(UPDATED at 1:42 p.m.)

Online season ticket sales set a new record

Football season ticket orders placed via the Web have surpassed $1 million for the first time. Clemson fans have apparently discovered this thingee called the "Innernut" that puts words and pictures inside this little teevee-like jobbie that you can click around on and go places.

Man, it's awesome, man.

WHITEHURST FOR HEISMAN: A poster on the Tigernet message board found this story that ranks Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst as an early Heisman Trophy candidate. Sounds good to me.

SIMPLY THE BEST: I may have posted this in the past, but a commenter on Tigernet's new and improved message boards has put up a link to the stadium rankings of major college teams. Clemson's Death Valley is rated the best in the ACC, natch.

Bowden: Early draft departures made costly mistake

Bart Wright of the Greenville News has an interview with Clemson coach Tommy Bowden, who says Donnell Washington and Derrick Hamilton probably cost themselves a combined $6 million by leaving school early to enter the NFL draft.

MORRIS NEEDS TO CRACK THE BOOKS: The Greenville News profiles Kelvin Morris, a linebacker who has not played since the 2002 Tangerine Bowl because of injury and academic troubles.

Tiger fans expect a monster season in 2004

The Greenville News has a couple of articles from a recent IPTAY meeting where football coach Tommy Bowden was greeted with enthusiastic, positive fans. That's definitely a big change from this time last year.

HENRY, THREE OTHERS SIGN: Clemson offensive tackle William Henry has signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He'll be joined by teammate Kevin Youngblood. Linebacker John Leake signed with the Tennessee Titans, and Khaleed Vaughn signed with the New York Giants. They join Donnell Washington and Derrick Hamilton, who were third-round draft picks Saturday.

TRAGEDY STRIKES CROSBY AGAIN: This is awful news. Troubled former Clemson player Roscoe Crosby has had another tragedy befall him -- his young brother has drowned in Lake Hartwell. (Here's the story, and here's a link to a password that allows you to read the story.)

PARKING SPACES OPEN: The new downtown deck in Clemson is taking applications from football fans.

Who will be next 'voice of the Tigers'?

Bart Wright of the Greenville News has a column up about who could be replacing Jim Phillips, Clemson's legendary radio man who died last fall. Wright seems to be supporting Pete Yanity, and I think that would be a good choice, too. But let's don't forget Don Munson.

Washington, Hamilton are third-round picks

As expected, Clemson's Donnell Washington and Derrick Hamilton were selected in the third round of the NFL draft.

DRAFT MEMORIES: Former NFL great and Clemson grad Dwight Clark reminisces about his own draft experiences. And here's a list of Clemson's first-round draft picks.

It's Draft Day: Will Clemson players be high picks?

The NFL draft will begin today, and we'll find out the fates of the Clemson players who are eligible. The Anderson Independent-Mail examines the draft prospects of Donnell Washington, and the Greenville News looks at John Leake's potential.

HUEY TO PLAY AGAIN: Former Clemson player Terrance Huey has received medical clearance to play football again, and he'll close out his career at The State University of West Georgia, a Division II school.

Ron West: Up close and personal

Tigernet has a couple of stories that involve Clemson defensive line coach Ron West. The first is a straight Q&A; the second is about Clemson's depth at defensive end.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: OK, here goes an older one:

1. List your five favorite beverages.
Bass Ale, red wine, Diet Coke, orange juice, lemonade.

2. List your five favorite websites.
Google, Bloglines, Arts & Letters Daily, Tigernet, Tigerpundit.

3. List your five favorite snack foods.
Smoked almonds, boiled peanuts, potato chips, pretzels, nachos.

4. List your five favorite board and/or card games.
Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Phase 10, Battleship, Stratego.

5. List your five favorite computer and/or game system games.
Don't have any.

Analysts: Hamilton should have stayed another year

Receiver Derrick Hamilton, who left Clemson a year early to test the waters of the NFL draft, could have been a top-five pick next year if he'd stayed in school, according to a draft expert quoted in this story from The State.

I couldn't agree more.

SMITH PROFILED: The Greenville News' Bart Wright has a column about Clemson assistant coach Thielen Smith, who played against new Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom in college.

Football success boosts turnout at IPTAY meetings

Many more IPTAY members are turning out to hear coach Tommy Bowden speak at meetings around the state. That's because the excitement is back in Clemson football after the fantastic finish to the 2003 season. And, they're giving more money than in the recent past. That's great news.

GADDIS TO STAY AT CORNERBACK: Clemson's C.J. Gaddis, who came to school as a quarterback, will remain at cornerback, a switch that was made at spring practice.

NFL DRAFT NEWS: The Cleveland Browns' Web site has a nice profile of Derrick Hamilton. Also, a poster on the Tigernet message board has an assessment of the prospects for Hamilton and Donnell Washington from Mel Kiper, draft expert. Kiper sees Washington going in the late first round, and Hamilton going in the late third round.