Monday August 24, 2009

15,000

15,000
I probably need to start the blog today with a couple of confessions. First, I am terrible at estimating crowds or attendance. I may type better or my grammar may be better than I am at crowd estimations and that is scary.

The other confession is that I was not at fan appreciation day this year. I have been maybe 15 times over the past 41 years but I did not go yesterday.

Maybe I am making too much of it but I am amazed that an estimated 15,000 Clemson fans showed up yesterday. Last year the Anderson Independent Mail newspaper said more than 2,000 people showed up for fan appreciation day and this year Tim Bourret estimated 15,000. I think this is significant because it says something about the fan base heading into the season.

I have considered several things as to the dramatic increase in the number of fans who attended the event. Here are a few potential explanations:

1. Maybe the difference was not as great as reported. Maybe there was not a dramatic increase. Maybe the number of people was much greater than 2,000 last year and maybe there was not 15,000 this year.

2. People love C.J. Spiller.

3. People are excited about football and this team.

4. The economy means families are looking for things to do that are inexpensive.

5. People love Dabo.

Maybe there is not one true reason for the surge in interest. I do think it is safe to say there was not a 13,000 increase in attendance from last year to this year. But even if it was 5,000 last year and 10,000 this year then that is a significant increase.

The Spiller thing does not hold water because Spiller was here last year. In fact, James Davis was here also and both were popular. The “Thunder and Lightning” thing seemed it would have a bigger draw than just “Lightning”.

Number three is valid but not more in 2009 than 2008. Last year at this time Clemson was ranked number nine in the nation. More players were pre-season All-ACC and they had the pre-season ACC pre-season player of the year. On paper there were a lot more reasons to be excited about fan appreciation day 2008.

Maybe number four is a legitimate point. Families have less than they did last year and you can’t get any less expensive than free.

In the end, though, I think number five is the biggest factor. Dabo has connected to Clemson people. The connection is what they have not had in recent years. This is what they have been starving for.

I recently told a Clemson administrator that Coach Ford changed the way you do it at Clemson and Clemson has not had this. The athletic director does not go to IPTAY meetings and many don’t find him warm and approachable. The last head coach was not the kind of guy that made the masses feel connected either. Clemson is the kind of place where people want to feel close to their football program and fan appreciation day is a great example of that.

Maybe Dabo is so popular because people wanted change. We saw that in November from the presidential election. Sometimes people want change just for the sake of change. Maybe Dabo is popular because he is not Bowden.

Maybe he is popular because he is still new and has not been damaged yet. He often says, “Everyone loves a winner and a beginner.” Maybe he is still new enough.

Or maybe people get him because he gets them. Maybe Dabo is just a “Clemson” guy. Maybe is just one of us.

We love to use the term, “Clemson people.” We take pride in that. I think we all can agree that Clemson is a special place and the reason is the people. Joe Sherman’s masterpiece, “There’s Something in These Hills” talks about that.

Maybe we have found our new leader. We have starved for someone to put all of these pieces together and lead us and maybe we have found that guy. Maybe Dabo has the kind leadership skills that have inspired us to follow him.

Don’t get me wrong, you can never please everyone. I sometimes read the messages boards on the three major Clemson sites and I hear from the Tiger fans on my radio show. It seems in today’s world people can agree on very little. Even at a great place like Clemson you would think there would be more common ground but good Clemson people seem to disagree on uniform colors, uniform styles, size of the paw on the helmets, parking, tickets, coaches, schemes, personnel, Top 20, game times, etc.

It seems to me that society is more divided about all aspects of life. We seem to like to disagree. It seems to me that more people think they are smarter and need to prove it and have more access to prove their point now. Political talk shows, sports talk shows, face book, twitter, blogs and message boards give us all of the time in the world to disagree and prove out point.

But I still think people would rather agree than disagree. It just feels better to be positive than negative.

And along comes Dabo.

See, I believe timing is the key. People here want to believe. They were worn out and needed something new. Combine this with his infectious positive attitude and you get what we saw yesterday.

Maybe some people just wanted his autograph and more people came out because they already had Bowden’s. But I doubt that.

I really think people want to believe and feel good about getting behind this team. Not everyone. Some are just negative people that never want to believe. But many of us are so ready and see this inspiration asking us to get on board.

I have mentioned several times how interested I am in psychology and sports and this is a fascinating time as it relates to Clemson football.

I am interested in hearing from those who are “All In” and why they feel that way. If you are compelled, please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com and I will post on Friday. Thanks in advance.

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, 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, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy.