Wednesday September 02, 2009

Homecoming

Homecoming
Teams usually wait to host homecoming later in the football season and Clemson will do that again this year but Saturday is the next best thing for several of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
Middle Tennessee head coach, Rick Stockstill has to be considered one of the most valuable assistants ever at Clemson. He came to Tigertown in 1989 after four seasons at Central Florida. Stock spent the next 14 seasons as an assistant for the Tigers under Danny Ford, Ken Hatfield, Tommy West and Tommy Bowden. Stock worked at the quarterback coach, wide receiver coach, recruiting coordinator, co-offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator.

Stockstill was known as one of the most effective recruiters in Clemson history. When he left Clemson in 2002 he had signed the school’s all-time leading passer (Woody Dantzler), all-time leading rusher (Raymond Priester) and all-time leading receiver (Rod Gardner). Gardner’s record was broken by another Stockstill signee, Derrick Hamilton.

Three of the last six first round draft picks (Tye Hill, Gardner, Trevor Pryce) were Stockstill recruits. Future NFL Hall of Famer, Brian Dawkins was another player signed by Stock. Twelve of the last 13 Pro Bowl appearances by former Tigers were Stockstill’s signees. Other All-ACC players signed by Stock include names like Donnell Washington, Nick Eason and Bryant McNeal.

I have been very fortunate to call Rick Stockstill a friend since 1989. I never envisioned twenty years ago that he would return to Clemson as the head coach on the visiting sidelines. It was difficult when he was an assistant at South Carolina and was on the opponent’s sideline in 2004. It just felt strange but maybe because he was a Gamecock at the time.

This Saturday will be a proud moment for Stock and his family though. He freely admits that Clemson was a special place for him and his wife (Sara) and his kids (Brent and Emily). He is the only assistant coach that I have ever heard of that was officially honored by the state legislators.

Stock has always been a great friend who was has always been gracious with his time. He taught me more than any coach I have ever been around.
Stock is a tireless worker and a relentless recruiter. One year he was recruiting Roscoe Crosby who wore number 25 at Union High School. So Stock wrote him hand written letters each day leading up to signing day with the top 25 reasons Crosby needed to ink with Clemson. The following year he did the same for Kelvin Grant who wore number 88 at Camden High School but this time it was the top 88 reasons he needed to sign with Clemson. I joked with Stock that he needed to sign more player who wore single digit jerseys. He would check in from family vacations on the beach and drive his wife crazy because he was writing recruiting letters.

He was a thorough recruiter too. I remember when he was recruiting Greg Jones from Beaufort, SC. It came down to Clemson, Ohio State and Florida State (the eventual winner). I walked in his office one day and he was on the phone with the airline companies because he wanted to see how much it would cost Jones’ family to fly to Columbus, OH and Tallahassee, FL on short notice in case of an emergency. When he hung up the phone he went straight to the internet to find out the average high temperatures in Columbus, Ohio in January and February. When recruiting against a school that had astro-turf, Stock knew the rate of knee injuries on synthetic surfaces. He knew every depth chart in the South. When a prospect visited Clemson, Stock had folders of his position with letters from former Tigers who were in the NFL about their Clemson experience.

He knew professors and advisors. He knew the Spearman’s at Mr. Knickerbockers and Pat and Mac down at Mac’s Drive In. For 14 years, Stock was Clemson. He might not admit it but he still does have orange blood in him.

It hurt for him to leave Clemson but he knew he had to try to advance his career. As it turned out he made the right decision but it was still hard to watch.

Les Herrin is in his fourth season as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the Blue Raiders. He spent two tours in Clemson on the defensive side of the football. In 1981 Herrin came to Clemson as the linebacker coach and helped the Tigers to a national title. Herrin’s first coaching stint in Clemson lasted until 1984. He came back to Tigertown from 1989 until 1998 and coached under Danny Ford, Ken Hatfield and Tommy West. During his time at Clemson Herrin coach such stars as Jeff Davis, Johnny Rembert, Chester McGlockton, Brentson Buckner, Trevor Pryce and Rob Bodine.

Willie Simmons is in his third season as the running backs coach at Middle Tennessee. He will be remembered as a very popular quarterback as a Tiger. He graduated in just three short years before he transferred to The Citadel to play his senior season. As a Tiger, Simmons passed for 2,530 yards and 16 touchdowns in 24 games. Perhaps his fondest memory would be the 228-yard passing performance when he came off of the bench to throw for four touchdowns in Chapel Hill in 2000.

Justin Watts is in his fourth season as the wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator at Middle Tennessee. He is one of just two football players to earn five varsity letters in the sport at Clemson. The former Tiger wide receiver battled injuries but still had 51 receptions for 561 yards from 1996-2000. Watts was also known as one of the best blocking wide outs at Clemson.

Russell Patterson is in his fourth season as the head football strength coach for the Blue Raiders. The upstate native was an assistant strength coach at Clemson from 1998-2003. His father is Donnie Patterson of the Patterson Tax Service in Easley, who interestingly enough does Dabo’s taxes.

David Bibee is in his second year at Middle Tennessee as its secondary coach. He was the outside linebackers coach at Clemson in 1997 and secondary coach in 1998 under Tommy West.

Andy Vaughn is in his second year as the assistant director of football operations for the Blue Raiders. He was an administrative assistant at Clemson from 2003-05.

Robbie Stewart is in his second season as the head football trainer for the Middle Tennessee program. He is a Seneca native who graduated from Clemson in 2000. Stewart was an assistant athletic trainer at Clemson from 2001-08.

Troy Johnson is in his third season as the equipment manager for the Blue Raiders. Johnson worked for Stockstill as an assistant equipment manager at Clemson from 2000-04.

So, in all, nine Blue Raiders with Clemson ties will be in Death Valley Saturday. Because of Stock, I am a Middle Tennessee fan, just not a huge one this Saturday. I am looking forward to this homecoming.

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, Ann Fallaw.