Thursday March 08, 2007

Good News; Best Win; Bubble; Spring Ball; Junior Days

Good News!!!!!!
Last Thursday I wrote about the Stan Widmann injury and could not be specific about what I was hearing. I mentioned again yesterday that all involved wanted to respect the family's policy and I believe everyone was very respectful. With that said, I thought yesterday's news was the best anyone could hope for. In talking to those close to the situation, many were concerned for his long-term health. Some felt there was a chance Widmann's baseball career may have been over. Now, from my understanding, Widmann is still not out of the woods but at least they did not shut his career down yesterday. The next few weeks he will see more specialists and have surgery so there is still a lot more questions than answers but at least the news appears to have some positives. Widmann will miss the rest of this season after the surgery and rehab will be a major part of the answer to his future career but at least there is a chance he can return. The news was not the best case for the short-term but the long-term health looks a little brighter today.

The Best Win of the Young Season
I know the baseball season is only a few weeks old but Clemson got a huge victory yesterday over 17th-ranked Coastal Carolina. The Tigers shut out the Chanticleers when five Tiger pitchers combined for the five-hitter. The staff also only gave up one walk. Brad Chalk and Marquez Smith led the Tigers with three hits each while Taylor Harbin and ben Paulson added two each. This will be very important that the top of the line-up and the run producers start to catch fire for the Tigers. Clemson has struggled at the plate early this season and they need for the run producers to get it started.

I was also encouraged that closer Daniel Moskos looked to rebound well after losing in Columbia on Sunday.

Speaking of Columbia, yesterday's win should not be overlooked. The state of South Carolina has several top-notch programs and anytime you can win a mid-week game against the lies of Winthrop, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, The Citadel, Furman or Wofford you should take it with pride. The Gamecocks have dropped road games to The Citadel and College of Charleston this season.

And one final note-Another 4,100 packed Doug Kingsmore Stadium yesterday. Clemson baseball fans are incredible and I am not sure there is another scene like it day in and day out in college baseball.

NCAA Bubble Talk
It is at least encouraging that the Clemson basketball team can even talk about its NCAA tournament hopes at this time in the season. How many times have the Tigers even been in this position?

I did read a good column the other day about all of the bubble talk. The article said it was a little ridiculous to start wondering about all of this talk too soon. he said that the situation is so fluid that you can have a hard time making statements like, "This team is in and this team will have to win to get in." I wish I could remember who wrote it or where I saw it but I agree. I think we have to wait until Sunday afternoon to really say who is in and who is out. We should have learned from the past that way too many things can happen and usually do happen.

Spring Football
The Willy Korn era at Clemson gets closer this weekend when the Tigers open up spring football practice.

I have not talked too much about spring ball yet but plan on doing so soon. I will pass along one thought though. On our morning radio show, "Rush Hour" on WCCP-FM, my co-host, Roy Philpot, made a great point this week. We were trying to make a point of the most important position battles for the Tigers as they enter spring practice and I said undoubtedly the quarterback opposition will be the one to watch. Roy went in a total opposite direction and he went with the place kicking and punting battles. He made the point that Clemson continues to be in so many close games that special teams can be the difference. He also strengthened his argument by talking about the leg strength of Richard Jackson. Here is to Jackson being the answer. Wouldn't it be nice to look at the special teams as a strength?

Clemson has been strong in certain areas of its special teams under Bowden but there has never been any consistency. Each year at least one unit of the special teams becomes a crisis that takes up the attention of the staff. Last season I thought they straightened out the return teams and the punt protection but the kick off coverage and place kicking became the issue. It would be fantastic if Jackson could shore up the punting and kicking duties and Clemson could become one of the top special teams units in the ACC.

Big Weekend
You know that the recruiting industry has changed when your junior days become one of the most important dates in your calendar. Clemson will have a junior day this weekend and the list of potential visitors really has the staff excited. Look for some good reviews from the prospects starting next week. It is my opinion and the opinion of others involved that the Tigers are in very good shape with a bunch of juniors and could be on the way to another fast start.

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