Thursday December 10, 2009

Jake Nicolopulos; Korn

Jake Nicolopulos
I had planned to write a blog today about the Clemson defense for 2010 and will postpone that until next week due to phone calls I received yesterday. The calls were from a few people in the T.L. Hanna High School community who wanted to add Jake Nicolopulos to our prayer list. Like many of you, I was shocked to hear the news and offered any help and assistance.

For the readers of the blog from outside of the region or for those that did not hear the news yesterday, Nicolopulos suffered a stroke yesterday morning at his Anderson, SC home. According to published reports in our local newspapers, he was taken to the Anderson hospital yesterday and was supposed to flying to MUSC in Charleston.

Strokes are more common in different demographics but the news of a big, strong 18-year old athlete suffering a stroke came as quite a surprise, especially a local star that was committed to play football at Clemson.

I have talked to a few people about the process Nicolopulos and his family are facing and it is my understanding that uncertainty is the best word to describe the immediate future. At this point Jake is fighting things much more important than football.

Yesterday he was listed as critical but stable. There are different kinds of strokes thus victims face different battles and concerns, so there are various ways to deal with the immediate attention that is required. At this point I have not heard any mid-range of long-term prognosis and understand that the medical teams are still collecting data on their patient. MRI results are expected today and then the team will decide a plan.

For those that are not aware of his background, the linebacker prospect committed to Clemson this past spring and was set to join the Tiger football program this summer.

I will try to provide more details if they become available but at this point I have been asked to encourage everyone to please pray for Jake and his entire family.

Korn
Also yesterday we got the Willy Korn news that so many had expected for the past few months. Originally I was told the news would be coming out Friday but Clemson released it yesterday. Korn has decided to graduate from Clemson this May and transfer to play football at another institution. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

In my years of following Clemson football I can remember a bunch of players that did not turn out to be as productive as I would have believed. But Korn has to rank up there with Roscoe Crosby as one of the biggest surprises.

I have read on some message boards and gotten some phone calls on this young man and portraying Korn in a negative light. People have called him a “bust” and have claimed he was “overrated.”

First, there are few kids who have as much integrity and character as this young man. He has been a model student-athlete. Willy Korn has been a first class kid in every aspect of his life and I am disturbed by some of the comments.

On the football field things did not work out but people should consider the entire story before we put a label on his athletic career. I have said many times that it is not fair to judge an athlete who is injured and Korn’s shoulder issues changed his career. I will argue with anyone for as long as you want to argue the point that the shoulder is the major reason for him not living up to the hype that many of us created.

I watched Korn bounce two passes this year in a game (maybe the Wake Forest game). These were throws that I saw him make as a sophomore in high school. His mechanics changed. His arm strength suffered. His confidence dropped. All of this is a result of shoulder injuries and surgeries. His high school coaches will tell you the same thing.

Judge him if you will be please tell the whole story. Include in your judgment words from high school and college coaches that saw him or worked him out in high school. I had one Clemson coach tell me, “this is the kind of quarterback that BCS teams play with.” Another Clemson offensive assistant coach said, “Willy picked number three because he wanted to be the second guy to wear the number and lead Clemson to the national title and he has that kind of ability.” An SEC assistant coach told me once, “Korn is the best I have seen this year and maybe the best I have seen in several seasons.” Several high school coaches called Korn the best they had ever seen in this state. I made the statement that he was the best high school quarterback to ever play in South Carolina after he won three state titles and completed more passes for more yards and more touchdowns than anyone who ever played in the state.

Korn has not been the college quarterback that so many college and high school coaches thought he would be. Some fans will claim that they knew he was overrated but before you do that please loom at the facts. I have mentioned many times that the shoulder joint is crucial in the throwing motion and some injuries to shoulder alter careers for quarterbacks and pitchers.

No one can say they saw Korn throw the football as a sophomore in high school and sophomore in college and think that his shoulder is the same. It is obvious to anyone that watched him that he is not the same passer.

Maybe Kyle Parker would have beaten Korn out anyway. Maybe Tajh Boyd is better anyway. However, I just don’t think it is fair to put any negative thoughts with Korn’s name. All the kid ever did was represent Clemson with class. He loves Clemson and has decided to stay to get his degree this spring. So many times in sports we see players waste talent and underachieve but Korn has not wasted his talent. His talent was diminished through injury. No one judged Gayle Sayers after his knee problems. No one judged Mickey Mantle after his injuries. It is not fair to judge any athlete who is not the same because of an injury.

I am still a big fan of this classy kid and am amazed how well his father did in raising this quality young man. It took Willie Simmons to turn me into a Citadel fan for a couple of seasons and I can see me pulling for Korn’s new team where ever he plays for the next two falls.

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, Kaitlyn L, 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, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family.