Thursday April 03, 2008

Where is Clemson’s Next ACC Championship?

Where is Clemson’s Next ACC Championship?
I watched the University of South Carolina introduce Darrin Horn as its new men’s basketball coach on Tuesday and I came away impressed by the guy. He seemed young, energetic and looked ready to take on the task. I looked at his personnel coming back next season and saw some talent. There was little fanfare with the hire and this hire by USC Athletic Director, Eric Hyman, was in contrast to former AD Mike McGee’s hires. McGee usually went after the big name and maybe older, most established coaches. The hires often looked better on the day of the press conference than they did on the field.

I then began to ponder the question, “Who will win an SEC title first at USC, Steve Spurrier or Darrin Horn?”

I thought it was an interesting topic and my mind next wondered to the Clemson side of the question. I asked, “Who will win an ACC title at Clemson first, Tommy Bowden or Oliver Purnell?” Then I expanded the question to ask, “Which sport at Clemson will win the next ACC title for the school?”

Let’s look at the chances in each of Clemson’s 18 sports.

Men’s Basketball
Purnell has obviously done a terrific job and the program is rising. A third seed in the tournament and an appearance in the ACC championship game has fans excited. However, this league still is difficult and an ACC title would be a monumental task.

Football
Bowden is noted for having his teams close. This past year he again was in reach of the ACC title game but lost to BC. He should have his best team returning next season. A positive in his favor is the shape of the league as the conference is not noted as a power league at this point.

Baseball
Jack Leggett’s groups are perennial ACC title contenders. The last season was not up to standards and the league has improved. This does not appear to be the year where Clemson can contend for the league title but they are young and the season is also.

Men’s Tennis
This is Chick Kriese’s last ACC title hopes as the legend is retiring at the end of the season. Last spring Clemson was the 5th seed and won the first round match but fell in the quarter finals. This year’s team has a shot to send Kriese out with another ACC ring in a couple of weeks but the Tigers are not a favorite.

Men’s Cross Country
This is a fall event and this past fall Clemson finished fourth at the ACC meet. Matt Clark finished 8th but he is a senior. No other Tiger finished in the top 20. Virginia won the ACC in the fall.

Golf
Last year Larry Penley’s crew finished third in the ACC championships and they will have a shot at another title under Penley in a couple of weeks. His current team is not ranked as high as previous groups but they are young and they are a contender to win it all this season. Kyle Stanley is just a sophomore but he is the defending ACC Player of the Year.

Men’s Soccer
Clemson was a 7th seed in last fall’s ACC Tournament and lost to Wake Forest 3-1. Trevor Adair has consistently seen his team compete and win ACC titles in one of the toughest leagues in the country. This sport may be what the ACC is best at. Adair has a good team returning but this league is brutal.

Men’s Swimming and Diving
A couple of weeks ago Clemson finished 6th in the ACC men’s swimming and diving meet. Virginia won the event and it is tough for Clemson to compete at a higher level due to a lack of facilities.

Men’s Indoor Track and Field
Bob Pollack has his teams consistently competing for ACC titles. A few weeks back his group finished third at the indoor meet behind FSU and Georgia Tech. The Seminoles are a powerhouse but Pollack’s teams can compete at this level.

Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
Again Pollack’s teams are a factor and the outdoor season will end in a couple of weeks. Last year the Tigers finished second to FSU and 25th in the country. FSU is tough but this team is capable.

Women’s Basketball
Clemson was the 9th seed in the ACC tournament but actually upset NC State in overtime before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual champion North Carolina by 20. Unfortunately the days of expecting to compete for titles in this sport at Clemson are long gone and I am not sure when they will return.

Women’s Cross Country
This is a fall event and this past fall Clemson finished 10th at the ACC meet. No Tiger finished in the top 20 but freshman Jenna Baker finished 25th. This was a young squad that should get better but needs to after low finishes in recent years. FSU won the event in the fall.

Rowing
I have no idea here. There are four sections in this sport. Last year Clemson finished 3rd in First Varsity Eight and 2nd in Second Varsity Eight, Novice Eight and Varsity Four. What does that mean? I have no idea.

Women’s Soccer
Clemson was the 8th seed in the ACC tournament and lost in the first round of the tournament in the fall. The Tigers will have a new coach in the fall and there is renewed enthusiasm. However, upsetting North Carolina in this event will always be tough.

Women’s Swimming and Diving
Like men’s swimming and diving, it is difficult to ask more of this program until the facility upgrades are complete. A couple of weeks ago Clemson finished 6th in the ACC women’s swimming and diving meet. Virginia won the event.

Women’s Tennis
Last year the Tigers were the top seed but lost a heart breaker to Miami in the semi-finals. This season they are ranked in the top 25 but the league is tough. Clemson still is a legitimate title contender in two weeks.

Women’s Indoor Track and Field
This program has been down lately so an 8th place finish at the ACC meet a few weeks ago was an improvement. Still this program is not anywhere near the top of the ACC at this point.

Outdoor Track and Field
The outdoor ACC meet is coming up in April but I would be surprised to see the Tigers improve on recent bad finishes. Last year Clemson might have been a surprise to finish 8th.

Volleyball
In this fall even Clemson won the ACC title. The Tigers had a magic season and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Coach Jolene Jordan Hoover has a very good program and could have a chance to repeat next season as they had only four seniors from the fall.

My best guesses are that golf, men’s outdoor track and field and women’s tennis have a chance to join volleyball as ACC Champions this year. Next year football looks like it may be the favorite to win its first title since 1991.

864-834-6060

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency