Florida Atlantic: Trash-talking the Tigers?

Apparently so. Pretty brave for a team that's starting off the year in the bottom 10. For more previews of Saturday's season opener, go here and here.

* Two starters will miss game: Antonio Clay will be out because of a family tragedy; C.J. Gaddis is being disciplined.

* Season preview: Yet another one here.

* WestZone debuts: It should look fantastic on Saturday.

* Ray Ray's kid: Here's an overview of a brewing controversy involving the NCAA and its apparent inability to pull its head out of its ass. I would explain the link more, but I'm too pissed off. Just go read it, and lament over the jackasses who run the multi-billion-dollar world of intercollegiate athletics.

* More love for Clemson: The Sporting Gnomes find a couple of examples at ESPN.com.

Are the glory days about to return?

Maybe. This story takes an optimistic tack.

* Questions about the season: Can we answer them?

* Ricky 'Water Mocassin' Sapp: Find out why they call him that here.

* Jacoby Ford to motor on punt returns: The super-speedy freshman gets an important duty.

Are you ready for some football?

The season starts in less than a week, so here comes a batch of preview stories.

* Is another national title possible? Consider the possibilities.

* Position by position: Read the ratings here.

* Game by game: A quick look at Clemson's opponents in 2006. And in that same vein, here's a story on what to see and do in Tigertown.

* 10 questions: Clemson will have to answer these to have a good season.

* Punt makeover: Hopefully, fewer will get blocked.

* For the fans: Here's the obligatory story on Howard's Rock, and here's a piece on a longtime Clemson fan.

Slimmed-down Richardson ready to go

Clemson offensive tackle Barry Richardson lost 30 pounds over the summer. He still weighs 320 pounds. This on a guy who is 6-foot-7.

* Heard it on the 'X': There's a tough battle for the 'X' receiver position between Aaron Kelly and scary-looking superstud Rendrick Taylor. I'm pulling for Taylor.

* And finally...: The Sporting Gnomes have the perfect thing to get you keyed up for the football season. Be sure to turn your speakers up for this one.

Season previews just keep rollin'

The latest one is from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Check it out.

* Justin Miller makes the big time: The former Tiger is profiled in The New York Times.

Two-a-days end: Where do we stand?

That question, and others, were asked, and answered, by the Anderson Independent-Mail. Check it out.

Can Clemson win second national title?

That's the thrust of this excellent season-preview article from ESPN.com. Well worth your time.

* Trailblazer profiled: Here's a great story about former Clemson standout Buck George, a Catawba Indian who played for the Tigers in the 1950s.

* Player transfers: Former Clemson tight end Paul Muse will play for Florida Atlantic. However, he'll have to sit out the 2006 season, so he won't be available for the Owls' Sept. 2 game at Clemson.

More preseason prognostication

The Sporting Gnomes point out a site that has the Tigers playing for the national championship this season. And here's a game-by-game prediction from the Anderson Independent-Mail.

Billie to miss 6-8 weeks, may redshirt

At last, some actual news to report from Clemson's training camp. Unfortunately, it's bad. Senior linebacker Tramaine Billie broke his ankle and will miss at least six weeks. And he's considering the possibility of a medical redshirt.

Proctor is ready for a season of attention

Ron Morris of The State writes about Clemson first-year quarterback Will Proctor.

* Rendrick Taylor = badass: Read about Clemson's "J-Back" receiver/tight end/running back here.

* Bright future: Thousands of fans turned out for Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday.

* No violations: You're probably familiar with this story by now, but in case not, here goes: There will be no NCAA charges stemming from the tragic jetski accident earlier this summer that involved two Clemson football players and led to the death of an assistant track coach.

* And finally ...: Clemson, the best school in the universe (h/t: EDSBS.)

Burton Burns has a big job this fall

Burns is Clemson's running back coach, and with the stable of great backs he has to work with, he should be quite busy.

* Lineman on Lombardi Watch List: Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams gets the honor. It's the fourth such accolade he's received this year.

It's nice to have a deep O-line

The Greenville News takes a look at Clemson's experienced offensive line. This group will be the key to whether or not the Tigers have a great season or not.

* Camp for referees: ESPN examines the preseason training that refs in the ACC undergo. I wonder if they help them with their ability to make calls, because the ACC crews are the worst in the country, bar none.

* Kelvin Grant finds a new home: The former Clemson receiver, who was kicked off the team for academic and other reasons, will be playing this fall for Division I-AA Delaware State.

* Tigers 21st in Blogpoll: You can read the entire poll at EDSBS. Here's what they had to say about Clemson: "Tommy Bowden will vacillate between getting fired and getting a lifetime extension in the same year, meaning 7-5, 8-4, one victory beyond explanation and one loss beyond contempt, and the requisite thrill ride of a Clemson football season."

Well, I've seen enough of that crap from Bowden over the past eight years. If we pull it again with the team we've got, then I think there will be a lot of recriminations in Tigertown.

Tommy Bowden: A Q&A session

Clemson's coach sits down with the Charlotte Observer to answer questions about the upcoming season.

* Your basic season preview story: From Fox Sports. In that same vein, here's a story from Sports Illustrated that places us among a group of 16 contenders for the national championship. (Hat tip: State Fans Nation.)

All eyes on C.J. Spiller at training camp

The highly touted freshman running back is garnering plenty of attention as Clemson's fall practices get under way.

* More Proctor coverage: Here's another story about Clemson's new quarterback.

* Punter pressure: There could be intense competition for the punting job this fall. Returning starter Cole Chason is injured, and newcomer Richard Jackson looks pretty good.

* Bowden's youth movement: Here's a story about how Clemson coach Tommy Bowden is getting some great young assistant coaches.

* Bowden's recruit movement: And here's a story about what a great recruiter the coach has become.

* The notebooks: Here and here.

Clemson ranked 18th in coaches' poll

The Tigers are one of four ACC teams in the USA Today poll. Congratulations, guys. Now go out and prove you deserve to be ranked.

* Practice begins: And here are your obligatory preview stories.

* Gaines Adams, ACC's finest defender? He is, according to this story.

Football practice begins Friday

And that may be today by the time you're reading this. All the months of waiting and hoping and dreaming, of hard work in the weight room, will get their first tests today. Go Tigers!

* Another Will Proctor profile: This one is from The Sporting News.

* Willie Simmons returns: The former Clemson quarterback, who left school under what appeared to be bad terms when Charlie Whitehurst took his job in 2002, will come back to be a graduate assistant. Welcome back, Willie. Personally, I'll never forget your amazing performance against the Tar Heels in 2000, when we trailed 17-0 and Woody Dantzler got hurt. You led us to a 38-24 victory -- and I was there in Chapel Hill to see it.

* Watkins' job not secure: Clemson linebacker Nick Watkins, the team's second-leading tackler last season, may have to fight for a starting job this year; plus, an item on speedster Jacoby Ford.

* And finally ...: EDSBS discovers a piece of, uh, Gamecock "fan art" that simply has to be seen to be believed. EDSBS' deconstruction of the piece is brilliant.

New, improved Death Valley almost ready

Construction is about to wrap up on the Phase I of the West End Zone Project at Clemson. Read all about it here.

* Will Proctor, marked man: Here's a story about Clemson quarterback Will Proctor.

* Scheduling issues: Clemson could play on Monday night in 2007, and Temple is looking to get out of one of its future games with the Tigers.