has it really been that long?), there have been many jobs in many towns. But there has always been one constant:

High school football.

The Drive kicks off another year of prep football coverage in exactly one week (Aug. 17), when we open our third season of the Friday Night Lights High School Game of the Week with a great, old-time Upstate rivalry - Pickens at Easley.

I've done high school football on the radio in West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and here in South Carolina. You can add newspaper coverage to all of those areas as well, plus North Carolina and Ohio to boot.

But it's the broadcasts I love. When my broadcast partner Tom Van Hoy and I show up at a high school stadium here in the Upstate, invariably we are met by throngs of fans who thank us for being there.

Well, it's we who need to thank you, because your enthusiasm - coupled with the great talent we see week after week - makes our job a pleasure.

And that excitement you hear in my voice during the broadcasts? Believe me, it's legitimate. It seems we have been blessed to see great game after great game in the past two years.

Here's hoping for more of the same this season.

Following is the schedule for this season. You can catch in on the air at 104.9 FM, WCCP, or on the Internet at www.wccpfm.com.

See you at the stadiums!

The Drive's 2007 High School Football Schedule

AUG. 17 PICKENS AT EASLEY

AUG. 24 J.L. MANN AT GREENVILLE

AUG. 31 HANNA AT DANIEL

SEPT. 7 DANIEL AT WESTSIDE

SEPT. 14 PICKENS AT GREENVILLE

SEPT. 21 WEST OAK AT PENDLETON

SEPT. 28 GREENVILLE AT SENECA

OCT. 5 BEREA AT GREENVILLE

OCT. 12 WREN AT WESTSIDE

OCT. 19 SENECA AT PICKENS

OCT. 26 TBA

Cumbie Done?

Clemson defensive end Jamie Cumbie, who injured his shoulder in practice on Tuesday, is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on Thursday.

While head coach Tommy Bowden was praising Cumbie's toughness Wednesday - Cumbie apparently injured the shoulder early in Tuesday's workout, but never asked to come out and finished the practice - it's what he DIDN'T say that has insiders worried.

The fear is that Cumbie has a torn labrum. If that's the case, he's done for the year. That would be a shame, because many feel Cumbie is primed for a good season.

The verdict will come after Thursday's procedure. Hold your breath, Clemson fans.

Irony, Sweet Irony

So I wake up this morning still feeling great about the Tuesday night event with the Upstate Challenger kids, and what happens?

A punch in the gut that snapped me back into reality.

Actually, it was the swing of a bat that did it. Barry Bonds' bat. The one that stroked home run No. 756 into the right field stands in San Francisco late that same evening.

In a matter of hours, two separate events bring to light the irony that is today's sports landscape.

Here, on the one hand, we have the Challenger kids - the mentally and physically handicapped children whose cause I helped take up several years back. To watch them play baseball for our WCCP listeners Tuesday night was, as it always is, a complete joy.

For sheer innocence and love of the game, what could top this group of young men and women interacting with their "buddies" - other children and teenagers, even some college students - on hand to help protect/guide the ones who need it most.

Anyone who has seen them play gets an immediate understanding of why I believe so much in their cause, and why I was proud and honored to accept an invitation to be on the first Board of Directors for Upstate Challenger Sports.

Then to be brought back to the real world and the controversy that is - and likely always will - swirling around Bonds was, for a moment anyway, sobering.

The good news, however, is that though we talk about Bonds when the need arises and - in my position - perhaps cover him up close and personal once in a while, he operates in a world both out of reach and out of reality for most of us.

The Challenger kids?

They're real. They're loving. And they need us.

Bonds, as he has shown so many times before, clearly does not.

What a night!

It's 9:45 p.m., and I just returned home from the Dan Scott and Friends Appreciation Night with the Upstate Challenger kids.

You've heard the term sweltering heat before, but this evening was the epitome of the phrase. Our 6:30 p.m. start took place with the temperature still hovering around 98 degrees. It was still 90 on the drive home just over two hours later.

