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Another Family Member Gone
I received this e-mail late last night. I withheld his name for privacy issues.

We lost another member of the family yesterday and this one really hurts. Trevor Adair will always be a Tiger but he won’t be an active member of the family anymore.

I am well aware that some readers of this blog are not soccer fans but this is not about soccer. This is about the unfortunate way the athletic department handled a good man...A Clemson Man.

It is very difficult to write this blog today because of my love for Trevor and his family. Yesterday was a sad day for Clemson. However, it is just another in a long line of sad days recently.

When I worked as a student-assistant in the sports information office in the late 80s and early 90s Clemson was a family. The coaches were a fraternity that supported each other. The athletic director actually went to almost every home sporting event. He knew all of the wives names. He knew all of the athletes and all of the assistant coaches. We had family picnics in Jervey Meadows. We loved each other. The family was passionate about the athletic department.

In the early days of Bill Wilhelm’s reign at Clemson he went after a fan in the stands at Furman because he made a foul comment to Sara Jane, Wilhelm’s lovely wife. He didn’t get fired because he was part of the family and the athletic department stood by him. To show you how much things have changed, the legendary coach was told before this year’s baseball regional that he was not going to be given complimentary tickets to the home regional. Some other athletic administrators found out about it and rectified the situation. However, in the old days do you think the original insult would have occurred?

We don’t take care of our former great athletes either. Ring of Honor legend Fred Cone recently had his parking demoted. Do you think these things would have happened when we really were a family?

“Athletic department morale is the lowest I have ever seen it,” one athletic department employee told me recently. That employee is one of many who have told me the same thing. “It wasn’t this bad during the football probation because we had a passionate leader that made us believe we were going to emerge stronger if we stayed together. That doesn’t happen today.”

Isolated incidents add up to tell the big picture of how the family has changed. I am not close enough to Jack Leggett to ask him about an embarrassing situation that happened a couple of weeks ago when the athletic director did not know Jack’s wife‘s (Karen) name when speaking at a baseball regional function. That would have never happened in the old days. We used to be a family.

In the old days the athletic director would have said something along the lines of…”We are a family here and we will stand behind Trevor. He is one of ours. We will work through this and we will help with his family situation in any way we can.”

We should not be surprised I guess but it still hurts to watch the family crumble away. Jim Davis was told he was not going to be fired by the athletic director and less than a week later he was fired. Davis was the winningest basketball coach in Clemson history. He had two losing seasons in his last three. His last season he played mostly freshmen and that team got better as the year went on. Every player you stayed four years graduated. Davis was one of the most popular coaches in the Clemson community. All of that was ignored and he was fired. How has that moved worked out?

Bob Pollack went to The Citadel and learned about honor there. He coached over 20 years without the first accusation of wrong doing. He was told he could take money from entry fees by an athletic department employee. That employee changed her story and turned on Pollack. The family turned its back on an honorable man and he was forced to retire.

Yesterday leaves Jack Leggett and Larry Penley as the last two standing in the old guard. When we will turn our backs on the last two family members?

This hurts so much because I know what kind of guy Trevor Adair is. None of us were there that Friday night so before you judge, consider what I know. I know he loves his wife and his kids. I met Trevor about 12 years ago and know of his integrity. I know his wife, Jody, tells me what happened that night and I do not know a mother that would stand behind her husband if he was wrongfully beating her children. I know his oldest daughter and I know what she has told me about the incident. She says she is proud of her father and he has never been out of line as a father. “Do you think we would still be here tonight if we ever thought he was going to beat us?” Courtney asked. She also asked if she could come on my radio show to help clear her father’s name.

I know what Jody and Courtney will testify in court and I could not have fired Trevor after what they told me.

I know Trevor Adair is a passionate man. He is passionate about his family. He is passionate about his players and his coaches. He is passionate about his Clemson family. But I also know that somewhere deep inside he is a little relieved today because he does not have to work in the crumbling conditions of the athletic department morale anymore.

One of the reasons he was told he was forced to resign was the idea that some of his former players thought he had lost his team. If that is the criteria then we need to be looking for a new athletic director because he has lost many of his employees. Sure he has a few insulators that will get mad about this article but the majority of people that work there and love Clemson know this is the case and the truth hurts.

So again today some athletic department employees will be called in and be accused of leaking information. But these are just symptoms. We need a cure. We need honesty. We need leaders who will lead in tough times. We need a Clemson man to lead us. We need someone who is passionate about Clemson.

It is so difficult to sit here watch people that are passionate about Clemson be forced out by some whose actions indicate they aren’t.

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, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, 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, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, William Perry, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness.

