Best Clemson Football Players: Last 20 Years

With news today that CJ Spiller has been named to yet another All-America team as an all-purpose player he now becomes one of the most decorated Tigers in school history. This season he was named a first-team All-American by the AP, Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, CBSSportsline.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com as an all-purpose back and/or return specialist. He amassed an incredible 2,508 (192.92 yards per game) all-purpose yards, which was 4th in the country, including 1,145 yards rushing, 445 receiving and 21 total touchdowns including a touchdown pass. Spiller, who was the ACC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, will certainly go into the books as one of the greatest Tigers of all-time. The Doak Walker Award finalist is also one of only 18 consensus All-Americans in Clemson history and only one of three unanimous All-Americans.



This leads me to ask; who are the greatest Clemson Tiger football players of all-time? To be hoenst, I would love to include guys like Fred Cone, Banks McFadden, Steve Fuller, etc. but since I was not yet born while they were wearing orange, I cannot attest to their greatness. Therefore this list is not comprehensive, but will include players from the 90s until today.

Here are the starters for the fictional all-time team from the past two decades:



Offense:



QB - Woody Dantzler (1998-2001)

Dantzler was the true definition of a dual threat quarterback during his career at Clemson. He became the first player in NCAA history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season in 2001. He had back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons his junior and senior years.



RB - CJ Spiller (2006-2009)

See above. Most electrifying and explosive player in college football player in 2009. Clemson career leader in all-purpose yards; almost doubles the yardage total of the next closest Tiger in the record books.



RB - Raymond Priester (1994-1997)

Clemson's all-time leading rusher was a 6'1" 235 lbs. bruiser who had back-to-back 1300+ yards rushing in his career, including the single season rushing record of 1,345 as a junior. Despite being such a straight ahead rusher, Priester managed to have an impressive career average of 4.9 ypc.



WR - Rod Gardner (1997-2000)

Gardner, who was a second-team All-ACC as a junior and first-team All-America and All-ACC as a senior, teamed with Dantzler to create an electrifying combo while in Tigertown. Gardner hauled in 80 receptions for 1,084 yards as a junior and another 58 receptions for 1,050 yards and 7 touchdowns as a senior.



WR - Aaron Kelly (2005-2008)

First team All-ACC performer in 2007 and honorable mention All-American after hauling in 88 receptions for 1,081 yards and 11 touchdowns. Became the ACC and Clemson all-time leader in career receptions in 2008 when he had 67 receptions for 722 yards and 4 scores. Was productive every year he was a Tiger, collecting 47 receptions as a freshman and 30 as a sophomore.



WR - Derrick Hamilton (2001-2003)

Hamilton left after his junior season to pursue a career in the NFL but was one of the most gamebreaking players in Clemson football history. His best season came in 2003 when he reeled in 63 receptions 1,026 yards and 10 scores. Much like Spiller and Horne, Hamilton was another all-purpose performer. He was both second-team All-ACC as a receiver and return specialist as a junior.



TE - Michael Palmer (2006-2009)

Palmer had a breakout season this past year in which he caught 41 passes for 468 yards and 4 TDs. He was also first-team All-ACC in 2009. His 41 receptions were far and away the most catches by a Clemson tight end in 25 years.



OT - Stacy Long (1986-1990)

Long barely makes his way into the last 20 years but was a two-time All-American in 1989 and 1990, including being named a consensus All-American in 1990 when he had 52 knockdown blocks in 601 plays.



OT - Jim Bundren (1994-1997)

Bundren was named Second-team All-America in 1997. One of only two Clemson players to have been named first-team All-ACC and Academic All-ACC in two consecutive seasons.



OG - Stacy Seegars (1990-1993)

Named second-team All-America in 1992 and first-team in 1993. Had 103 knockdown blocks as a junior and another 58 as a senior.



OG - Jeb Flesch (1988-1991)

Consensus first-team All-American in 1991. Recorded 77 pancake blocks in 1991.



C - Kyle Young (1998-2001)

He was named a second-team All-America in 2000 and third-team in 2001. He had 120 knockdown blocks and 168 knockdown blocks in his junior and senior years.



Defense:



DE - Gaines Adams (2003-2006)

Adams was one of the most decorated defensive players to ever play for the Tigers. He was named a unanimous first team All-America in 2006 when he recorded 12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles-for-loss. He became the 4th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tied with Michael Dean Perry for most career sacks in Clemson history with 28.



DE - Adrian Dingle (1996-1999)

Set the then-Clemson record for sacks in a season with 10.5 in 1999 (which was broken the next season). He also had 15 tackles for loss in 1999.



DT - Rob Bodine (1989-1991)

Bodine was named a first-team All-American in 1991 when he had 108 tackles (27 for loss) and 7.5 sacks. He finished his career with 15 sacks and 48 tackles for loss.



DT - Trevor Pryce (1996)

Only played one season for the Tigers before jumping to the NFL after transferring from Michigan. Had a team-best 20 tackles for loss to go along with 7.5 sacks, which are very impressive numbers for an interior lineman. Pryce has gone on to a stellar NFL career as a defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens.

LB - Keith Adams (1998-2000)

Two-time , first team All-American (1999, 2000) who posted a single season record for sacks with 16 in '99. He also had an astonishing 35 tackles for loss that season to go along with 186 total tackles. He followed that up with 148 tackles (19 TFL) and 9 sacks the following season.

LB - Anthony Simmons (1995-1997)

One of the most decorated players to ever strap on a helmet for Clemson, Simmons was an All-American all three seasons he was a Tiger. He was a two-time, first team All-American as well. The Spartanburg, SC product had 150+ tackles all three seasons, highlighted by 25 tackles for loss and 8 sacks his junior year.

LB - Levon Kirkland (1988-1991)

Manned the outside linebacker position for the Tigers and was a two-time All-American (1990, 1991). He was a first team All-America in 1991 when he had 67 tackles, 12 for loss and 5.5 sacks. He went on to a stellar, All-Pro career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

CB - Antwan Edwards (1995-1998)

He was a third team All-American in 1998 and a first-team All-ACC selection as well. He was a second team All-ACC pick in 1997. He recorded 43 tackles with 2 interceptions in 1998, which followed a 52 tackle, 4 interception season the year prior.

CB - Tye Hill (2003-2005)

First team All-American in 2005 who had 54 tackles and 3 interceptions. The converted tailback had 21 passes broken up in 2004 and became a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams.

SS - Brian Dawkins (1992-1995)

This is an absolute no-brainer. Dawkins, who was a three-time All-ACC performer and second team All-American in 1995, will someday be in the NFL Hall of Fame. In 1995 Dawkins had 89 tackles to go along with 6 interceptions.

FS - Robert Carswell (1997-2000)

This was a tough pick but Carswell was a third-team All-American in 2000. He was a two-time First Team All-ACC pick as a free safety in 1999 and 2000. He had 129 tackles in 1999 and 6 interceptions, followed up by a 92 tackle, 2 interception performance the following year.

P - Chris Gardocki (1988-1990)

Two-time All-American in 1989 and 1990. Had 24 touchbacks on kickoffs in 1990 while also going 22-28 on field goals. He was a perfect 72-72 on extra points throughout his career. First team All-ACC in 1990 and 1989, 2nd team in 1988. He is also Clemson's career leader in punting average at 43. 48.

PK - Nelson Welch (1991-1994)

Third team All-American in 1992; First team All-ACC in 1991, second team All-ACC '92-'94. Hit on 72-101 field goal attempts and 301 points in his career.

Second team:

QB - Charlie Whitehurst
RB - James Davis, Travis Zachery
WR - Chansi Stuckey, Jacoby Ford, Tony Horne, Terry Smith
TE - Lamont Hall
OL - Dustin Fry, Glenn Roundtree, Will Young, Barry Richardson, Jim Bundren
K - Jad Dean
P - Kevin Laird

DE - Phillip Merling, Bryant McNeal
DT - Brentson Buckner, Donnell Washington
LB - Ed McDaniel, Leroy Hill, Chad Carson, Rahim Abdullah
DB - Justin Miller, DeAndre McDaniel, Dexter McCleon, Michael Hamlin

Best Christmas Movies

'Tis the season where all of our holiday classics come back to life either on DVD, television or for the really cherished relics - the VCR. It's personally not truly Christmas for me unless I see certain films this time of year. Like looking at lights or decorating the tree, viewing(s) of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and "A Christmas Story" are a tradition I have to take part in. Without further ado, here is a list of my personal Top 5 Christmas movies:

1.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

No matter how many times I see Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) rant about his "brainless ,dickless, hopeless" boss I can't help but crack up. This John Hughes' classic really illustrates that no matter how much we try to make every Christmas the idealized, Norman Rockwell-inspired holiday, we often fall short. This film also shows that that's ok, and you can still have a great time being less than perfect. From crazy cousin Eddie to the snoddy neighbors (one of which played by pre-Seinfeld Julia Louis-Dreyfus), this movie piles on the holiday disasters with hilarious consequences.

2.) A Christmas Story (1983)

Never have the words "you'll shoot you're eye out" ever caused such a frenzy. The prophecy of doom that accompanied the inclusion of a Red Rider B-B gun on little Ralphie Parker's (Peter Billingsley) Christmas list fueled one of the funniest Christmas films ever made. What makes this film such a holiday staple is it's midwestern-based values and familiarity. It has a uniquely American feel to it that transcends generations and takes all of us back to the time when we too wrote letters to Santa Claus and could barely sleep a wink on December 24th. Based on the material from short stories by Jean Shepherd, TBS now airs 24 hours straight of "A Christmas Story" on December 24-25th.

3.) Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

Mickey Mouse plays Bob Cratchit in Disney's animated version of the Charles Dickens' classic. Ebenezer Scrooge is portrayed by the aptly named Scrooge McDuck, and the usual cast of characters fill in the other roles admirably. One reason I rank this film so highly is that it actually does a good job of depicting real emotion. At the end of Scrooge's visit from the Ghost of Christmas Future, he falls into his own crypt. The flames emanating from his coffin, coupled with his own struggle to maintain grasp of the root that prevents him from tumbling into it, create a very powerful scene for an animated film. Also, for some reason, I find the way Tiny Tim is depicted in this film more sympathy-inducing than in other adaptations. Disney presents Tiny Tim as a child who has a fighting chance but will not survive in his current economic situation, which is very difficult to evoke in an animated feature.

4.) White Christmas (1954)

This oldie is a classic simply because of Bing Crosby's timeless song of the same name. It is campy at times, as are most movies in the musical genre. Crosby and Danny Kaye's performance however is very good and something about this film just reeks of winter days, Christmas trees, stockings and goodwill towards man. I find that it serves as a Christmas pep rally of sorts.

5.) Bad Santa (2003)

Ok....so it's not really a "Christmas" movie. It is actually a very vulgar movie that earns every bit of it's R-rating. I can say as well that if I do not see this movie around Christmastime that's ok; it's just as enjoyable in June. However, it is hilarious and Billy Bob Thornton is the ultimate curmudgeon as Willie, the drunken, horny mall santa on a crime binge. Beyond all of the swearing and poor morals exhibited by almost all of the characters in the film, it is actually a movie with a good heart behind the crusty exterior. Willie befriends a young boy named Thurman Murman (portrayed by Brett Kelly and credited only as "The Kid") who is bullied and hardly has any guidance from home. Seeing an opportunity to take advantage Thurman, Willie moves in with him as a hideout of sorts until he and his compandre Marcus can rob the mall where they work behind the guise of Santa and his elf. Through it all Willie becomes attached and protective of Thurman and grows to be a sort of father-figure for the boy. This movie really morphs into a real-life story of the Grinch in that Willie came into town to live a lie, steal and get out but winds up staying and finding a home.

Honorable mentions for me include your typical holiday classics such as "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Home Alone" but those listed above really put me in the holiday spirit (except for "Bad Santa", which just makes me laugh).

