
Friday November 23, 2007
Friday E-Mail Bag
Friday E-Mail Bag
Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.
Hey You Tater Redneck,
Hah. Hah. Hah. You rednecks got the (expletive) beat out of you Saturday night and that means no more ACC title talk from you (expletive). All of you Orange-loving (expletive) deserve what you got so take that and stick it up your (expletive). Another year of not winning the weak (expletive) ACC. You can’t win the worse conference this year and it will continue to be (expletive). Now you will find out what SEC football is all about this week. You will be owned this Saturday. If we were in the ACC then we would have won it this year and several others. Hit your knees and be thankful you don’t play in a real conference.
Your Daddy,
Cocky TJ
Cocky TJ,
I will over look the language and will delete it but be sure to keep it clean the next e-mail. It seems to me that you are into this conference thing pretty deep but I wanted to point out the facts about your team as it pertains to conferences:
*USC played in the Southern Conference from 1933 to 1952 and never won the conference. In your 20 years in the Southern Conference you never won the league title and you had a losing record in conference games.
*USC played in the weak ACC from 1953 to 1970 and won the conference once in 18 years. You had a losing record in the weak ACC and had only seven winning seasons in conference play out of the 18 years you played in the weak ACC.
*You dropped out of the weak ACC in 1971 but since then you have a losing record against ACC schools.
*You joined the SEC in 1991 and are 33 games under .500 in the conference since. In the 17 years of playing in the SEC you have had only three winning records in conference play. You have never been better than 5-3 in the league, Holtz did it twice and Spurrier once.
*Since joining the SEC you have a losing record against ACC schools including a 5-10-1 record against Clemson.
*You have played in a conference 55 years and won one conference championship. You have a losing record in every conference you have played in.
*The only ACC schools you have a winning record against is Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
*You have a losing record against the ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10 and Big East. They only conferences you have a winning record against is Conference USA, MAC, Sun Belt and WAC.
Next time clean up the language and throw in a few facts and less venom.
Hi Mickey,
I am so glad you wrote the letter to Aaron Kelly! I was gonna send him a card or something myself, but had no idea how to get it to him. I'll bet there are many, many Tiger fans who feel what you expressed so well in your letter. I doubt if anyone felt worse about the loss than A.K. He may even feel like he let the team or the fans down, but like you, I choose to look at all he has given CU and all the great moments he has given us fans. The greatest receiver in the world drops one every now and then....I believe you win as a team and you lose as a team. The Japanese call it "shared fate".
A.K. needs to know we are still all behind him, so thanks again for your letter. There's more football to play, and I'm betting he will thrill us again this year before it is all over.
Ed
Ed,
Thanks. I think fans understand and Kelly will be remembered as a tremendous receiver. He has a lot of time to make even more memories this season and next year. I expect Kelly to have some more huge games.
Mickey,
Great job with the blog. You seem to have a pretty high opinion of Dabo. I am a high school coach and I am just curious as to why he continues to allow our receivers to drop passes because of poor hand positioning. Almost every drop you see is a situation where the receivers are attempting to catch the ball with their pinkie fingers together instead of thumbs together. They never high point deep balls either. Instead, they wait to cradle the football, allowing the defender time to break the pass up. I was at spring practice this year and the receivers constantly did it over and over again and it was never corrected. It is very frustrating as a fan and an alum to watch us lose games because of drops when I know that it shouldn't be happening. I am not blaming Aaron Kelley for the loss to BC. It’s not his fault. His coach is either teaching him wrong or is allowing him to do it wrong, but either way, the onus falls on the coach.
Thanks,
Scott
Scott,
I think Dabo does a tremendous job and will be a great offensive coordinator and head coach soon. I know he works with his receivers constantly about catching the football. They use a ton of drills each day. Pinkies and thumbs change depending on the height of the ball. Outside of the Georgia Tech game and Boston College game I think the receivers have played exceptionally well.
Mickey,
I have a friend that works for Clemson in the Technical Department (head phones, cell phones, etc...) and he told me that two (2) names have been mentioned around the campus since the loss to BC.
Rick Stockstill (Middle Tenn.)
Rich Rodriguez (West Vir.)
How possible is it that either of these coaches might come back and what do you think about either of them replacing Tommy?
Thanks and have a great Tuesday.
Todd
Todd,
I am not sure if Clemson makes a move or not and I personally like and respect both of those coaches but do not see the point. If Clemson makes a change I am sure we will have a lot of time to examine candidates.
Mickey,
By now, you know that I'm a pessimist when it comes to TB. Earlier in the year when I began my annual gripe about having TB at the helm, you recommended that I wait until the end of the year and see how it plays out. OK....I almost waited until after the bowl game....but I have to ask you these two questions: what happens to TB if we lose to SC and if Cullen Harper is so good now, why didn't the staff sit Proctor last year and replace him with Harper?
Again, losing to SC in back-to-back years for the first time in decades could be more damaging to TB than normal mediocrity.
Rick
Rick,
The staff says Harper did not show any signs of being ready last year. At no point did he show the skills he has this season. I agree with you that losing to USC two years in a row is unacceptable.
Mickey:
I have never been so down following a loss as I am following the BC game. We played a banged up team and couldn't drive the ball into the end zone in either the 2nd quarter or the third quarter. We gave up 17 points in the 4th quarter because we couldn't stop their RB or put pressure on Ryan. I do not feel good about our future. All the Cullen Harpers, James Davis', and CJ Spillers in the world mean zip if you can't block or stop the other teams offense. Go Tigers!
Kirk
Kirk,
While I am still hurting from the BC game, I am optimistic about the future. I think the personnel continues to improve especially along the defensive line. I think the next few seasons look extremely bright.
Mickey,
Great game Saturday, we were just on the wrong side of the scoreboard. I couldn’t help thinking throughout the game how Cullen remained focused until the last play. Even though he has proved his worth each game this season, I thought a 1st year quarterback would fold after throwing a pick in such an important game. Cullen earned the “Ice Man” nickname after his performance Saturday. This loss is easier to take b/c of the team’s persistence to the end.
Chad
Chad,
Harper has had a terrific season and I agree about this team. At no point have they even thought about quitting. I really like this group and will remember them fondly.
Good morning Mick –
Sat. was a heartbreaker to say the least. As the game unfolded I kept telling my buddy that we were going to gift wrap the game for BC and it sure stung when we lost. There are 3 sporting events that came to mind during the 4th qtr. I'm sure you' appreciate these:
1 - CU vs. Miami - Touchdown Charlie overthrows a wide open Chansi Stuckey for the win.
2 - Furman vs. GSU in the Tacoma Dome - Furman scores too quick and gives GSU enough time to win.
3 - Michael Moorer vs. George Foreman - Moorer beat and battered a 40+ Foreman and in the last round with time running out big George threw a haymaker and left Moorer on the floor looking bewildered and stunned.
I'm still a Tiger fan and will be yelling my head off Saturday but part of me thinks this lost will linger almost as if they have nothing left to play for. Have a good day Mickey -
Kevin
Kevin,
I know BC scored 17 in the fourth quarter but I thought they moved it well the entire game. I never got the feeling that Clemson was the better team by a large margin. You have to give them credit but it did hurt. You could say it felt like a George Foreman right hand or a George Foreman grill being slammed on your foot.
Mickey,
How do you think this team will respond??? Will they come out fighting or will they just mail it in? Do they realize what is still on the table (a VERY good bowl game and TEN WINS) or do you think they will let this loss beat them twice? Personally I would be mad, in my opinion the better team didn't win last night. BC was better yesterday but they are not the better team. BC came ready to play (unlike last week when they laid down for Maryland) and made the one play they had to when it mattered most BUT I don't think they are the better team. I really do hope the coaches can emphasize what is still left out there because I know this team are winners, top to bottom. I am just disappointed we are not going to get a shot in Jacksonville.
Steve
Steve,
I think we have to assume this team will respond with a good effort. They seem to always play hard and playing on the road might help. I agree that there is still a lot to play for. Ten wins has not been reached since 1990 or 1991.
Mickey,
I have a couple of questions.
First, maybe I missed something, but I was wondering what has happened to Durrell Barry? I would have thought he would have been a part of our offensive plan as he had good speed for a tight end.
Secondly, I think our short yardage package is hurt by not using a lead blocker on most formations. Most of the time, I think you have to have someone hitting the hole ahead of the ball carrier in order to get short yardage against defenses stacked to prevent short yardage gains. Watching the long Chris Wells run against Michigan when the lead blocker destroyed the linebacker made be wonder what an Alex Pearson, Akeem Robinson, etc. could have done for us in that capacity with James Davis running the ball between the tackles against BC Saturday night. We were much more effective when we used Steven Jackson and Cliff Harrell in that role a couple of seasons ago. I would just like your opinion.
Thanks,
Todd
Todd,
Barry has been beaten out by Michael Palmer and Brian Lithicum. Barry has a lot of ability but the others are better overall players.
I agree with you about the lead blocker. Sometimes Clemson uses the motion guy as a lead blocker though. My biggest complaint is the two-point stance by offensive linemen.
Mickey,
You know had the idea of letting the USC president and AD dot the I. It was the same moron who developed that ridiculous committee that sabotaged who knows how many recruiting classes. It is the same moron who places more emphasis on GPA's and Time magazine rankings than winning on the field. It is the same moron who won't let us use bonds to raise money to finish the WEZ and makes us generate ALL the money through donations. By the time it is finished it will be obsolete! We need to get rid of Jimbo Barker and a majority of the BOT well before we need to get rid of TB. Unfortunately the BOT cannot be fired and I am very sure they love what Barker and his boobs are doing. Whatever that may be. Clemson is the only thing getting in the way of Clemson succeeding, period!!!
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.
Steve
Steve,
Dang. I do think we will look back at that decision with regret. I just think some things are reserved for special people.

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