TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Former Ohio State coach Woody Hayes hated Michigan. He was asked why he went for two despite having a 34-point lead against Michigan one year and Hayes responded, “Because I couldn’t go for three.”

He always referred to Michigan as “that state up north” and the Wolverines as “that team up north.”

The best example is the time he was on a recruiting trip with one of his assistants coming back home through the state of Michigan. It was getting late and Hayes was asleep in the passenger seat but the assistant had to wake him up to tell the head coach that he had to pull over and get gas. A furious Hayes yelled, “No, g—d----it! We do NOT pull in and fill up. And I'll tell you exactly why we don't. It's because I don't buy one g—d--- drop of gas in the state of Michigan! We'll coast and PUSH this g—d---car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money!" They barely made it across the border and sputtered into the first gas station they found in Ohio.

Woody took things too far in one direction but it appears to me Clemson and USC have gone too far in the other direction.

I did not like the fight in 2004 but I was not embarrassed by it. I thought Clemson made the wrong decision when they declined the bowl bid as a result. However, I thought the little handshake before the 2005 game was more embarrassing. That was nothing but a politically correct photo opt that made each school look silly instead.

However we hit the lowest of all lows last November before the game. Jad Dean’s missed field goal was not the worst part of the day. Instead, the most embarrassing moment in the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry occurred when the University of South Carolina president, Andrew Sorenson, and the USC athletic director, Eric Hyman, dotted the “i” in the script Tigers with Tiger band in the pre-game ceremonies.

Dotting the “i” at Clemson is not held in the same regard as it is at Ohio State but it is still pretty special. At Clemson it is reserved for Hall of Fame members, former Tiger greats in the class room and on the athletic fields and distinguished alumni. Every year the Mother of the Year gets the honor of dotting the “i”. When a Tiger or former Tiger achieves greatness then they can often times look forward to the day they might be able to dot the “i”. However that is tainted now.

Dotting the “i” is for Jeff Davis, Banks McFadden, Terry Kinard, Bob Bradley, Walter Cox and R.C. Edwards not Sorenson and Hyman.

Who’s next Sterling Sharpe and James Seawright? George Rogers never scored a touchdown against Clemson so maybe he would feel better if we let him dot the “i”.

Who is the pansy that decided to let the arch-rival invade such a tradition last November? Again, what did they do to deserve the honor? Please someone tell me what they did to deserve that?

Since the precedent has been set I ask where will this stop? Please don’t let the guys get into a fight this year or the geniuses at Clemson may let Spurrier and the Gamecocks rub Howard’s Rock and run down the hill.

Bo Schembechler never dotted the “i” at Ohio State because Ohio State had enough sense to guard it traditions. But Bo would have never wanted to. In my opinion I am very disappointed that Clemson would not guard its traditions but I am also puzzled as to why Sorenson and Hyman would agree to cross the line anyway. If I was a Gamecock fan I would have been almost as mad that my guys were participating in the enemy’s tradition.

It has even carried over to this year. I understand the Gamecocks are on a four-game losing streak and Clemson is coming off of an emotional loss but the praise for the rival coming from Tommy Bowden and Steve Spurrier is almost sickening.

Bowden says about Spurrier, “I've always had respect for him. As I've mentioned several times, when he became the coach at Duke and didn't keep the offensive staff, which I was on, a lot of guys would have taken that personally and gotten mad. But, I became the wide receiver coach at Alabama six months later, and the first place I went to visit was Duke because I wanted to learn. I think he is one of the best offensive minds. I've always studied him when he was at Florida and my father played against him. So, I know for myself there has always been a tremendous amount of respect for him."

Yesterday Spurrier said, “Our coaches get along very well with their coaches.” He added, “"They have good players and they're well-coached. Tommy Bowden and his staff do a super job recruiting and do a super job coaching their guys. They haven't been very lucky, to tell you the truth, especially last week (v. BC). They're a very good team like always. They were a very good team last year. They're a very talented team."

He did not even sound like the Old Ball Coach when he added, "Obviously, the way we've performed lately, we're not bragging around here too much. We've sort of learned a lot of humility. I know I have. I think our players have.”

I am all for sportsmanship. I learn more about the importance of humility each year I grow wiser. But come on. This is getting sappy. When political correctness is more important than dignity then we have crossed the line and I think down the road the suits will regret this one.

