Friday November 07, 2008

Schedule; Hoops; FSU; Candidates; Ryan

Schedule
I want to apologize for changing the blog schedule yesterday and today. I did not publish a blog yesterday and moved yesterday’s to today an skipped an e-mail bag blog today.

The main reasons are health and previous obligations.

Ryan came into town Wednesday night and I did not get to spend as much time with him as I wanted because I had to speak to a group of students on campus Wednesday evening. Ryan is here through Sunday but I have been swamped and hope we will have more quality time with hi this weekend.

Yesterday I participated in Dan Scott’s golf tournament to benefit the Challenger kids in which Dan raised $30,000 for the special needs kids athletic programs.

When I got home I had promised Ryan I would take him to the Clemson basketball exhibition and we did not get back until after 10:00 last night. When I woke up this morning I was not sure my severe cold would allow me to finish a radio show, a speaking engagement at the Spartanburg Touchdown Club and the television broadcast of Wren and Easley tonight. I think the God Lord is going to let me live through it but I must apologize for my voice.

At any rate, I took a sick day on the blog yesterday and the e-mail bag section will return next Friday.

Hoops
As I mentioned, we had a chance to see Oliver Purnells’ squad for the second time this season. I was more impressed with the freshman. Tanner Smith had a much better night than the first time I saw him. Smith is a bright player with a high basketball IQ. His two three pointers impressed me but the best attribute I saw came from his hustle and I loved the way he was diving for loose balls.

Andre Young played more than Demontez Stitt last night. Young is a few inches smaller but he has exceptional quickness.

Perhaps the most impressive thing I saw last night was the free throw shooting. The Tigers shot 32-41 from the line which is 78%.

The key to the free throw shooting is personnel. I know that sounds simple but actually the key is recruiting better shooters. Stitt and Oglesby helped the number last season as true freshmen and this year the Tigers will be better from the line because of Young and Smith. Add good shooters like K.C. Rivers and David Potter and the Tigers look to continue to shoot better from the line again this season.

Dominating the Noles
I was at the 1988 and 1989 Clemson-Florida State games in which both teams were ranked among the best in the country. The Tigers and Seminoles split those two games with each visiting team winning in tough environments. The series took a major shift when Clemson’s program slipped in the early 1990s and FSU continued to climb in the national picture. The result was complete dominance by the Noles.

Five years ago the series changed again when Clemson upset a fourth-ranked FSU in Death Valley. This shift in the series would see the Tigers win four of the last five games between the two rivals. Actually, Clemson is trying to become the first senior class to defeat FSU all four years since the Noles joined the league in 1992.

Florida State’s dominance in the series had a little bit to do with Clemson’s fall from grace but FSU was simply better than almost every team in the country in those years. FSU was just better than Clemson.

Clemson’s recent dominance has more to do with FSU’s fall but also because Clemson has recruited the kind of players that could beat FSU. I also think this has been simple-Clemson has just been better than FSU over the past five seasons.

So, who is the better team this season? I am not sure. Clemson has some major weaknesses but the same can be said for FSU. Both teams need a win in the division to stay in the race for the ACC title but I am not sure who wins this one.

Coaching News
It has been a wild week in tracking down all of the coaching news rumors. I know 99% of the rumors have no credibility but you still have to check each one of them out.

I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about the search and I think it still holds true at this point. No one knows who will be the next head coach of the Tigers. Terry Don Phillips does know right now so anyone who says they know is not being factual. I still believe Dabo has a chance to win the job and a win tomorrow will go a long way towards that goal.

I do think Dabo needs to beat South Carolina to really help his candidacy. He could still get the job if he loses to the Gamecocks but the IPTAY tour and recruiting would be a lot smoother if he could beat Steve Spurrier in his introduction into the rivalry.

The fact is that it is too early to tell who the coach will be because there is still too many things that can happen. For example, I was told by a decent source that Gary Patterson was the leading candidate a few weeks ago. Since then Kansas State fired Ron Prince and Patterson appears ready to take over at his alma mater.

A lot can happen in the next four weeks.

Ryan’s Message
Ryan was with me as I typed the blog today and he reminded me to tell everyone thanks for praying for him!

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