Thursday September 11, 2008

Textile Bowl; Prayer Request; 9/11

Textile Bowl
Saturday is another installment of the Textile Bowl. Clemson and NC State have a long history of a very good rivalry but this rivalry needs to be bigger.

The Clemson-NC State rivalry has so much potential but it really has lacked in recent years. I am not saying Clemson is a great football team this year or in the last couple of seasons but State needs to get better in order to make the rivalry better.

This is the fourth straight year where State does not have a winning record coming into the game. Actually the last time NC State had a good team was 2002 and Clemson was down that season. The last time both teams were good was 2000 when the Tigers were 5-0 and State was 4-0 entering the contest.

Bowden lost his first game against NC State but has since won six of the last eight in the series.

My thoughts based upon the potential of this rivalry centers on State and their situation. With all due respect to East Carolina’s recent success and Appalachian State’s D-IAA dominance, State is the only school in North Carolina who actually seems to care about the sport.

Wake Forest is on an unprecedented run under Jim Grobe but I just can’t see long-term success in Winston-Salem. The Tar Heels are obviously more concerned about basketball even though they have had stints of success in football. Duke is Duke.

State is the only school that seems to take football seriously in the state. North Carolina upped the ante when they decided to hire Butch Davis and bend over backwards to make him happy. In the end though, Tar Heels are basketball crazy. State is different. State wants to be good in football. Football at State is not always second fiddle. State people actually care about football success.

The ACC takes a beating on the national scene and rightfully so. If the conference wants to gain national recognition here are a few things that could help:
1. Miami return to national championship form.
2. Florida State return to its roots of being in the top five.
3. Virginia Tech needs to take the next step and compete again on the national level.
4. Clemson needs to take the next step and compete again on the national level.
5. NC State needs to get back and get back into the top 25 mode.
6. Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland or Boston College need to make a move.
7. Wake Forest needs to keep Jim Grobe.
8. The conference needs to win some key out of conference games.
9. The conference needs to win some important bowl games.
10. The conference needs more rivalries.

Number ten in this list is important but is perhaps the last step. The ACC needs the Miami-Florida State game to mean something. They need the Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry to matter. NC State and Clemson could be that kind of deal but both programs, especially NC State, need to pick it up a notch.

I personally have no problem with any ACC program other than Clemson struggling but if the league wants to improve, a good NC State-Clemson could help.

Prayer Request
Last night I talked to Clemson soccer coach Trevor Adair and found out about one of his former players who needs our prayers. Edwin Wotortsi transferred to UNC-Asheville from Clemson and he was injured during a game last week. Wotortsi collided with the goalkeeper in a violent accident. He was rushed to the hospital in Asheville where he had his spleen and part of his pancreas removed. This morning Adair was on his way to visit his former player who could get out of the ICU unit today. I request that we keep Edwin, his family and friends and the UNC-Asheville community in our prayers. Coach Adair will keep us updated with Edwin’s condition and wanted to thank you for adding Edwin to your prayer list.

9/11
The world changed seven years ago today and it will never be the same. Sports took on an important role in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy and has remained in a different light every since.

Personally, sports are not crucial anymore. Instead, sports play an important role but not a crucial role. Since 9/11 sports play the role of release. Sports take us away from the stress of the real world and give us a release to get our minds off the real world.

Clemson football did just that on September 22, 2001. The Tigers were scheduled to play Duke on September 15, 2001 but the week’s college football games were postponed because we were still picking up the pieces from Tuesday’s events.

So, about 80,000 Clemson and Virginia fans packed into Death Valley the following weekend. I remember arriving to the game early because there was heightened security and personal searches. I remember a special video message from United States Senator John McCain. The inspirational video sent chills down the spines of me and those around me. I also remember American flags throughout the stands and red, white and blue shirts everywhere. There was a sense of patriotism in the stadium that day that I have never felt before or since.

The other memory I have that day is one that I will never forget. Clemson lost to Virginia that afternoon but there was no bitching and moaning in the parking lots. No one wanted to fire the coaching staff. No one complained about the officials. There was perspective.

This summer Ryan’s accident was another reminder of sports’ role in my life. It was only the second time in my life where I had to be reminded of it. Ryan is doing better each day and he will be stronger than ever, just like our country came back after 9/11. The sad part is that it takes such drastic measures to remind us sometimes.

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