Heisman Trophy Update

After rivalry week the Heisman campaigns of some received a major boost while some took a step back. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who exploded for 304 yards passing with 4 TDs and another 175 yards rushing in a hard-fought win over rival Texas A&M, saw his campaign roar back to life. He now stands as a serious contender when only a few weeks ago he was on the outside looking in. Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, who became the NCAA all-time leader in kickoff returns for touchdowns, accomplished little else in a 34-17 beatdown by the University of South Carolina. Spiller had a fumble, 18 yards rushing and 19 yards receiving. He did secure the kickoff returns record on an 88-yard return for a score in the first quarter but had little else go his way on Saturday. The same can be said for Alabama's Mark Ingram. He managed only 30 yards rushing on 16 attempts against Auburn as the Tide narrowly escaped the upset. Freshman running back Trent Richardson actually received the bulk of the work late in the game as the Tide clawed back to win the game.

Florida quarterback took advantage of the lowly Florida State defense in his last appearance at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, a.k.a. "The Swamp" in their 37-10 thwarting of the Seminoles. Tebow finished 17-21 for 221 yards passing and added 90 yards to go with 3 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing in the contest. Stanford tailback Toby Gerhart had a monster game to push the Cardinal past a pesky Notre Dame squad as well. Gerhart ran 29 times for 205 yards en route to finding the endzone three times.

After this past Saturday it's very long shot odds now for Spiller. He would have to come up huge in the conference championship game against Georgia Tech, who themselves were upset by rival Georgia. Even with a monster game against the Yellow Jackets, Spiller will still be on a 4 loss team in a mediocre conference. While no one questions his incredible ability and impact on the Tigers' success, few will give the award to a noteworthy player on just a "good" team. The same can be said for Tebow, in my opinion. While he plays on a great team he has only good numbers. He is projected to throw for only 18 touchdowns this year, which is certainly not a bad year but a far cry from a Heisman year. Nevertheless, when on an undefeated team a big performance in the SEC title game could put him back in the top 3. Especially since the winner of that game earns the right to play for the national title.

At this point my vote would go to Gerhart. He has put up huge numbers for a team that clearly would not be where they are without him. McCoy was also very impressive against the Aggies and can further add to his chances with a similar performance against fellow Heisman competitor Ndamukong Suh and Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship. If his undefeated squad wins, then they will face the SEC Champion for the BCS national championship. My order at this late juncture would be as follows:

1.) Toby Gerhart
2.) Colt McCoy
3.) Mark Ingram
4.) CJ Spiller
5.) Tim Tebow

Heisman Trophy Candidates

As the college football season comes to an end, the postseason award race begins to heat up. No award is bigger in college football than the Heisman Memorial Trophy. This year, unlike season’s past, the race is still somewhat up in the air and there is no clear-cut favorite or favorites. Oddly enough all three finalists for the award last season returned to school and it is very likely none will be returning this year. Sam Bradford, last year’s winner, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and has been out of the race for some time. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is having a very good season for the undefeated and 3rd-ranked Longhorns, but not a spectacular one. The same goes for Florida’s Tim Tebow who became the first underclassmen to win the award in 2007. Despite the Gators top-ranking and undefeated season, Tebow is not having the kind of individual statistics that usually accompany the winner of the Heisman.

This season it appears that the award may go to one of a bevy of talented running backs. Gene Menez of CNNSI.com has running backs as his top 3 spots as of November 16th. Leading the way for Menez, and many other pundits, is sophomore Mark Ingram of the 2nd-ranked (and undefeated) Alabama Crimson Tide. Ingram has rushed for 1,297 yards (6.6 ypc) and 10 touchdowns. He also has 25 receptions for 225 yards and 3 more scores. He has been the workhorse for the Tide who will play Tebow’s Gators for the SEC Championship in a game laden with subplots.

Toby Gerhart is a 235 lbs. bruiser who is spearheading Jim Harbaugh’s Stanford team. His stock has soared in recent weeks as the 14th-ranked Cardinal have beaten then-number 8 Oregon and then-9th-ranked Southern California in consecutive weeks. He has rushed for 1,395 yards and with 19 trips to the endzone. His team has Rose Bowl hopes, which would only strengthen his case, and ends their regular season on the national stage on Nov. 28 against beleaguered Notre Dame.