Comments:

TDP will not be gone until Barker is gone. Neither will happen soon enough to prevent more damage. The sports programs have suffered and the tactics of Barker for fame in the "Top 20" listing will tarnish the image rather than improve it.

Posted by TigerGrad'93 on June 17, 2009 at 10:59 AM EDT #

Wow...is this a call for TDP's head?

Posted by clemsongt on June 17, 2009 at 11:11 AM EDT #

Your best ever Mickey. Unfortunately, I fear that those in charge and able to rectify what the problem is in our AD will turn the other way as they have done in the past. Those people, rightfully or wrongly, have not wanted to listen to you in the past on certain subjects like this. This comment is not a judgement on them for those times. However, I sincerely hope that THIS time, for the good of clemson, they will not turn their eye and say "that is just mickey being mickey." I pray that the people in power (BOT,president,etc), listen with an unbiased ear to your blog and to the employees in the AD. The Clemson family knows what is going on here, and I hope we do something about it.

Posted by Greenvegas on June 17, 2009 at 11:14 AM EDT #

Barker is well-liked by the overall Clemson community and his job is secure. TDP is not my type of redneck,but if Dabo has a good season this fall then TDP has made two successful hires and he will be secure also. That's the way it is.

Posted by CLEMS75 on June 17, 2009 at 11:15 AM EDT #

Jim Davis.....Bob Pollock.....Trevor Adair......not a heck of a lot of room left under TDPs bus.

Posted by milerock on June 17, 2009 at 11:22 AM EDT #

Barker is well liked by who? The US News and World Report?

Posted by poppatiger on June 17, 2009 at 11:22 AM EDT #

Barker is well liked by who? The US News and World Report?

Posted by poppatiger on June 17, 2009 at 11:23 AM EDT #

Barker is well liked by who? The US News and World Report?

Posted by poppatiger on June 17, 2009 at 11:24 AM EDT #

Mickey, go to any criminal court in the country and you will see battered women and children refuse to testify against their fathers/husbands.

If you know the facts share them, but do not use "families won't stand by an abuser" it happens all the time.

As for Davis, the program was on the decline and a change was needed. Did we make a great hire? No--but a change was needed.

Same can be said for Pollack--he broke the rules and had to face the consequences.

I am sorry, but I don't want my family taking the blame for me when I have done wrong. Support the men-yes--but they also have to be held responsible. I understand these folks are your friends, but the man was arrested, drunk as a coot, and accused of beating his children. He deserved to be let go.

Posted by tigeratcu on June 17, 2009 at 11:27 AM EDT #

The issue with Davis's departure was how it was handled. It was done poorly, resulting in quite a few "Thanks, but no thanks" responses when the job was offered. We finally had to offer to a sure "yes" to stop the bleeding.

Posted by TigerGrad'93 on June 17, 2009 at 11:36 AM EDT #

As much as I appreciate your passion for Clemson University, the Trevor Adair situation is another example of your inability to separate what's best for Clemson University or what's best for Mickey Plyler.

Dr. Phillips lack of leadership as the AD, as cited in your blog, is a separate issue from the personnel decisions you have cited. Any objective review of the events the resulted in the reassignment of Jim Davis and the firings of Mr. Pollack, Mr. Foster and Mr. Adair would conclude that the correct decisions were made.

Let me repeat, I agree with your overall assessment of Dr. Phillips performance as athletic director but you are way off base in regards to these personnel decisions.

Posted by CreoleTiger on June 17, 2009 at 11:39 AM EDT #

Mickey very refreshing to see someone call it like it is. For us that are away from the homeground your voice is necessary and appreciated.

I personally think that CTA needed to be replaced. He is another in a long line of mediocre Clemson coaches but, that being said, there is a right and decent way to handle personnel matters.

TDP needs to be replaced. His job is to manage a profit center and produce championship teams and he has excelled in neither. In fact he made a $4.5M error with CTB just last year.

Who is the assistant soccer coach - errr new head Soccer coach going to be?

Posted by Ga Tyger on June 17, 2009 at 11:41 AM EDT #

Once again, Mickey has put how he feels personally about someone ahead of reality.

Shouldn't he/we be angry at the individuals who are screwing up and embarrassing the university instead of at the individuals doing the disciplining? For Pete's sake--if you don't want to get fired, don't get drunk and wind up in a domestic disturbance incident where the cops need to be called...pretty simple, really.

Posted by clemson32 on June 17, 2009 at 11:51 AM EDT #

What CreoleTiger said. My thoughts exactly.