I keep seeing this scene in my head where Sorenson, Hyman, Spurrier and Blake Mitchell are in between Jim Barker, Terry Don Phillips, Tommy Bowden and James Davis sitting around a camp fire. Sorenson has his trumpet, Barker a guitar and Bowden and Spurrier have tambourines. Behind them are all of the Gamecocks and Tigers swaying back and forth singing John Lennon’s song “All We Are Saying is Give Peace a Chance.”

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Comments:

Ha ha amen Mickey! My hatred from Carolina was born when one of my first games was Tanneyhills coming out party I remember sitting in the rain as their drunken band tossed mini bottles at me and my family. Then I witnessed that long haired freak swining home runs and attempt to tear down our goal post. I will never reserve that kind of kindness for them. Thats why its a rivalry.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=31055>dvsambo240</a> on November 21, 2007 at 10:49 AM EST #

gobble gobble

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=71732>turkey baster</a> on November 21, 2007 at 10:50 AM EST #

I think you're taking things a bit too far, Mickey. Consider the circumstances of this year. Both Clemson AND USC lost dearly beloved students in that beachhouse fire last month. Which is a big part of why each school has more or less altered their traditional rivalry week plans this year (i.e., no Funeral for the Gamecock, no Tiger Burn). Let's just let the week and the game play out, shall we?

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=26860>TigerMascot25</a> on November 21, 2007 at 10:53 AM EST #

Are you kidding me Mickey???? Don't ask the question, state the answer. You know it, we all know it.

It goes hand in hand with not being able to grind out a short yardage TD. It goes hand in hand with not being able to fend off more physical teams.

It permeates the entire program and school. Football is not a priority at Clemson anymore.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=52226>OldTiger05</a> on November 21, 2007 at 11:03 AM EST #

Not that I disagree with everything you said, but I don't think you can characterize Spurrier and Bowden's praise for one another political correctness. In fact, it may be the opposite of that. If they sincerely hold those beliefs, which I don't have any reason to doubt, to say otherwise solely for the sake of further polarizing a rivalrly would actually constitute a politically correct act.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=47270>MDT1GER</a> on November 21, 2007 at 11:07 AM EST #

Let's just beat the shit out of them on Saturday and nobody will care who dots the "i".

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=7575>otisman</a> on November 21, 2007 at 11:31 AM EST #

Mickey - I sent an email to TDP and Pres Barker after the dotting the "i" thing last year and I agree. It was worse than losing the game. I was pretty direct and upset in my email in telling them that I saw this as one of the highest honors Clemson could give someone and there were only 7 chances to honor someone with this and we wasted a chance to honor someone by having those guys out there. I got a reply from Barker back saying that he and I would have to "agree to disagree". I replied back with simply "Dearest Jim, Never trust a man who wears a bow tie. Sincerely, CUMBA". However I got a personal call on my cell phone from someone in the AD who reports directly to TDP. This person took individual responsibility for making the decision to put these guys on the field, agreed with my comments, apologized for it, said it wasn't a good decision in hindsight, and said it wouldn't happen again. I didn't include this person on the original email but I got a phone reply within 15 minutes of clicking 'send' on the email. That's why I won't call out the person who took personal responsibility. TDP and the people in the Athletic Department are doing the right thing. They handle things the right way. Their reply showed me that they admitted their mistakes and are ready to move on. Unfortunately I didn't get the same response from Pres Barker.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=12>CUMBA</a> on November 21, 2007 at 11:40 AM EST #

Good blog again! I sure agree with your point about that awful display of letting COOTS dot the "I"!!It is way past time forget about that silly fight that the COOTS started!! Let them go to HELL!!

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=4777>Litefoot</a> on November 21, 2007 at 11:54 AM EST #

At last, some semblance of common sense. Thank you!!!

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=8372>Palmetto 68</a> on November 21, 2007 at 12:01 PM EST #

At last, some semblance of common sense. Thank you!!!

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=8372>Palmetto 68</a> on November 21, 2007 at 12:01 PM EST #

what the hell are you talking about? this is the most pointless blog you have ever written.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=64936>tigers3819</a> on November 21, 2007 at 12:27 PM EST #

Sorry Mickey, but if you are embarassed by a handshake between two sports teams, you still have a lot to learn about sportmanship.

Both universities were shamed by the ridiculous display at the "brawl" game. If you find the handshake more embarassing than the brawl, then shame on you too.

