The Alabama football program is among the most tradition rich in the nation. Chances are that if you were to ask anyone who has never watched a football game who Paul “Bear” Bryant is, they will be able to tell you. I don’t need to tell anyone reading this that Clemson hasn’t had the best results against Alabama in the history of the meetings between the two. In fact Clemson is 3-11 versus the Crimson Tide, including an embarrassing 56-0 blowout in the last meeting. But the Tigers haven’t met up with the Tide since 1975. It’s very likely that both programs at that time have absolutely no bearing on the present day.

When I began going to the different newspapers and fan forums, as well as the Official Alabama site, I began to wonder if what I was reading was correct. The Tide will start no fewer than 11 freshmen, and as many as 13! The secondary was wiped out by graduation. There will be two DBs with some limited experience, but neither has ever started.

The Alabama Linebackers are in a similar position, except even less experience.

The Alabama fans are excited about a true freshman nose guard named Cody. I watched the video on this kid and he weighs in at 385 lbs!

The eye catching stat is that he has about 60% body fat. He wont be able to be an every down player. He may play 50% of the snaps, but their fan base and media seems to think he will dominate the O-line . All I can say is they better have a backup plan in the 4th quarter when Clemson’s stable of fresh legged Running backs come at these guys.

The Alabama offense was also hit hard by graduation.  Quarterback John Parker Wilson has had some flashes of being a good QB, but even in his Junior year made a lot of mistakes that a seasoned QB shouldn’t. The #1 Wide Receiver going into next Saturday will be true freshman Julio Jones. While Jones is a dynamic player, I think he will be relied on way to much for a true freshman.  The Tide’s O-line would be their strongest point with some returning starters who are pretty good.

What has to happen for Alabama to win:

For the Tide to come away with a win in this one the contest will have to be a low scoring affair. They will have to get the running game going and protect Wilson enough so that they can keep Clemson’s defense going.

The problem may be in the low scoring comment. With the youth and inexperience on the Bama defense that may be a tall order.

What has to happen for Clemson to win:

Clemson just has to play their game and execute to a good(not great) level.

They need to run the ball even if it isn’t there early, because if the bulk of the Bama defense are freshmen, the 2 deep should be fairly soft. It will be important to keep a couple of running backs fresh for the 4th quarter where the game will be decided.

The passing game needs to be efficient, but take an occasional shot down the field to keep the young DBs for Bama honest and guessing.

Clemson comes into this game loaded from a talent perspective. The Linebackers are the weakest link on the defense, due to experience. While they are short on experience the majority have quality snap time under their belts.

The defensive line should be capable of more than holding their own against the Bama O-line thus taking some pressure off  the Linebackers. It will be interesting to see if that offensive line can keep Sapp, Alexander, Bowers and company off the QB.

The game:

While Alabama is a celebrated program from the past, they are not that Alabama right now. With #1 recruiting classes and Nick Saban on the sidelines I think it would be ignorant to say they wont be back very soon.

But the first game as a college player in such a high profile game is a lot to ask for those players to play at the level to win.  By the end of the year Alabama will be a much improved team. But in the first game I don’t see it.

Let’s face it. The best analysis is compare common opponents. Last year Bama had experience and a pretty good team. They are in a rebuilding mode right now.

When you compare those common opponents there’s really no comparison. Clemson beat FSU to start the season, and FSU beat Alabama. Clemson rolled up 70 on Louisianna Monroe. Alabama lost to LMU. Alabama lost in convincing fashion to Auburn. Clemson took Auburn to overtime.

I think it’s safe to say that the Tide was better suited last year to beat Louisianna Monroe than they will be next Saturday.

Clemson 31
Alabama 17

As the 80s came and went the 90s rolled in and saw some major changes in the Clemson football program. As much as we Tiger fans dislike admitting it the football program fell into mediocrity. The defense became almost an after thought, and so did the ACC titles and national championship contention that Clemson fans had come to expect. The 90s brought the departure of the beloved Danny Ford as the coach of the Tigers and the beginning of a long drought for the Clemson football family. The next decade would see the program struggle through some lean times under two different coaches and discontentment abounding. The final straw for the program was a year that saw the Tigers finish the season 3-8 and sliding fast. In all honesty I have no idea how they finished that well! The program was at the point of total disarray and leaderless in many ways.

