With that said, here is my story...

A colleague of mine was an ACC referee for 22 years, and worked 17 ACC tournaments including numerous Championship games. I asked him last Friday if he knew of anyone I could BUY tickets from for the Clemson/MD game at the Comcast Center. He called me back on Sunday morning before the game and said go to Will Call and your 2 tickets will be there, and they were FREE. I was the happiest Tiger in the mid-Atlantic. Because of my schedule, the earliest I could get there was right at tip off. I pick up my tickets and walk to the first tunnel not knowing where my seats were. I ask the usher where my seats were... "Sir, you are all the way down on the wooden floor." I couldn't believe it. Unfortunately, my girlfriend (converted Tiger) and I had to walk all the way down to the floor through the entire student section, both of us wearing 100% orange. Needless to say, some things were thrown at us and awful things were said. One student was thrown out after an UMD official overheard what he barked at us. We sat directly on court, 2nd row along the baseline right next to the Clemson bench... the only thing between me and court was Boomer Esiason.

It was the greatest day of being a Clemson fan in my life. To be able to celebrate on the court, with the families of the team members after the historic 20 point come-from-behind win was a gift from god. Last night’s loss hurt, but it didn't hurt nearly as it usually does after witnessing the Oglesby 3-pointer drop through the net 10 feet from head.

I got home at midnight after that game, packed my bag and departed for Clemson at 5am Monday morning to interview Graphic Communications students for three days. I couldn't wait to get down there to buy my 2nd JD jersey as a thank you for him coming back for his senior year.

As happy as I was about the win against Maryland, the loss to Georgia Tech showed me that OP still has a lot of work to do. Missing free throws is a ridiculous weakness of this team. We will not go far in the NCAA Tournament with poor free throw shooting and we will be fouled, intentionally, to capitalize on our free throw shooting woes.

I was generally disappointed in our offensive execution. We threw sloppy passes down low and they were stolen. We also had several defenders slip behind the defense for easy layups. The officiating was terrible, as usual, but we were our own worst enemy. We let a lousy team beat us. If we truly aspire to become an upper level ACC team, we must learn to beat inferior opponents.

The blog keeps getting better, and I have really enjoyed the topics this week. You're a true Clemson Man!

Quick question...who are our football staff's top recruiting targets this year, and how does the staff feel about the current and potential commitments at this point in the process? Also, what positions do you think are the most critical to address this year? Thank you.

When I arrived on campus in Fall 2004, I couldn't have named a single basketball player. I remember on the first day of English class the teacher called attendance, and when he got to Sam Perry he just smiled. He mentioned Sam was a basketball player from Greenville. I never thought too much of it. I always noticed Sam was really polite, took part in all of the class discussions, and sat on the front row.

A few weeks later I heard him talking with the professor about the conditioning they were doing. The thing that really grabbed my attention was that Sam said to the teacher CLEMSON BASKETBALL WAS GOING TO BE THE BEST CONDITIONED TEAM IN THE ACC. I will never forget that statement and I often remind myself of it during games. We are the best conditioned team in the ACC. This is our identity and I was attracted to it. That enables us to play the 94 foot style that you liked when you saw the Clemson vs. Hampton game.

The Monday after that game I overheard Sam and the teacher talking about the game. I checked the box score and I decided I might go try this Clemson basketball thing out. I watched the South Carolina game on TV and I went to the Ohio State game. I got great seats and I saw us erase a 10
point second half deficit to beat the Buckeyes (my favorite team growing up and my father's alma mater). I was hooked. I loved the press and it never even crossed my mind how good Mays, Perry, and Hammonds were playing for freshman due to my previous lack of experience. I have been to every basketball game I could make since. I am proud to say my senior class includes the likes of Mays, Perry, and Hammonds.

Thanks for that blog. Senior day vs. VT will be bittersweet, but I can't wait to be there. As a side note the best sports moment I have ever witnessed in person was senior day vs. VT in 2005.

