Monday February 08, 2010

Thoughts from the Weekend

Virginia Tech Review
Sometimes I have a ringing in my ear but this morning I am pretty sure that ringing is the whistles from the officials from the Clemson-Virginia Tech game on Saturday.

I guess you can make on argument on either side of the issue. I can understand those that say the officials called way too many fouls. I can also understand the folks that say Clemson did not adjust to the way the game was being called.

Either way, one thing we can all agree on is the idea that it was a terribly difficult game to watch. It was like watching a baseball game where the pitchers can’t find the strike zone. It was like watching a football game that has more turnovers and penalties than touchdowns.

I loved the effort though. I thought the team played extremely hard and I was very proud of the effort. The fact is that this game was a bloodbath. It was a physical war because both teams knew that was the only chance either had to win.

We saw another game where it has become more and more evident that this group of Tigers has a hard time in the half court offense. That is the case and I am not sure what can change to make that issue go away.

I also thought Clemson missed an opportunity Saturday based upon the schedule. Sure the game was in Blacksburg but Virginia Tech was coming off a huge win over North Carolina on Thursday. Meanwhile the Tigers had almost a week to prepare. But in the end the Hokies had their second win in less than 48 hours and they are still undefeated at home.

Some of the numbers are hard to imagine. Virginia Tech had only 15 field goals the entire game. The Hokies had just five assists. They made just two three-pointers but they shot 46 free throws. Tech outscored Clemson 38-14 at the free throw line. Clemson had five guys with four or more fouls.

It was a rare deal where the team that made more field goals, more three-pointers, had more rebounds, more assists and more blocks got beat by double digits.

If there was a bright spot from Saturday it might have been Milton Jennings’ rebounding. The freshman did contribute eight boards and appeared to play a little more physical.

It still would not bother me if I did not have to see Delaney take another free throw the rest of the season. I got my fill Saturday.

Three Big Games
Clemson is now 4-5 in the ACC but the Tigers have three straight home conference games. Clemson faces Florida State, Miami and Virginia on the next two weeks and this is a terrific chance for this team to get its season back in order. A sweep of the next three games would put Clemson at 7-5 in the ACC. However, considering three of the last four conference games are on the road, anything less than a sweep of the next three could mean trouble for this team.

We saw Virginia Tech not playing well but winning on its home court this past weekend as the Hokies drew energy from the crowd. We have also seen the Tigers do the same with an upset win over Maryland in Littlejohn this season. This is the type of effort Purnell will need in the next three games. The Tigers played hard again Saturday but will need that kind of effort again in these next three home games.

I hate to use the phrase “must win” games and I know you can never tell how a season plays out. However, in my mind, I am having a hard time seeing how Clemson can lose one of the next three home games and recover enough to make it to the NCAA tournament.

2010 Schedule
Since our last blog the ACC was kind enough to release the 2010 football schedule. I guess they could have waited another few months but they showed us mercy and gave it to us on Thursday.

Surprisingly, I thought Clemson’s schedule was pretty fair. The opponents are tough, especially on the road, but the sequencing was fair. I was pleased to see the Tigers have only one time where they play back-to-back road games and I liked the open date after Auburn and before Miami. I also like the idea of only playing on Saturdays.

I will get more into the schedule a little later but again, I was surprised the conference did not hammer us with the order of the games this season.

Ticket Price Increase
Just in case you did not notice, the season ticket prices went up by $10 this season. Considering the economy and how athletic departments are faced with having to find more ways to create revenue, I did not have a problem with the increase. Ten dollars spread over seven home games is not a major issue in my mind but I do sympathize with those that are forced to make tougher cuts because of the $10 increase.

Congrats To Waters
I really did not care who won the Super Bowl last night but I do feel very good for former Clemson great, Anthony Waters. The linebacker now gets a Super Bowl ring and one that is well deserved. Three weeks ago Waters was struggling with the news of the death of his great friend Gaines Adams. Waters needed something good like this at this point just to get his mind away from the news about Gaines.

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", Kim Sims, the Coyle familty.