Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Former Clemson standout Chester McGlockton dies

Sad news: Former Clemson All-American defensive lineman Chester McGlockton has died.

McGlockton, 42,  apparently suffered a massive heart attack on Tuesday at his home in California. He had spent the past two years as an assistant coach at Stanford.

After he left Clemson, McGlockton spent 12 years in the NFL and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.


Complacency led to Tigers' slump

• A "poor job of handling success" explains Clemson's season-closing 1-3 slump, according to The Charlotte Observer, and it has "added to a time-honored idea that Clemson -- with its top recruits and excellent facilities -- somehow always manage (sic) to underachieve."

• Can Clemson keep Chad Morris? The whole country seems to be interested in the Tigers' whizbang offensive coordinator.

• Quarterback Tajh Boyd has been rattled a lot over the past few weeks. Can he regain his confidence before Saturday's ACC championship game?

Sammy Watkins is the ACC rookie of the year. Congratulations, Sammy.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Five Tigers named first-team all-ACC

Hey, some good news for a change. Read on.

• Five Clemson players -- quarterback Tajh Boyd, receiver Sammy Watkins, center Dalton Freeman, defensive end Andre Branch and tight end Dwayne Allen -- made the All-ACC first team. Running back Andre Ellington, defensive tackle Brandon Thompson, kicker Chandler Catanzaro are on the second team.

• Would an ACC title erase a horrible month for Clemson? You'd better believe it.

Chad Morris rumored to possibly be joining Urban Meyer at Ohio State. Please, no.

• You need to follow @its_dabo on Twitter.  Clearly a Gamecock. Also, clearly funny.



Monday, November 28, 2011

We've still got the ACC title game

Following Saturday's horrible 34-13 loss to South Carolina, is there anything left to play for? Yes -- the ACC championship. The Tigers will face Virginia Tech in Charlotte with a chance at their first league title in 20 years.

• Despite Saturday's loss, Clemson remains ranked in both polls. How'd that happen?

• The headline says it all -- "Tigers' promising season has gone off the rails."

 • The Tigers are limping into the ACC title game. Yes, they are.

Friday, November 25, 2011

One day until the big game

We're a little more than 24 hours from the Clemson-South Carolina showdown. Here's some of the top headlines today:

• The big game goes beyond bragging rights this year. It's a season-salvaging contest for both teams.

• Here are the 25 best individual performances by Clemson players against USC.

• Can Clemson's innovative offense keep its edge over the long term?

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Play Clemson /Carolina on Thanksgiving?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Here are a couple of items as anticipation builds for Saturday's Clemson-South Carolina game.

The Post and Courier's Travis Sawchik floats a question I've often pondered myself: What if the Tigers and Gamecocks faced off on Thanksgiving Day? It's a good idea. I'd also like to see the schools ponder a Friday game as well, though that could clash with prep football playoffs around the state.

Brent Breedin, a former sports information director at Clemson, shares his memories of the rivalry.

The State's Bob Spear looks back at the 2000 Tigers-Gamecocks game, a 16-14 Clemson victory that's best remembered for Rod Gardner's controversial catch that set up the game-winning field goal.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Clemson vs. Carolina: News and views

We're getting closer to the big rivalry game on Saturday. Here's what's going on:

The cousin connection to the big game: Clemson's Andre Ellington and South Carolina's Bruce Ellington.

• Will a night game favor Clemson against USC? History says it will.


• Clemson's recent slide could be blamed on the lost recruiting class of 2009.


The Post and Courier's Gene Sapakoff says this has been Dabo Swinney's best year at Clemson, and Steve Spurrier's best year at South Carolina.


• Here's another good review for State of Disunion, the new book about the Tigers-Gamecocks rivalry that I highlighted on Monday.

• Did you know that in 1952 the South Carolina State Legislature passed a bill requiring Clemson and USC to play annually? Now you do.

• Athlon has good look at the history behind the rivalry.

• And finally, hip sports website Grantland invites the editors of the student newspapers at Clemson and USC to write about Saturday's game.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Prepping for the Gamecocks

It's South Carolina week, and there is more football news than you can shake a turkey leg at. Here's some of the best:

• Clemson's season -- not so bad after all?

• There's a new book out about the Clemson-USC rivalry. Check out State of Disunion.

• The Tigers and the Gamecocks have come a long way since the 1998 game. Hey, I was at that one.

• The ancient Clemson-USC rivalry is even more important this year.

• Tight end Dwayne Allen is a Mackey Award finalist, one of three in the country.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Tigers face gut-check time

A national championship is gone, but can Clemson salvage what has been a remarkable season? We'll see.

• The Tigers are limping into the defining stretch of their season.

• Clemson is taking a long look in the mirror.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

N.C. State 37, Clemson 13: Not helpful

On a day of many upsets that could have helped the Tigers make a serious move in the BCS rankings, they went to Raleigh and played like chumps. Here are some reactions to the travesty.

• The game stories: Here and here.

• The loss drops Clemson all the way down to No. 17 in the USA TODAY poll and No. 18 in the AP poll.

The State's Ron Morris says the Tigers were poorly prepared. Really?

Sammy Watkins will play this week against South Carolina. Thank God.

• Speaking of Watkins, here's another profile of the amazing freshman.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Clemson-N.C. State: A colorful series

We're a day away from the Textile Bowl, and here's the news:

• The Clemson-N.C. State series has featured orange shoes, purple jerseys and record-breaking performances.

