Writing about college sports for
@On3Sports
. Previously: Senior writer covering Clemson for On3, Clemson beat writer for The State newspaper (Columbia, S.C.).
NEWS: Clemson is hiring Chattanooga women's basketball coach Shawn Poppie as its next head coach.
Former Va. Tech assistant led Mocs to NCAA Tournament in both seasons as HC. Had interest from multiple other power conference programs. Excellent hire.
Justyn Ross — dominated college football when healthy
Justyn Ross — dominated preseason
Justyn Ross — caught his only target tonight
Justyn Ross — stood on the sideline and watched Chiefs WRs drop pass after pass with the game on the line
I still can't believe ESPN cut away from the most entertaining college football game of the day 4 times to watch Aaron Judge go 0-3 with a walk while trying to tie for the 7th-most homers in a single season
Interesting that Florida State gets knocked for not looking as impressive without Jordan Travis against Louisville but not much is said about Bama needing a miracle to beat a 6-6 Auburn team.
Brad Brownell called out Big 12 teams for manipulating the NET:
"Their nonconference scheduling, they’re playing 300 level teams and winning by 40-50 points to increase their efficiency numbers. ... Our league is actually 9-3 against the Big 12."
I typically use Twitter for sports, humor and entertainment, but it’s been a difficult couple of days for my family. My wife and I could really use some prayers
ESPN just said Hunter Renfrow had injury issues in college... ummm, no. He played in every game his last 2 years and missed 4 games his entire career (broken hand) as sophomore. He also holds the record for most starts by a Clemson WR.
D.J. Uiagalelei said he has his dad blocked on Twitter because he doesn't like seeing all the posts about how great he is. He's had him blocked since his sophomore year of HS hahahaha
If Clemson and Alabama are going to meet in the national title game pretty much every year it would really make it easier if it could be played on the East coast.
Paul Finebaum on ESPN on Dabo: “What did he say that was wrong?”
Stephen A. Smith: “I completely side with Dabo Swinney on this matter. I don’t think he said one word that was false.”
Clemson fans weren't thrilled with the Tigers players who transferred to SC on Friday. Guessing this caption by Jonathan French isn't going to help that. Sheesh.
Spurrier 😂😭💀: "I almost feel sorry for Tennessee. They’re not going to win the division... they’re not going to get in that final four. They’re just going to have a little bit better than average year. Someone told me, ‘Tennessee is probably headed for the Citrus Bowl now.’"
Steve Spurrier tells
@ESPNUpstate
needling your opponent and making them mad has nothing to do with the outcome of the game “If talking mattered Georgia would’ve beaten us a lot more.”
Former Clemson CB Derion Kendrick announces on Instagram that he's entering the NFL draft. "I would also like to thank coach Swinney and the great fans of Clemson."
Dabo said last night that Christian Wilkins is going to finish up his Master's Degree next week... so undergrad and Master's in 3.5 years. I've never felt worse about my college performance.
If Alabama loses next week we should have Clemson, Alabama, Ohio St. and Oklahoma play a 4 game tournament before the real playoff just to keep the tradition alive
Gamecocks QB Jay Urich shipped Clemson RB Darien Rencher his sign that went viral to use for today’s protest. The two are close friends. “He’ll be in my wedding.”
An update on this: Trevor Lawrence and other athletes will be allowed to raise money for coronavirus victims. The NCAA is making an exception: "We applaud Trevor for his efforts."
If Clemson players can wear a mask while lifting weights and working out, you can wear a mask while going to the store to buy chips and dip.
And if you’re still refusing to wear a mask, don’t get mad this fall if there’s not football.
Dabo Swinney: "I love
@chasebrice7
, man. ... To go to Texas A&M and win, that ain't easy. What an unbelievable win for App State and for Chase. I know that's something he'll never, ever forget."
We need a "recent legends" option on the new NCAA game. Put Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, etc. on there. Like the top 5 players from each year the game wasn't out.