Then the powers that be decided it was time to make a big time hire to fill the coach’s job that had been so badly mismanaged for so long. In steps the son of college football’s all time win leader, Bobby Bowden, Tommy. Coach Bowden’s first couple of years brought euphoria to many in Tiger nation because it appeared that the team was on a major climbing trend! Many thought that this program was well on it’s way to reclaiming the ACC that had been dominated by Florida State since it joined the ACC, but it wasn’t to be. While Tommy Bowden improved every aspect of the program, from graduation rates to competitiveness and facilities, he still had a problem leading this team back to the top of the ACC. It wasn’t long before the mastermind Offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez left Tiger Town for his Alma mater, and the slide began again. Another 5 years would see coach Bowden on the hot seat every year and all but fired on several occasions.

Then he hired Rob Spence from Toledo to lead the offense in his highly efficient offensive game plan and Vic Koenning from Troy/Troy State to resurrect a stale defense. While the road has been long and hard, once again Clemson fans and the entire Clemson family rests at the door of very high expectations. The recruiting efforts have become phenomenally good and the talent is on board ! The facility upgrades have made a huge improvement in Memorial stadium (AKA Death Valley). Everything is on the rise and spirits are once again high!

The biggest improvement to me has been the defense. The Tigers now find themselves anchored inside the top 20 in college football in most defensive stats. The Tigers can play with anyone in the country and sport some talent with great athletic ability. And in the 21st century Clemson has become Defensive end U! With the pick of Gaines Adams in the 07 NFL draft at the #4 overall position the Tigers caught the attention of the nations elite players. Then the next year his bookend goes in the draft at the 1st pick in the second round of the draft. After losing 2 high draft picks on the defensive line you would think that the team would be in rebuilding mode. But not Clemson! They return a highly recruited defensive end in junior Ricky Sapp, and signed the ESPN #1 player in the nation in the form of Defensive end Daquan Bowers. Couple that with a defense that returns almost everyone else and you have the makings of something special!

What has happened  to resurrect the Tigers defense, you may ask?

Well I honestly think it’s the man at the helm of the Tiger Defense, Vic Koenning. Koenning came to Clemson prior to the 2005 season with an impressive resume. He had led Troy/Troy State’s defense to a top 10 national finish in scoring defense, yards per play, rushing defense, and pass defense in 2004. Troy’s defense led the nation with interceptions with 25 and tied for second in total turnovers with 32. While having the ninth fewest yards allowed, they finished 16th in the nation and only Southern California had more take aways.

His defense at Troy featured standout Defensive end Demarcus Ware. (Now with the Dallas Cowboys. Ware was the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. I guess there is no wonder Clemson is producing such great Defensive players!

As we draw closer to the 2008 football season we all wonder if this will finally be the year that the Tigers can get it together at one time and win the ACC, and possibly something even bigger. While the offense is loaded with talent and should put up some points this season, I still think it all starts on the line and more specifically, the defensive line and defense as a whole.

If that is the case, I know we are on the right track. Once again Clemson has a man at the helm of the defense who knows what it takes!

All in all……. It comes down to the building of the defense.

Top 30 Overall

1) Jarvis Jones – Clemson’s class begins and ends with this stud at LB.  A force that could play in the middle or on the outside, he would be the most talented player at LB the moment he steps on campus.  Clemson has lead wire to wire for him, but the waters have gotten a little more crowded recently with Miami, LSU, and USC joining UGA in the hunt.

2) Sam Montgomery – Big-time defensive end prospect that could be special.  Gets ranked this high as he could help not only lock down the state for the Tigers, but could shore up some much needed depth should Ricky Sapp go pro after this year.  Clemson, SCAR, Miami, LSU, and USC all at the top, but I’d give our Tigers the slightest of edges.

