Sports

Random Thoughts from Clemson...

Saturday I covered my first game at Clemson, thought I'd give some impressions from the sidelines about the game and my overall experience:

--The Clemson entrance is pretty cool.  It's the "most exciting 25 seconds in college football," and I can see why.  Funny thing--media is place right alongside the goalposts.  The players, for those who have been or see it on TV, run right alongside the goalposts.  Now, during the entrance itself, everything was fine...but beforehand, a lot of us were pretty (understandably) nervous about being run over by a lineman...or by Dabo, he's a fired up dude.

--Speaking of Dabo, after the game he greeted every CCU player he saw with, "finish strong."  Good message for the team...and a very good message from the coach that just beat your team pretty handily. 

--Shooting highlights is incredibly easy at Clemson compared to other college stadiums.  Williams-Brice is notoriously difficult, with a lot of alumni down on the sidelines.  There were a lot of alums at Clemson Memorial, too, but they stood behind a line a few feet behind where media was.  We media types try to stay out of the way of these fans...not standing in front of them.  It's nice, however, to not have to squeeze between two pepople to get a shot of a big play.

--Sad we didn't see more of CJ Spiller.  I think he's one of the most dynamic players in the country, and I was excited to see him at work.  It was basically a bye week for him...could help Clemson long term.  CCU also didn't kick to him on kickoffs, which got them booed but ultimately was probably a good idea.

--Death Valley wasn't that loud, BUT I understand why.  I'm not holding it against you, Tiger fans.  I'm a big fan of the college football experience, stadiums, traditions...I would've liked to have been blown away by the sound, but it was a 1:30pm game against CCU in the rain.  I get why it wasn't loud, though.  Hopefully I'll be back soon.

--Media overflow parking is about 3/4 of a mile away from and maybe 1500 feet below the stadium.  It's far, and down a hill.  Fortunately I got a golf cart ride.  If I didn't...I may have just turned around and drove back.

Anyway, had a great time...I made unbelievable time getting there, too.  I was proud of myself for that.  Looking forward to one...or more...games at Williams-Brice later this season!

Clemson's ACC Hopes

I've mentioned several times on air that Clemson does not control their own destiny to the ACC Championship game...but the kind of do.  Controlling you own destiny means: if you win out, you do...whatever it is you're controlling your own destiny for, in this case, a trip to the conference championship game.

To explain what that means, currently 4 teams from the ACC's Atlantic Division have two losses: Boston College, Wake Forest, Maryland and Clemson.  Winner of the division goes to the title game.

Boston College is technically in first in the division right now because they are 3-2 and the others are 2-2...but the 2 losses is the most important part.

Clemson holds the tie-breaker (tie-breaker rules, by the way, found here: http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082105aad.html) over BC and Wake, having beaten them.  They don't over Maryland...but come on, Maryland's going to lose another ACC game.  So...if Clemson wins out and ends up tied with either BC or Wake, they're in good shape.

Now, if there are 3 teams tied, it gets a little more dicey.  A lot more.  Kind of one of those "cross that bridge when we get there" situations.

But...this all could get a lot more moot if the Tigers don't pull of a big upset on the road at Miami this coming Saturday afternoon...but if the same team that played Wake shows up in Coral Gables, it could be interesting.

Eric Norwood Interview on ESPN.com

Interesting interview with Eric Norwood on Chris Low's SEC Blog on ESPN.com ... good read I thought I'd pass along.

Calm before the storm...WMBF News Extra Point: Week 3 tonight!  I'll be at Conway and Carolina Forest...see you there, or see you around 11:20pm!

More Childers?

I ran a story tonight about CCU possibly incorporating backup QB Jamie Childers into the offense more.  Coach David Bennett's answer:

Have you been putting bugs in our offices over there, Justin? I don't know, you'll have to wait and see. He's a very talented guy. You don't see 6'5, 230 pound guys that run 4.6, that can throw the ball 70 yards just walking around the street every day. I hope there's a way we can use him in the future. That's a good question. I'm proud of you, Justin

I appreciate the pride.  The reason I asked was...it seemed to me like it would've happened already.  Coaches are high on Childers' athleticism...I kind of assumed he'd see the field in a way we're getting very used to at the college level: Tim Tebow as a freshman at Florida, Terrelle Pryor as a freshman (before being named starter) at Ohio State, Tyrod Taylor as a freshman at Va Tech....coaches putting in a package of plays for their run-oriented quarterback. 

It's a curveball for the defense, plus it takes up their valuable time preparing for it.  We're even seeing this leak into the NFL with guys like Michael Vick in Philly and Pat White being drafted in Miami.

Coach Bennett is keeping it a surprise...for now...much to my chagrin...but I think you'll see more and more of a Childers package in the next few games.

Here's another take on this from The Sun News' CCU writer Josh Hoke's blog...which mentions me, so I have to include the link.

