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Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program
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Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 5:55 PM

I'm sorry guys I know this isn't you guys favorite topic, but it one that I care about a lot.

Let's look at how out sports did this year
Football, national title game
Men's soccer national title game
women's soccer top 10 team
men's golf ACC champions
baseball acc champions and #7 tournament seed
basketball flirted with tournament and missed out but things look better going forward

women's basketball and volleyball were abominations

me's tennis missed the NCAA tournament once again for the 7th time in the past 9 years. That's right, only two NCAA tournament appearances in the past 9 years.

I ask why is the Clemson athletic administration ok with letting this program flounder? Especially in the face of great success in other sports.

Clemson used to be a big tennis school. Won the ACC nearly every year in the 80s and had great players like Jay Berger who went on to be #2 in the world in the pros. We have a great outdoor facility that is on par with any in the country. Intact we probably have more seating than most tennis facilities in the whole nation. Our indoor facilities not great but that does to matter as some top college tennis teams like Texas A&M don't even have an indoor facility at all. The state of SC churns out great in-state tennis talent every year from the coast and teams come in and poach the top recruits consistently.

A few years ago Tony Bresky left his assistant job at Virginia to go be head coach at Wake Forest. Wake Forest. A team that never wins anything in any sport. He has made them into a top 10 team in a few years. They finished this year #6. And meanwhile Clemson does not finish the year in the top 75. The TOP 75!! WE ARENT A TOP 75 PROGRAM!!

Another point is that the women team is always good. They had a bit of a down year this year but still finished the year ranked around #30. They make the sweet 16 more often than not. the men's team has not made the final 16 since 2004.

Why is the administration largely ignoring a once proud Clemson sport?

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Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 6:11 PM

Bro, are you serious? Men's college tennis is about as important as lacrosse. This is coming from someone who has played competitive tennis for 30 years.

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IPTAY and AD is investing in Tennis facility


May 31, 2016, 6:21 PM

Mebbe that will be a jumpstart

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indeed it will but that facility is years behind progress***


May 31, 2016, 7:04 PM



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getting ready to drop $12 million on tennis


May 31, 2016, 7:15 PM

new indoor court facility

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Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 6:22 PM

Hey, Bro, I agree with you 110%. I also contacted the AD. I can't believe they didn't do anything about resurrection girls' basketball. Pathetic!

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Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 6:23 PM

Actually, there are facility upgrades in the works - Clemson is VERY behind in this respect to most other schools. The fundraising has been ongoing, but the bigger sports are first in line.

As another said, in the big scheme of things, tennis isn't all that important - however, if you're going to have a program, it should strive to be successful.

I actually played on those 80s teams, so I have some first hand knowledge. And I agree wholeheartedly that this program needs to strive to get back to that type of nationally-respected success. It's difficult to see how far it's fallen over the years - for me and many of the former players. Hopefully, some decisions will be made soon that will change the current direction.

Peace

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I'm with ya...


May 31, 2016, 6:29 PM

Frankly, this has been my frustration with the Clemson administration at times.

In my eyes, we seem to accept mediocrity when it comes to the lesser popular sports.

As an alumnus and fan, I would like to see Clemson U succeed in every aspect, academically and athletically.

Despite what some fans' quick "I don't care" response when it comes to the less popular sports programs, I still believe that "everyone loves a winner". The excitement went through the roof when our golf program won the national title, when our women's tennis program made a run at the national title (if I remember correctly) and when our soccer program was one game away from its 3rd national title.

I saw a lot of excitement and discussions every time these less popular programs do well.

Why not strive to be the best at the programs as well.

I am a tennis fan, and it hurts me to see our program struggle.

While I'm here, I'd like to ask why we haven't made a change in our women's basketball program.

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This is very true


May 31, 2016, 7:03 PM

Look at an example in Oklahoma. Oklahoma was an irrelevant tennis program forever, always around the 50s and 60s in the rankings and not being any threaten the Big 12. But 6 years ago they hired John Roddick as coach (Andy Roddick's brother) and he immediately changed the culture. The Sooners have now been in the national title game the past 3 seasons(losing all 3 though). I was in Tulsa for the NCAAs this year and the excitement around Oklahoma tennis was there, something that I am sure did not exist before the hire of Roddick.


Now in a shocking move a few days ago Roddick left Oklahoma to take the head coaching job at UCF and join UCf with a new USTA mega facility in Orlando. So I am sure UCF will be contending for titles in the next few years

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Re: I'm with ya...


May 31, 2016, 7:10 PM [ in reply to I'm with ya... ]

I don't want chicken tennis or track or many other sports but I agree if Clemson is going to offer a sport or field a team in anything even if it's paint drying they should strive to put out the best effort with the best available coaches and facilities

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Go Tigers! Once A Tiger Always A Tiger


Re: I'm with ya...


May 31, 2016, 7:13 PM

I don't know what the hell happened there.. I don't watch tennis ...

