Thursday January 21, 2010

Game Day; ACC Euphoria; Baseball and Track

Game Day
Sometimes I like some of the peripheral aspects of sports and other times I think they are not a factor. I remember when ESPN Game Day came to Clemson for the Georgia Tech game in October of 2006 and I remember being skeptical of the importance of the event. I must admit that I was surprised about what a big deal it was and ended up liking the experience. In fact, I am looking forward to having Herbstreit, Corso and Fowler again sometime soon.

I also must admit that I have never sat down and watched an entire show of the basketball version of ESPN Game Day. However, this Saturday is a big deal.

I knew it was a big deal when the basketball staff at Clemson reached out to me and a few others in an attempt to promote the event. Coach Purnell and his staff have always been very good to me but this was the first time they have reached out on something like this.

The basketball staff at Clemson has done a terrific job of changing the culture of Clemson basketball. I have had several conversations with the staff through the years with different ideas of how to do that and what our role could be in that process. But this is actually the first time the staff reached out and now I understand why.

Purnell has branded Clemson basketball as one that will plays a hard style of pressure defense for 94-feet. He has changed the culture by winning, which is the most impressive and most important way to change. But Saturday is a chance to accelerate that process. The basketball staff at Clemson tells me that Saturday is a huge day for Clemson basketball. They tell me how many of the top basketball prospects all across the country actually watch the ESPN Game Day show. They talk about how many prospects will be watching later that night as the Tigers take on Duke at 9:00 PM.

When the ESPN Game Day crew came for football, Herbstreit says it was the best event they had ever been involved with. Clemson Nation made a huge impression on him and the ESPN guys.

Now we have a chance to do it with the basketball show.

The way I see it, we owe Oliver Purnell our best Saturday. He is the best coach we have ever had in the sport and we can show our gratitude again Saturday.

The attendance record for Game Day in basketball is 5,400. That record will stand for another two days. I know Clemson will support this event. It should be a lot of fun and it should be a proud day for Clemson basketball. It is our turn to do our part.

ACC vs. SEC
Unlike the SEC fans, ACC fans take a completely different approach and euphoria is running rampant in business offices across the region this morning. Unless you are a Tar Heel fan or a Blue Devil, this morning you may have an extra pep in your step.

Many fans in the region have come to hate the UNC and Duke programs and it is rare to see both the Devils and Heels fall by a double digit margin on the same night. Wake Forest went to Chapel Hill and handed North Carolina its third consecutive loss last night. Duke fell by 14 to NC State in Raleigh last night to cap off a wonderful evening for the rest of the league.

The conference standings have Virginia at the top of the league and Maryland is currently alone in second. Clemson is 3-2 and tied with a large group of teams for third in the league.

Saturday’s home game with Duke is big for several reasons but none more important than the league standings. Duke already has a win over the Tigers so Clemson needs to even the season series with the Blue Devils and help the cause in case of a tie breaker later in the season.

The next ten days will mark the end of the first half of the ACC season. I think it will be appropriate to start examining the standings and schedules in the second half of the season.

Thursday Tidbits
I wanted to drop a few other little items concerning some sports outside of football and basketball for today’s blog.

First, we are within a month of the start of the college baseball season and I am getting excited about the Tigers. The offense should be much improved this season as many returners will fill up the lineup card. I am concerned about the pitching but I did want to pass along one piece of good news on that front. I have talked to several people close to the program that say the players have really taken to new pitching coach Dan Pepicelli. I know there was a lot of concern about the fact Kyle Bunn left for more money but I am hearing some very positive reviews of the new pitching coach for the Tigers.

One last piece of good news concerning another Clemson sport. I was pleased to find out the women’s track program is making big impressions again. The Tigers are ranked ninth in the country in the pre-season indoor track poll. Florida State (4th) is the only program in the ACC that is ranked higher in the pre-season poll.

Hopefully this spring will be good to the Tigers who have high hopes in baseball, women’s track, women’s tennis and rowing.

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".