Clemson University head coach Dabo Swinney will assess his 2012 recruiting class at an event in Tigertown, S.C. on February 1.
So … how many points will West Virginia score on the Clemson defense between now and then? Kidding, kidding … although we’re betting the over/under is likely to be pretty high.
The February 1 event – hosted by the Fort Hill Clemson Club – will give Swinney a chance to start exorcizing the painful demons associated with the 70-33 beat down that Clemson suffered at the hands of the Mountaineers in the 2012 Orange Bowl.
Seriously … how often does a coach win his conference championship and then wind up on the hot seat?
Swinney’s certainly got plenty of young talent to work with, though …
In addition to a solid sophomore class that will enter the upcoming season with a chip on their shoulder, Swinney will welcome a number of talented freshmen into the fold – including defensive back Travis Blanks (a 6-foot-1, 194-pound Florida prospect) and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins (a 6-foot-4, 275-pound North Carolina recruit).
Still, Clemson let several top defensive prospects get away – including defensive end Jonathan Bullard, a 6-foot4, 255-pound blue chip Florida recruit who wound up choosing the Florida Gators over Clemson and the University of South Carolina.
Running the new Tiger D? Longtime Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables, 41, whose hiring was confirmed late Wednesday.
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By BigT January 19, 2012 at 8:07 am
Swinney’s certainly got plenty of young talent to work with, though …
This is where FITS shows his lack of real ability to assess, and a penchant for pack-think…
Clemson ALWAYS has plenty of talent. And the lame-brain, punch-drunk media ALWAYS proclaims: “How Good It’s Gone Be”…..
The same IDIOTS ride the wave…and buy into the myths…only to look like Fools in Novemeber (like FITS and the rest did this year)….
What’s worse: I TOLD you so before it happened…
By semi January 19, 2012 at 10:41 am
And you and Congaree Gamecock coach what football team?
By Hold On To Your Hats January 19, 2012 at 10:41 am
Let the hyperbole begin! Not that anybody believes his crap anymore, but it’s still funny/sad/hard to ignore a human in such a state of detachment from reality. But before he starts assessing his recruits – whom he will later blame for the team’s failures if he and they are still around after more shameful losses and “conference” titles – he really should assess himself. If he’s as good as he thinks, he might be ready to move up to the Southern Conference or possibly even Conference USA!
By CNSYD January 19, 2012 at 11:22 am
“assess” is Sic Willie’s words. The event has never “assessed” recruiting. It merely provides an opportunity for Dabo (Bowden did this also) to show short film clips of each recruit and answer questions. The REAL purpose of the event is for the Fort Hill Clemson Club to raise money to fund non athletic scholarships for students from the surrounding communities. It has done this for years.
I guess SOS could hold a similar event where he could also highlight the current players he has taken scholarships from to give to incoming recruits.
By CL January 19, 2012 at 11:49 am
CNSYD,
Every program has decided not to renew* a scholarship for an upperclassman before. I remember Clemson milking all the good PR around Ray Ray and then not renewing his scholarship. I actually do not recall Spurrier doing this recently to a player who came here on scholarship, but he may have to this year.
* No one is “taking” anything. A scholarship is a 1 year commitment, and teams may decide not to renew the scholarship.
By CNSYD January 19, 2012 at 2:05 pm
CL,
was Ray Ray’s scholarship not renewed due to lack of athletic performance or was it because he did not adhere to the non athletic requirements to be a scholarship athlete? You might want to look into that. Ray Ray has sort of validated the decision since he has attended at least two other schools after leaving Clemson.
It has been a reasonable assumption ever since the start of one year renewable scholarships that if, as an athlete, you follow the terms presented you, your scholarship will be renewed. Saban began to weed out non productive, from an athletic perspective, players several years ago. Now he has even started to cull his commitment list in a similar way. Based on MSM articles today, SOS appears to be taking a somewhat similar stance.
By Steve V January 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm
It could be that USC is already at 24 commitments with a 25 person limit. They must feel they are in good standing with a few IF SOS is calling to repeal the scholly offers to lesser talented recruits. It stinks, but would you pass on a four star just because you gave offer to a three star? Probably not. I believe the SEC went with the 25 recruit limit in hopes the NCAA would make it nationwide. That didn’t happen. I hope the SEC would wise up and go back to the old way.(especially since we have to give up a few schollys the next few years!)