CJ Spiller has done it all this season for the 18th-ranked Clemson Tigers. He has 836 yards rushing, 382 yards receiving, and a combined 734 on returns with a combined 15 total touchdowns after his touchdown pass this past Saturday. He is 3rd in the nation in all-purpose yards and had an incredible string of a big-plays early in the season where he had a play of 60 yards or longer in the Tigers’ first 6 games. Hindering his chances are the fact that his team is 7-3, but they control their own destiny in their division and can reach the ACC Championship Game with a win Saturday over Virginia. A big game to clinch the division followed by stellar performances against rival South Carolina and 7th-ranked Georgia Tech in the conference championship would bolster his chances.

Jordan Shipley is a player I am surprised is not higher on many lists. The senior wide receiver for the Longhorns is McCoy’s favorite target and roommate. After battling serious knee injuries throughout the early part of his career, the 23-year old has 81 receptions for 1,096 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also has 2 touchdowns this season from punt returns. I have to speculate that his chances are hurt by the fact that he is on the same team with McCoy and voters may speculate is he a fortunate recipient of a great quarterback?

Ndamukong Suh is the only defensive player on many lists. The Nebraska defensive tackle has been a dominant force upfront all season and has 13 tackles for loss to go along with 5 sacks and 56 tackles. He has also blocked 3 kicks this season. Ultimately, there is a very slim chance that any defense-only player will ever win this award, especially an interior lineman that may well dominate the game by tying up the opposing teams offensive linemen and allowing his linebackers free to roam and make plays. Those are not the kinds of plays that make Sportscenter’s Top 10.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball, Tennessee safety Eric Berry has had a fantastic season for the Volunteers. Berry, who is on pace for an 84 tackle season, who has 2 interceptions just won’t have eye-popping enough numbers for a defensive player to win the award on a team that is 5-5.

If I were voting, I would probably give it to Ingram but Spiller makes a strong case. Even without my Clemson bias I can see that he is the best overall football player in the nation. He has done it all and he has incredible physical talent. He is one of the fastest players in the country and is the biggest home run threat in the country. I ultimately give the nod to Ingram however due to his consistency and ability to step up and carry his team in big games this season when their passing game wasn’t getting the job done. The next month should be very interesting in how the Heisman race unfolds. If Ingram fumbles away the SEC Championship or Spiller runs away from the Cavaliers, Gamecocks and Jackets then we may have a different verdict. Same goes for a Gerhart-led Cardinal making its way to the Rose Bowl.

Greatest College Football Team Ever?

With the college football season less than one week away, the discussion has already begun as to where this year's Florida Gators stacks up historically. With virtually everyone of importance returning from last season's national championship team and a living college legend at quarterback, many are hailing them as the heirs to the 'greatest of all-time' throne. Obviously, this is all null and void if they do not defend their national championship in January, but it makes for interesting discussion presently.

In 2005, the University of Southern California Trojans were trying to win their third straight national championship. Heisman-winning quarterback Matt Leinart, all-everything tailback Reggie Bush and a bevy of talent on both sides of the ball earned them a preseason #1 ranking. The Trojans dashed through the regular season undefeated, surviving a scare from Notre Dame in South Bend and a feisty Fresno State team along the way. Bush went on to win the Heisman and helped lead the Trojans to the BCS National Championship game where they faced the Texas Longhorns and quarterback Vince Young, the Heisman runner-up. In an epic game that highlighted one of the great personal performances of all-time by Young, the Trojans were upset in the Rose Bowl, 41-38. While this loss forever kept them from being included in the pantheon of all-time greats, the Trojans did enjoy a run of success that included back-to-back national championships in 2003 (which they split with LSU) and 2004. This season's Florida team, much like USC previously, will be shooting for their third national title in the decade.