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Go Tigers! Once A Tiger Always A Tiger


Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 6:44 PM

I am totally with you. I have been thinking the same thing for many years. I was at Clemson in the 80s watching Jay Berger play Michael Pernfors from Georgia (I think both teams were top 5 then) and have always been a big tennis fan. Clemson was always a top 10 contender. It hurts to see how different the expectations are now compared with that time. South Carolina has excellent talent, but we should be able to grab talent from elsewhere also. Facility upgrades are in process, but there must be something we can do to improve our recruiting process (like take lessons from the football program).

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Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 6:49 PM

So if we bulldozed the tennis facility and also used the adjacent field, could we fit in a Wimmins Softball facility? Kidding TIP. ;)

Seriously, I know as much about tennis as the coots do about being a winning football program. You tell us, what is the problem?

From your post, it sounds like the coaching, specifically their lack of recruiting. Would you say that's the case? What else?

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Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 10:35 PM

recruiting in college tennis is probably more important than most sports because of the individual nature of the game and the fact that talent gaps determine wins and losses more consistently. In football and basketball you can overcome talent deficiencies with things like scheme, strategy and team chemistry. Not as much in tennis.


Another specific example. Oklahoma State had a poor team around 2012. They were not top 75. They fired their coach and hired Jay Udawia from Fresno State who consistently had Fresno in the top 25. He immediately took recruiting at OkSt to the next level and hit up his eastern european pipelines. Oklahoma State was a top 10 team this year for much of the season, until their #1 player from Uzbekistan randomly left the team in March so they finished 16th and made the sweet 16, could have been better.

Arkansas was in the dumps for years. Always finished bottom of the SEC and never threatened to make the NCAA tournament. New coach Andy Jackson, who ha been fired at Florida because finishing 10th at Florida is not good enough, got Arkansas to a level they have never reached before, they finished 18th this year.

Miami is like Clemson, Great talent area of the country, excellent location and yet they struggle to stay in the top 75. Hell Clemson beat Miami this year. But Miami smartened up and fired their coach after this year. So they will improve quickly in the next couple of years while Clemson retained their coach and will remain in the dumps/

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Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 10:49 PM

Well, your answer seems clear. Which leads me to my next question...how long on the current coach's contract, and how much could he possibly make? Our previous year of athletics success seem like we have the latitude to make a move, no?

I'll be honest, I had to google it to even know the name of our men's tennis coach. Relative to the money we spend on athletics, seems like we could made whatever move we wanted and get the best person for the job.

I don't follow the sport on any level unless it gets really exciting. Maybe sad to a passionate fan like yourself, but the phrase "if you build it, they will come" rings true. So my final point. If Clemson Tennis was exciting (perhaps because of a new hire, ie. Dabo, Monte), everyone would be excited.

I wouldn't dare call for a coaches head...heck, I didn't even know who he was. But as has been said, if you're going to have a varsity sport, demand success.

Thanks for your passion for Clemson Tennis.

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I do not know the exact details on the contract


Jun 7, 2016, 1:38 AM

I know it was up for renewal a few years ago and it was renewed because we had a decent season finishing #22 in the nation. But that was 3 years ago now

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Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's swimming program


May 31, 2016, 7:36 PM

Oh, wait.

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"Anybody that says Coach Brownell is the best coach to come through Clemson is going to start an argument." -JP Hall


Jay Berger #2 in world?


May 31, 2016, 7:36 PM

He had a good career, but I don't believe he ever got that high, unless it was in doubles.

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youre right. His career high rank was 7***


May 31, 2016, 8:46 PM



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Re: Let's talk about the state of the men's tennis program


May 31, 2016, 8:37 PM

I was at Clemson 83-87 with Lawson Duncan, Jay, and a lot of other very good players. I even tried out for the team, but did not make it through a very difficult program they called the work team. After that, I wrote sports for the Tiger and did most of the tennis articles for the next few years. The work team was basically a JV team, but was really more of a track team. After that, I wrote sports for the Tiger and did most of the tennis articles for the next few years. Kriese was more of a basketball coach and fell into tennis. Was not the greatest X and O's in tennis, but understood athletes and how to motivate and train athletes for any sport. Clemson's had the best conditioned athletes at a time when tennis players were not that strongly conditioned. A lot of running and a lot weights. I liken it to when Tiger first came on the PGA Tour and was lifting weights at a time no other golfers were doing that type of training. Take world class Tennis guys from all parts of the world and add ridiculous conditioning, good facilities at that time and you get lighting in a bottle. Not sure why Kriese left, but he is still bouncing around and I see he has a website for team consulting. Have a real warm spot in my heart for Clemson Tennis and would love to see it strong. I remember when Lawson lost the NCAA championship match to Mikael Pernfors from Georgia. It would have been really great to have won a championship. For those who don't care about tennis, think back to the soccer championships or the golf national championships. Trust me, win a championship and see how that success even in a "meaningless" sport changes the perspective.

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Agree T.I.P. - tennis courts are on prime real estate ....


Jun 1, 2016, 10:23 AM

Might as well be good.

Does it come down to quality coaching and salary of tennis coaches - from a comparative stand point? Or is it something else?

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