Imagine how the Clemson Tiger, who showed up to encourage the kids in full fur and jersey, felt?

But for the Challenger Kids - the mentally and physically handicapped children who make up the league - the night was perfect. With roughly 200 folks in attendance, the kids "breezed" through an exhibition of their baseball skills before everyone hiked up the hill to the hot dog cookout.

There were so many highlights this evening, too many to really list here. The smiles said it all, really. And that's what they play for - fun and the absolute love of the game.

You'll be hearing more about the evening on my radio show, and soon there will be pictures on the WCCP website (www.wccpfm.com).

But a big "thank you" to everyone who showed up, and all of you who donate you time and money every year to these beautiful kids.

I can promise you, they - and I - appreciate it.

Spurred On

It was interesting, to say the least, to pick up the paper Monday morning and see the hullaballoo over Steve Spurrier's comments over the weekend.

Spurrier, in effect, drew a line in the sand with the South Carolina administration over admissions. Or, more to the point, a lack of admission of two football recruits.

His anger came because the school denied entry to the two players, despite the fact that both had met the minimum NCAA qualifying standards. Spurrier said the decision made him a liar to those players, and something had to change. He can't coach at a place like that, he said.

The intrigue will come when we see what USC's administration says about Spurrier's blast.

If they say anything at all.

Because make no mistake about it - South Carolina needs Spurrier much more than he needs the school.

Spurrier's efforts to change the losing culture that has dogged the Gamecock football program for most of its life appear to be taking hold. Slowly, perhaps, but there are signs that the ship is headed in the right direction (a minor miracle in its own right, even before you take into consideration the thuggish end to the Lou Holtz era).

Though it was said about Holtz before him, it may be that if Spurrier can't win consistently at USC, truly no one can.

So don't be surprised if you hear little in the way of admonishment by the USC administration toward Spurrier. They know he holds all the cards.

With more of Redskins' owner Daniel Snyder's money in his bank account than he can ever spend, Spurrier has what every coach would love to possess:

The financial leeway to tell any school, USC included, to take a hike.

And if the Gamecock hierarchy antagonizes Spurrier to the point that he picks up his golf clubs and heads to the links full time, competing in the ultra-violent SEC East will be little more than a pipe dream.

Too much power for a head coach to have? Perhaps.

But then again, when was the last time anybody accused college football of having a healthy balance, anyway?

The Day Before The Day

Sitting in his office, wrapping up Friday's meeting with the local media, Tommy Bowden smiled as the questions came to an end.

"Now ya'll have something to write about other than me. Go write about them for a while," he said, referring to his players.

Then, as he moved back around behind his desk he looked up with that characteristic grin of his and said, "Then ya'll can go back to writing about me."

Writing about Tommy Bowden has been a full-time job in recent weeks. Since his media golf outing in mid-July, the "hot-seat" stories have come in waves. With the late-season collapse still the last thing most fans remember about 2006, Bowden's job security has popped up again just as sure as SID Tim Bourret goes home to Connecticut every summer for vacation.

But it's not just here.

National sports writers have harped on the theme. Some have taken it to extremes.

Even out in Austin, Texas, where I did a radio interview on Thursday evening, the host wanted to know about Bowden's job security.

It appears to be bothering everyone. Except Bowden.

Oh sure, you know it has an effect on him and his family. But to watch his mannerisms, to listen to him talk, you'd think Bowden was coming off a BCS victory and a large contract extension.

Not in a sense of being cocky or arrogant. More along the lines of being loose, jovial and talkative.

There's no ducking the media. There's no dodging questions. There's no constant frown that would signal a coach with his job security on his mind.

Of course, the games haven't started yet, either. And we all know that his demeanor can change in a New York minute.

But for now, Bowden's outward appearance is relaxed heading into his ninth fall practice at Clemson.

Deep inside, you'd think he's privately hoping there's a 10th.

Come See Our Challenger Kids

Please don't forget this Tuesday, Aug. 7.

That night will be the second "Dan Scott and Friends Appreciation Night" for the kids of Upstate Challenger Sports. The event will be held at Piedmont Presbyterian Church's baseball field.

All the important info follows below, but please remember that this night is to say thank you to all the folks who have donated to this cause since I began an association with it; it's also to encourage anyone who hasn't donated to come see what all the fuss is about.

It will be almost impossible to leave with a dry eye.

Anyway, here's the info:

Upstate Challenger Sports invites you to the

2nd Annual Dan Scott & Friends Appreciation Night

It’s our way to say thank you to “The Drive” listeners

and he community for their support.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Piedmont Presbyterian Church Baseball Field

Game starts at 6:30

Followed by FREE hot dog supper in the park.

Please bring chairs or blankets.

DIRECTIONS:
From Anderson:
• Take Highway 85 North
• Take Exit 35
• Turn Right onto Highway 86
• Turn Right onto S. Circle Dr.
• Turn Left onto Beattie Park Road
• Road dead ends into ball field

From Easley:
• Take Hwy 8/Pelzer Hwy
• Stay straight onto Hwy. 86
• Turn Right onto S. Circle Dr.
• Turn Left onto Beattie Park Road
• Road dead ends into ball field

From Greenville:
• Take Highway 85 South
• Take Exit 35
• Turn Left onto Highway 86
• Turn right onto S. Circle Dr.
• Turn Left onto Beattie Park Road
• Road dead ends into ball field

Why Vin Scully Rules

Vin Scully has been broadcasting Dodgers games since the team was in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn.

The place they left after the 1957 season.

In over 50 years of broadcasting baseball, Scully has seen his share of big moments. His call of the 9th inning of Sandy Koufax's perfect game against the Cubs in 1965 has been deemed so perfect that university English departments have studied it.

And though Milo Hamilton's call of Henry Aaron's 715th home run is the one most widely known, Scully, too, called the record-breaker that night in Atlanta.

When Aaron connected off of Al Downing, Scully's call was as follows:

"There's a high drive into deep left-center field. Buckner goes back, to the fence, it is gone! (Scully then paused about 25 seconds as the crowd cheered.) What a marvelous moment for baseball. What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it's a great moment for all of us and particularly for Henry Aaron, who is met at home plate not only by every member of the Braves but by his father and mother."

In one paragraph Scully captured the history of the moment, the fact that Aaron had been the victim of death threats and racial epithets during his chase of Babe Ruth; and in a region of the country where it is believed many of those threats originated, the fans in Atlanta showed an outpouring of love that was, to that point, never bestowed on a professional athlete in that city - regardless of race.

That brings us to Barry Bonds, still just one home run from tying Aaron as of this writing.

And ironically, the Giants are in Los Angeles to visit Scully's Dodgers. With games remaining both tonight and Thursday in the series, it's possible Scully could be called on again.

So how will this legend, who has been very careful not to offer any opinion on Bonds personally and who has said he'd rather not be put in a position to make another such call, handle the situation?

Most likely with silence. Scully said he'd likely "shut up" and let the fans tell the story.

Classic Scully. Ultimately, the game is the most important thing.

“I don’t think really I’m going to have any feelings, outside of the fact that it’s a home run that might decide the game,” Scully told the New York Post. “I’m not going to judge him in any way, shape or form. I really do believe the old adage that a man is innocent until proven guilty.”

Bravo

As much as I dislike the Braves on a personal level, you have to give it up to John Schuerholz and Co. for making themselves the clear winner at this year's trading deadline.

The deal to bring Mark Teixeira from Texas to Atlanta was finally approved Tuesday, which then led to the Braves shipping struggling starter Kyle Davies to Kansas City for relief help in the person of Octavio Dotel.

Sure, Atlanta gave up a number of prospects in the Teixeira deal, but the Braves are in a "win now" mode, and adding Texiera's established bat to the lineup is a coup.

