Tigers Ranked 18th in Coaches' Poll

by TigerNet Staff - Fri Aug 04 10:10:25 GMT-04:00 2006

Clemson, SC-Clemson is ranked 18th in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll released on Friday. Clemson is ranked fourth among ACC teams in the poll, trailing Florida State (10), Miami (FL) (11) and Virginia Tech (16).

Clemson was ranked #21 in the final USA Today poll of the

2005 season and this is the fourth consecutive top 25 ranking for the Tigers in this poll. The #18 ranking is Clemson's highest ranking in any USA Today poll since October 14, 2001 when Clemson was 15th. It is the highest preseason ranking for the Tigers since the preseason USA Today poll of 2001 when Clemson was also 18th.

This is the third poll to rank Clemson 18th in the preseason

rankings for 2006. Lindy's and Phil Steele Magazines also had

Clemson 18th. The average ranking for the 13 polls listed below is

18.5 so the USA Today poll is in line with the other rankings.

Clemson opens its 2006 season on September 2 when Florida Atlantic comes to Clemson for a 3:30 PM game that will be televised by ESPNU.

Clemson Preseason Rankings by Publications

12th by Athlon, CollegeFootballNews.com

15th by Dennis Dodd/CBS.SportsLine.com

16th by Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

18th by Lindy's, Phil Steele, USA Today

19th by Rivals.com

20th by NationalChamps.net

22nd by Pat Forde/ESPN.com

23rd by Street & Smith, EA Sports

24th by Sporting News

USA Today Preseason poll for 2006

Rk Team (1s-place votes) Rec Pts '05

1. Ohio State (28) 10-2 1,487 4

2. Texas (11) 13-0 1,378 1

3. (tie) Notre Dame (9) 9-3 1,348 11

3. (tie) Southern Cal (1) 12-1 1,348 2

5. Oklahoma (13) 8-4 1,320 22

6. Auburn (1) 9-3 1,206 14

7. West Virginia 11-1 1,202 6

8. Florida 9-3 1,054 16

9. LSU 11-2 1,037 5

10. Florida State 8-5 874 23

11. Miami (Fla.) 9-3 839 18

12. California 8-4 798 25

13. Louisville 9-3 785 20

14. Georgia 10-3 784 10

15. Michigan 7-5 778 NR

16. Virginia Tech 11-2 591 7

17. Iowa 7-5 519 NR

18. Clemson 8-4 493 21

19. Penn State 11-1 406 3

20. Oregon 10-2 373 12

21. TCU 11-1 270 9

22. Nebraska 8-4 261 24

23. Tennessee 5-6 216 NR

24. Alabama 10-2 210 8

25. Texas Tech 9-3 198 19

Others receiving votes

Arizona State (7-5) 182; Boston College (9-3) 87; Utah (7-5) 84; Arkansas (4-7) 64; South Carolina (7-5) 55; Boise State (9-4) 46; Wisconsin (10-3) 37; UCLA (10-2) 29; Georgia Tech (7-5) 28; Fresno State (8-5) 14; Tulsa (9-4) 11; Iowa State (7-5) 9; Minnesota (7-5) 9; Maryland (5-6) 8; Purdue (5-6) 7; Texas A&M (5-6) 6; Memphis (7-5) 5; Nevada (9-3) 3; Texas-El Paso (8-4) 3; Arizona (3-8) 2; Brigham Young (6-6) 2; Northern Illinois (7-5) 2; Northwestern (7-5) 2; Oregon State (5-6) 2; Rutgers (7-5) 2; Colorado (7-6) 1; Duke (1-10) 1.

LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR DONATES PROFITS

OF SEASONING SALES TO CLEMSON

CLEMSON - A local entrepreneur is hoping his gift will add some spice to Clemson University athletics and the school's Call Me MISTER program.

Seneca businessman Joe "Coach" Crosby, creator of Coach's Low Country Boil Seasoning and owner of the T-60 Grill restaurant in Fair Play, is donating some of the profits from sales of his popular seasoning to Clemson University.

Special, officially licensed, containers of the seasoning, marked with the Clemson Tiger Paw, will soon be hitting the shelves in area Wal-Mart, Bi-Lo, White Jones Hardware, Piggly Wiggly and IGA stores. Two dollars from each jar sold will go to Clemson -- $1 for athletics and $1 for academics. Of the money for academics, 75 percent will be unrestricted and 25 percent will go to Call Me MISTER, a program to put more African-American males in elementary classrooms as teachers.

The Clemson Tiger Paw Coach's Low Country Boil will also be available online at www.coachslowcountryboil.com .

Crosby created his seasoning and began selling it to tailgaters before Clemson football games. In January, the seasoning was carried in four stores in the Seneca area. Now, it is available in 700 stores around the state.

"When something like this happens, it doesn't mean you're that smart, you're just blessed," said Crosby. "You can't just walk around with all that money in your pocket - you've got to give back. I wanted to do something big for the school in the community where I live."

Crosby, who graduated from North Carolina A&T University, said he was inspired to give to the university by his good friend Jeff Davis, former Clemson football player and Clemson's assistant athletic director for major gifts.

"Clemson University is very grateful for Joe's generosity and his willingness to become a part of the Clemson family," said Davis. "This gift exemplifies Joe Crosby's passion and desire to make a difference in the lives of others."

Crosby said the gift also makes his daughters, ages 4 and 8, very happy.

"Ever since we moved here in 2001, all they talk about is going to Clemson. We have two cats, named 'Clemson' and 'Tiger,'" he said.

The gift is a win-win for Crosby and Clemson.

"Joe and I believe that in this game, everybody wins," said Davis.

"Everybody benefits - the school, the retailers and my family," Crosby said.