Thursday Thoughts

Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Thursday, March 24 2016

Thursday Thoughts

Hard Hat Required

I know some of you live close to Clemson and are around campus often, but for those of you that haven't been around recently, you would not recognize the place. Cranes, hard hats, construction cones and restriction fences are as prominent Tiger paws in Clemson lately.

On campus, the Core Campus project, located behind the P Plant, is coming along nicely and should be finished by the fall. Douthit Hills is the massive project across from the President's house that is also coming along at a rapid pace. Downtown Clemson has several off-campus apartments going up.

Athletic construction is an important part of what is going on as well. Obviously, Littlejohn Coliseum renovation is that sonething many of you have followed. Progress can be followed at clemsontigers.com, but in case you haven't been here in a while, you wouldn't believe the progress. I am told that the project is on time and on budget. Some items may have been cut, but the project looks like a success at this stage. They have internal and external webcams at http://www.clemson.edu/webcams/?DB_OEM_ID=28500&q=littlejohn.

For those that park in Lot 13, you may have followed the new soccer practice facilities. This project started a few weeks ago and should be ready for fall practice for the soccer programs. You can also follow this progress at that link on clemsontigers.com.

The reason the soccer teams are being moved is the new football operations building going up behind the football practice fields and indoor football facility. I go by three or four days a week to check the progress, and I am amazed at how fast the work is being done. Dabo has been very optimistic about a move in date, but maybe his optimism is carrying over to this project.

The construction may be controversial in some circles. It may cause some inconvenience. But I love seeing the progress. I don't know what the economy will look like in the future, and I don't know what interest rates will look like or how bonds will affect future projects. What I do know is that we have seen Clemson when it stops building, and we have seen Clemson when it grows and stays ahead regarding facilities. We are better when we lead instead of when we follow. I will sacrifice parking for seven days a year for our student-athletes to have a better experience while they are here.

Finally, I have seen what the competition is doing, and they are not waiting on Clemson to help them decide what to do. They are building. They are moving forward. Therefore, we have no choice. I loved this past football season, and I want more like it. I loved watching the men's soccer team's success, and I want more of it. I have seen the first 20 games of this baseball season, and I like it. So, let's do whatever it takes to give our programs every chance to be successful.

Three Beer Years

I have been asked several times about how long freshman sensation Seth Beer will be at Clemson. I have checked with several sources and both rules that apply to Division I baseball players apply to Beer. All Division I players are not eligible for the MLB draft until after their third year of competition. The only exceptions to that rule are the players that turn 21 before the MLB draft. Beer won't turn 21 until September of his junior year, so he will not be eligible for the draft until after his junior season.

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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, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, 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, 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, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland 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, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, 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, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Patrick DeStefano, Robert Summerville, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Drew Moyer, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert Smith, Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Lena Wright, Elizabeth Bruner, Bobbi Simpson, Hammond Family, Elaine G. Duvall, Addison Grace, Bennie Cunningham, Kevin Orcutt, Alan Finley, Keith Wells, Steve Byrd, Jessica Hernandez, Wayne Mullins, Rita Alexander, Tony Osterman, family and friends of Gary Cooper, Tonya Gibson, Mary Carmen Harman, Derk Denton, Tim Vacek, Mike Vacek, Jerry Brown, Phil Compton, Alma Jean Sullivan, Lindsey Motley, Riley Cook, Dwayne Wood, Eileen Thomas, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.