But don't underestimate the addition of Ron Mahay. Mahay, coming to Atlanta with Teixeira, is a lefty having a very good season out of the Texas bullpen. Most importantly, he's been lights out against the Mets lefthanded hitters he has faced in his career.

So after years of being thwarted on deadline by payroll restrictions, Schuerholz may have made moves today reminicent of the addition of Fred McGriff on deadline day all those years ago.

Only time will tell.

Life of a Talk Show Host

As far as jobs go, I'm lucky. I get to do what many of you would love to do on a daily basis - get paid for talking about sports.

My daily talk show - along with the Clemson and high school play-by-play, plus other network duties all rolled into one - is easily the best job I've ever had. It's the most fun, the most fulfilling, the most rewarding.

It can also be the most frustrating.

There is an extreme lack of understanding on the part of Joe Public about our business, and one area where it comes up usually has to do with a show's popularity. In a market such as ours, at a station such as The Drive - one whose daytime hours are filled mostly with local talk shows - the average listener tends to believe that a show's popularity is determined by the number of phone calls it gets on a daily basis.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Market research shows that very likely less than five percent of our listeners actually call shows on WCCP. The number could even be smaller than that.

The percentages may go up or down a few points depending on the size of the market, but it's usually that way for any sports talk station such as ours.

I could give you specifics, actual numbers, but to do so I'd be violating FCC rules. Our station doesn't subscribe to Arbitron - the ratings company which big companies in this industry use as their Bible for everything from formatting stations to hiring/firing employees.

It's also the service which large advertising agencies use to determine which stations in a particular market will get what percentage of ad money available.

But because they try to hold small stations like ours hostage from a pricing standpoint, we don't subscribe to their service.

In many ways it's liberating because we can actually make common sense decisions about what does and doesn't work for WCCP. And despite message board outcry to the contrary, what we have on the air right now is working.

Our revenues have skyrocketed in the last three years, thanks in large part to a great sales manager. Our relationship with Clemson as its flagship station has never been stronger. We just completed a huge internal upgrade of our studio and offices...

In short, things have never been better at WCCP and continue to move ahead day by day, week by week and month by month.

The downside to telling Arbitron to take a hike is twofold - One, it means our sales folks have to work even harder with ad agencies to get in on the action with the large regional and national corporations.

And two, it means we aren't allowed to speak about what our ratings numbers actually are in the market in our target category - Men ages 25-54.

I know what the numbers are. I've seen them for the station overall, and for my time slot in general. I know for a fact where my three-hours are rated in the Greenville-Spartanburg market, which is the 59th largest media market in the country.

If I were allowed to post those numbers, you would get a better understanding of how my show stacks up daily in a non-drive time slot, as well as how we fare in every other daypart in the market. The numbers, overwhelmingly positive, would surprise most people. Especially if they remember what this station used to pull in the rankings.

But I can't. The FCC says so.

Ratings are subjective anyway. It all depends on who (listeners) gets the survey from Arbitron, when they get it and how many of them get it.

When you're in the position of WCCP, yes ratings are important to a certain extent. But the bottom line is, well, the bottom line. And I can promise you that if a show was causing the station to lose money and/or advertisers, the plug would be pulled before you can say guest host.

No, happily our focus gets to be on trying to do what's best for our listeners and ourselves - in that order.

And while three or four people can drive a seemingly endless thread on a discussion board that rips into our station and hosts, the overwhelming majority of the feedback we get is positive.

Having said that, I welcome legitimate, well-thought out constructive criticism of what I do. You can do it here, via email or whatever your communication tool of choice.

Just remember, regardless of what you may believe, we are constantly trying to find ways to make our shows - our station - better for our audience.

As for the calls?

Heavy, slow. Regulars, newbies. It doesn't matter. Folks will always find something to complain about. It comes with the territory.

And yet, when I said it before I truly meant it.

I love my job. I hope that comes through in my work.

Quick Hit On Class

Tony Gwynn. Cal Ripken. We need more of you in sports today.

