(UPDATED at 2:49 p.m.)

Hamilton opts to test the NFL waters

Well, it looks like it's official. All-star receiver Derrick Hamilton will join Donnell Washington in jumping to the NFL a year early.

Again, I wish them both well, but I also think they're making a mistake.

Hamilton's decision took long enough. He finally met with coach Tommy Bowden today after he had postponed a meeting with him on Thursday. (More here and here.)

ACC -- A FOOTBALL CONFERENCE: Check out this column from Bob Thomas of the Times-Union in Jacksonville. It's about the ACC's strength in football. Here's the most important passage:

-With a 97-83-5 all-time bowl record, the ACC is the nation's all-time winningest conference by percentage in postseason history;

- The ACC is tied with the SEC for most bowl wins (13) over the past two seasons, but has the best winning percentage (.684, 13-6), followed by the Big East (.600, 9-6) and SEC (.590, 13-9);

- It is the only league with a winning bowl record in each of the last three years, and;

- It boasts a 26-20 overall record vs. Bowl Championship Series conference teams over the past two years, including a 10-7 mark against the SEC.

Good stuff. (Link via Tigernet.)

PRE-PRE-PRESEASON POLL: ESPN's Ivan Maisel lists his Top 25 teams for the 2004 season, and Clemson clocks in at No. 13.

GRATUITOUS CLEMSON INSULT: Check this out. In a column about the sad state of American comedy, Washington Times reporter David Eldridge writes the following:

That's what it's come to, folks. Comedy Central's Jon Stewart is the funniest person in the country now.
Think about that too long, and it's really sort of depressing. It's like the year Clemson � Clemson � finished as national champion in college football. Jon Stewart is charming and, yes, quick-witted and amusing, but ... the funniest guy in the country?

That's cutting-edge sarcasm, folks! He must be a Georgia fan or something.

Is that the best Eldridge has got? If so, then his column certainly says a lot about the state of comedy in America, but not in the way he intended. (Link found via Tigernet.)

RECRUITING UPDATE: A few more players will be visiting Clemson this weekend.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: OK, here's a new feature I'm adding during the off-season. Here goes:

What one thing are you most looking forward to . . .

1. ...today?
My lunch at the Middle Eastern restaurant I go to every Friday.

2. ...over the next week?
Payday is next Friday, bay-bee!

3. ...this year?
Hopefully a decent raise. My salary was frozen last year.

4. ...over the next five years?
More raises. Also, I hope to have continued good health.

5. ...for the rest of your life?
Love and happiness.