Re: Hill Watch...21 days!!!(3 weeks!)

U.S. Highway 21 is a 393-mile-long southeastern United States highway that runs from the south end at Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina to the north end at I-81/US 52 in Wytheville, Virginia, also going through North Carolina The 233 miles (59%) of US 21 in South Carolina merges with I-77 near Carowinds before entering North Carolina.

Stone Mountain State Park is off US 21 in North Carolina near the Virginia border. It is a 14,353 acre park in Roaring Gap, 60 miles northeast of Winston-Salem. The park features a 600-foot granite dome with a brownish gray color. Known as a monadnock, this formation was designated as a Natural National Landmark in 1974. The park also has a restored 19th century homestead with a log cabin, barn, blacksmith shop, and a meat house. The 16 miles of trails include the 4.5-mile Stone Mountain Loop Trail which climbs to the summit, then descends along the 200-foot Stone Mountain Falls. The park is also known as a trout fishing paradise with 17 miles of streams designated as trout waters. Rock climbers and campers also love the park which is home to the historic Garden Creek Baptist Church, established in 1897.

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21 - Raymond Priester Rushed for 21 Clemson Touchdowns

Aug 10, 2024, 5:22 AM

Before Clemson:

GoUpstate describes Clemson RB Raymond Priester (1994-1997) growing up:

“As a young Clemson fan, starting tailback Raymond Priester recalled the days when he'd watch former Tigers' star Kenny Flowers make tackling by the opposition a work of futility. Priester, who is from Allendale, would then try copying the very moves Flowers made on his peers in Little League. ``I would just watch. I guess when you're young you look at things they do,'' Priester said.”

https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/1996/12/21/clemson39s-priester-on-run/29591733007/

While at Clemson:

The following select excerpts from Raymon Priester’s bio on ClemsonTigers.com demonstrate Priester’s greatness:

In 1997: First-team All-ACC as a senior, he was second team all-conference as a sophomore and junior…honorable mention All-American by the Football News.. nominee for the Doak Walker Award…holds 18 Clemson records altogether…only active player in 1997 who held his school’s rushing record on a game, season and career basis…he still holds all three of those records…seventh leading rusher in ACC history with 3966 rushing yards…Clemson’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards with over 4282, Clemson’s only 4000-yard all-purpose runner…first running back in Clemson history to be named first or second-team All-ACC for three years…just missed becoming first Clemson player in history to have three 1000-yard rushing seasons in a career…just 34 yards short of 4000 for his career…tied Clemson record record for receptions by a running back

In 1996: Second in the ACC in rushing in 1996…broke the Clemson career rushing record with a 151 yard performance in the Peach Bowl against LSU….broke his own mark of 1,322 yards which he set in 1995 with 1,345 yards in ’96…21st in the nation in rushing in 1996…second team All-ACC pick for two consecutive seasons…had seven 100-yard games ..had streak of four straight 100-yard games heading into 1997, Clemson record was five in a row…led Clemson in rushing 11 out of 12 games..first on the team in terms of points with 44 and all purpose yardage with 1,460, the all-purpose rushing yardage total was a Clemson record….second on the team in total offense with 1,345 yards

In 1995: Second-team All-ACC running back…his 1,322 rushing yards ranks second in Clemson history behind his own count of 1,345 set in 1996…set Clemson single game record with 263 on 32 rushes against Duke on November 11…that total broke the record of 260 against Duke by Cliff Austin in 1982…the ACC’s leading rusher with his 116-yard average (regular season), first Tiger since 1987 and just the second Clemson back since 1967 to lead the ACC in rushing…18th in the nation in rushing yards per game, highest ranking by a Clemson running back since 1988 when Terry Allen ranked 15th with an average of 103.6 yards per game

In 1994: Ranked as the top sophomore fullback in the nation by the 1995 Sporting News preseason magazine…ranked as 9th best fullback in the nation overall…he was moved to tailback in the first couple of weeks of fall practice…started eight of his 11 appearances in 1994…named Honorable Mention All-ACC by ACSWA

https://clemsontigers.com/career-bio-for-raymond-priester/

Wow – Impressive accolades for a deserving Clemson legend!

Priester held Clemson’s career rushing record and Clemson’s single game rushing when he finished at Clemson. According to ClemsonTigers.com ETN has taken the career rushing record, leaving Priester still in second:

“Priester rushed for 3,966 yards in his career as a Clemson running back, still second in school history, holding the record for 24 years until Travis Etienne broke it two years ago.”

https://clemsontigers.com/eleven-former-student-athletes-and-coaches-in-2023-clemson-hall-of-fame-class/

As for that single game rushing record – it was done under less than ideal conditions. According to ClemsonTigers.com:

“The weather for the first half of the Duke vs. Clemson game at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 11, 1995 was so bad that the Hall of Fame induction ceremony scheduled for halftime was canceled. All-time basketball great Larry Nance received his plaque underneath the south stands.

For most running backs, such a sloppy turf would not call for a 100-yard rushing total, nevermind a record-setting 263-yard performance.

But for Tiger sophomore running back Raymond Priester, the conditions were perfect.

“That was a great day for me,” said Priester. “I loved playing in the mud and the rain. It suited my style. I was never a burner…I was a power runner, and a bad field suited me just fine.”

https://clemsontigers.com/raymond-priester-record-setting-performances/

FWIW: Priester often carried Clemson’s offense while he was at Clemson. Not just this one record-setting day!

Of note: The State newspaper highlights Priester’s favorite day as a Clemson Tiger:

“But while Priester has a great appreciation for his accomplishments, he is not one to let a set of numbers define him. Ask about his best memories at Clemson, and he’s quick to respond.

“First and foremost, getting my degree,” said Priester, who wanted to prove a kid could rise out of impoverished Allendale County and do more with his life than carry a football.

He was determined not to wash out in a way that other athletes had or some expected him to.

“That was extremely huge for me, for Allendale. Believe it or not, there were doubters,” he said. “If somebody tells you that you can’t do something, that’s fuel for my fire. I have somewhat of an ‘I’ll prove you wrong’ attitude.”

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/acc/clemson-university/article14334056.html#storylink=cpy

After Clemson:

The St. Louis Rams selected Raymond Priester with the 129th Pick (5th Round) of the 1998 NFL Draft. According to the State newspaper from 2008:

“Priester displayed the same determination off the field as he did on it. When he hit the first roadblocks in his football career — he was released by the St. Louis Rams after being a fifth-round pick in 1998 and never made an impact during stints with the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants the next couple of years — he cut back against the grain by seeking a business opportunity.

Faced with the choice of trying to keep his NFL dream alive or making a new way with his wife, Latonia, his college sweetheart at Clemson, and young daughter Jordyn, Priester met his decision head-on.
…
Priester accepted a job offer with Choice Homes in the Atlanta suburbs, which started his career in the home-building industry. Two years ago, he moved to a different facet of construction, the steel industry. His job with Paradise Steel has him working on accounts with builders, a role he has embraced like a goal-line carry.”

https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/acc/clemson-university/article14334056.html#storylink=cpy

Priester was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.

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Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Hill Watch...21 days!!!(3 weeks!)