Wednesday September 17, 2008

SC State Preview

SC State Preview
I know a lot of fans are disappointed the Tigers are playing two I-AA opponents this season and I understand their point. I also understand why because I thought the Alabama game would have been worth it.

But really almost every major D-I schools plays at least one cupcake per season. Unfortunately the economics require it. Home and home series are demanded by even some mid-majors now. Clemson would have had to go to Louisiana Tech this season and that was another no-win situation.

I don’t like it either and hopefully we won’t ever have two I-AAs in the same year anytime soon.

However, if you have to have a cupcake then I would rather play a team from South Carolina than a team no one cares about.

Almost every ACC and SEC school plays two cupcakes. In most cases one is one I-AA and the other is a I-A cupcake but still a cupcake. Here is a list of the ACC’s and SEC’s I-AA opponents this year:

Florida plays The Citadel
Georgia plays Georgia Southern
South Carolina plays Wofford and UAB
Tennessee plays UAB and Northern Illinois
Kentucky plays Norfolk State
Auburn plays Tennessee-Martin and Louisiana-Monroe
LSU plays App. State, Troy and North Texas
Alabama plays Western Kentucky and Arkansas State
Ole Miss plays Samford and Louisiana-Monroe
Mississippi State plays SE Louisiana
Arkansas plays Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe
FSU plays Western Carolina and Chattanooga
Maryland plays Delaware and Eastern Michigan
Boston College plays Rhode Island and Kent State
NC State plays William and Mary
Virginia Tech plays Furman and Western Kentucky
North Carolina plays McNeese State
Miami plays Charleston Southern
Georgia Tech plays Jacksonville State and Gardner-Webb
Duke plays James Madison
Virginia plays Richmond

Again, I can accept one I-AA school and a patsy I-A program because you need home games to support the rest of the athletic department. But if you have to play two patsies then why not keep the interest with local schools. I have more interest in SC State, Wofford, The Citadel, Furman and Coastal Carolina than Louisiana-Monroe, McNeese State, Western Kentucky, Samford, etc.

In recent years Clemson has hosted Utah State, Temple, Florida Atlantic and Louisiana-Monroe. Each of those schools provided less resistance than Furman and The Citadel.

I am embarrassed to admit that I have never seen South Carolina State play a football game before and am more interested in seeing the Bulldogs than I would be seeing Utah State.

The Bulldogs are 2-1 coming into Death Valley. The opened with a 17-0 loss at Central Florida and rebounded with a 42-3 win over Benedict and a 28-19 victory over Bethune-Cookman.

Their defense has been the standout unit so far this season. The Bulldogs are led by All-Conference safety Markee Hamlin of Lamar, SC. This is the younger brother of Clemson safety Michael Hamlin.

Several SC State players received looks from the Clemson staff including former Tiger defensive end Xavier Littleberry.

Other players to watch on defense are former Clemson signee linebacker Julius Wilkerson and several players with ties to the state like defensive tackle James Simmons and Sterling Blunt and linebacker Tony White.

Offensively the Bulldogs feature several names many Tiger supporters are familiar with including quarterback Malcolm Long of Gaffney who has gone 42 of 69 for 484 yards for three touchdowns and three interceptions this season.

South Carolina State’s running attack features two highly thought of upstate natives. Traveler’s Rest native Will Ford is a speedster who 334 yards rushing and five touchdowns so far this season. Clemson recruited former Greenville High School star Travil Jamison who has 120 yards and two scores this season.

The strength of the offense might be the offensive line which features NFL prospect Johnny Culbreth at left tackle.

The Bulldogs have players on their roster who signed with ACC and SEC schools out of high school (Clemson. Auburn, NC State, etc). They will feature good speed but depth is a concern.

Also don’t forget about one of the highlights of the day, The Marching 101. South Carolina State’s band will certainly entertain the Clemson fans like no other band ever has. I am not a big follower of halftime shows but I promise I will n ot leave my seat at halftime this Saturday.

Solid Orange Volleyball
I know a lot of you are not big volleyball fans but I hope the locals or anyone coming to town early will come by Jervey Gym Thursday at 7:00 for Clemson’s opening ACC match of the season. The Tigers will begin their defense of the ACC title by hosting the second place finisher last year, Georgia Tech. Admission is free and I know they would love your support Thursday for the Solid Orange event.

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