Thursday August 06, 2009

National Titles; Conference Titles; Parking Deck; Ryan's 18th

National Championships
I have hammered home the point about championships and the lack of championships in the Clemson athletic department for a couple of years now. Championships are the ultimate goal.

Yesterday on the blog, I mentioned the impressive staff Dabo has put together but I wanted to give more evidence to start the blog today. Clemson has seven guys on its football staff that have won national titles either as a player or a coach.

Dabo was a wide receiver on Alabama’s national championship team that went 13-0 in 1992. Clemson’s Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration Woody McCorvey was the wide receiver coach on that team and the Tigers’ assistant head coach and offensive tackle and tight end coach Danny Pearman was the offensive tackle coach and special teams coordinator for the Tide that magical season.

Clemson’s associate head coach and offensive guards and centers coach Brad Scott was the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator on Florida State’s 1993 team that went 12-1 and on the national championship.

The Tigers’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kevin Steele was the linebacker coach at Nebraska for their 1994 team that went 13-0 and won the national title.

Clemson’s defensive tackle coach, Dan Brooks, held the same position at Tennessee in 1998 when the Volunteers went 13-0 and claimed the national championship.

Clemson’s assistant athletic director and player relations and external affairs within the football program is Jeff Davis. “The Judge” was the captain of Clemson’s 1981 team that went 12-0 and won the school’s first national title.

Conference Titles
The staff has a ton of conference and division titles as well. As a player and coach at Alabama, Dabo won three SEC championships and five SEC West titles.

McCorvey won three ACC titles at Clemson and one SEC championship at Alabama.

Charlie Harbison won an SEC championship at Alabama and one SEC title at LSU.

Danny Pearman won two ACC titles as a player at Clemson and one as a graduate assistant coach here. He won one SEC title at Alabama. In his time as an assistant at Virginia Tech he won a Big East title and an ACC championship.

Brad Scott won two ACC championships at Florida State.

Kevin Steele won four Big Eight tiles at Nebraska and two ACC championships at Florida State.

Billy Napier won two Southern Conference titles as a player at Furman.

Dan Brooks an SEC championship at Florida and two SEC titles at Tennessee.

Jeff Davis won two ACC titles as a player at Clemson.

In all, the Clemson football staff has won 30 conference titles including 23 ACC and SEC championships.

Injuries
I was talking to the Tiger’s team doctor at practice Tuesday about J.K. Jay’s back problems and looked up to watch Jacoby Ford pull his hamstring again as he was fielding punts.

These two injuries are listed as day-to-day and the medical staff has been cautious about saying anything on either case. However, both injuries concern me because of their lingering effect.

I have had hamstring and back issues and have read enough to be concerned. If Jay suffers from a herniated disc then it could be a one-time thing or it could return frequently. Also surgery is an option in some cases.

Hamstrings are a concern because of the common reoccurrence of the injury. Hamstring issues can hang around for several weeks and can show up at any time.

I am not sure what the status with each is and how long both will have to contend with each injury. They may be back next week and never have any issues again. However, we are talking about two kinds of injuries that can reoccur and have a long lasting effect.

Parking Deck Update
I wanted to revisit the proposed parking deck for today to give an update on what I have learned. I have talked to almost everyone I know to talk to on the subject and can report that the project looks like it on life support at this point.

I am not saying that it won’t happen but according to almost everyone I talk to, including assistant athletic directors and Clemson city councilmen, the idea is losing support. I have visited with several top boosters who have made their feelings heard and I understand that several members of the IPTAY board were against it as well.

The process’ next step is a federal grant that can be applied for in September by the City of Clemson. I will update when that meeting and vote will occur if the issue gets any more attention.

In summary, at this point, I have been told by multiple sources that the proposed parking deck in Lot 5 (West Endzone) is now considered a long shot and could be a dead issue by the end of September.

Ryan’s 18th
I just wanted to drop a quick note and invite everyone to my son, Ryan’s 18th birthday party. We are having a drop-in on Saturday, August 15th, from 2-4 PM at the Esso Club in Clemson. No gifts please. Last year we had a very special day for his 17th as he was released from the hospital just two days earlier after spending 76 days there after his automobile accident. Last year was incredible as we got a chance to thank several hundred people in person for praying for his recovery.

This year we just wanted to show Ryan off again and let people see the miracle we have witnessed over the last year. God’s grace and Ryan’s relentless work have his recovery exceeding anyone’s expectations.

So, plan to stop by the drop-in for Ryan’s 18th birthday party at the Esso a week from Saturday. Thanks.

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, Delores Weaver, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family.