By CL January 20, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Odd that Clemson offered him a graduate assistant position if he did not “adhere to the non athletic requirements to be a scholarship athlete,” wouldn’t you agree? In fact, it is more than odd, it is obvious spin and BS. But if you want to keep throwing stones at SOS, then just watch out for the glass shards falling around you.
By CNSYD January 21, 2012 at 5:38 pm
CL, Obviously you know not of what you speak. The G in GA means just what you said “GRADUATE”. Ray ray was not a graduate of any college so he could’t be a GA. He was offered a chance to be a STUDENT assistant. He declined and transferred to Howard. Subsequently he left Howard and went to Mars Hill.
By CL January 23, 2012 at 10:27 am
CNSYD,
Sports Illustrated summarized the offer as follows:”he could finish his degree requirements over the summer, enroll in graduate school at Clemson and accept the school’s offer to be a graduate assistant.” So you are wrong again about whether he was offered a graduate assistant position and, more importantly, you are trying to change the subject from your claim that Ray Ray lost his scholarship due to something he did off the field, which is obviously contradicted by offer the coaches made for him to join the staff.
By CNSYD January 23, 2012 at 1:46 pm
CL, nothing changed. Your quote from SI shows that he was NOT a graduate so he was excluded from being a GA until he was. Ray Ray chose not to follow the path laid out for him and transferred to Howard
By CL January 23, 2012 at 3:23 pm
I did not say he was a graduate. I said he was offered a GA position. Yes there were conditions for his getting the job, just like there were conditions on the job I accepted in law school. The point is that you incorrectly said he was offered a spot as a “student assistant.” Kind of like how your continued silence shows you were wrong in trying to blame Ray Ray for the decision not to renew his scholarship.
By phil January 19, 2012 at 10:47 am
not so fast, my friend. Venables seems as shaky as a terrified guppy.
By Hold On To Your Hats January 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Vulnerables was essentially fired from Oklahoma, or as they would say at Clemson in the case of Brad Scott, promoted from causing harm. And anyone who wants to start weeping about how Stoops committed nepotism better plan on explaining how that comes second to winning football games, except maybe in the ACC, where Diddy Bowden famously bowed to help family (i.e., Bobby’s eventual wins vs. Clemson) over winning ball games. Look where that got Bowden père: fired. Or at least that’s how he put it, although FSU said he retired. Unfortunately, that sad sort of spin at ACC schools didn’t end with the Bowden “retirement” or the Scott “promotion” (i.e., Kevin Steele saying he was fired by Clemson but the school saying he “left to persue other opportunities.”)
By CNSYD January 19, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Hold On To Your Hats, please provide a link to a legitmate news source (that means non FGF, FITS, etc) that provides a direct quote from Kevin Steele where he says he was fired. Thanks.
By Steve V January 19, 2012 at 4:25 pm
You have to admit though, something doesn’t pass the smell test. He didn’t quit and he wasn’t fired??? Then what happened?
By CNSYD January 19, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Steve V, probably something that we will never really know. There have been rumors about a medical problem. That could explain why those who do know won’t talk about it and give evasive answers. Knowing why is academic at this point as he is gone and has been replaced.
By GoTigers712 January 20, 2012 at 9:02 am
I think of it like Milton in Office Space, technically he didnt work there, but through a glitch in payroll he kept getting his check, so they just fixed the glitch.
By Steve V January 20, 2012 at 11:10 am
GoTigers712,
That is funny! Good Office Space reference! If Clemson burns down, we know where to look.
By Fat Brad January 19, 2012 at 11:02 am
Leave ole Dabo alone. He is doing the same thing at Clemson I did at USC. Leave that Danny Ford big OL and DL 3 yards and a cloud of dust in the past, it’s overrated. Chicks dig the long ball. We scoring points, what’s the problem. And when we need to run, 2.3 yards and a puff of powder will do nicely. You don’t need to stop nobody we’ll just outscore ‘em. And remember, that Ketchup tastes good on Gamecocks too, we just can’t catch any.
By OhNoNotAgain January 19, 2012 at 11:35 am
His name is not Dabo. It’s Abo.
He’s got no D.
By BigT January 19, 2012 at 1:01 pm
C’mon OhNo:
FITS dutifully reminds us of how unfair we are to make fun of Dabo…
FITS said: “Seriously … how often does a coach win his conference championship and then wind up on the hot seat?”…
FITS is so proud of that l’ll ol’ ACC Trophy, he could just p!$$ his panties…HaHaHa..
