Thursday February 22, 2007

Dabo; Duke; Fog; Ray Ray; Pacific

Dabo
Congratulations to coach Swinney and his family for a new title and a raise. I usually do not get too much into editorializing when it comes to a head coaches’ decision about raises and promotions. In most cases we do not have enough information about the candidates and reasons for those decisions. In the cases we do have enough information we have to be careful because other coaches and their families read the blog. I usually am not too politically correct but in these cases I find it easier to stay out of it. However, I think it is appropriate here to editorialize.

I think Dabo Swinney is very deserving of his promotion. He has proven himself in many aspects including:

Coaching-Swinney is considered a very good on-the-field coach. He is very thorough and works his players extremely hard.

Recruiting-His reputation as one of the South’s top recruiters is well deserved.

Leadership-Swinney is a great role model to his players and is known as a leader.

Player relations-His players respect him and he has a very good rapport with his players.

Loyalty-Swinney has turned down several other opportunities from some major schools in the South but he has remained extremely loyal to Tommy Bowden and Clemson.

It should also be noted that Swinney was offered this promotion and future promotions before his alma mater (Alabama) came after him. This only added to his loyalty to Bowden.

Swinney is a terrific family man who also wears his faith on his sleeve.

His good friend, Danny Pearman, once told me, “Dabo is the most optimistic man in America. He thinks he is going to sign every player and win every game.”

Because Swinney possesses so many of the traits you look for in a coach, I believe that he will make an excellent offensive coordinator and an excellent head coach in the future. Swinney is very much on track to become a head coach in the next ten years. Think it could be at Clemson?

Duke
Clemson will beat Duke tonight and you want to know why?

My predictions are usually based upon analysis of match ups. I try to look at the coaches, the personnel, the home court advantage, the confidence and momentum. I try to look all of the factors that could factor into the game but today I will break that tendency.

The idea behind this upset prediction is that Duke has righted its ship and Clemson has been struggling so it only makes sense Clemson will win. How else could you explain the ACC this year. In a year in which wacky upsets only get bigger every week this one makes sense. Clemson’s team they have put on the floor in recent weeks has no business beating the improving Duke squad. Therefore, its almost guaranteed to happen.

Baseball Fogged Out
I have seen more rain outs than I care to remember. I have seen snow outs. But never have I seen a fog out. Clemson made a tremendous investment several years ago when the athletic department purchased a super sopper. This is a machine that sucks up hundreds of gallons of water from the playing surface. I am thinking that the next way to circumvent mother nature may be a big jet blower to rid the area of fog. No one tries any harder to get a game in than Jack Leggett (as witnessed by the long rain delay yesterday) but even Leggett could not overcome the rare fog out.

The baseball team got a lift last night from Marquez Smith who had three hits and Doug Hogan who hit his third round tripper of the season. D.J. Mitchell had his first prominent role in a key spot and came up big out of the bullpen.

Support Ray Ray Again
Congrats to Ray Ray McElrathbey. The 2006 FedEx Orange Bowl-Football Writers' Association of America Courage Award will be formally presented to McElrathbey during a break in the action during the first half of Clemson's basketball game with Duke on Thursday night.

I know all of you have given generously to the Fahmarr McElrathbey Fund but tonight you can support Ray Ray again. I think Clemson fans and all of those in attendance will give the hero the biggest hand of the night.

I am happy to report that the trust fund is now working as it was intended. For a while they still had a bunch of red tape from the NCAA but recently the fund has gone into full effect. I know Ray Ray and Fahmarr are very thankful for your generosity.

Pacific
I had a conversation with Clemson pitching coach Kevin O’Sullivan Wednesday morning about the upcoming series with Pacific. The Tigers have never played Pacific but O’Sullivan said they will play typical West Coast small ball. He said it will help the Tigers down the road to play a team that plays that style of baseball. He said that this series will pay dividends down the road because he expects Pacific to bunt often and run when on the base paths.

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