About Thursday’s blog on character, this is definitely one of your better efforts in conveying a very important message to "the masses".......I'm a huge Tiger Fan...my Wife, Son and Daughter are all Clemson Graduates and needless to say, they are huge Tiger Fans as well.......but you know what they are even more so than Fans ????

THEY ARE PROUD TO BE CLEMSON TIGERS !!

Yes, athletic accomplishments are important to them, especially against those schools with "Carolina" in their name, but what they are most proud of is the "hallowed ground" that is Clemson University ...which includes Students, Student Athletes, Faculty, Staff, the Town of Clemson, the Bachelors Degree, the countless and unforgettable memories and on and on and on.

Clemson is special and Clemson people that recognize this, act like it !

Thanks again....

At what point will USC quit blaming the SEC. Honestly, win or change conferences. Dave Odem is a good coach, Lou Holtz was a great coach, Steve Spurrier is a great coach. And none of them can get it done. Maybe they should just give it up.

Have a good one,

I am of the opinion the two are very similar to each other.

Conferences:
South Carolina football plays in the SEC, which is traditionally known as a football power conference and South Carolina football has not been very successful in; while Clemson basketball plays in the ACC, which is traditionally known as a basketball power conference that Clemson basketball has not been very successful in.

Versus Power Teams in their Conferences:
Both teams have had very limited success over the years against the top teams in their perspective conferences!

South Carolina football has struggled against divisional opponents not having much success against Tennessee or Florida, and although they have been competitive against rival Georgia, they usually finish behind them most years in the end; Clemson basketball has not had much success against North Carolina and Duke, and although they have been competitive recently against Maryland they usually finish behind them in the end.

Versus other conferences teams:
Each year South Carolina football seems to lose to some teams in their conference that they shouldn't (example to name a few: is Vanderbilt in 2007, Arkansas in 2006, Kentucky in 2005); And each year Clemson basketball seems to lose to some teams in their conferences that they shouldn't (example to name a recent few: is Miami in 2008, Virginia in 2007, NC State and Va Tech in 2006).

Versus non-conferences teams:
Both teams traditionally fair very good in the non-conference games, specifically in the last few years.

Coaches:
South Carolina football has hired some big name coaches like Steve Spurrier and Lou Holtz, but they have also hired small school coaches like Sparky Woods and Jim Morrison, and have hired a top name assistant like Brad Scott; Clemson hired a big name coach like Rick Barnes (who was an up and coming coach at the time) and Oliver Purnell, but they have also hired some small school coaches like Cliff Ellis, along with promoting an assistant coach in Larry Shyatt.

Overall Records:

*according to the internet the South Carolina football all-time record is: 521–523–44 (.499)

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ON PLAY IN DAY !!! No Tigers to watch !!

I'll watch anyway...should be couple of good games Thursday !!

Thanks,

By the way, I heard that you’re quite the golfer because I had the pleasure of randomly sitting across the aisle from your golf buddy, Ken Murray on a plane flight to Atlanta several months ago. It didn’t take us long to figure out that we both went to Clemson-- and the flight time passed quickly as we talked about Clemson and politics for a few hours. He spoke highly of you.

Really enjoy the blog and all of the insight and interesting information. I was noticing the position changes for the football team and want to be hypothetical. After all, that makes the preseason fun. I noticed Rendrick Taylor is moving to ILB. While I may be reading too
much into this, it does not say middle linebacker, but inside. Does this possibly imply the implementation of a 3-4? DaQuan Bowers could play one end, Jamie Cumbie would be a good end in a 3-4 with Dorrell Scott manning the nose spot . Ricky Sapp at one OLB and maybe Kevin Alexander at the other OLB with Vincent and Taylor inside? Also, how quickly do you think Jock McKissick can contribute on the OL? My main concern for next season is the youth - not the talent - of our OL.

Go Tigers,