• If Clemson wins Saturday, Coach Dabo Swinney will receive a $20,000 bonus for getting 10 victories in a season.

• Here's the AP preview of the game.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Dwayne Allen has grown up a lot at Clemson

Here's some Clemson football news for Thursday:

• All-star tight end Dwayne Allen was once a very immature player. Not anymore.

Orange and White scouts N.C. State here, here, here and here.

• Here's a nice feature on the history of Death Valley.

• Will Sammy Watkins play Saturday? Only he knows.

• CBS Sports has a great profile of Watkins. Watch the video:




Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Sammy Watkins could miss N.C. State game

Here's some news of note as Clemson preps for its ACC finale against N.C. State on Saturday.

Sammy Watkins' sprained shoulder could keep him out of Saturday's game, unless there's an emergency.

• Speaking of Watkins, he's one of 15 semifinalists (and the only freshman) in the running for the Walter Camp Award, which is presented to the national player of the year.

• "Go play like a champion": That's Coach Dabo Swinney's admonition to his team.

• Columnist Greg Wallace looks ahead to the Clemson-South Carolina game, which should draw more national interest than usual.

• And finally: Bill Murray was tailgating at the Wake Forest game last weekend?

Monday, November 14, 2011

Tigers clinch division title, climb in polls

Apologies for the lack of posts over the past few days. I've been out of town. Let's try to catch up.

• Following the thrilling 31-28 victory over Wake Forest that clinched the Atlantic division title, the Tigers rose to No. 7 and No. 8 in the major polls. Clemson is also No. 7 in the BCS standings.

• Clemson kicker Chandler Catanzaro is the Tigers' new hero after his game-deciding last-second field goal against the Demon Deacons.

• Receiver Sammy Watkins is questionable for Saturday's ACC finale at N.C. State. That game will kick off at 3:30 p.m.

Clemson's resilience, as evidenced in the game against Wake Forest, is changing the perception of the Tigers as a team that can't seal the deal.

• Clemson's offense? Call it "wide-open chaos."

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Clemson has shot at perfect home record

We're a couple of days away from the game that could clinch the Atlantic Division title for the Tigers. Here's what's going on.

• Clemson's seniors have a chance to finish the season 7-0 at home, something that's never happened before.

• Wake Forest has the tools to challenge Clemson, according to ESPN.

• Coach Dabo Swinney says the Tigers' defense is "complex," "dominant," but "inconsistent."

• Will Saturday's game be superstar tight end Dwayne Allen's final home game? Let's hope not.

This week's feature in the football program that will be sold at Saturday's game is a profile of 1981 national championship hero Perry Tuttle.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Clemson's future looks blindingly bright

Whatever happens over the remainder of this season, Clemson looks like it's got the foundation for a great future.

• Two years from now, the Tigers could be a real juggernaut.

Unique leadership is fueling Clemson's current rise.

• Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele says the Tigers' D made big progress during the off week.

• Despite its recent slide, Wake Forest is still in position to win the Atlantic Division.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Tigers aim to cut down on turnovers

Clemson preps for Saturday's game with Wake Forest, blogger preps for another post.

• The Tigers will have to hold on to the ball better if they want to defeat the Demon Deacons.

• Clemson isn't going to reinvent the wheel in the wake of the Georgia Tech loss. 

• Running back Andre Ellington is expected to play Saturday.

Monday, November 07, 2011

Tigers rise to No. 10 in poll

Despite being idle, Clemson climbed back into the top 10 in this week's USA TODAY Coaches poll. Here's some more news as the Tigers prepare for a big ACC showdown on Saturday with Wake Forest.

• Clemson again has a shot at a top-10 finish after rising in the polls.

• Here are five reasons for optimism for Clemson fans.

• Commence Operation Keep Chad Morris.

• Clemson-Wake Forest will kick off at noon on Saturday on ESPNU.

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Who eggged Tajh Boyd's house after GT loss?

More crazy stories and rumors are surfacing during Clemson's bye week.

• According to a tweet from Clemson beat writer Travis Sawchik,  Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd's house was egged on Saturday night following the Tigers' loss to Georgia Tech. Was this the work of "extremist" fans? Hard to say. Eggings aren't exactly unheard of in college towns.

• Freshman safety Desmond Brown has been dismissed from the team.

• Here's a great profile of Homer Jordan, the Tigers' quarterback on the 1981 national championship team.

• Remember Roscoe Crosby? He's now a counselor at a camp for troubled youth.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Dear Clemson: Spend whatever it takes to keep Chad Morris

It's an off week, so it's time to crank up the off-field rumor mill. Here we go.

• Can Clemson afford to keep hot shot offensive coordinator Chad Morris on the staff? Let's hope so.

• Clemson's bye will will allow tight end Dwayne Allen's turf toe to heal.

• Looking ahead, ESPN sees Clemson in the ACC title game facing off against either Virgina Tech or Georgia Tech.

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Off week offers chance to heal up

After nine straight weeks of games, the Tigers get a break this Saturday. That's the good news. What other news is out there today?

• Clemson running back Andre Ellington, who did not play against Georgia Tech, could be ready to go against Wake Forest on Nov. 12.

• Speaking of the Wake Forest game, it will start at either noon or 3:30.