Posted by esitiger on June 17, 2009 at 11:53 AM EDT #

Big deal... Stuff happens lets move on and not damage the university's rep any more then it already has been. Put your personal feelings aside and realize this is business not a church group or a club.

Posted by Tiger4Life714 on June 17, 2009 at 12:20 PM EDT #

Plyler for Ring of Honor!!

Posted by otisman on June 17, 2009 at 01:20 PM EDT #

I cannot comment on the Adair situation, as I know nothing more than what is in the papers and on blogs and feel it is improper to speculate on something potentially having far reaching legal and family impact for Coach Adair.

However, I am somewhat tired of Mickey constantly stating Coach Davis should still be coaching women's basketball. Davis was a good coach and by all accounts a great man. I cannot argue that the handling of his dismissal was very poor. However, the program was in great decline. Further, he enjoyed his greatest success when the ACC was much weaker in women's basketball than it is today. Now the ACC is probably the preeminant women's basketball conference with 2-3 Final Four contenders every year. The playing field is much different today for Clemson women's basketball.

Posted by CUhoopster48 on June 17, 2009 at 01:32 PM EDT #

As for TDP. I am intrigued by what does appear to be a call for his head. Personality wise, TDP has NEVER impressed me. I do give him credit for getting our athletic facilities up to par after Bobby Robinson let us fall more than a decade behind the competition. However, I think now that the business aspects of facilities upgrades are in hand or at least within sight of completion a different personality at the top may be of great help to Clemson athletics.

Posted by CUhoopster48 on June 17, 2009 at 01:32 PM EDT #

Does this mean Ken Hatfield, Tommy West, and preacher bowden should still be a part of the "FAMILY". Give me a break. I love your commentary about the leadership and passion during the "probation years". Isn't there something intrinsically wrong about that statement?

Posted by SaltyTiger on June 17, 2009 at 02:22 PM EDT #

"Clemson was way better when we cheated"
--MP

Posted by otisman on June 17, 2009 at 02:27 PM EDT #

Why is that we love to criticize the University of South Carolina for letting players and coaches off easy for wrongdoing, but when it happens to one of our guys, we say we need to rally behind him and support him, and then not do anything because we "don't know all the facts"?

Maybe Coach Adair is an innocent man. And I know there are self-serving scumbags in the AD. That does not necessarily mean that's the case in this situation.

Posted by Catahoula on June 17, 2009 at 03:10 PM EDT #

If you criticize Dr. Phillips and praise Bobby Robinson, you lose all creditability with me! Robinson sank us to a depth we may never recover from.

Posted by FORESTTIGER on June 17, 2009 at 03:45 PM EDT #

I don't think the Adair situation (specifically) is the main thing to focus on here....I believe it is the existing and seemingly continually expanding disconnect between the AD and the actual athletic programs - what Mickey is saying is that we need a Clemson man, a man 100% dedicated to our University and athletics, to right a sinking (or already sunk, depending on your expectations) ship that is Clemson athletics....he's also saying how sad it is that the things that once made Clemson special, a big family (and anyone knows this feeling that's been around Clemson for an extended period of time) as Mickey alludes to, is disappearing, along with so many other things that used to make Clemson such a special place to be and be a part of

Posted by rhettb on June 17, 2009 at 03:47 PM EDT #

Quite possibly the dumbest thing you've EVER written. Are you really this shallow and sheltered:

"I do not know a mother that would stand behind her husband if he was wrongfully beating her children"

Stick to sports, Mickey.

Posted by RU4GOD2 on June 17, 2009 at 05:38 PM EDT #

Of everything you wrote, the most important part is that it seems that we are no longer a family, and that by itself is disturbing to me. That is what has made Clemson different than your normal college/university.

Posted by 1983Grad on June 17, 2009 at 06:06 PM EDT #

Athletic directors are like copiers - none of them are very good. Just think at the recent ones in this state alone: TDP, Bobby Robinson, Bill McClellan for Clemson - Eric Hyman, Mike McGee, and King Dixon for SCar. I wouldn't give a plugged nickel for all six of them combined.

Posted by GoTigerz on June 17, 2009 at 06:13 PM EDT #

Mickey, thanks for sharing your personal thoughts about Adair and the athletic department. However, I disagree with most of what you wrote.

I do not think TDP is perfect, however, he is very good at what he does because he makes the tough decisions. Do you think he found it easy to have that conversation with Bowden last fall? Do you think he enjoyed telling Jim Davis, who had been at Clemson for years, that he would need to take a lesser position? Do you think he relished the thought of asking Adair to step down? The answer to all of these is, "No, of course not!"