3) Jheranie Boyd – Could contend for best receiver in the nation at year’s end and one of the top players overall in North Carolina.  Nearly committed at camp a little more than a month ago, now looking very hard at Florida, UNC, NCST, and Va Tech.  I think the Tigers hold on to this one, but it could be a wild ride, especially when “recruiting coordinators” get involved.

4) Xavier Nixon – One of the best tackle prospects in the nation has franchise OT written all over him.  Would be a great compliment to JK Jay and give us one of the best OL classes in the country.  NCST, Notre Dame, Florida seem to be the strongest right now and while I wouldn’t write the Tigers off yet, I don’t think he ends up in orange.

5) Stephon Gilmore – Electric athlete that has tremendous natural cover skills and is a threat with the ball in his hands.  Could be Clemson’s lone corner in this class.  Once a Clemson lock, now we have fallen a bit.  We are still very strong with Stephon, but have work to do with his family and those around him.  I think he ends up at Clemson still.

6) Kendall Kelly – Big-time WR from Alabama that was once thought to be an in-state lock and a big long shot for Clemson…then he visited Clemson’s camp.  A physical presence that could the Tigers a jumpball and fade route threat.  Clemson is reportedly out in front, but it remains to be seen if we can hold off in-state recruiting powerhouse Alabama.

7) Branden Smith – Speedy athlete that could play corner or WR.  A dynamic athlete that has cover corner stamped on him, but he is also a homerun threat with the ball in his hands.  The Tigers have a huge hill to climb with local power UGA pushing hard for Smith’s services.  I think he ends up a Dawg and sooner rather than later.

Daniel Mack – A safety/LB hybrid that is a very talented player and could be an impact player at the next level, more likely at LB.  Originally a hard BC lean, he has since backed off of that stance and has several teams in the mix, but Clemson could be the team to beat so long as the Florida schools (FSU and Miami) don’t offer.

9) Bobby Massie – Massive OT that could be the number 1 player on this list based on talent alone.  However, it remains unclear if he’ll even be able to sign this year as grades continue to plague this mammoth.  Clemson is showing strong interest along with Alabama with UNC, UGA, and Va Tech close behind.

10) Morgan Newton – Tremendous prospect that should see his stock rise this coming year.  OC Rob Spence has pegged him as the best QB in this class and Clemson will continue to be a major factor with him until the end.  Kentucky appears to be his early leader with Clemson close behind, but is hiding his cards well.

11) Duane Chisolm – A DE that likely projects better as an athletic interior defensive lineman.  Clemson jumped into the lead when they first offered and has remained there, though are not pushing all that hard.  Duane could be a sign and place kid that will likely end up in-state with either Clemson or SCAR.

12) Corico Hawkins – Very underrated LB from an incredibly deep Georgia class.  Recently picked up legit Florida and Georgia offers.  Because of a pressing need and the likelihood that Clemson could ink Hawkins, he gets ranked very highly on the list.  A strong Clemson lean that should be a commit assuming there are no surprises.

13) Kedric Johnson – Vastly underrated rush DE that would be a great addition at Bandit End.  Like Montgomery, if Sapp bolts for the pros, he could step in and have a legitimate shot at the 2-deep from day 1 and has the talent to be a big-time player at the Division 1 level.  Clemson is in good position early, but officials will go a long way in landing him.

14) Darius Winston – Huge talent at CB that was originally committed to Arkansas, but backed off that pledge.  Listed LSU, Michigan, Tennessee and Clemson recently.  Unsure how strong his interest actually is, though he has scheduled an official visit to Tiger Town.  Would be a huge coup to land this one, but I don’t see it happening as of now.

15) Quinton Washington – Tremendous OG prospect who is oversign worthy and will be carried on the board until the very end.  Underrated and powerful, I see him moving up the rankings this coming season.  Likely an in-state battle between SCAR and Clemson, it would take a disastrous season from SCAR to push him to Clemson.

16) Connor O’Neil – Speedy LB from Florida that plays in a powerhouse program at St. Thomas Aquinas.  Has great instincts and tremendous closing speed to shut down the run, but is a little light and will need to spend some heavy time in the weight room bulking up.  Down to a final three of Wisconsin, Auburn, and our Tigers with no team having an advantage.

