Monday May 18, 2009

Orange & White; ACC Tournament

Orange & White
IPTAY is set today to announce changes with member services with regards to publications. Basically what you will read today is that IPTAY will be affiliated with The Orange & White Newspaper for a few more issues then change the way it communicates with members in August.

This is the 75th anniversary of IPTAY and this is one of the most significant changes outside of parking, tickets and dues in recent memory.

Starting in August, IPTAY donors will receive weekly e-mail updates and website updates reviewing the past week’s news and scores. This information will be available every Monday. IPTAY donors will receive about 35 of these updates throughout the year. Also, eight times a year the IPTAY donor will receive a “glossy’ 64-page magazine. The way I understand it, these will be free for the first year but nothing beyond year one has been set in stone.

I also hear the Orange & White will still print and have online information but will not be affiliated with IPTAY but I cannot confirm as I have not spoken to Phil Batson or Kerry Capps.

I have always considered Phil and Kerry friends and hope this will work out for those guys. I also am going to withhold judgment of the new system until I see what the new format will offer.

Several years ago I printed a monthly 32 page newsletter that eventually developed into a magazine. However, printing costs and mailing costs increased and the rise of the internet made my decision a “no-brainer.” So I understand what IPTAY was forced to decide with this move. Also people get their news faster and the internet has changed the way the print media does business.

If this allows IPTAY to cut some costs and spend it on the student-athletes then I am OK with it. And I will wait until I see the new stuff before I rush to judge. However, I do hope for the best for the Phil and Kerry. They have been a big part of Clemson for a long time.

Obviously the world is changing and the economy has affected everyone. I have not been to the new Prowl and Growl meetings but I hear good reviews. I know some of the smaller stops were upset that they had been consolidated into some of the bigger ones but I don’t want my football and basketball coaches speaking all over the place for as many times as they have been asked to do so in the past. Their time is better spent doing more coaching duties and less speaking duties.

I know IPTAY is a grass roots organization and I appreciate where it has taken Clemson. However, I also know that IPTAY has to continue to change and not all changes will be popular. I also understand that I live here in Clemson and have more access to the athletic department than someone from Florence does. However, we all need to understand that changes have to be made.

The ticket and parking changes in recent years was controversial but I cannot argue too much with the end result. Changes needed to be made and I thought they were pretty fair with the new system.

Parking seems to be the big deal and I understand. However I know they have less and less space every year because of university projects. What to do with less supply and more demand?

I bought into the “Championships Begin With Scholarships” slogan because it is about providing Clemson student-athletes with scholarship opportunities first. Tickets and parking should not be the main focus if we are all not selfish and we truly care about the student-athletes first. I just think they need to change the slogan because we don’t exactly win a lot of championships around here lately.

So, all things considered, IPTAY changes are OK with me. Let’s see how this new publication looks in August.

ACC Tournament
Thanks to a sweep of NC State this past weekend Clemson opens the ACC tournament this week as the conference’s number three seed.

The reason the ACC went to a round robin format for its tournament is that some coaches thought it was a long way to travel and be faced with playing just two games. I hate the idea and would rather play a double elimination tournament.

But Clemson now will face Virginia on Thursday, Duke on Friday and North Carolina on Saturday.

I will be very interested to see how Jack Leggett sets his pitching rotation for the tournament. In the past few weeks Trey Delk has started the first game of the series, Casey Harman the second and Chris Dwyer the third.

Harman went 4.2 innings against Duke on April 3 in a 7-3 Clemson win. He allowed seven hits and two runs in this start allowing one walk with three strikeouts.

On April 5, Dwyer got the win in a 10-1 victory over the Blue Devils. The freshman allowed four hits and one run in six innings. He struck out five and did not walk anyone in the Sunday win.

On March 6, Trey Delk went 2.2 innings against North Carolina but was lifted in the third as he allowed three runs on five hits. He walked two Tar Heels and struck out three. Clemson went on to win the game 5-4 in 10 innings and a big part of that was Harman’s 4.1 relief innings when he allowed just one run on one hit. He stuck out three and walked only one Tar Heel.

Two days later Dwyer only lasted four innings as he allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks in a 9-8 loss. Harman also pitched out of the bull pen on this Sunday bit got the loss as he gave up three hits and two runs including the game-winner in only 1/3 of an inning.

Clemson has not faced Virginia this season.

Starting pitching is a big key in tournament settings and with four games in four days, the bullpen does not need to be taxed too much. I will be interested to see what Jack does with the staff this week.

Later this week I will examine the RPIs, strength of schedules and chances of hosting of ACC and SEC teams again. A lot has changes since we last visited the subject.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Sandy Wright, Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, Edward Putman, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, William Perry, Delores Weaver.