No Concessions


by - Radio Host -

No Concession

Like many of you, I sat in Death Valley until the clock struck 0:00 and watched Florida State fans celebrate on Frank Howard Field.  It was sickening.  I was disgusted.  It is so difficult to watch several thousand of the opposing team fans celebrate on our turf.  Florida State had just destroyed third-ranked Clemson and I was tired of hearing their band and the War Chant.

It is hard to imagine that I would be pulling for that same enemy two and a half months later.

As many of you know I have never pulled for the "conference thing."  In fact, I have been outspoken about how ridiculous that argument can be.  But like many of you, I have overdosed on the SEC propaganda.  ESPN's SEC agenda is sickening and eventually drove me to do the Tomahawk Chop Monday night.

In my mind, I would rather take a four iron to the ankle bone instead of hear Paul Finebaum try to convince me that the SEC could have defeated the Soviet Union in its prime.  Had Reagan failed, Finebaum suggests we could have sent in Nick Saban to take down the Berlin Wall.

So like many of you, I was relegated to pull against the SEC Monday night.  This was not an ACC vote or an FSU vote.  Instead it was an anti-SEC vote.  So the Noles won and they were my team Monday night.

Now that Florida State won its third national title, reality has set in.  FSU is good.  Really good. And now Clemson has a taller mountain to climb within the division.  If FSU is set to return to its glory days then Clemson will have a much more difficult time beating the Seminoles, getting to the ACC title game and getting into the national playoffs.

Be careful what you wish for.  FSU looks like it is set to join the nation's elite.  It looks like they could be the next Alabama.

It is also true that Clemson has some holes to fill.   Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA

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, Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
Jr. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL

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, Martavis BryantMartavis Bryant
Jr. Wide Receiver
#1 6-5, 200
Calhoun Falls, SC

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, Bashaud BreelandBashaud Breeland
RS Jr. Cornerback
#17 6-0, 195
Allendale, SC

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, Brandon ThomasBrandon Thomas
Gr. Offensive Line
#63 6-3, 305
Spartanburg, SC

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, Tyler ShatleyTyler Shatley
Gr. Offensive Guard
#62 6-3, 295
Icard, NC

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and Chandler CatanzaroChandler Catanzaro
Gr. Punter / Kicker
#39 6-2, 195
Greenville, SC

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won't be back next year to attempt to climb that mountain.

So the task looks a little like it did when Clemson was facing the dominate Noles teams under Bobby Bowden.  However, I am not ready to concede the rivalry for the next few seasons.

The uphill climb probably looked worse for UCLA a few years ago in their rivalry and division foe with Southern Cal.

Miami was the most dominant team of the last 15 years back in 2000 and 2001.  Who could have foreseen the decline of the Canes?

When Texas won the national title in 2005 and played for the title again in 2009, who could have guessed that a mediocre Texas A&M rival would soon become the new power in the state?  Do ya think Baylor thought they could have climbed their mountain they faced at the time?

Perhaps the best example can be found right in the almighty SEC West.  When LSU was winning national titles Alabama faced a huge challenge.  The Crimson Tide answered with three titles under the czar of college football, Saban.  Throw Auburn into the equation.  How could the little step brother compete with LSU and Alabama in their primes?  We now know Auburn won one national title and played for another Monday evening.

The point is that college football has so much turnover in terms of players and coaches that instability is the norm.  FSU does appear to be the next giant but Jameis Winston could have 14 more games in his college career, and who knows if Clemson's Deshawn Watson is the next quarterback sensation? How long will Jimbo Fisher hang around Tallahassee?  How about his staff?  How will FSU stand up to the extra eyes that will scrutinize its program?

The good news is Clemson has positioned itself to compete for years to come.  Facilities, support, tradition and history are in place.  Clemson is special.  Not so special that it is immune to the factors that led to the decline at Southern Cal, Miami and Texas, but special enough that the program does not have to concede the Atlantic Division of the ACC to Florida State each year.

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 email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com

*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, 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, 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, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Meredith Legg, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon ThompsonBrandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle (2008 - 2011)
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA

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, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders,  Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Doug Bailey and family, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack  Cunningham,  Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Jim Lanier, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon KirklandLevon Kirkland
Linebacker
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and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, Patrick DeStefanoPatrick DeStefano
RS Fr. Offensive Line
#71 6-5, 275
Spartanburg, SC

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, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.

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