17) Jelani Jenkins – Debatably the best LB in the entire country this year has an offer list that’s a literal who’s who of college football.  Fast, big, hard-hitting and can do it all, this kid could start as a true freshman at any number for programs.  Although he has family in Charleston, Jenkins would be a huge long shot at the very best.

18) Frankie Telfort – Another terrific player at LB that also has an offer sheet a mile long.  Also has the talent to step right in to most programs and make an impact, he is probably best suited as an outside backer.  Fairly elusive throughout the process, no one is confident in landing him and he’s looking around, but I’d give Clemson a very small chance.

19) Marsalis Teague – Small, quick athlete that plays quarterback in high school that can pass and run with equal prowess.  Likely to project at either slot WR or cover corner at the next level has a strong list of offers and should see his stock continue to climb.  While he’s still looking around, Miami and Clemson are out front with the ‘Canes having a slight edge.

20) Desmond Parks – Undervalued TE prospect that is just being discovered this summer.  Excellent receiver for the position with good speed to go along with his size, but has question marks in his blocking skills.  Florida is the slight leader over Clemson, though distance may play a factor, especially with his family, and could keep him home.

21) Jamal Patterson – A well-rounded WR prospect that can do a little bit of everything, but excels in using his size.  Very difficult to read as he glows about every school he talks about and has been telling many coaching staff good things.  High on Clemson, but from a part of Georgia that has been good to Auburn who is starting to turn up the heat.

22) Curtis Porter – DT prospect that is starting to see his stock soar.  Teammates with Boyd and could earn an offer when the duo visits later this week.  Also being handled by a recruiting coordinator that seems to love Florida schools.  Porter nearly committed to the Gators and will likely end up doing the chomp.

23) Dre Kirkpatrick – The best cornerback in the class bar none.  Tremendous, size, speed, cover skills and tackling ability.  Could be a 3 year starter as he may look to the NFL early.  Clemson has done a fantastic job with him and will get him on campus for an official, but it feels like Jerrel Harris part 2; I can’t see him as anything but a Bama lock.

24) Lamar Miller – Huge, workhorse of a RB that any program would covet.  Thought to be a Miami lock until they received verbals from two big-timers at RB causing Lamar to look elsewhere.  Though our interest had been flagging, look for it to pick-up in the coming months.  In the end, I don’t see him sporting the paw in the future though.

25) Daquan Hargrett – Elusive scat back from powerhouse Miami Northwestern.  An early commit to West Virginia that is starting to look around.  Clemson has been steady in its interest and could position itself to get an official.  If the big 3 from Florida offer, that verbal likely won’t stick.

26) Ryan Mossakowski – QB that has tremendous talent, but gets ranked low for two reasons.  A better baseball prospect that could go to MLB before ever setting foot on campus and in a recent top 4, left out Clemson, which was a huge surprise, even to the staff.  Auburn has the edge here, but Tiger fans should cheer for Kentucky in hopes of pushing Newton a little closer to rubbing the rock.

27) Tevin McCaskill – S prospect from Florida that has been on the backburner since the commitments of Loston and Holloman.  A star in his own right, he’d be a huge pick-up for any school.   Should 1 of our stud commits stray from the Tigers, the pressure may increase on this guy.  Has some big offers, but may be tough to lure out of state especially if the Tigers are late to up the ante.

28) Lonnie Pryor – RB/ATH that could play slot, safety or RB.  Tremendous with the ball and likely will end up in the backfield toting the rock.  Likely a Seminole lock, but his talent and interest in the Tigers lands sneaks him in at the bottom of the list.

29) Zeke Motta – LB/S hybrid that plays like he’s mad at the world.  Brings the lumber on every play, very physical and has a frame that will allow him to grow into an outside LB at the next level.  I love him as a prospect and covet him, but he’s bound for a different Tiger…father played at Auburn and he likely will too.

