TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Friday E-Mail Bag
Each Friday I publish your comments and answer your questions. To submit a comment or questions please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com.

Shannon,
I am not the best at slogans but some of our readers on tigernet are extremely clever and can help. I agree that Morris has been a major reason for the turn around. He is a huge part of this. Clemson would have been improved but not to the level that Morris has improved it. I hope he is around for a long time. Dabo does deserve credit for finding Morris and hiring a guy that was criticized by a bunch of people because he was only a college coach for one year.

Mickey,
After watching the Va Tech game I can't help but wonder how in the hell does Ron Cherry and that awful crew keep their jobs? I don't care what the ACC says about their grades they are simply terrible. Their only redeeming quality is they were terrible to both teams saturday night.

BP,
Ron Cherry is an embarrassment. He and his crew are consistently bad. They over officiate and it continues to be a concern.

Full speed ahead for the players and coaches and stop and smell the roses for the fans.
Andy

Andy,
Slowing down is for the fans. The players need to continue this momentum and build that confidence. This could be a special season at Clemson but only if the hard work continues. The reason Clemson has changed is because the players and staff changed it from the inside. The outside perception has changed because of the changes inside the program. I am pretty confident this group understands that the work is not done yet.

Vonte,
Thanks for the kind words about Ryan. BTW-Ryan is loving this great run by his Tigers. I think Coach Swinney will get a nice bonus from his incentives in his contract. I would roll over another year on his current contract. I don't think it needs to be renegotiated though.

Mickey,
I’m a huge Clemson fan and I just read your blog about the VT game review. I loved everything you had to say about the game but the best part of all is what’s at the bottom of your blog. Although I love football, I must say it is pretty inspiring to see someone put a Prayer request for at the bottom of a blog that is read by tens of thousands. Thank you.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,
Thanks for the kind words. The prayer list has been incredible. I love hearing form those that see the positive benefits from it. Thanks again.

Mickey,
I want pose a question about the hit Breeland took from David Wilson. The following is an excerpt from the NCAA football rule book. “No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.” Why is it that defensive players are the only ones who this rule seems to apply to when the rule does not specify offense vs. defense? It is a penalty for a defense player to lead with his helmet, but it is perfectly ok for an offensive player who is carrying the ball to use his helmet as a battering ram? Seems like a double standard to me. Just yet another example of the NCAA proving their ignorance.

Brian,
I totally agree. The illegal hits rules are so one-sided but most rules are in football as the offense receives so many benefits. I have not thought about the Breeland incident in that manner but you make a great point.

Mickey,

Finally, Clemson is relevant! The biggest thing coming out of this season is that Clemson is being noticed again. Recruits notice relevant teams! ESPN, CBS, XM, Fowler, Herbstreit, Meyer, Corso, Rivals, etc notice relevant teams. It is nice to turn on any sports radio program or read any college football website and see the Clemson Tigers being discussed.

Yes, thanks to Dabo and the team we are RELEVANT!

Mark

Mark,
Thanks for the e-mail. It has been a long time since this has been the case but it feels so good. I was beginning to wonder if Clemson would ever be ranked in the top ten again and if the Tigers would ever become relevant again.

George,
Every year we think all of these teams may go undefeated. However, we are only in the second week of October. Football seasons are long and so many things can happen. We have seen years like what happened to Auburn a few years ago and there may be major BCS conference schools that go undefeated and still get left out but that is not normally the case. I still think we will see a bunch of upsets in the next two months. But the system is still flawed. College football is the best sport but has the worst ending.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer ListWe 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, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Daniel Rosborough, The Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas Family, Linda Wiggs, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers,Julie and Austin Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Laura Ashleigh Smith, Mary Priester, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr, Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Randy Anderson, Lillian, 742 SMC, Matt Hogan, Mark Feit, HB Rollings, Mike Heck, David Frame, Chad Berry,the family of Matthew M. Watson, Nancy Taylor, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, Tricia Hood, Bryan Jackson.

Comments:

Andy: Instead of running up the score on BC, I'd rather see Dabo give experience to the 2nd & 3rd string, while keeping the 1st string healthy. (LaMichael James dislocated his elbow last night running up the score on Cal. Not worth it.)

I don't think that running up the score on BC would affect Clemson's rank or bowl destination. I don't see the voters jumping an undefeated Clemson over an undefeated team from the SEC, Big10, Big12, or Pac12. An undefeated Clemson would jump Boise St. or any once-defeated team.

Dabo chose not to try to run up the score on Auburn and VT-- and rightfully so in my opinion.

Posted by Razzmatazz on October 07, 2011 at 12:19 PM EDT #

I think locker room leadership is the biggest difference from this year to last, even more of a difference than Chad Morris. No matter how good or bad your offensive schemes are, if you don't have a leader on the field to execute them, they won't work. The Kyle Parker situation last year was a definite downer for our team and I give Dabo credit for being a great Head Coach / CEO and indentifying problems and correcting them.

Posted by Jeremy7508 on October 07, 2011 at 12:25 PM EDT #

While Im trying not to look to far ahead, I have a question regarding Georgia Tech and would like some input form Tigernet and Mickey. It seems we have developed some depth at linebacker. So would it be a possibility to take maybe 3 linebackers and start teaching/reviewing their responsibility against the triple option a few weeks prior to the Ga. Tech game? Would this be a smart move?

Posted by CJ Davis on October 07, 2011 at 12:51 PM EDT #

Jeremy, Chad Morris is by far the main reason for Clemson's success this year. It all starts with coaching. The player development and in game play calling has improved 10 fold. It's nice when you're not predictable on offense. Go Tigers!

Posted by McRib on October 07, 2011 at 01:01 PM EDT #

Jeremy: I don't remember anybody complaining about Kyle Parker's leadership in 2009 when Dabo was touting Parker as a future NFL draft pick. I think Morris would have pulled the plug on Parker soon after Parker's (Auburn) broken ribs caused him to become ineffective. And I don't think Morris would have put up with Parker's back-sassing.

The game-planning, play-calling, QB coaching, & WR blocking was awful under Napier. So weak. So predictable. That was exposed when Spiller & Ford graduated.

The difference is Morris.

Posted by Razzmatazz on October 07, 2011 at 01:44 PM EDT #

@ Razz & Mcrib:

Don't get me wrong, I think Chad Morris is a great addition and one of the MANY factors of our turnaround. KP wasn't the leader in 2009, CJ, Ford, and Palmer were. Parker was expected to be the leader last year, and he wasn't, especially after the Auburn game. Napier had to go, no doubt, and Morris is a home run, no doubt, but I'm saying he's not the Savior of the entire team and the sole reason we're succeeding. Morris is a big reason, our upperclassmen leaders are another big reason, and our dynamic Freshman are another big reason. I love Coach Morris, I'm excited he's here, but he's not the ONLY reason for our success this year, and I think labeling him the messiah starts us treading on dangerous ground.

Posted by Jeremy7508 on October 07, 2011 at 02:54 PM EDT #

The locker room leadership begins with Dabo. If we are going to hold him accountable for average performance, then credit is due when credit is due. It takes time to reverse an aircraft carrier that is moving forward, even if it is moving at a slow pace. Reverse those grinders and the ship still moves forward in the wrong direction before it begins to move back. I am amazed at how quickly Dabo has righted this ship. An attentive ear can pick up Dabo in every player interview before or after a game. This is the kind of guy I want leading my team. This is the kind of guy I hope my kid can play for one day. This is the kind of guy I hope my kid can quote among conversation with others. What a great influencer of our guys and our fan base.

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