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Friday June 19, 2009

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.

Mickey,
Sorry to hear of your back problems but I find that Dragon software will let you speak(while on your back) and it will type your words.

My questions refer to the often mentioned split between the Clemson Athletic Department and the Administration. From here, it looks as the Administration doesn't see the Athletics Department as a revenue generating machine. What is the nature of the friction and who is causing the friction? Perhaps it is time to clean all of the dirty laundry and move forward.

Bigatiger

Bigatiger,
Thanks for the nice words about the back. As far as your interesting questions, let’s remember that friction between academic people and athletic people is not rare. This is an ongoing issue at many universities. Also remember that some of the top academic institutions in the country have excellent athletic department. However, I think in Clemson’s case there are certain things you can analyze. I think most people in athletics will tell you Clemson’s top 20 mission for the US News and World Report has hindered athletics. The school does not have easier majors like some schools. Also the millions of dollars spent on the top 20 mission has taken away money from a lot of aspects on campus. Most importantly, the tuition hikes has hurt athletics. Out of state students now have over $30,000 a year in total cost. For the sports that don’t use full scholarships it is very difficult.

Mickey,
1. I agree with you!
2. No action against Trevor Adair should have EVER taken place until AFTER the court hearing.
3. Where was our President, Jim Barker, when the decision to fire/force resignation of TA was made?

I would love to think this could be the end for TDP...the other thing that makes me ill is the press release from the AD....who does he think he's kidding by "thanking" TA?? You do not thank someone you force to resign! Talk about being 2-faced and putting on the act!

For Clemson to ever turn this around, we need a Clemson man in the job- one who is EXPERIENCED, one who is LOYAL to Clemson and one who REMEMBERS what it's like to be a family and one who SUPPORTS that family, one who CARES about more than just the bottom line...our Clemson traditions and all that comes with it.

Thanks, Mickey. I just needed to get that off my chest! Keep doing what you're doing!!!

Elizabeth

Elizabeth,
Thanks for your e-mail. Your passion is obvious and I think many agree with your stance. Clemson can be great again but not without the things that made Clemson so unique in the first place.

Dear Mickey:

I read your post regarding Trevor Adair, and I must say you are correct. Somehow, somewhere Clemson has lost its team spirit. Anyone that knows the facts knows that Trevor did nothing wrong and most certainly did not deserve to be forced to resign. I am saddened by people in the "Clemson Family" that have experienced similar (if not worse) situations turning their backs on Trevor. I guess when the going gets tough for a Clemson coach, you stand alone. I am sorry, but I was not raised that way. My mama taught me to help your friends, not turn your back and run. We are not quitters; we don't quit on our friends.

Since I live in Ohio, I have only met Trevor a few times; however, each time he was the nicest man he could be. He even laughed and joked around when my two and a half-year old son, He wiped his greasy hands all over Trevor's jeans as a group of us had lunch. Trevor showed patience and kindness when others could have easily yelled at he or worse. It is a shame that Trevor lost his job because he was being a parent not a friend to his child. We live in an age where parents are friends, buddies to their kids, and kids are on the losing end. Parents have begun a role reversal in our society...kids are trying to run the show. As parents, we need to stop this. We need to be able to discipline our children without fear of being put in jail. I do understand that there are those cases where there is abuse, but not ever parent that disciplines his/her child is guilty of that.

Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion.

Sincerely,
Faith

Faith,
I happen to know your mom and dad very well and know you were raised well. I appreciate your passion and thank you for your e-mail. Hopefully better news is not too far in the future. It would be nice to have the family reunited.

Mickey,
I wanted to forward my comments on to you about my experience as a Clemson Tiger under Trevor Adair. Below is the email I sent to him after finding out he had resigned. I don’t know all the details leading up to Trevor’s resignation but I would like to expand on my experience as a Clemson Tiger.

Clemson Soccer is a great institution and Trevor instilled in us that Tiger Pride. He made sure that we understood the great opportunity we were given and the obligation to continue the tradition that was Clemson Soccer. I’m not going to lie and say that every player loved him. Some couldn’t handle the high expectations Trevor demanded from us. He demanded we give him and the university 100% everyday. But it was that commitment that helped define what Clemson Soccer was all about.