30) Logan Thomas – ATH that is a true definition of the term.  He may be best suited for being a super TE, but could play WR, LB, S, and even QB at the next level in the right system.  Extremely versatile, would be an upgrade for any team at any position he plays.  Another dream prospect for Clemson that’s just that…a dream.  He may give us a little interest, but I don’t like our chances right now.

With so many prospects and it still being 7+ months until NSD, I’m sure that I’ve left off some and others will pop up on the recruiting radar during the season.  This list is, of course, just my opinion and there is obviously a lot of room for debate.  I’m unsure what I’ll do for my next entry, so let me know with any suggestions you guys have or anything you’d like covered.

For this week, I’d like to take a look at the homegrown talent of South Carolina with a top 25 ranking. Now that summer camps have come and there has been a more extensive evaluation of the state’s prospects, the pecking order is starting to take shape. This year, there is no clear-cut number 1 as in years past and I had a hard time with numbers 1- as you can put them in any order. The state has a good number of top-end prospects that will get major offers, but there appears to be a sharp drop off to the mid-major prospects without much of a gradation in between. This is a better year than some in the past, but not as deep as others; overall an average crop for the Palmetto State.

1. Sam Montgomery – Gets the nod at the top spot as he combines both current production with tremendous upside. Freak of an athlete at defensive end will be a difference maker in the pass-rush. Clemson, SCAR, Miami, LSU, and USC all at the top.

2. Demario Jeffery – Big-time athlete that could play multiple positions, but is best suited for OLB. Has enough coverage skills for safety, but will be a terror at backer with his size, speed, and hard hitting. Bama leads with Auburn and SCAR tied for second, a UGA offer could prompt a commit though.

3. DeVonte Holloman – New import from NC will play along side Gilmore for one of the best defensive back tandems in SC. Also may be better suited at OLB, but a tremendous, physical strong safety prospect with good ball skills that likes to lay the wood. Clemson commit.

4. Malliciah Goodman – Absolutely blowing up with off the chart potential. Enormous frame, tremendous upside, he just needs to put it all together and show it on the field. Until he learns to play as fast as he is at combines, he doesn’t deserve to be any higher. Clemson commit.

5. JK Jay – Best OL prospect in the state has the chance to show how good he is this year. Freakishly strong with great size, ranked lower by others as he missed his entire junior year. Will move up a ton this year as he is one of the best OL prospect from SC in a while. Clemson commit.

6. Alshon Jeffery – Earns the top WR spot in the state. Good hands, good after the catch, and a super route runner, he will make an excellent possession receiver. Lacks great top-end speed or explosion that keeps him out of the top 5. USC gets a perfect WR for their system in the mold of Steve Smith. USC commit.

7. Stephon Gilmore – Do it all athlete that can play a slew of positions at the next level including QB. Great with the ball in his hands, but likely projects best as a cover corner with great acceleration and good top-end speed. Clemson is in very good shape.

8. Chris Bonds – Tremendous player that likely projects better inside at DT than outside at DE. Stock has slipped a little as his explosion is questionable after coming off of a knee injury. A big-time get for any program. Likely a SCAR/USC battle.

9. Quinton Washington – Big-time guard prospect that I feel is currently undervalued by most. Very strong, very polished and has a good combination of upside with current production at his position. Athleticism is a bit of a question mark and may suffer a bit in pulling situations. SCAR is in good shape with Clemson second.

10. Duane Chisolm – Projects as an inside defensive lineman. Excellent explosion at the point of attack, plays low and with a lot of strength. Provides a good surge inside and a legitimate rush threat from the DT position. At times penetrates too far and is out of position to help in the run game. Will need to bulk up to aid in rush defense. Clemson is strong with SCAR second.

11. Brandon Thomas – OL with one of the highest ceilings at that position in the nation. Extremely athletic as he will be playing DE and TE this coming year. Hampered by a broken arm last year, will be able to play to his full potential. Better suited in a spread/zone offense where he can utilize his athleticism. Clemson commit.

12. Kwame Geathers – Athlete with great bloodlines. Could play either OL or DL but may project better on the offensive side despite his desire to play defense. Very tall, long arms with a ton of upside, but current production is a bit lacking. UGA and SCAR in the best shape.

13. Roderick McDowell – State’s top RB prospect has tremendous top end speed and great cutting ability. Size and durability are big question marks. Tends to bounce to the outside rather quickly rather than waiting for plays to develop. Best suited in a two back offense as a scat back or slot man. Clemson commit.

14. Ricco Sanders – Solid slot WR prospect that has seen his stock slip a little. Very quick in and out of cuts and excellent after the catch. Lacking in speed and needs to work on polishing his route running skills. Lacks ideal size. SCAR and Auburn in good shape.

15. Chris Payne – Hard hitting player that is a bit undersized. Playmaker that always seems to be around the ball and loves to bring the lumber. Question marks about his translation to the next level as he’s too small to play LB but lacks the cover skills of a safety. SCAR commit.

16. DJ Swearinger – Perhaps the second best pure safety prospect in SC (after Holloman). Has decent size, good hitter, and decent ball skills. With a ton of good offers will likely go to a major school and contribute down the road. Tennessee’s to lose.

17. Jerrod Williams – The best pure corner in the state has speed to burn and good size. A relatively unknown commodity until summer camps, he earned his way to a Va Tech offer and commitment. With coaching to develop cover skills, could be very good later in his career. Va Tech commit.

18. Quandon Christian – In a down year in-state for LB, he’s the best. Athletic (also plays RB), good frame, and long arms make him well suited for a run stopping LB, but is very thin and very raw. Will benefit from a RS year, but has the upside to be a force at the next level. Academics are a concern and hold his ranking down a bit. Clemson commit.

19. Desmond Parks – Tremendous receiving TE prospect that has impressed in summer camps. Good hands and great speed for a TE, he should be a threat to catch the ball off the line and make an impact. Has a good frame to add weight and will need to do so; blocking is a big question mark. Likely a Florida/Clemson battle.

20. David Sims – Tremendous athlete with one of the most impressive offer sheets in the state. Could play a slew of positions, but gets hurt in the rankings as he doesn’t project at any one particular one at the next level. Likely a safety, but could play an option QB or RB, good quickness and elusiveness with the ball. Tenn, Ga Tech, Michigan and NCST are in strong shape.

21. Tariq Edwards – A solid prospect with the potential to play TE, but is likely better suited at LB and could even grow into a DE. Great attitude and hustle help him make plays and has a nose for the ball. Athletic ability may put a ceiling on his ultimate potential. Va Tech and NCST currently lead.

22. Kinsman Thomas – Prospect who is a better athlete than he is a football player. Good hands, high-points the ball well, and an excellent jumper, but speed is a major question mark. Could project as a WR, S, and may grow into a LB. Solid pick-up and likely SCAR bound.

23. Aldrick Fordham – Strong DE prospect that is very good against the run. Plays slower than his 40 would suggest and needs to work on his pass-rush. Needs to bulk up, but could make a good strongside, run-stopping end a few years from now. Decent pick-up. SCAR commit.

24. Charles Holmes – Excellent WR prospect and is probably even, if not better than Sanders in terms of ability. Explosive with the ball and has good size. Grades are a big-time negative, however, and is already expected to be a prep placement at best. May commit to SCAR very soon.

25. Justin Bright – Smart safety prospect that plays with a chip on his shoulder. Decent size and speed and is willing to knock a head off. Decent in coverage, but excellent in making reads. Could contribute in the two-deep as a junior or senior, but will make his presence felt on special teams from day 1. Florida State commit.

Next weekend, I’ll take a look at the top 25 remaining prospects on Clemson’s recruiting board… unless I get a suggestion for something more interesting.

I remember not too long ago looking over the list of Clemson prospects and there wasn’t a single 5 star player to be found, and you could count the 4 star prospects on one hand. According to Scout’s latest prospect list Clemson is drawing interest from nine 5 star and twenty-three 4 star recruits. The Tigers already have commitments from four 4 star and two 5 star players for the class of 2009.