Friday Afternoon Follies

A few things leftover from a dark week to be a sports fan:

- Furman alum Brian Bratton returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown Thursday night to help Montreal defeat Toronto, 26-13, in Canadian Football League action;

- Braves fans may be interested to know that as Friday afternoon wore on some of the national know-it-alls were reporting that Texas' asking price for Mark Teixeira could be coming down. Atlanta has apparently offered Jarrod Saltalamacchia and two other top prospects for the former Georgia Tech star, while the Rangers are also mulling offers from a number of other clubs.

Something to remember where Teixeira is concerned. If the Braves have decided to let Andruw Jones walk at the end of the year, they'll have some extra money to toss around. Teixeira, a free agent after 2008, would be worth a long-term investment seeing as how he's just 27 years old.

The roadblock? Both Jones and Teixeira share the same agent - Scott Boras.

So whatever the Braves do, it's not going to be easy.

- High school football practice began across the Upstate today. Be sure to check in to Cruise Control over the next couple of weeks as we have a number of prep coaches on the air discussing their teams.

- Be sure to check out TigerNet (www.thetigernet.com) in the coming days for transcriptions of interviews recently conducted on Cruise Control with Clemson head football coach Tommy Bowden and his assistants - Brad Scott, Dabo Swinney and Billy Napier.

The audio of the interviews can still be heard on The Drive's website - www.wccpfm.com.

The Hot Seat And Other Musings

As surely as the swallows return to Capistrano, Tommy Bowden finds himself back on the proverbial hot seat as the 2007 college football season creeps up on us.

Whether it's self-inflicted, media-inflicted or a bit of both (like this year) Bowden has been through the process enough times to know the routine. He handles his media interviews with his customary humor, not letting on publicly how much the external pressure matches the pressure he puts squarely on himself.

Should Bowden stay? Should he go?

There are arguments to be made for both sides. Each has been hashed and rehashed to the point that there's no need to revisit them here.

What I do find amusing, however, is the fan who says, "Well, if you fire Tommy, who you gonna get?"

I laugh because the insinuation is that Bowden is only here because no one else wanted the job, and if you fire him there's no way any big name coach would ever be interested in coming to Clemson.

We all know that the exact opposite is true. Most of us do, anyway. If this job did open up, the list of established coaches and up-and-coming hotshot assistants interested in the job would be long and impressive.

All you have to do is look inside the same athletic department to the basketball office. When Larry Shyatt was under the gun some years ago, many of his defenders would ask the same question. Who you gonna get?

Well, Terry Don Phillips got Oliver Purnell. Worked out pretty well, didn't it?

Bottom line here is that there will always be someone high profile out there for a job at a school like Clemson in a conference like the ACC.

Trouble is, the job isn't open. And Bowden doesn't appear quite ready to simply hand over the reigns just yet.

***

Watching the NFL Network this afternoon, and they were running through one of their Top 10 lists - this time the Top 10 quarterback-to-wideout passing combinations.

How good for how long was Jerry Rice?

So good for so long that he was on the list twice - at No. 3 with Joe Montana and at No. 2 with Steve Young.

That, friends, is a Hall of Famer.

***

If you're in Anderson Friday morning, stop by Fairway Ford Mazda on Clemson Blvd. and say hello.

I'll be doing the show live from there, 9 a.m.-Noon, as always. Breakfast from Spinx, Drive gear, free racing tickets to Anderson Motor Speedway...and a chance to meet the legendary Tom Ponder in person.

Does it get any better than that?

***
3:45 p.m.

My jovial mood just darkened considerably. It's just been reported that Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser has died of a heart attack.

He was 56 years old.

Prosser was a guest on my show a few years back, and as we were coming in from commercial break Cobb Oxford, my co-host, had us play a Linda Ronstadt tune as the bumper music.

Trying to be cute, I opened the interview by apologizing to Proctor for my partner's poor taste in music. Skip's first words were, "No, no. I'm a Stone Pony guy."