I hope that whatever coach ends up replacing him continues the commitment that he and Ibrahim before him committed to Clemson University. They created something that is really special to be a part of and I pray that Clemson does not let that slip away.
Nathan

Nathan,
I appreciate your perspective because it is a unique one. Many of us do not know the sacrifice student-athletes make but your e-mail helps to give us an idea of what you go through. It is also refreshing to learn how those tough lessons make people better. Thanks for taking time to enlighten us.

Mickey,
1. I rebuke you for your comments regarding Adair being an upstading person and family man. As an earlier poster mentioned: Battered wives and children most often will not and do not testify against their alleged batterers in open court or on your high court of radio talk show. These women are literally scared to death, or rather scared of death of their batterers and the repercussions of defiance. Not only that but these families are very self conscious and embarrassed of what their friends, families, and communities think about their (dysfunctional) situation. Because they just want to fit in with society and be considered normal. These "alleged" batterers like Trevor Adair are extremely controlling and manipulative over their families. Regardless of how well you may think that you know your friend and his family you are not a part of that household and have no idea what truly may or may not be happening in their home. Trevor Adair's issue is not to be taken lightly.

2. Not to trivialize the above matter but a recent example I know that you will be familiar with and is within your realm of sports reporting: Remember when Willy Korn stated multiple times for the record that he was 100% healthy?

3. In keeping with your rhetorical question format: So then it was wrong for Ohio State to fire legendary football coach Woody Hayes for punching a fully uniformed Clemson nose guard during the Gator Bowl?

Husband of an attorney that regularly defends Domestic Violence cases and brother-in-law to a WFU Baptist staff doctor who treats victims of Domestic Violence.

Avery

Avery,
Thanks for your e-mail. I will respond to your points in the order you presented them:
1-I think your wife will be the first one to warn you not to stereotype cases. Every case is different. It is not fair to use any other accused case to make a conclusion about another. I am sure there are many cases that fit and you make good points. However, each case is different and you can’t use any of that information in Trevor’s case. That is simply not fair.

2-I remember it well. Again I am not sure this is pertinent to the other situation. That is not fair to either.

3-Because every case is different, I would have used the information we had on his case and fired him as soon as he returned to Columbus.

Hi Mickey,

I read your article about Trevor Adair with mixed emotions. I do not necessarily support Coach Adair being retained, but not because of the family situation that most of us do not have the facts on, but rather because I am not sure he would be able to get Clemson Soccer back to a national contender.

Nonetheless, I do agree that our Athletic Department is in a sad state of affairs. I also agree that our athletic director should be fired. If Coach Adair was released because he had lost his players, then I agree with you that our athletic director (what's his name - hah) should be fired because he has lost his program.

Hope your back is improving and you will fully recuperate.

Kirk

Kirk,
If his work was not satisfactory then they should have fired him after the season. That is not what happened here. Thanks for the well wishes.

Mickey,

I couldn't agree more with your Wednesday blog. I think we need a Clemson person running the athletic department, someone with ties to the university that has the same love of this place that all us alumni share. It’s my impression that for TDP the AD position is just a job he’s not out there at all the games and talking to supporters, fans, and students. For a Clemson person it would be so much more than a job and I know they would be at the games and talking to people living and breathing it the way so many of us do. I think TDP has made some good hires but I'm not sure I should credit him to much with those since he hired a firm to help. But I think some of the other decisions such as Adair and Pollock at least counter those good decisions. Which leads me to the question who do you think would be a good Clemson replacement for TDP when the time comes? (I hope sooner rather than later) I know Kyle Young is in the athletic department, we all know how he gave his all to Clemson, we know he’s a very smart guy, I think maybe he would be a good option, what do you think?

Richard

Richard,
Terry Don Phillips just has a different style than what you and I would like to see. He is a manager. Some think that is OK and they may be right. I am not sure that style can’t work. My personal belief is that companies work better when the leaders are emotionally invested. Passionate leaders are better leaders in most cases. That is not always the case but in this case I think it is the right way to go. I have known Kyle and his family for many years and do not know of too many families that have given as much as the Youngs. They are passionate about Clemson and Clemson should be proud of their family’s accomplishments.

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), 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, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, William Perry, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness.

Posted by Mickey Plyler @ 11:27 AM EDT [ Comments [3] ]