The fact that Clemson started a softball program from scratch, won the ACC in its first full season, sold out tickets for 2022 and has dominated a longtime program in South Carolina in its first two rivalry games is truly incredible.
33 years ago Kendall Joseph's father immigrated to America from Haiti. Last month he watched his son make history, becoming the first person from his family to graduate college
I get the frustration from Clemson fans about Cade not playing more earlier in the year, but to be fair to the Clemson coaching staff, UNC has the No. 121 rated pass D and was down 2 starters in the secondary.
Don't think it's fair to assume Cade would've done that all year
OK this made me laugh... Dabo asked how his birthday was- “I had an all expenses paid trip to Tallahassee and back. It was wonderful... Had a carrot cake in my room. It was great.”
Mack Brown said he sat down with a UNC starter last week who told him he has 15 offers to go play somewhere for money next year. Said it's an issue with college football that has to be fixed
I've watched about 10 Texans games the past 3 years and I feel like every one ends with Deshaun Watson putting his team ahead late and then the defense/Bill O'Brien blowing it
From Instagram... looks like Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant are reunited and hanging out on Broadway at the musical Hamilton
People were upset with Wes Goodwin at times over the past two years, but his defense balled out late this season with an offense that did next to nothing. Goodwin deserves a ton of praise
So excited to announce that Aiden Robert Connolly was born this afternoon. He was born about a month early and his lungs aren’t quite fully developed yet, so any prayers and positive vibes you can send this way would be greatly appreciated
Clemson football players graduating today:
Matt Bockhorst
J.C. Chalk
Peter Cote
Travis Etienne
Justin Foster
K.J. Henry
Trevor Lawrence
Cornell Powell
Luke Price
Darien Rencher
Amari Rodgers
Will Spiers
Xavier Thomas
Tyler Traynham
Nolan Turner
Blake Vinson
Jordan Williams
From Tee Higgins’ Instagram- Several Clemson players, including Higgins, Isaiah Simmons and Cornell Powell, went to Missouri’s spring game to support Kelly Bryant. Pretty cool and says a lot about how Bryant’s former teammates feel about him.
Dabo Swinney: "We had to go 94 yards against the best defense in the country to get the lead, and then we had to stop the best offense in the country to keep it."
Dabo Swinney praising Deshaun Watson and Nuk Hopkins for pushing for Honors College change: “They both brought us a lot of joy. We should no longer expect them or our players to hear our cheers if we do not hear their cries.”
Beating Kentucky in the Gator Bowl isn’t quite the same as beating Alabama for the national championship, but anyone else have flashbacks to Dabo and Jeff Scott after this TD?
Barrett Carter said he didn't feel like he was in 'game-shape' for Clemson's opener against Duke
"I realized early in the game I need to get in better shape ... I'll definitely be ready for these next games."
Dabo Swinney, Mark Stoops asked about players opting out.
Dabo Swinney: "I might have to play corner in this game."
Mark Stoops: "You can do it. I've seen the way you run out there on the field."
Kelly Bryant "We've pretty much been the underdog in every big game we've played this season." NOTE: Clemson has been favored every game this year entering the playoff. It's been favored by 10+ points 8 straight games.
It’s hard to say “Here’s how you beat Trevor Lawrence” when he’s 22-0 in college football and 63-1 since the start of his sophomore year of high school
#Clemson
is NOT a playoff team right now, because Trevor Lawrence isn’t playing elite. Period.
Here’s how you beat T. Lawrence, everybody else knows, you should too:
Brian Kelly basically said: don't call this college athletics and say you're worried about the student-athletes if you're going to send them across the country to play a game in an empty stadium that their parents can't attend.
At that point it's pro sports.
Will post some more thoughts in a story later but just wanted to say that I really enjoyed covering DJ Uiagalelei. He went through a ton on and off the field during 3 years at Clemson, never complained, never made excuses, was a joy to talk with and wish him nothing but the best