Fan Support
Jack Leggett
Jack Leggett
Baseball Head Coach
View Full Profile
was asked about the fans and their support or lack of it this weekend and he responded, "The only fans we have are the ones that believe in our program and believe in our team. Those are the only ones I'm ever concerned about."
This is similar to
Dabo Swinney
Dabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile
's comments a few years ago where he took a shot at fans who doubted his program.
What Dabo missed then and what Leggett missed on this weekend is that there is a segment of every fan base that is not just made up of sunshine pumpers.
I believe coaches shouldn't concern themselves with fans but I also know that almost every coach at every level does care what the fans think. It is human nature to want to be accepted.
Fans are important. There is a reason why post game celebrations at the super bowl, the national title game, the Final Four, etc. are now done on the field or court where the fans can enjoy them. In the old days trophies were presented in the locker room, now they take place in front of the fans.
In baseball, whenever Clemson has clinched College World Series berths, the team runs out to the Cheap Seats and the Cajun Cafe. Those fans matter when you win and they matter when you lose.
After every sporting event, the team stays on the field of play to sing the alma mater with the fans. All of the fans – not just the ones that blindly support the team.
I am not taking up for the group of fans that continually bash a team, player or coach no matter what. Those negative people just love misery. The ones I am speaking of are the good fans that sometimes get upset when things don't go as planned.
Clemson has had a good fan base in baseball for many years. The reason Clemson has drawn well in the past is not because only the positive fans show up.
Coaches understand this. Jack Leggett understands this. I think his point was that he can't get caught up in the negative aspects of his program and if that is the point then I agree with him. That is what he said in the second sentence of that statement. He said, "Those are the only ones I'm ever concerned about."
But the first sentence is where I disagree with Leggett when he says, "The only fans we have are the ones that believe in our program and believe in our team."
I think there are a lot of good Clemson baseball fans that want to believe in the program but their level of expectations have not been met. I personally believe it is OK for the fans to expect more based upon where the program once was. I think it is OK to be disappointed. Some good fans want to "believe in the program and believe in our team" but find it hard after the last few seasons.
Clemson baseball has a good fan base. It had fans before Jack Leggett and will have them after Jack Leggett. The program is bigger than any coach, any player and any fan. Jack Leggett is part of the reason Clemson has so many baseball fans and he is part of the reason why expectations are so high. But with that, Leggett has to understand that not every fan currently believes in this team and that’s okay too. I know a bunch of good Clemson baseball fans that don't fit Leggett's definition. Every one of them I know also wants this team to win the ACC tournament, win the regional, win the super regional and win the college world series. I would say that is a pretty good fan too. It all depends on your definition.
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, 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, 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, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, 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 Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, Patrick Destefano, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Mark Whiten, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.
Upgrade Your Account
