Friday March 16, 2007
Friday's E-Mail Bag
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.
Mickey,
Should anything be read into all of the different players that have left the program over the last 6 months? It seems like there are an awful lot of them leaving, be it to play somewhere else or to forgo their last year of eligibility. Is there any ill feeling inside the locker room that's causing these guys to leave? I mean, all of the coaches, for the most part, came back, so that would lead one to believe they feel good about things, especially for getting paid less money. I'm hoping it just a case of guys realizing the team around them has out grown them talent wise and not anything negative. What do you think?
Chris
Chris,
There is no cause for concern on this issue. This is actually a positive because the players that have left were not going to play much next year anyway with the exception of C.J. Gaddis and Demerick Chancellor. The guys that leave a program usually leave due to playing time and this was the case for the most part. Their departures actually open up more scholarship opportunities for younger players and future recruiting classes.
Hello Mickey:
What do you think are our chances in the NIT? I am familiar with some of the teams in the field, but not all of them. I think Syracuse, Air Force, NC State, West Virginia and Drexel are tough opponents. Any other teams look dangerous to you? Thank you.
Kirk
Kirk,
While I admitted that I was not that fired up about the NIT, I must admit that this is a strong field. I thought Syracuse, Drexel (out), NC State, West Virginia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, App State, Air Force and several others were solid enough to win the thing. It looks like FSU is playing well also. I think Monday’s game against Ole Miss may be the biggest test though. If the Tigers can win that one I think they have a chance.
Mickey,
In the interview with Bowden posted this week, Bowden continues to talk about breaking down film for the last five games and trying to figure out what happened down the stretch last season. He speaks of how well they moved the ball in the first eight games but after that the staff doesn't seem to know what went wrong. I know these guys are smart coaches so I can't figure it out. Is the fact that teams stacked the line and forced us to pass (ineffectively) too simple an explanation for our woes? What am I missing here? Please tell me our coaches know this so I can have some degree of confidence in their ability as coaches.
Finally, any concerns that Daquan Bowers will start seeing garnet? PalmettoSports.com (Kornblut) points out that he's been to USC twice now within a week.
Thanks,
Bobby
Bobby,
Thanks for the e-mail. After the season I asked Coach Scott, Coach Swinney, Coach Burns, Coach West, Coach Blackwell and Coach Napier the same question. In fact I also asked three or four other coaches that either played against Clemson or saw Clemson play their last few games. I was astounded by their answers. Almost to a man, each coach began by saying close to the same thing when they said they really could not put a finger on exactly what happened. Then they each gave three or four reasons they came up with and almost everything was different with each coach. So I guess the simple answer is there was no simple answer. I would be overly concerned if other coaches from other staffs did not answer have the same conclusion. I think that so many things went wrong that it was hard to put it into one category. Injuries certainly were a major factor though.
You never know about recruiting but I think Bowers is solid to Clemson and have really not heard anything that would make me think otherwise right now.
Mickey,
I went to the baseball game Wednesday and thought David Kopp looked sharp. Do you think he worked his way back into the weekend rotation?
Karl
Karl,
Kopp’s outing Wednesday was exactly what the staff wanted to see. I think he gave himself a great chance but I still think they want to see it more consistently. Also let’s see how Farina does Sunday also.
Mick,
Where are all of the upsets? My brackets are ruined. At least the Dukies are home now.
Sandbagger
Sandbagger,
The upsets are coming. However, I am not sure they can even have a tournament without Duke still in it. Maybe CBS has paid so much money that they will decide to proceed with the second round even without the Blue Devils. Hey, at least you still have Coach K on commercials.
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Posted by Mickey Plyler
@ 11:53 AM EDT
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