Monday July 20, 2009

The Official Unofficial Start

The Official Unofficial Start
The college football season never really starts or stops for college coaches anymore. In the old days the coaches would have some time away from the game in the off-season but that has changed recently. Today, coaches work year round with fewer days off than ever before.

This is a big change from the really old times when football coaches used to be baseball coaches or golf or tennis coaches in the spring. When he was a football assistant here, Coach Howard was the track coach as well from 1931-39. He was the head football and baseball coach in 1943. Can you imagine Dabo coaching baseball as well or Jack coaching football?

As fans we do have beginnings and endings. I have written a blog about the unofficial phases of college football fans. Here are the phases for college football fans:

Phase I-Recruiting
Phase II-Spring Practice
Phase III-Pre-Season Magazines
Phase IV-EA Sports NCAA Football
Phase V-Pre-Season Camp
Phase VI-The Real Season

Some fans participate in all phases of the year but others don’t recognize a phase or two. You don’t have to be a fan of recruiting or a video game. Some do love every phase though.

I guess the only phase that really matters is the regular season. Without a regular season we would not have recruiting, spring practice, magazine or football video games.

But this year I am not buying in. I have been scarred and I am not buying into the pre-season stuff.

For some many in the media, the unofficial start of the football season is this week. This week we have a few events that are on the calendar every year. Tomorrow Dabo Swinney will have his media golf tournament at the Reserve at Lake Keowee. Wednesday through Friday of this week the SEC will have its media days in Birmingham, AL and Sunday and Monday the ACC will host their media days in Greensboro, NC.

For the ladies who are big Clemson fans, some will mark Saturday on their calendars as their unofficial start to football season as Dabo and Kathleen Swinney will host their first Lady’s Clinic.

But ladies don’t call me with the renewed enthusiasm and details of how great everything is going to be this year. I am scarred and I am not going to get too excited this July and August.

I guess we all have our own unofficial start to the season. I have been to several media day events and coaches’ media golf outings but I don’t put too much stock in what we see and hear. It is nice to get the media guides from all of the schools but that is usually all I really take from the events.

Every year there is a fresh enthusiasm and energy to start the season and every player says this year’s senior leadership is the best they have been around. Every team is in better condition because they are always working harder than ever.

In 1987, I can remember taking a sportswriter from the Atlanta Constitution down to football practice and he did not carry a pen, pencil, paper or tape recorder. I asked him why and he said, “Son, if you have done this as long as I have then you realize they all say the same thing. They all say the same thing in the pre-season. They all say the same thing the week before a big game. They all say the same thing after a big win or a big loss.”

So I am not going to read the articles because I am not buying it this year.

After the Maryland loss last year I came to the difficult decision that I did not see Tommy Bowden coming back to Clemson for an 11th season. I know Bowden has been in the news recently with some comments but my mind wonders what he could have said entering his 11th season without a title.

A friend has coached at Alabama told me a few weeks ago that one difference on Alabama fans is you can’t fool them. He said you can’t go give them the same speech you can at other places. He said at Alabama they don’t pay a whole lot of attention to the pre-season stuff.

I guess that is why July and August are great months for all fans of any college football program. We all buy into the ‘coach speak.”

But not me. Not this year.

Heck, as fans, we rationalize seasons in a totally irrational way. We try to convince ourselves that the defensive line will be better despite losing four starters or the offense will be better even though only two starters return. We usually are successful convincing ourselves of this, at least in July and August.

But I will not pay attention to the media days and pre-season press conferences. I guess I will listen but I do so with scarred ears and a bruised ego.

Clemson fans this year are guarded because of years like last year. I think they want to hear what everyone is saying in the next few weeks but are approaching this season with caution. I think most Clemson fans understand winning games in the fall are more important than winning arguments in July.

The best news about Dabo’s golf tournament, the ACC media days, the Lady’s Clinic, fan appreciation day and pre-season camp is they lead us one step closer to a chance at redemption. Clemson fans are ready to get the bad taste of 2008 out of their mouths. They have seen great recruiting classes, the spring games, bought the magazines, played the video games and been to all of the pre-seasons meetings they can stand. Clemson fans are ready for 2009 because they are tired of losing and this is a fresh start.

Also this July and August will be more refreshing and entertaining because of Dabo’s style. His song and dance is refreshing. He is likable. He is more engaging and is more open and honest than many others in his industry.

OK. I have talked myself into it. Who am I kidding? I will be there and listen and buy into everything. I am a fan and I believe this is the year.

Tom Watson made me forget about my addiction for a weekend. Lance Armstrong may temporarily do it for others. I guess there is the beach or an August vacation spot for others. But in the end we all come back because we are addicts. It is a dangerous situation when you combine sports addicts with hope addicts but that is what we have here in Clemson football.

I am an addict and I am buying everything the pre-season is selling, especially hope. Give me a double dose of hope this July. We have overdosed on hope in the past but I did not learn my lesson because I am an addict.

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, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, the Byrd family, the Dixon family, Chalmers Carr.