It the south's favorite time of the year college football season. Didn't you learn the four seasons in school - Spring, Summer, College Football, Winter. It's 18 weeks (regular season and silly season (bowl season) when everything takes a second place to college football. If you decide to get married, die, or have a baby('s) (you should be making babies during this time not having babies) from the last week in August until the first week of the new year you better make sure it isn't happening on a Saturday. If you decided to proceed forward, plan for half the guests, don't get your feelings hurt when your best man or pall bearer doesn't show and contact your mother or mother in law to fill in the labor room (your husband is going to at the game or watching it on TV). Everybody has been counting down the days since the final snap in the National Championship game between Ala-freaking-bama and Notre Dame. It has been a busy off season - fake girlfriends, autograph gate (more on that later), signing day, and run ins with the po-po.
Clemson
Here a video on what it's like to be a Clemson Tiger and Run Down the Hill
Here is the gauntlet in front of the Tigers:
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | |||
| 1 | Sat., Aug 31 | Georgia | 8:00 PM ET | |||
| 2 | Sat., Sep 7 | South Carolina State | 12:30 PM ET | |||
| 4 | Thur., Sep 19 | @North Carolina State | 7:30 PM ET | |||
| 5 | Sat., Sep 28 | Wake Forest | TBA | |||
| 6 | Sat., Oct 5 | @Syracuse | TBA | |||
| 7 | Sat., Oct 12 | Boston College | TBA | |||
| 8 | Sat., Oct 19 | Florida State | TBA | |||
| 9 | Sat., Oct 26 | @Maryland | TBA | |||
| 10 | Sat., Nov 2 | @Virginia | TBA | |||
| 12 | Thur., Nov 14 | Georgia Tech | 7:30 PM ET | |||
| 13 | Sat., Nov 23 | Citadel | TBA | |||
| 14 | Sat., Nov 30 | @South Carolina | TBA | |||
There is talk about a special season - National Championship run and I agree that Dabo has been building up to this year since he took over - good recruiting classes, hired a great offensive mind in "The Chad" and hired a defensive guru in Venables last year (hasn't had as much time as "The Chad" or the talent). I agree that there is potential this season for something special. As a fan you have to be realistic - every year you are not going to win your conference or contend for a National Championship - unless you just delusional (and every fan base has those fans). It will take a flawless effort every week and no half ass efforts.
Here's how I see the season:
Hurdles - Georgia, Florida State, South Carolina
Wins - SC State, Citadel, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Boston College
Favored To Win But You Never Know - @NC State on Thursday night - trouble written all over it, @ Maryland - remember the last time we went to Maryland - offensive fireworks, shootout - don't expect it this year but..., @UVa road game to the place we used to own but they are on the upswing, we out talent them across the board but they will be fired up, Georgia Tech on Thursday night - trouble written all over it.
To be considered one of the best teams in the country you have to beat all the teams you are supposed to beat. We did this last year and broke the Tammy B trend of losing one or more of those games. We have to continue this or the special season turns sour real quick.
I will cover the other 2 hurdles closer to the game.
Georgia vs Clemson - ESPN Promo Video
The first test is a stiff one prime time with College Gameday in town with Brent and Herbie on the call. Both offenses are potent and both defenses are under construction. I am looking for a victory in a dawg fight and for Death Valley to be LOUD - there are few places as special as Death Valley at night (that's why I will be there in person). If we slip up, it is early in the year and we can recover. A loss to UGA hurts but it's not the end of the road. The National Championship is damaged but a great season can still be had. This game should be a good one. Get all your work done in time to sit back and enjoy.
Another reason to be there live if you a Tiger fan, Danny Ford and Bill Wilhelm will be inducted into the Ring of Honor. It is the highest honor for a student-athlete or coach to receive. It was often wondered if Danny would every be selected. He is deserving of the honor and to have it be done on the opening weekend when we are playing UGA is a perfect fit, good job Clemson. Nothing much to be said about Bill Wilhelm except he was a legendary baseball coach for Clemson.
South Carolina
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV | ||
| 1 | Thur., Aug 29 | North Carolina | 6:00 PM ET | ESPN | ||
| 2 | Sat., Sep 7 | @Georgia | 4:30 PM ET | ESPN | ||
| 3 | Sat., Sep 14 | Vanderbilt | 7:00 PM ET | |||
| 5 | Sat., Sep 28 | @UCF | TBA | |||
| 6 | Sat., Oct 5 | Kentucky | TBA | |||
| 7 | Sat., Oct 12 | @Arkansas | TBA | |||
| 8 | Sat., Oct 19 | @Tennessee | TBA | |||
| 9 | Sat., Oct 26 | @Missouri | TBA | |||
| 10 | Sat., Nov 2 | Mississippi State | TBA | |||
| 12 | Sat., Nov 16 | Florida | TBA | |||
| 13 | Sat., Nov 23 | Coastal Carolina | TBA | |||
| 14 | Sat., Nov 30 | Clemson | TBA | |||
The Gamecocks seem to have a lot of cupcakes until their first challenge of the season on 11/30. I thought last year was their chance at a run for a National Championship. This year might be one also and their fate could be determined on 9/7 @UGA.
Preseason polls are nothing but guesses and
| AP Top 25 | |||
| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS |
| 1 | Alabama (58) | 0-0 | 1498 |
| 2 | Ohio State (1) | 0-0 | 1365 |
| 3 | Oregon | 0-0 | 1335 |
| 4 | Stanford | 0-0 | 1294 |
| 5 | Georgia (1) | 0-0 | 1249 |
| 6 | South Carolina | 0-0 | 1154 |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 0-0 | 1104 |
| 8 | Clemson | 0-0 | 1083 |
| 9 | Louisville | 0-0 | 1042 |
| 10 | Florida | 0-0 | 894 |
| 11 | Florida State | 0-0 | 845 |
| 12 | LSU | 0-0 | 802 |
| 13 | Oklahoma State | 0-0 | 755 |
| 14 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 748 |
| 15 | Texas | 0-0 | 677 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 0-0 | 579 |
| 17 | Michigan | 0-0 | 531 |
| 18 | Nebraska | 0-0 | 382 |
| 19 | Boise State | 0-0 | 328 |
| 20 | TCU | 0-0 | 323 |
| 21 | UCLA | 0-0 | 286 |
| 22 | Northwestern | 0-0 | 199 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 185 |
| 24 | USC | 0-0 | 134 |
| 25 | Oregon State | 0-0 | 129 |
- Clemson's highest ranking since 1988 (4)
- SC highest ranking since last year (2012) 9
- Clemson ranked in Top 25 for 30 consecutive weeks
- 5 out of Top 10 - SEC
- Over the last 3 years and average of 8 teams ranked in preseason end season unranked - Who's it going to be this year?
- Atlantic - Clemson (Clemson defeats Fl State at home)
- ACC - Clemson
- Record - 11-1
- Orange Bowl - vs West Virginia - w/ Clemson winning 73 - 10 (revenge)
- National Champion - Oregon (going out on a limb, don't think Alabama repeats and I will never pick Ohio State and I am not picking UGA because we are going to beat them in week 1)
The belt currently resides with Baylor. It is going to take a miracle from the Wofford Terriers in the opening week to get the belt back in the South where it belongs. The earliest I see the belt changing hands is October 5 when Baylor takes on West Virginia. Stay tuned for belt updates throughout the year.
Johnny Football
So let me get this straight for the last month all I heard about is autograph gate with Johnny Football and it comes down to a half game suspension. What a great waste of time. I never thought he was going to be suspended - unless they were hiding the smoking gun and had the money trail figured out. You are going to have a hard time convincing me that Johnny Football or any other college athlete doesn't know what they are doing when they are signing large numbers of items in a hotel room. I thought the guy had 200 kids and lived in a shoe with his wife. I wasn't born yesterday - they are getting paid somehow, directly or through a third party. The problem is that they are paid in cash and unless you can trace the cash it never happened. The same thing happens in the business world - how many servers are claiming all their cash tips on their tax forms. I'll answer it for you ZERO. Why? Because it's cash and you can't trace it. I don't have the answer for going forward - paying athletes in some other way but I do know that the NCAA rulebook is antiquated and needs a major overhaul. I think one issue is that paying the non revenue generating sports becomes expensive. However, with all the TV money now coming in, it is probably more possible today than ever. All the schools athletic departments are saying they can't afford it but I say BS - how about cutting back the MTV cribs locker rooms, training rooms for football players - google Oregon or Alabama locker rooms.
Miley
I didn't see the MTV Video awards (when do the show videos and who's watching them...honestly, I didn't think they made music videos anymore) live but I have seen the video. I didn't think you could shock me but she did it not just once but it seemed like every 30 seconds I was saying "No she didn't". I don't even know what to say except my worst nightmare come true. In 2 years she has become one of the greatest living train wrecks. I don't know if she makes it to 30 and that is sad.
PS
Cam took the cash money...but guess what they couldn't find it.
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