Sorry FITS: 70 would put ANYBODY on the Hotseat, especially when Dabo is passing the buck…and may have hired a DC even less talented than Steele (who he gushed about a year ago)….
Now go get another sip of Orange Kool-Aid…
By Danny January 21, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Dabo isn’t on the hotseat. He never will be if he continues to win 9-10 games a year. Clemson has a chance to do alot better this season. I expect another ACC title will be coming Clemson’s way.
By CarpetMuncher January 19, 2012 at 3:19 pm
How could a coach win his conference and wind up on the hot seat? Uh…his conference is freaking horrible? Vandy could win it? App State would be in the upper third?
Any other questions?
By CNSYD January 19, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Other than Sic Willie, who said he was on the “hot seat”? There is even a “Coaches Hot Seat” web site and Dabo is not in their top 10 like Dooley is. The only people who can put Dabo on the “hot seat” are Phillips, Barker and/or the BOT and they haven’t.
By BigT January 19, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Give Abo 3 or 4 gmes into the season…
Clemson slipped late this year, and I expect it will continue into the 2012 season…
Tater fans turn like Beasts, at even the smallest sign that their expectations and reality are but distant cousins……
By Jeffy01 January 19, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Ray ray was lucky to get out of that train wreck.
Venables will help kitties own duke. Hell with him as a coach I bet they could hold the Cocks to 31. Probably keep WVA under 60.
By CNSYD January 19, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Jeffy01,
You prepared for the trip to LA?
By Jeffy01 January 20, 2012 at 7:34 am
By LA you mean lower Anderson, yes.
By CNSYD January 20, 2012 at 10:57 am
As you are well aware, the chickens have an appointment in LA with the NCAA. Don’t pretend you don’t know that. The question will be, are they smart enough to beg for forgiveness or will they be dumbasses and try to standup to Big Brother? Ask GT what happens when you try to standup to Big Brother.
By Jeffy01 January 20, 2012 at 1:21 pm
No matter what happens there…..34-13 and 70-33 are still therefor the bitter kitties.
By CNSYD January 20, 2012 at 3:47 pm
So far the bank has not asked us the score of any game when we deposited the BCS bowl check. How much was your BCS bowl check again?
By Doo Doo 4 OBS All-Plantation Team January 20, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Fits,
So confused about how this is relevant. Picture of Swinney, 27 comments, and a title of “Assessing Recruits”. Thought you might have some relevant information or breaking news.
No news on Trikki or your boy Thad???
Always enjoy the inside scoops, but there is nothing here.
By Jeffy01 January 20, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Our check was much larger dipshit. The average coast Conf can’t come close to the check the sec will pass out. As the #1 sports Conf in america…. Money isn’t an issue. That’s pathetic if that’s your point. Hope that check buys the kitties a TD. They need it!
I’d rather have my team be ranked in the top 10, finish 11-2 in the hardest Conf than get a joke bid, to a silly game against another silly little conference. The sports
World is laughing at the kitties. And you know it. I’d be bitter too. 34-13 must
Hurt.
By CNSYD January 20, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Must have also bothered the latest defection today from the sinking ship in Columbia. They want to get out before the NCAA hammer drops.
It was a simple question that you avoided, again. What was the name of the BCS bowl that USCe played in? That question has nothing to do with where any other bowl team played.
By Who's Clemson? January 21, 2012 at 4:11 pm
CNSYD – you might want to be careful before bragging about receiving a check fot the embarrassment in Florida The results are not final but will include a significant deduction for the incredible poor showing of Clemson fans and the purchase of little more than half of your ticket allotment It would have to be a tough pill to swallow … losing over a million dollars for the opportunity to be thoroughly embarrassed while setting a new record for the most points given up in ANY bowl EVER! Fortunately the tigers game was the lowest rated game in terms of viewership of any major bowl (yes, that includes the Capital One bowl). But congratulations on the “progress”
By CNSYD January 21, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Who’s Clemson,
The payment for participants in a bowl game is set long before the game is played or the opponents chosen. Yes a committment to purchase a certain number of tickets for sale is required. The conference picks up the tab for unsold tickets from their schools, as do most conferences. That just affects the “spilt” of profit after the participant gets expenses paid. IRT who watched or who didn’t that has zero effect on this year’s game as the network contractually has to pay the bowl even if no one showed up. The network presold advertising slots. So where is the monetary effect?
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