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.