In the past those six players would have made for a great class and we would have all been talking about future championships and BCS bowls. That was then and this is now. With six 4 star or better players already committed, Clemson is still squarely in the mix to land several more 5 star and 4 star recruits.

Here’s a few of the players that could be rubbing the rock next year:

Kendall Kelly ***** WR (6′-3″ 210 lbs 4.5/40) - One of the best wide receives in the nation and currently has already planned an official visit to Clemson. Kelly likes the style of Clemson’s offense. He’s also looking at Alabama, FSU and LSU. (Odds of rubbing the rock - 65%)

Dre Kirkpatrick ***** CB (6′-2″ 180 lbs 4.5/40) - #13 overall player in the class of 2009 according to Rivals. Camped at Clemson June 11-13 and like the possibility of early playing time. Kirkpatrick is also being recruited by LSU, Michigan, Oregon, FSU, Miami, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Auburn. (Odds of rubbing the rock - 55%)

Morgan Newton ***** QB (6′-5″ 215 lbs 4.5/40) - One of the top QBs in 2009 class. Clemson will likely take one QB in next year and Morgan is high on their wish list. He’s narrowed it down to eight teams with Clemson making the cut.  (Odds of rubbing the rock - 30%)

Lonnie Pryor **** RB/ATH (6′-0″ 195 lbs 4.5/40) - Before this week Clemson probably wasn’t a serious contender, but after his recent visit the Tiger’s are now in his top 3 along with FSU and LSU. He has scheduled an official visit for October 18. Still a long shot but our chances are improving. (Odds of rubbing the rock - 20%)

Orson Charles **** TE (6′-3″ 215 lbs 4.5/40) - Sounds like Charles is visiting every school to extend an offer. He’s been making the rounds this month and hopes to visit Clemson by the end of the month. I like our chances once we get him on campus. (Odds of rubbing the rock - 20% … for now)

Logan Thomas **** TE/WR (6′-6″ 215 lbs (4.6/40) - Clemson has some work to do with Thomas but he does plan on visiting. I believe that Thomas is the type of person that will be impressed by what Clemson has to offer and we may see the Tiger’s stock go up after we get him on campus. He’s narrowed his list to  Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Clemson. (Odds of rubbing the rock - 15% … for now)

Ryan Mossakowski **** QB (6′-4″ 205 lbs 4.8/40) - One of the top players in Texas. I think Mossakowski is a long shot but he enjoyed his visit in June. I’ll be surprised if he moves too far away from home. (Odds of rubbing the rock - 10%)

This is just a few of the blue chip athletes still on the board for next year’s class. We should land several from the current list but don’t forget those signing day surprises that have been falling our way the last three years. Throw in an ACC championship (or better) and… well let’s just say there will be a lot chickens left to wonder what went wrong with the great Spurrier empire.

Thomas receives 4 stars from Scout and is rated as the #16 linemen in the class of 2009 and #2 in South Carolina. Rivals gives him 3 stars (5.5) and rates him as the #60 lineman in the nation. With this commitment Clemson now has the #1 (J.K. Jay) and #2 rated offensive lineman in South Carolina according to Scout’s rankings.

Thomas chose Clemson over offers from Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, N.C. State and Vanderbilt.

Time Changes

For the third year in a row they have changed when the clock is to stop and restart. The clock will now stop on all out of bounds plays but will restart once the referee has spotted the ball and signaled it is ready for play. During the final two minutes of each half the clock will restart on the snap of the ball.

My Take: For some reason the NCAA thinks college football games last too long. Come on, we only get 13 or 14 games a year and it goes by fast enough as it is. Put the clock rules back to the way they were. If you really want to speed up the game then eliminate the number of commercials during televised games instead of stealing time from the game itself. This just proves that the NCAA is more concerned about the $$$ than the game.

40/25

College football will now use the same play clock format as the NFL. After a play is blown dead the offense will have 40 seconds to snap the next play. The offense will still have 25 seconds after a timeout or change of posession.