Forgoing the bowl game was the RIGHT thing to do. Bowls games are a reward – criminal behavior that dishonors the university, its alumni, and fans should not be rewarded.

Some later displays of sportmanship *were* warranted after national news and sports showed that brawl fiasco over and over, broadcasting to the world that the players were a bunch of classless thugs, and that the universities, by association, were hardly well-reputed institutions.

Maybe “dotting the I” was not a good choice, but honestly I don’t think “dotting the I” really has nearly as much value as you attribute to it.

Jeez, it’s a game people. I want the chickens to get whooped 63-17 as much as anyone, but it is a football GAME. Save the hating and Hell for Osama bin Laden.

And anyway, isn’t this pretty old news – about a year old in fact? What in the world brings this up now? This happened LAST YEAR.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=41846>Zeus</a> on November 21, 2007 at 12:29 PM EST #

Oh, and what happened to talking about THIS YEAR'S GAME?

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=41846>Zeus</a> on November 21, 2007 at 12:31 PM EST #

I agree with some of the others. Yesterday you complained about not having time to talk about the BC review and this week's game. Yesterday's blog contained very little real analysis of the BC game and today's is wasted on complaining about something that happened last year. Why didn't you bring this up last year when something could have been done prevent it or at least protest it.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=21417>cucheme</a> on November 21, 2007 at 12:53 PM EST #

I don't care much about who dots the "i" and who says what sportsman-like thing. I care about who gets the "W". Last year Spence lost the SoCar game with his poor, conservative, sit-on-the-lead, fun-up-the-middle, play-not-to-lose play calling. And Spence just lost the BC game by trying to run more than pass against the #2 ranked run defense and the #110 ranked pass defense when he had the highest efficiency pasing QB in the league. Spence (and Bowden) also screwed up on the second last play of the BC game by not calling one of his two time outs and at least rethinking whether it's smart to call a short-dropback (easily sackable) pass. It's really a shame that nobody in the press every asks the the coaches any tough questions. I guess when you make your living by access to the coaches, you need to stay on their good side. Anyway, I was really looking forward to some analysis of the BC game and the upcoming SC game. Still love the blog and read it daily.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=66538>Razzmatazz</a> on November 21, 2007 at 01:34 PM EST #

The best article I have read on TigerNet in a long time! I agree with you 100% and I cannot believe more Tiger fans were not as vocal about that. It was an unbelievable move by Barker. It took away from the rivalry and diminished it. PC is permeating Clemson!!

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=30782>iamtiger82</a> on November 21, 2007 at 02:03 PM EST #

I always enjoyed seeing a Clemson fan dragging a de-feathered rubber chicken on the ground with a rope around it's neck on game day of the Clemson South Carolina game. Their fans suck. Yes it's just a game, but it's a rivalry and I hope that Clemson whips their ass by 100 points. The President of Clemson doesn't get it.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=63806>tenniswarrior56</a> on November 21, 2007 at 02:55 PM EST #

I loved this article for the use of the word "pansy"

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=35293>clemsonguy2</a> on November 21, 2007 at 04:05 PM EST #

I grew up hating these stupid chickens and can truly say i hope we kill them.There is no way any Carolina official would ever speak at Clemson or much less stand on our beloved Death Valley.I hated the hand shakes a few years ago.Lets get over this love fest and get back to the the good old days of hating them.If we get the chance,run the score upto rub Spurries nose in the dirt.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=37408>cubobby80</a> on November 21, 2007 at 09:51 PM EST #

Mickey - you are 100% correct, and all of the posters above that disagree with your points are either brainwashed or do not understand sports and TRUE sportsmanship. Probably the same folks that do not want to keep score at kid's soccer games!

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=61515>PokerTiger</a> on November 22, 2007 at 10:30 AM EST #

I agree with you. Remember Tannyhill scratching his name on the paw? You think Alabama-Alburn would do this? PC is ruining this country and our University. As a former Letterman (not the pc Letterwinner altho I can deal with that because we have women's sports) I am ashamed that Barker was a jock at Clemson. Guess he has forgot his raisin as my grandma used to say. By the way the blog on AK was the best ever. Go Tigers! And do you think those students that were involved in the tragic fire, which was awful, would have wanted anything but for things to be normal before the game??? That would be the best memory.
Sports aren't the most important thing in life , but traditions help us survive the tough times. Remember , Clemson does Chicken right! whips there butts.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=68134>tonybenson62003</a> on November 22, 2007 at 11:43 AM EST #