Tuesday January 20, 2009

Ryan; Respect; West; Recruiting; UNC

Ryan’s Weekend
I mentioned a good story about Ryan’s weekend on my radio show Monday and I thought I would share it on the blog as well. First, he had a great weekend. He came down from Charlotte Saturday morning and we had a nice lunch with some friends. Ryan had great tickets thanks to Judge Jimmy Williams and he thoroughly enjoyed the game. Saturday night he enjoyed a trip to Just More Barbeque in Pendleton and a night cap milkshake from Mac’s Drive In. You could say that food is always the center of attention with Ryan who has gained 23 pounds since coming home from the hospital and is now 6-4 and 151 pounds. Sunday Dyer’s in Pendleton did their part to help add even more weight.

But the best moment of the weekend came after the basketball game. I parked down in Lot 5 and told Ryan and his dad to wait for me at the cross walk between Littlejohn and McFadden. I sat in traffic for a while before eventually making way up the hill to pick up Ryan and his dad. I was worried about having to stop in traffic and hold those up behind me for too long. As I approached the cross walk I saw Ryan and his dad talking to someone but it was getting dark and I did not recognize the other gentleman. As I got close, I honked the horn and rolled down the window and shouted, “Ryan, come on there are people waiting behind me.”

To my surprise, Ryan yelled back, “HOLD ON! I AM TALKING WITH DABO!”

I had no idea then but Dabo was walking back to his office and came up from behind Ryan and asked him, “Hey, Ryan. How have you been?” They talked for a few minutes and Dabo gave Ryan an “All In” poker chip. The conversation made Ryan’s day. At least until he took his first bite of barbeque.

Respect
For years it always irked me when Duke or North Carolina would lose a regular season game and only drop a couple of spots in the polls. I was always told that was respect that the Blue Devils and Tar Heels had earned.

Monday the roles were reversed. Clemson did not drop in either poll despite losing to the new number-one ranked team on Saturday. I keep mentioning how the culture surrounding Clemson basketball continues to change. The new poll Monday is yet another example of this. Clemson is now gaining respect on the national scene from poll voters.

Good Luck Big Daddy
I have been fortunate to have a good relationship with many Clemson football coaches since 1986. One of the most difficult parts of this is when these guys leave to pursue other jobs. This happened again Monday when Tulsa named Ron West as their co-defensive coordinator and linebacker coach. I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank Ron and Becky West and wish them all of the luck in the world. We will keep a close eye on the Tulsa program and have yet another program to pull for.

Recruiting
The recruiting industry has changed so much with the early commitments and no better example of this than the official visit process in January. Sundays used to be filled with commitments from all across the nation as players made their decisions and told the coaches before they left campus. Today the prospects often times go home and at some point have a press conference situation at their high schools. Here is the latest with Clemson’s top four prospects it is waiting on:

Tajh Boyd will announce in the next week between Oregon, Ohio State and Clemson. He claims no leader between the three schools and will announce at a press conference at his school.

Tim Simon has been to Clemson and Ole Miss. He has Kentucky and Tennessee still on the schedule. He claims no leader and is not sure when he will announce his choice.

Kendall Kelly has been to Alabama and Clemson. He has LSU this week. Kelly will announce sometime next week.

JerQuari Schofield has already been to Clemson and will visit Tennessee this weekend. I have not heard any definite plans but I could see a decision next week.

The best news I have heard about recruiting is the staff has decided not to take any fall back prospects. They may be slightly down in numbers but I think it is a wise decision to not make a four-year mistake by taking a fall back prospect.

Chapel Hill
I was going to save all of my Clemson-UNC stuff for tomorrow’s blog but the conversation started early on my radio show today. I did some more research this morning during the show and thought I would share a few discouraging tidbits about Clemson’s uphill battle with the Tar Heels.

I was disgusted to find out that Tyler Hansbrough has shot 51 free throws in his career against Clemson and Trevor Booker has shot four in his career against Clemson. Booker fouled out of two of the three games against UNC last year. Hansbrough has played in 122 games in his career at UNC and he has fouled out of only two games.

Again, I want to save a lot of this for tomorrow’s blog but I got a little emotional this morning on the show. Look, I will be the first one to admit that North Carolina has been better than Clemson in almost every win they have had in Chapel Hill. I don’t ask for a win tomorrow night at the Dean Dome, I just want a fair chance from the officials.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover-was born Wednesday, January 14 several weeks pre-mature and was 2 lbs. 15 ounces. She is doing well but like all pre-mature babies she will have to get through several issues over the next few weeks.

Mrs. Kathleen Bowers

Larry in Naples, FL. Larry is currently being kept sedated in ICU and has acute pancreatitis. Larry is going to be transferred this week to Shands in Gainesville, FL for surgery on his pancreas. The doctors are saying that there is a 40% mortality rate with this surgery and if successful, there will still be a very long recovery. Larry is a great guy and a wonderful husband/father. Larry is 32 years old.

RTG-Pawsitive Tiger

Kaitlyn L-4 year old girl in TN who has seizures and a brain lesion that may be a slow-growing tumor. She will likely have a biopsy in February.

Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter)

Sandy Wright

Jo Ann Bachman

Frank Taylor

Kenneth Bryant

Pruitt Martin

Got igers and his family

David Rowland

Leonard Gillespie and his family

Jim S

Christine Hepfer

Daniel Rosborough-4-year old Inman, SC who will have a kidney transplant 1/14/09 in Charleston

Special Prayer Request from Peggy Lesley at Brookwood Church .

I am starting a signing for my son's best friend who has cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma). He is 11 years old and is not doing well at all. He was diagnosed with this cancer 2 weeks ago and the tumor is next to his jugular vein and entwined in it...has moved his wind pipe over a inch making it hard for him to breathe. The tumor is the size of a large eggplant and is sitting right above his heart. This little boy needs all the prayer he can get. I would like you to sign this and pass it on to as many people as you can. Once we get to a thousand people can you please send this back to me at: 1volsgirl@bellsouth.net When I get the 1000 people that have signed it...I am going to print this up for my sons best friend and show him how many people care and how many people are praying for him to get better. If you have a heart at all, you will all do this for me. I love this child as though he is my own and we really need all the prayers!

Thank you,
Peggy

Amy Murphey - diagnosed with ALS, pray for healing

Jack Huffman