Why the 2009 Gators Could Be Great

It all starts with the man under center - Tim Tebow. CNNSI.com college football writer Stewart Mandel recently published an article about Tebow's place in history, and his numbers stack up to anyone's. A true dual threat, the 6'3" 245 lbs. Tebow can lower his shoulder and run over a linebacker or step up in the pocket and deliver a downfield strike. His leadership abilities have become the stuff of legend. Last season he threw 30 touchdowns against only 4 interceptions. He passed for 2,746 yards while rushing for 673 and 12 more scores en route to being the Heisman runner-up. The previous season, in which he became the first underclassmen to win the Heisman, he rushed for 23 TDs, threw for 32 and passed for over 3,000 yards. He is joined by a stellar offensive line and some of the speediest (albeit undersized) tailbacks in the nation with Chris Rainey (652 yards, 4 TDs last season) and Jeff Demps (605 yards, 7 TDs).


The receiving corps lost Percy Harvin to the Minnesota Vikings but returns stellar tight end Aaron Hernandez (34 receptions, 5 TDs). Riley Cooper, Deonte Thompson and a cast of former blue chip recruits will be on the receiving end of Tebow's tosses. The offensive line returns twin brothers Maurkice and Mike Pouncey at the guard spots and LT Carl Johnson.

The defense returns all 11 starters from last season, most notably MLB Brandon Spikes. Return man Brandon James, a diminutive scatback at 5'7", is a constant threat as well to take every return to the endzone.

The Gators will likely be favored in every game on their schedule, although there are some potential setbacks in the always brutal SEC. October 10th is a night game at LSU, which promises to be a tough, physical battle. On Halloween the Gators square off against the Georgia Bulldogs in one of the most heated rivalries in college sports. However, this year's Gators will be seen as a dissapointment if they are not playing in the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010.

Who is the Greatest of All-Time?


Recent teams that are currently up for the crown have to start with the 2001 Miami Hurricanes. With safety Ed Reed, running back Clinton Portis, tight end Jeremy Shockey, wide receiver Andre Johnson, two-time All-American offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, and Maxwell Award-winning quarterback Ken Dorsey leading the way, the Hurricanes steamrolled through much of college football. Their only true challenge came against #14 Virginia Tech, which they defeated 26-24. They claimed the national championship by defeating 4th-ranked Nebraska in the Rose Bowl 37-14. Their explosive offense averaged 42.6 ppg while the defense allowed a stingy 9.7. This team produced an astounding 16 first-round NFL draft picks.

The 2004 USC Trojans were the second team in college football history to go "wire-to-wire", meaning that they entered the season ranked #1 and never faltered en route to a 13-0 season. Leinart won the Heisman and the world was introduced to Reggie Bush and his elusive moves in the open field. He was joined in the backfield by the bruising LenDale White. They averaged 38.2 ppg and allowed a paltry 13.0 ppg. They defeated #2 Oklahoma 55-19 in the Sugar Bowl, dominating the game from start to finish and leaving little doubt as to who the best team in the country was.

The 1999 Florida State team became the first team in college football history to go "wire-to-wire" in going 12-0. Quarterback Chris Weinke, who won the Heisman Trophy, passed for 25 TDs, many of which went to two-time All-American Peter Warrick. The Seminoles survived a few close calls against #10 Georgia Tech, #19 Miami, and unranked Clemson in the first ever meeting between father and son head coaches when Bobby Bowden narrowly beat son Tommy. They also defeated #3 Florida 30-23 at The Swamp to close out the regular season. The Seminoles offense averaged 38.2 ppg and the defense gave up 16.9.

The 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers and their triple option running attack pummelled the college football landscape despite being ranked #2 for most of the season. Heisman-winning quarterback Tommie Frazier rushed for 803 yards and 16 TDs while passing for 1,467 and 18 more scores against only 6 INTs. He was joined in the backfield by future NFL running backs Ahman Green (1,086, 13 TDs) and Lawrence Phillips. The defense was highlighted by defensive back Mike Minter, and defensive linemen Mike Rucker, Christian Peter and Grant Wistrom. This team averaged an unbelievable 52. 4 ppg and allowed only 12.1 ppg. Perhaps most impressively, the Huskers embarrassed the #2-ranked Florida Gators, 62 - 24. Their closest contest was a 35-21 win over Washington State. They defeated four top ten teams as well, the closest of which was a 44-21 win over #7 Colorado. This was their second consecutive national title.




