Monday January 18, 2010

93

93
Nothing shocks us anymore. We have become desensitized to horrible news because tragedy hits somewhere so often and there are 24-hour news stations that thrive on it.

But it was not supposed to happen this way. He was way too young and was just starting his life. He still had so much to give. But Gaines Adams left us Sunday morning.

I have learned not to question God’s plan but that lesson is tested in times like these.

Now all we have is our own memories of Gaines Adams.

I remember hearing about this skinny kid that played wide receiver on an 8-man football team at a small school in Greenwood. I then remember him going to Hargrave Military and a Clemson-North Carolina recruiting battle.

I remember a raw kid showing up on campus but it did not take long for the news to start spreading. The offensive staff talked about Gaines during his red-shirt season like he was going to be a superstar and they were not wrong.

Over the next four years Gaines would develop into a record breaking pass rusher. No one in the history of the school has more sacks than Gaines.

Few players have made one play that saved a season like Gaines did in Winston-Salem, NC when he turned a certain defeat into a thrilling victory against Wake Forest.

Only two other players have been first-team unanimous All-Americans. In 2006 he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He was second in the overall ACC Player of the Year voting that year to Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech.
Gaines was also one of five finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award and one of six finalist from the Ted Hendricks Award in 2006 when he had 63 total tackles and 12.5 sacks.

Gaines had 168 tackles, including 44.5 tackles for loss and 28 sacks. He played in 48 games. Started 26 games. Gaines had 21 passes broken up, most ever by a Clemson defensive lineman, three fumble recoveries and five caused fumbles.

But he started another trend here at Clemson. He was one of the first that decided to come back for his senior season instead of opting for the NFL Draft. “Me and Gaines talked about it but he said he would come back if I came back and I told him I would come back if he came back,” said former Tiger linebacker Anthony Waters.

In talking to his friends, coaches and former teammates Sunday, I learned several things. I learned how much of a family man he was. Gaines loved his family and included his mom and dad in every aspect of his life.

I read somewhere where he went home once a week to have dinner with his family when he was in school. After practice he would drive down to eat some of momma’s cooking then drive back to school. I think that says a lot about their family.

Gaines made a promise to his momma and made good on that promise when he received his undergraduate degree from Clemson in December of 2006.

Four months later he became the fourth player drafted in the NFL draft. That tied Banks McFadden for the highest draft pick in Clemson history.

Gaines had a good NFL career but his first three years were not spectacular. He was traded from Tampa Bay to Chicago earlier this year and was hoping to find a new home and a new spark in his career. Unfortunately, that won’t happen now.

I will remember a quiet young man. I saw Gaines a lot each Tuesday during his junior and senior seasons at the weekly press conference but remember how soft spoken he was. Reporters had to put their microphones closer to Gaines because you could barely hear them.

On the field he was anything but quiet. He was a pass rushing terror. He was an emotional player that loved to get the Tiger crowd into the game by pumping his arms up in the air before a big down.

I will remember his terrific smile also. I knew he was shy to those that were not close to him but that smile gave us a glimpse of his playful personality. His teammates said he was a practical joker who loved to make them laugh.

Over the past 24 hours I have learned so much about Gaines from those that knew him better.

His former high school coach Steve Tanneyhill who talked about Gaines as a given person. Every year Gaines bought Tanneyhill’s high school team their football shoes. “He went to Cambridge, He did not even go to Chesterfield but he still bought Chesterfield High School their football shoes each August,” said Tanneyhill. “Gaines was giving of his time also. He spoke to my team and passed along valuable lessons. I remember after a seven on seven tournament he wanted to take our team to dinner and I mentioned pizza but Gaines said no way. He took everyone out for steaks at Outback Steakhouse instead.”

Former Clemson outside linebacker coach Ron West recruited Gaines out of high school and was his position coach. He was devastated Sunday and added, ”I loved GA. He was a special person and someone that I miss already. Gaines was a terrific son and father. He made a huge impact on a lot of people’s lives.”

David Blackwell was Clemson’s linebacker coach when Gaines was at Clemson. Blackwell said, “Gaines made himself into a player. He got a great work ethic from his family. I am still in shock because you just don’t prepare yourself for anything like this.

Perhaps Gaines’ three best friends at Clemson were Waters, Charles Bennett and Jock McKissic. They lost their best friend Sunday. Waters said, “I did not believe it when I heard the news. I was in denial. But I went on the internet and say what they were saying and it really happened. I was in our locker room at the time and just broke down right there. Gaines was the best friend anyone could ask for. Gaines also loved Clemson. I could not imagine him going anywhere else but Clemson.”

McKissic said, “Gaines was like a big brother to me. He would give you the shirt off of his back. Gaines was the kind of friend that we all should be. I looked up to him so much. I can’t believe he is gone.”

Dr. Bob Brookover had Gaines in several classes he taught and knew Gaines well. Dr. Brookover, said, “Sometimes you see student-athletes that just went through the motions in the classrooms but that was not Gaines. Gaines engaged in his education. He interacted. He was a real pleasure. Other students really liked Gaines. He was just a really likeable guy.”

Tony Eubanks was the team Chaplin when Gaines was here. Eubanks said, “I always try to find an IN with every young man. Gaines loved to play golf so we spent some great times on the golf course. We would text often and I enjoyed getting a text from him that said, ‘Rev, my spiritual life is getting better every day.’

Wayne Coffman was Gaines’ academic advisor when he was in school here. Coffman added, “Graduating was important to Gaines because he made a promise to his mother. That last semester he would come to me all of the time just to make sure he was doing the right things and making sure he had all of the right classes to graduate. It was important to him to follow up on that promise.”

His friends, former teammates and coaches knew Gaines was a special person. At Clemson we always talk about the Clemson family. Gaines loved Clemson so much. Therefore, we lost a family member yesterday. We lost a Tiger.

Preliminary autopsy results revealed biologically what his friends already knew about the kind of person Gaines was…..he had an enlarged heart biologically and a huge heart as a friend.

Editor’s Note: We will have the audio from Monday’s radio show up on this website and wccpfm.com soon. It is about 2 ½ hours of interviews from Gaines’ former teammates, coaches and friends. In case you missed Monday’s show the interviews will be archived in the next day or two.

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, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), 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, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Candace Fallaw, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys".