Thursday Thoughts

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Thu Apr 11 09:28:21 GMT-04:00 2013

Thursday Thoughts

Spring Game

Here is a list of things I would like to see Saturday in the spring game:

*Tajh's visor. It would suite me to see Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile wear a visor instead of a helmet. In other words, give Boyd the day off and keep him healthy. What can Tajh prove this Saturday? In fact, he took enough of a beating against LSU that he deserves another day off.

*The Back-up. Boyd has little to prove but the same cannot be said for Cole StoudtCole Stoudt
Jr. Quarterback
#8 6-5, 205
Dublin, OH
View Full Profile and Chad KellyChad Kelly
So. Quarterback
#11 6-2, 210
Buffalo, NY
View Full Profile . I would love to see these two guys continue their battle on the field Saturday. It would be nice to see both limit mistakes and make enough plays to get us excited about their competition.

*Hot Rod. Perhaps the player with the most to prove this coming season is Roderick McDowellRoderick McDowell
RS Sr. Running Back
#25 5-9, 195
Sumter, SC
View Full Profile . The Tigers have been blessed with highly recruited running backs in recent years. James DavisJames Davis
Running Back
# 6-0, 205
Atlanta, GA
View Full Profile , C.J. SpillerC.J. Spiller
Pro Running Back
#28 5-11, 195
Lake Butler, FL
View Full Profile and Andre EllingtonAndre Ellington
Running Back
#23 5-10, 195
Moncks Corner, SC
View Full Profile were ultra-talented backs but this year there is not a big name back in the mix. However, McDowell is a talent and surprised some with a productive junior season. He now has a chance to become the feature back in a dynamic offense. McDowell is bigger and stronger than ever and I think he will have a very good senior campaign.

*Winning the Battle. Last year I spent the entire spring game watching true freshman Isaiah BattleIsaiah Battle
So. Offensive Tackle
#79 6-6, 280
St. George, VA
View Full Profile . I was impressed with this raw athlete at offensive tackle but knew he was still raw. In the Chick-fil-a Bowl game Battle was impressive against a talented group of LSU Tigers. This spring he has not taken control of the starting left tackle position. It would be nice to see that start to happen this Saturday.

*Safe Safeties. Last year Clemson safeties were beaten for big plays in the passing game and running game. Blown coverages and missed tackles were seen too frequent. The staff likes the maturity of Travis BlanksTravis Blanks
So. Defensive Back
#11 6-1, 190
Tallahassee, FL
View Full Profile and Robert SmithRobert Smith
Jr. Safety
#27 5-11, 210
St. George, SC
View Full Profile . Both are smart players and hopefully will bring more stability at safety.

*The Red-Shirts. Clemson red-shirted Chad Kelly, Germone HopperGermone Hopper
So. Wide Receiver
#5 6-0, 175
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile , Jay Jay McCulloughJay Jay McCullough
So. Tight End
#89 6-3, 230
Fort Mill, SC
View Full Profile , Patrick DeStefanoPatrick DeStefano
So. Offensive Line
#71 6-5, 275
Roebuck, SC
View Full Profile , Oliver JonesOliver Jones
So. Offensive Tackle
#65 6-5, 325
Ninety Six, SC
View Full Profile , Jay GuillermoJay Guillermo
So. Center
#57 6-3, 290
Maryville, TN
View Full Profile , Martin AikenMartin Aiken
So. Defensive End
#53 6-2, 255
Bamberg, SC
View Full Profile and T.J. BurrellT.J. Burrell
So. Linebacker
#41 5-11, 215
Goose Creek, SC
View Full Profile last season. Saturday we will get a chance to these guys in Death Valley after a year in the weight room.

Sons of Clemson

This week I wrote about how special it is to have so many great former Tigers coming back in town this weekend. I think Pat Sapp and Ren Windham deserve a lot of credit. It is their hard work that is part of a great list of former Tigers coming this weekend.

Among the former Tigers who will in town are Rahim Abdullah, Michael Allen, Robert Carswell, Fred Cone, Bennie Cunningham, Airese Currie, Woody Dantzler, Brian Dawkins, Adrian Dingle, Nick Eason, Antwan Edwards, Mo Fountain, Rod Gardner, Vance Hammond, Jamie Harper, Jesse Hatcher, Tye Hill, Chad Jasmin, Homer Jordan, Yusef Kelly, James Lott, Dexter McCleon, Andye McCrorey, DeAndre McDaniel, Jock McKissic, Bill McLellan, Eric Meekins, Will Merritt, Reggie Merriweather, Richard Moncrief, Jimmy Ness, Pat Sapp, LaMarick Simpson, C.J. Spiller, James Trapp, Nelson Welch and Kevin Youngblood.

In years past the Sons Bowl has showcased some great names but this year Sapp and Windham have outdone themselves. I would suggest fans get to town in time for the game and let the kids bring a Sharpie for some Hall of Fame autographs.

Baseball Series

It took two ninth inning wins this week but the Tigers have run their winning streak to seven games. This weekend Clemson plays host to Wake Forest for a three-game series. Friday and Saturday's games are at 6:30 while Sunday's game is slated for 1:00.

Clemson is ranked in both major polls for the first time this season and the Tigers seem to be playing much better thanks to the newcomers. So far this season Clemson has started a freshman pitcher in 17 games and have a 14-3 record in those contests.

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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, Ethel Southard, 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, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, 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, Meredith Legg, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon ThompsonBrandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
View Full Profile , 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, Travis Patterson, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, The Sturkey Family, the Lance family, Marcus Lattimore, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Patrick Heher, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Bill Early, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Doug Bailey and family, Johnnie Walker, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day plus their families.