A good AD makes tough decisions, no matter how difficult. In all three of the above examples, the team was showing signs of regression and/or stagnation. That is a fact. At that point, a good AD has to make the decision which is best for the university - regardless of his personal friendship with that coach. TDP has consistently done that, and Clemson is better for it.

Posted by Judge Keller on June 17, 2009 at 06:25 PM EDT #

As for your loyalty comment, it is sad that you seemingly value the AD's loyalty to a coach as more important than the AD's loyalty to Clemson. I would much rather have an AD like TDP, who makes decisions that are in Clemson's best interest, than an AD like Bobby Robinson, who is loyal to a fault and cannot make the tough decisions when they are most needed. One AD is willing to risk personal friendships if it means improving the athletic department, while the other is more concerned about having his buddies as coaches and having family picnics together. In the end, who truly cares more about Clemson? (hint: the former).

Posted by Judge Keller on June 17, 2009 at 06:27 PM EDT #

as most above, I disagree with your comments.Clemson 1st, then the "family" you talk about.
Please stick to what you know, not how to run a university

Posted by DownunderTiger on June 17, 2009 at 10:49 PM EDT #

Just like most of the other rational posters in this thread, I see some of your points and also see the error in some of them. I am troubled by the lack of morale in the athletic department - I do believe that it is present. However, I'm also troubled by the downward spiral that was Bobby Robinson and his "loyal to a fault" attitude. I do value making tough decisions, which TDP has done. I think he also makes decisions that he thinks are tough, but in the best interest of Clemson. I don't think he'd claim to be correct with every single one of his decisions. I'll review a few to follow:

Posted by kgpittm on June 17, 2009 at 10:50 PM EDT #

I support what Mickey is saying. What you all seem to be missing is "innocent until proven guilty". My family has been close to the Clemson soccer program since 2000 and have nothing but the utmost respect for Trevor and Jody. Trevor has built the whole program on character and integrity as long as he has been a coach at Clemson. We may not have won some games we hoped to, but every player knows the meaning of being a role model and good citizen. He promoted togetherness and good citizenship. If you were not a team player, then you were not a part of his team. I pray for the "Clemson family" that we can get back on the right track soon--not just in sports but in general.
The past year has been tough for me as a graduate, supporter, and resident of Clemson to continue to believe and support Clemson University. Even in big business there is "family".
Trevor and Jody; you will be missed and always loved by this Family!

Posted by rpund1 on June 17, 2009 at 10:52 PM EDT #

Football - Bowden was popular, but it was clear we needed something to get us over the hump. Tough decision, but I think it was the right choice.

Men's Basketball - Purnell was a STELLAR hire after letting go of a Clemson guy who couldn't get the job done.

Women's Basketball - I LOVE Jim Davis. I think he is one of the best pure COACHES that we had. However, he had trouble recruiting mainly because our fans don't support the sport enough. I think TDP was trying to inject new life, but this one was a dud. We were better off with less talented players and a great coach than what we have now.

Women's Rowing - Right move to let old coach go after the scandal followed by a great hire.

Posted by kgpittm on June 17, 2009 at 10:54 PM EDT #

Men's T&F - I don't know enough about this situation to comment, but I think this move was made with the right intentions - but it may have been the wrong move. Jury is still out, but we have taken a tough shot so far.

Men's Soccer - I LOVE Trevor Adair. I believe that he is one of the better leaders that we've had as a coach. I love what he has done for the community. I truly believe he is innocent until proven guilty and he's not been found guilty yet. It seems very aberrant for the character of the man that I knew while I Clemson. However, we have a choice as a Clemson community. We can get mad and protest - which may have some merit. But WE MUST BACK THE TIGERS. And that means supporting whoever the new coach is. I do believe that TDP will make a good hire here. And as much as I hate to see Adair leave, I will support the new hire and BACK THE TIGERS!

Posted by kgpittm on June 17, 2009 at 10:58 PM EDT #

I imagine that Adair's firing will do more harm to his daughters than anything he may or may not have done to them.

Posted by Razzmatazz on June 18, 2009 at 03:32 AM EDT #

Posted by GoTigerz on June 18, 2009 at 09:24 AM EDT #

So, now that you've lodged public war on the administration, I want to see some real examples to what you say they are doing. Not remembering a coaches wife's name is not citing any true facts that they can't lead.

By the way, your example of coaches going into the stands and getting 'support' back in the day by not getting fired is in no way relevent today. A coach, any coach, who goes into the stands after a heckler for any reason would be fired within 12 hours at any school in the country.

Posted by Justwannaread on June 18, 2009 at 11:21 AM EDT #

Looks like mod got ahold of the commments and edited out anything mickey wouldn't like. So much for "comments".

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