Muddy The Waters
When I was a kid I would get so excited for the start of football season each year. The opener would come and I would just about jump out of my skin looking forward to seeing the Tigers for the first time. I had read the press guide cover to cover. I had heard about how great we were going to be. I expected Clemson to come out and look like the Pittsburgh Steelers from the opening snap.
There was only one problem. It was the opener.
I seems like most years most teams are still trying to find themselves. Games will be filled with illegal procedure penalties, off sides movement, motion penalties, missed tackles and dropped passes. At the end of the first game we always have to remind ourselves that this is just the opener and improvement is coming.
Fortunately in most of those years Clemson was playing Western Carolina or Rice or Directional U. This year Clemson does not have that luxury. In fact, this is the third straight season Clemson opens with an SEC opponent. We also know that Clemson is 2-0 in those openers the last two seasons.
Like many of you, I am guilty of revisionist history. I always try to remember the good times being so much better than they are. If we are honest with ourselves, we will remember the Clemson-Georgia epic battles of the past actually being turnover battles.
In 1981, the Dawgs had NINE turnovers in their 13-3 loss at Death Valley.
Most of those historic battles were not as bad as the 1981 affair, but mistakes were the difference many of the years. Clemson turned it over deep in Georgia territory in 1980 to lose. It was a blocked punt that was the difference in 1982. Clemson blew a 20-6 halftime lead due to turnovers in Athens in 1984. Everyone remembers Treadwell's field goal in 1986, but how many remember Georgia's big fumble before that drive?
We have seen fumble recoveries in the end zone, bad snaps on field goal attempts, fumbled snaps and dropped balls play huge roles in Clemson-Georgia battles of the past.
This season should be no different. Both teams have so many new faces in critical places that I expect mistakes to be the key.
Mistakes are funny things though. When you turn it over, you remember it as you made a mistake. However, you the other team turns it over, you have forced a turnover.
Mistakes in wins are marked up to early season issues. Mistakes in losses are a statement about your players, coaches and program.
So this Saturday should be like most openers. The difference in winning and losing should be determined by mistakes and the way we view them will be based on if we are the winners or losers.
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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 email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*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, Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll,
Brandon Thompson
Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle (2008 - 2011)
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
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, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Jim Lanier, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker,
Levon Kirkland
Levon Kirkland
Linebacker
# 0, 0
,
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and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport,
Patrick DeStefano
Patrick DeStefano
Offensive Line (2012 - 2013)
#71 6-5, 275
Spartanburg, SC
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, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Mark Whiten, Richard Bagnal,
Tavaris Barnes
Tavaris Barnes
RS Sr. Defensive End
#9 6-4, 273
Jacksonville, FL
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and family, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Josh Cox, Tommy "Red" Harper, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Ron Moore, Brandy Stephens and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.
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