The interview was off and running from there. But that's how he was with the media, and that's why you'd have to look far and wide to find someone who didn't like Skip Prosser.

Our thoughts and prayers to Prosser's immediate family as well as his Wake Forest family.

Great coach. Better man.

Horrible loss.

Back Up And Punt

Well, less than a week into the blog and we've already had to make a change.

You no doubt notice the different look to the blog. Well, that's because I found out that by using AOL as my blog source, readers couldn't offer their comments to each entry without an AOL screen name.

So, I've switched to Google. Here you should be able to comment at any time with no trouble.

You'll also notice that all the previous blog entries have been copy/pasted here, so it's all back under one roof...so to speak.

Anyway, more later. But now feel free to comment away.
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Tuesday, July 24, 2007
7:06:37 PM EDT Feeling Quiet Hearing For What It's Worth
Checking In
Not much to add today. My head still hurts from this morning's Mike Vick/David Stern conversation.

Couple the NFL and NBA problems with baseball's steroids issue, and has there ever been a more dreary time for professional sports fans? Sometimes it's depressing just turning on the TV or opening up the ol' laptop.

Ah, but perhaps there's help on the horizon.

I've been working the past couple of days helping get our high school football package ready to go. If anything can lift my spirits, it's traveling around the Upstate every Friday night to meet wonderful folks at every stop. Everywhere we go, high school football fans and administrators have been nothing but great to Tom Van Hoy and me, and believe me when I tell you that such hospitality means a great deal to us.

This year we begin on Aug. 17 when Easley hosts Pickens. The rest of the schedule looks like this:
AUG. 24 J.L. MANN AT GREENVILLE
AUG. 31 HANNAH AT DANIEL
SEPT. 7 DANIEL AT WESTSIDE
SEPT. 14 PICKENS AT GREENVILLE
SEPT. 21 WEST OAK AT PENDLETON
SEPT. 28 GREENVILLE AT SENECA
OCT. 5 BEREA AT GREENVILLE
OCT. 12 WREN AT WESTSIDE
OCT. 19 SENECA AT PICKENS
OCT. 26 TBA

Hope to see you on sight this fall. When we come to your school, make it a point to stop by the booth and say hello.
------------------------------------------------------
Monday, July 23, 2007
3:51:20 PM EDT Feeling Frustrated Edit Entry Delete Entry
Here and There
A few different thoughts today:

First, an apology.

During the show today while trying to do two things at once I wasn't paying attention and - rather than read off my pre-prepared notes that were stuck somewhere in my computer bag (great place for them, eh?) - I tried to wing my ACC picks by reading the schools off the top of the league's website.

The schools are listed in two, six-team columns at the top of the page. The only problem is they're in alphabetical order - not broken down by division. So when I started picking, I was putting teams in the wrong division and generally making a mess of the whole segment.
Eventually it dawned on me that I was making a mistake (I knew Georgia Tech was in the Coastal Division), and I got it all corrected and ultimately made the picks in their correct spots.

But it sounded amateurish, at best. It was horrible radio and happened simply because I wasn't paying attention. You deserve better.

And for that, I'm sorry.

***
I'm not the big NBA fan I used to be, but I still check the standings and watch the highlights in season. One day my Celtics will rise again. I firmly believe that.

Of course, when they do it could be in a much different-looking league. The NBA is at a crossroads, boys and girls. The league's integrity, the very foundation on which it's built and survives, is now under assault because of the FBI investigation into referee Tim Donaghy.

Donaghy apparently is being investigated for gambling on and possible point-shaving of games in which he worked. Word is that his gambling debts ran so high that he found himself at the mercy of low-level mobsters.

Then there was the report today that not only is Donaghy planning to cooperate with authorities, but he very well could be naming names of others - players and officials - who may be involved in similar activities.

The problem this presents to the NBA is enormous, obviously. Already a league with a credibility problem, if it turns out that the allegations are true then David Stern has a public relations monster even he can't make go away.

But I'm more intrigued by the mob aspect of the case, to be honest.

If Donaghy is indeed planning to cooperate with the Feds, and if he was involved with mobsters of any level, then naming names could end up being very bad for his health. I've already heard the jokes this morning about Donaghy being fitted for cement shoes, or being made an offer he can't refuse.

But all kidding aside, the mafia doesn't take kindly to those who snitch. And depending on exactly what Donaghy knows and who he plans to name, it might be better for him just to keep his mouth shut and take whatever punishment comes his way. Remember, he's already had to call the police because of phone calls to his home threatening his life.

The mafia has long a long memory, and an even longer reach. And if the next whistle Donaghy blows proves to be on his benefactors, it could very well be the last.

Jail is one thing. Ending up Gator bait in some lonely Florida swamp is something else.

Would you put your trust into our government's witness protection program?

***
RIP Charles Harper.
-------------------------------
Quick Hit - July 22, 2007
Watching my Reds' bullpen continue to self-destruct in the eighth inning, game after nauseating game, is getting ridiculous.

Some of the guys down there are easier to score on than the "ladies" working in a Parisian House of Instant Happiness.

Recently fired manager Jerry Narron may be the luckiest of all of us who follow the team.

At least he doesn't have to watch the nightly beatings anymore.
----------------------------------------
10:15:47 AM EDT July 22, 2007
The Great White North
Over the past few years I've become a big fan of the Canadian Football League.

In fact, this will be the fourth season I've tried to catch every television broadcast, live or delayed, on the Fox Sports package on my DirecTV. It's gotten to the point where now I am beginning to recognize/remember most of the star players in the league and even some of the marginal guys.

Of course, it's not as difficult as you might think considering that the eight teams currently playing in the CFL have rosters innundated with players from major colleges here in the States.

Imports, as they are called, have found a way to keep their careers alive while making decent money after being either cut or ignored by the NFL.

The ACC and SEC are very well represented north of the border, which is no surprise considering the amount of overall talent the two leagues turn out every season.

But it might surprise you that only two former Clemson players and two former South Carolina players currently have jobs in Canada.

For the Tigers, Rahim Abdullah is still whaling away on the defensive line in Edmonton - his second tour of duty with the Eskimos. Meanwhile, quarterback Will Proctor is on the practice squad in Montreal.

Likewise, USC has one active player (Cory Jenkins, linebacker in Winnepeg) and one player on a practice roster (Jamacia Jackson, linebacker at Hamilton).

Furman is also represented - wideout Brian Bratton is on the active roster in Montreal.

The CFL is a fun brand of football to watch. Sure, there are differences in the rules (three downs, 12 players on the field, etc.), but in the end it's still football. The games can be high scoring at times, and running out the clock to protect a lead is much more difficult with only three downs at your disposal.

If you have satellite or digital TV, and therefore get all the Fox regional sports stations, give the league a try sometime.

Chances are, you'll be surprised at the familiar names scrolling across your television screen.
-----------------------------------------
First Inning - July 21, 2007
Well, after months of debate here I am - dragged kicking and screaming - into the world of blogging.

What do I hope to accomplish with this blog? Nothing more than yet another way to allow listeners of my show to further connect with their appreciative host. I'll try to be witty, funny, engaging - in short all the things that seem to be lacking from my daily talk show...LOL.

But seriously folks, this blog will be a chance for me to expand on ideas and opinions that three hours on the air every day isn't enough to get across. It will be a place to rant and rave; a place to ask questions and seek answers;

A place where the only limitations are the ones I decide - which will be few, I can promise.

You might follow me live at a Clemson sporting event, get notes from one of our great baseball road trips, or catch me simply in a thoughtful, quiet mood at home.

Whatever the situation, I hope you enjoy this new venture. And as always, if you have any comments, please send them to me via email at:

dan@wccpfm.com

Or you can comment in the area designated below.

So, without further delay, to quote the late, great Jackie Gleason:

"Away we goooooo..."