Who Is the "Greatest"?

While it is pretty unimportant and impossible to prove, I believe that the greatest college football team ever (or at least in the past 25 years) is the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers. While the 2001 Miami team may have been more talented, no team has dominated their opponents the way that Husker team did. Coached by the venerable Tom Osborne, the Huskers ran the option with surgical precision. Frazier was a better runner than passer, but he did both with aplomb. Ahman Green and Lawrence Phillips were bullish runners with speed, and the way their defense absolutely shut down the Gators and the vaunted Steve Spurrier offense in the Fiesta Bowl was shocking. By the numbers this team was incomparable. Offensively, they averaged 556.3 yards per game while giving up only 294. They averaged a shade under 400 on the ground per game and allowed only 78.3. They forced 20 interceptions.

The 2001 Hurricanes are a close - and a very close - second. They may have had the greatest defense college football has ever seen. However, in my opinion, physically this Nebraska team was just more dominant. They didn't beat teams, as the other contenders for this crown did, they beat them up. Their offensive line was a punishing group of Midwesterners that left a collection of bodies in their wake. Ahman Green and Lawrence Phillips were lethal whether was running to the outside or up the middle. The only weakness of that Huskers team was their receivers, which was largely due to their lack of use - not talent. Likewise, Miami had a fantastic offensive line in 2001 that rarely allowed Dorsey to be touched while looking downfield. However, one big factor is that Osborne was a far better coach than Larry Coker of Miami. Should these two teams meet in some mythical, winner-take-all game for the ages, look for Osborne's team to be better prepared and win a bruiser over the 2001 'Canes.

Thoughts on Mark Sanford and Michael Jackson

The last full week in June was one of the most eventful in recent memory. Gov. Mark Sanford (R) admitted to having an extramarital affair and Michael Jackson died unexpectedly. First things first...

SC Governor Mark Sanford

Mark Sanford, who I had previously criticized for refusing federal stimulus money, was nowhere to be found early in the week. Early reports were that he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Then it was that he was writing, too. Either way he was clearing his mind and there was nothing to worry about, although leaving your state abruptly and not leaving any plans in place while you are away is bizarre. Then word came that he had been in South America and the proverbial cat was out of the bag. This was followed by a press conference in which he announced that he was actually engaged in an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina. This was a stunning announcement by Sanford, who was considered one of the most conservative of all conservatives. He is a supporter of teacher-led prayer in public schools as well as displaying the Ten Commandments in them as well.



Personally, after reading his personal e-mails to his mistress published by The State newspaper, he is in a relationship with this 'other woman' called Maria. There e-mails are very thoughtful and well-written, and appear to me to be more about just animal lust and the thrill of a new experience. However, the hypocrisy is almost too much to take. Sanford, as many of the more outspoken in his party, has thrived by riding a very high horse. He was the poster child of "values" and "conservative ideals". Newsweek hailed him as "The Last Conservative Standing". He was one of the most ardent accusers of Bill Clinton during his Lewinsky scandal. And here he is embroiled in the same thing himself. Certainly the damage to his family is significant and quite possibly impossible to repair. While it would be easy to take shots at him one must also remember that there are children involved in this and that they are all 'real people', not characters on a television show. I will whole-heartedly say that I disagree with many of Sanford's political decisions and cheating on a spouse is always wrong. I also will say though that I hope that some good comes out of this. If it is time for Sanford and his wife, Jenny, to split then they should do just that. When the trust leaves a relationship there is little else to stand on and I truly wish them well as they sort out their future.



Michael Jackson passed away surprisingly yesterday at 50 years of age. The cause of death, while still being investigated, is listed as cardiac arrest. While he has been no stranger to controversy, it's indisputable that he is one of, if not the, greatest performer and pop star of all time. Unfortunately he is a picture of tragedy. He was a household name as a child singing with his siblings in The Jackson 5. His father, who was emotionally and physically abusive, pushed his children and molded his children into a top-selling R&B group. Following the success of his time in The Jackson 5 (later The Jacksons) he went on to have unprecedented solo success.