My Take: I think I like this change. We’ve all seen situations where the defense is trying to come up with a big stop late in the game in order to get the ball back in the hands of the offense, only to have the ref take his time spotting the ball, thus delaying the start of the play clock. This will make the play clock more consistent and take it out of the hands of the refs. But I’ll reserve final judgement until the end of the season.

Face Mask

The five yard incidental face mask penalty is gone. A defender can grab a player’s face mask as long as he doesn’t twist, turn or pull. Any twisting, turning or pulling still gets you 15 yards.

My Take: About time! the purpose of the face mask rule is to protect the players. As long as you don’t pull on the face mask the player is not going to be injured.

Replays

If a coach’s first challenge is successful he get’s one more, but no more than two during the game.

My Take: Well, it’s a step in the right direction but why is there a limit to successful challenges?

Field Goals

Field goals can now be reviewed if the dispute is whether the ball passed over or under the crossbar or if the ball was inside or outside of the uprights as long as the ball passed below the top of the uprights. If the ball passed above the top of the uprights no review is allowed.

My Take: Sounds like common sense.

Sideline Warnings

In the past the referee had to issue a sideline warning before penalizing a team. With this rule change there is no warning. If players or coaches are outside their defined boundaries during the game the team will be penalized 5 yards for delay of game. On the third infraction they will receive a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

My Take: Was this really such a problem that it needed a rule change?

Stealing Signals

It’s now a violation to make audio or video recordings in an attempt to steal the signals of an opposing player or coach.

My Take: Thank you New England!

How long has it been since Clemson last won the ACC championship? That one is easy! Clemson hasn’t brought home the ACC crown since 1991. It’s safe to say that the drought has lasted far longer than any Clemson fan would care to discuss! This drought began with the addition of and annual drubbings by Florida State. In fact FSU has dominated the ACC since joining the league and Clemson fans have at times had to endure endless ribbings and beatdowns at the hands of the Noles and their fans.

But that isn’t the focus of this article. I’m talking about how long has it been since we began a season outside the bubble of possibly breaking through? I have to say that Clemson has had chance after chance over the past 4 years! The Tigers have been in the thick of the fight since the additions of Miami, Boston College, and Virginia Tech several years ago. But the problem with those additions is that Clemson has only won 1 game against the newcomers! The win in the Orange Bowl against Miami was what many Clemson fans saw as the catalyst to the beginning of great things, only to lose to Duke the following week. I feel that I must insert a resounding sigh here!

Truth be told, every Clemson fan has his or her questions for falling short over the past few years. Whether it’s the play calling, talent, or game management, one thing we can all agree on is that we’re tired of hearing that we were one play short!

One play short can mean a lot of things! It can mean a dropped pass in the BC game that would have sent the Tigers to their first ACC championship game. It can mean one TD that was called back because of a dumb penalty. Or it can mean that we threw one too many screens against a stacked box! But one thing is for sure… This team is 2 months away from having another chance at greatness! In fact the greatness this team could experience could go beyond the ACC Championship, but we wont go there yet!

With what most prognosticators feel is the most talented team of Bowden’s tenure at Clemson, and odds on favorite to win the ACC, what can we expect? Can we expect this team to finally turn that illusive corner? Or can we expect to be “one play away” again? Either way, at the end of this season the Clemson nation will once again be saying “How long has it been?” The difference is it could be in celebration or discussing how close we came.

In my opinion the O-line will gel pretty quickly and the linebacking corps will be just good enough and deep enough to get the job done. The skill positions will provide another year of explosive plays, and the occasional failed screen pass. But when the results are in I see this as the year that makes it all worth the wait!

I hope I am right! But I can’t see any other outcome. Then the Clemson nation can celebrate, and in one voice say, “How long has it been since we were this proud of our Tigers?!?!”

GO TIGERS !

Hopkins attends Daniel High School, right in Clemson’s back yard and has been a Clemson fan his whole life. But don’t count him as a lock just yet. Hopkins is also an outstanding basketball player and has said in the past that he prefers basketball over football.

Hopkins is projected as a wide receiver and will likely rate as a high 4 star or 5 star prospect next year.

Smith will likely be the #1 PG in South Carolina and a 4 star athlete.