Thursday Thoughts
Muschamp
After Clemson lost to Wake Forest on a Thursday night in 2008, I wrote a blog that was entitled, "Give Dabo A Chance." In it I said
Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden
Head Coach
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had lost the fan base and it was time to make a mid-season change. I suggested giving, then wide receiver coach
Dabo Swinney
Dabo Swinney
Head Coach
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, his shot as the interim coach.
The thought was Swinney would have a chance to win the job. History tells us he did more than that.
But I was also very intrigued by Will Muschamp as a candidate at the time. Texas wrapped up Muschamp with the "Coach in Waiting" title in him being a successor to Mack Brown later that year. However, I still thought Muschamp would have been a great hire. As it turned out Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley thought so as well.
But let's look at Muschamp in his four years at Florida and compare it to Dabo's last four years at Clemson. Muschamp went 27-20 at Florida before getting the boot. Swinney is 39-11 at Clemson during that time. Muschamp took Florida to only one bowl game and went 0-1 in losing to Louisville in the Sugar Bowl after the 2012 season. Swinney will take Clemson to its fourth bowl game and is 2-1 in those games. Muschamp went to one BCS bowl while Swinney has been to two. Muschamp never won the conference or division. Swinney won the conference once and has played in the ACC title game twice.
What we heard about Dabo Swinney was that he had never even been a coordinator and he was not prepared for the job. What we heard about Muschamp was he had been a coordinator at LSU, Auburn and Texas. We heard he had NFL experience and he came from the Nick Saban tree.
Muschamp looked like the perfect candidate than had been groomed to be a star. To many, Swinney looked like a reach and a shot in the dark.
Now Swinney is being mentioned by some as Muschamp's replacement (that won't happen). Who would have thought that Swinney would be the one that would have more success? In this business it goes to show that you never can tell.
Soccer
I know soccer is not one of the "Big Three" sports at Clemson but congrats to coach Mike Noonan and his squad for their dramatic run and their ACC title. I always say it's all about championships and the Tigers pulled off an impressive title last week.
Clemson is seeded seventh and has a chance to make some noise in the NCAA tournament. I want to encourage anyone who will be in the area to support the team this Sunday at Historic Riggs Field in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
MAD
Clemson will celebrate Military Appreciation Day Saturday. John Seketa started this event several years ago and no one does it as well as we do. I love this each year and can't wait to say thanks to our brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. I would encourage you to go to clemsontigers.com for a list of all of the activities planned for Saturday. It should be another special day in Clemson.
Official Visits
Saturday the staff will entertain a large group of official visitors made up of mostly prospects that will enroll early in January. This group will be heavily involved in rebuilding several positions including the offensive line. I am asked about early contributors for next season and the offensive line is usually a tough place for a true freshman to crack the two-deep. However, this is a talented group and its not like they will have to come in and beat out Art Shell and Gene Upshaw. Therefore, I can see two or more true freshmen on the offensive line avoiding a redshirt next season.
The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
Prayer List
The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. 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 remove a person off the list.
Those who need our prayers include: 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, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, 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, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll,
Brandon Thompson
Brandon 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, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki 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, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker,
Levon Kirkland
Levon Kirkland
Linebacker
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,
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and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Josh Cox, Tommy "Red" Harper, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Brandy Stephens, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Jackson Lindsey, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Jay Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Zach and Griffin Johnson, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Sarah McManus, Mr. Gillespie, 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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