WMBF News Extra Point: Week 2 Random Thoughts

--Lamar is playing great.  They're undefefeated and took down rival Timmonsville 26-6 on the road.  By the way, their 3 wins...all on the road!  I think running back Jerrod Dargan is the real deal and this team will be one to keep an eye on come playoff time

--Don't make too much out of Myrtle Beach's lopsided loss to Byrnes.  Byrnes is going to beat a lot of people like that this season.  They have Marcus Lattimore, whom rivals calls the #2 running back in the country...and plenty more Division 1A talent.  Myrtle Beach is still the best in their region and still on a path where they can challenge for another 3A Lower State Championship...don't panic just yet

--Speaking of 3A Lower State Championship...man will that be tough to come by!  We know Myrtle Beach is good, but has anyone looked better so far than Lake City?  69-0 last week??  Marlboro County is rolling over good opponents!  Wilson looked excellent against South Florence...man, that will be tough.  If Crestwood or a team from outside our area takes that title...I'd be surprised

--Speaking of Wilson, huge bellweather game for them against Hartsville this week.  The Red Foxes have shown the ability to make scorekeepers retire mid-game...Wilson took out South Florence in a shootout...fans of offense, make your way to Florence Thursday night for a good one

--Props to Carolina Forest.  They hung in and came back for their first regular season win in a good long time over North Myrtle Beach.  That team may not be fighting for state titles, but they go out during the summer and run, lift weights and work just as hard as anyone...good to see their work pay off with a W.

Live from Kent State

I'm up in the press box at Kent State's Dix Stadium, getting ready for CCU's opener against the Golden Flashes.  Right now, CCU's specialists are out...just got done punting.  Kent's on the field catching balls.  Got a handful of Chants down in the corner stretching out...I see QB Jamie Childers among them, otherwise looks like a random group of positions.

Seems to me like CCU's players are confident.  Compared to games against Penn State or Clemson where they're pretty over-matched, Kent State is closer to their level.  Closer...not the same.  Kent State, as David Bennett's pointed out many times, has more scholarships, more money...but CCU has, by all accounts, a high-talented (we'll see this season if they're high-level or high-performing) FCS team.

Dix Stadium is kind of cool...small, I think 25k capacity, but surrounded by trees.  That's the cool part.  From the press box, looking left, straight ahead and right of the stadium, all you see are trees...which is nice.  Dix Stadium is actually outside the city (town?) of Kent...it's in Franklin Township.  It's not far at all from Kent.

While I've been typing, a handful more Chants are out on the field...looks like receivers catching balls.  Now I see QB Zach MacDowall out there throwing balls.  This is kind of stream of consciousness, bear with me.

Anyway...I won't predict a final score, but I'll say Kent State wins by 17, though CCU hangs around into halftime.

But...as one coach told me in Myrtle Beach Airport when I asked if he was ready..."I'm just ready to see history made."  We'll see...should be fun, see you on WMBF News at 11.

Random thoughts from Extra Point Week 1...

--South Florence...wow.  They put a beatdown on a good West Florence team, and a Knights squad who had beaten them pretty regularly lately.  West Flo lost a ton of talent, especially along that d-line and their experienced QB, so I...like a lot of people...thought this would be closer, but man, impressive win

--Carvers Bay...can they book a bus trip to Orangeburg already?  Without Clayton Geathers, who is one of the better players in all of Class 1A, they are playing outstanding.  Davious Chestnut is looking great, and other guys are stepping up in Geathers' place.  When Clayton comes back...look out...especially as this Bears defense continues to mature

--Myrtle Beach is going to score lots and lots of points.  Head coach Mickey Wilson told me before the season, a big area to watch is the wide receiver spot...maybe Donte Sumpter, who had a huge game against Carolina Forest, can be one of those guys to shoulder the load

--Dillon's hungry.  I was out at Lake View last night to shoot highlights of that game, and I stood on Dillon's sideline (because that was the sidelines closest to where I parked my car).  They were up 21-0, 28-0...and coaches were getting on their guys, specifically the O-line near me, about how they wanted to score every possession, not be satisfied up by a bunch.  They've got a lot of talent for a deep run into the 2A playoffs

--North Myrtle Beach's defense put on another good show.  They held the Loris offense in check, and thinking back to Week 1, also played very well against Conway.  North Myrtle Beach should be able to challenge for a playoff spot in the region

Random Thoughts on Week 0...

--Mykal Moody (pictured right) will be good.  Very good.  Inevitably, the comparisons will be made to Myrtle Beach's Everett Golson...which might not be fair as we continue to see Golson develop into a phenom...but Moody will be good, hopefully leading the Tigers for 4 years.  He showed some flashes of brilliance, like on his 53 yard TD run...and some iffy decisions, like his first play ever being an INT...but his first game brought adversity, and he came out on top...good sign for Conway

--Hartsville probably surprised me most.  Camden's going to be a good team this year...not that Hartsville was going to be bad, but the way they just blew out the scoreboard was impressive.  Look out for them in 4A.  Look for the season finale, November 6th Sumter at Hartsville, to decide the region title

--Cavers Bay has to feel great after rallying to beat a solid Marion team without their best player.  Once Clayton Geathers is healthy...and I guess now they don't need to rush him back...that team will be good as those young guys on defense start getting some experience

--Lake City just reeled off 50+ yard plays like it was nothing.  Their game at Myrtle Beach may be a pre-cursor to those two meeting in the lower state finals (unless a team like Marlboro County has something to say about it)

--Dillon played like state champs.  They were confident, scored early, scored often...played like they felt they should win.  That's dangerous for other 2A teams