Updates on Babalola AND spring practice!

You can read all about both subjects here and here.

WOODY DANTZLER -- SAFETY? Find out more about the Dallas Cowboys' plans for the former Clemson quarterback here.

An interview with Terry Don Phillips

The Greenville News sits down with Clemson's athletic director. Read it all here.

Basketballer Babalola bounces to football team

Well, here's the big story of the day. Olu Babalola, a senior forward on the Clemson basketball team this past season, is trying out for the Clemson football team. Read all about it here, here and here.

NO LEADERS YET: At long last, here's a media update on what's happening on the field during spring football practice. There's also news about former defensive coordinator John Lovett, who has landed a job at Louisiana Tech.

THEIR HOME IS IN THE HALL OF FAME: A couple of Clemson football players, including William and Michael Dean Perry, will be inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.

Recruiting update: Clemson takes an early lead

From the unstoppable Phil Kornblut. Sounds like good news so far.

ATTENDANCE QUESTIONS: A writer at Tigernet attempts to debunk the perception that the crowds at Clemson football games were bigger in the 1980s than they are now.

I'm not too convinced by this. First of all, we have to consider how attendance is being determined. Is Clemson counting tickets sold to games as opposed to the actual number of tickets torn at the gates? Because I seem to recall that season-ticket sales have remained strong through the years. However, having attended games at Clemson since 1976, I tend to agree with those who say that attendance is down compared with the 1980s. Yes, roughly the same number of people have purchased tickets, but to my eye it seems that a slightly smaller percentage seem to be going through the turnstiles.

And then there's this bit:

Tommy West, widely regarded as one of the more popular coaches in Clemson football�s recent history, saw an average of only 69,120 fans per game in Death Valley.

Forget the dubious point about Tommy West's popularity (he certainly wasn't very popular with many fans I know), and whatever criteria the author is using to determine Clemson's "recent football history." Twenty years? Thirty?

The 1998 season under West, when Clemson went 3-8, is an example of what I was talking about earlier. I went to several home games that season, and even on days with perfect weather, it certainly looked like there were around 50,000-55,000 people in the stands. Heck, I remember going to a game that season and some old alum JUST HANDED ME two tickets on the 50-yard line in the North stands right before I went in. He couldn't use them, and wanted somebody to have them.

So I entered the stadium with three unused tickets in my pocket. (I'd been using the two season tickets my dad had, and then this guy gave me two more, and I used one of his.) Did that represent four people at that game for attendance purposes, even though only one ticket was torn? Or just one?

I don't know. Can anybody clarify?

Clemson releases student-athletes' grades

And you can read all about it here and here.

MORE ON BOWDEN'S SPEECH: The Augusta Chronicle was there to cover it.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: It's been a while, but here goes:

1. What is your favorite movie of all time?
Wow. That's a toughie. I guess I'll just have to take the safe route and vote for The Godfather. (Close second: Goodfellas.)
2. How often do you watch this movie?
Every time I can.
3. What's your favorite line out of the whole movie?
Gosh. So many to choose from. How about this: "Leave the gun. Take the canolis."
4. Who's your favorite character from this movie?
Michael Corleone.
5. What scene do you love the most?
The bit near the end where scenes of Michael in a Catholic church going through the ceremony to become godfather to Connie's son are juxtaposed with the scenes of opposing Mobsters being rubbed out. It's brilliant.

Bowden and the fans: Seven years in and still married

Times and Democrat writer Thomas Grant, Jr., has a column on the reception that Clemson coach Tommy Bowden received from Tiger fans in Orangeburg the other day. One fan gave Bowden a confidence-level rating of 7 out of 10.

That sounds about right to me.

NEW UNIS: Fanblogs has a post about the new uniforms Clemson will be sporting this season.

UPDATE: Phillips in running for Colorado job?

Fanblogs is reporting that Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips could be a candidate for athletic director at Colorado.

Stay tuned, as they say.

CHANGES GONNA COME: Clemson is shaking up the hierarchy of its athletic department. Read all about it here.

BOWDEN ON THE ROAD: Clemson coach Tommy Bowden spoke to a crowd of Tiger fans in Orangeburg on Tuesday night.

The (tight) ends justify the means

The Greenville News has a story on Clemson tight end Bobby Williamson, who is adjusting to many changes in his life. Not only does he have new coaches yelling at him during spring practice and all that, but he's also getting married in Las Vegas this week. Congrats, Bobby.

Take it from me; you won't regret that Vegas thing.

Also, here's a story on Clemson's prospects in 2005 at the tight end position.

ADAMS RE-SIGNS: Former Clemson linebacker Keith Adams has been re-signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ticket-price increases: The media catch up

You can read all about it here and here.

TOUGH SCHEDULE: Tigernet looks ahead at what promises to be an exciting and challenging schedule in 2005.

UNDERCLASSMEN STEP UP: Here's a spring practice story I missed the other day.