In 1979 he released Off the Wall, which went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide. This was followed in 1982 by Thriller. This album would become the best selling album of all-time and also ushered in the music video, as the video for the title track was nearly as legendary as the album itself. Thriller contained seven top 10 singles, won 7 Grammy Awards and, according to the Guinness Book of World Records had sold 65 million copies worldwide as of 2007.

Bad was released in 1987 and became the first (and only) album to have five number 1 singles. It was another mind-blowing success, netting sales of 30 million worldwide as of 2008. Shortly thereafter he purchased land in Santa Ynez, California where he built Neverland Ranch. In 1988 he released his autobiography entitled Moon Walk, which reached the top spot on the New York Times bestseller list. His next album, Dangerous (1991), went on to sell another 30+ million copies worldwide. This was followed by HIStory, the best-selling multiple-disc album of all-time, and his last studio album Invincible in 2001.

Despite his truly amazing album catalog, critical and commercial success, Jackson became a lightning rod for controversy throughout his career. His numerous rhinoplasty surgeries caused his facial features to change constantly over the years. It all began in 1979 when he broke his nose practicing a complex dance routine. His initial surgery left him with difficulty breathing and this lead to more surgeries thereafter. He was severely burned in 1984 by a pyrotechnics when filming a Pepsi commercial. He also grew more pale as the years passed and rumors swirled that he was bleaching his skin. These were ultimately untrue as it was discoveredd that he was diagnosed with a somewhat rare skin disease called vitiligo as well as the potentially life-threatening lupus. Treatments for both conditions lightened his skin, and the make-up applied to even out blotches in his skin made his apperance even more pale. Many speculated that he suffered from anorexia nervosa as well as body dysmorphic disorder. The former would explain his periods of weight loss and the latter was another sign of a distorted and overly critical self-image problem he had.

In 1993 he endured the greatest public image setback of his life. He was accused of molesting a 13-year old boy. Due to genitalia descriptions by the boy, Jackson was subjected to a strip search by investigators. The matter was settled out of court and the family of the boy refused to continue with criminal charges. The state closed its investigation thereafter siting lack of evidence. During this time Jackson became addicted to several pain killers and rarely ate. In 1994 he surprisingly married Lisa Marie Pressley, the daughter of the legendary Elvis Pressley. Their marriage lasted less than 2 years. He also had a pet monkey named Bubbles, which made him the butt of many jokes. In 2003 he was again accused of child molestation by another 13-year old. During this trial former child actor Macauley Culkin testified in Jackson's defense that despite spending considerable time together in his youth nothing inappropriate ever occurred. As before, he was acquitted of all charges. However, his preference for spending large amounts of time with children kept him under considerable scrutiny.

Jackson was both a living legend and mystery. He had a very damaging, abusive and stressful childhood if it can be considered as such. His father was overbearing and would allow nothing other than perfection from Michael and the rest of the Jackson 5. Michael also was subjected to listening to his older brothers have sex with women while he uncomfortably tried to sleep. It appears that Michael was always striving to recapture his lost childhood. This was further evidenced by his Neverland Ranch, named after "the boy who never grew up", Peter Pan. His self image was almost certainly negative, as he battled with frequent weight loss and suspected anorexia. His frequent plastic surgeries left him looking later in his life very little like the young boy that won over America's hearts in the 1960s. He undoubtedly had many strange characteristics, most notably his friendship with young boys. But one must ask was this a sexual attraction or a longing to compensate for something that he himself had not been afforded? It is indisputable that he was a once-in-a-lifetime musician and performer. His legacy in that regard will forever be cemented. Unfortunately his enduring legacy may well be one of a child trapped in a man's body. He lived an embattled adulthood rife with controversy, allegations, debt and strange actions. He did, after all, dangle his infant child over a hotel balcony and wore pajama pants to a court appearance.

The changing face of Michael Jackson from past to present.

Despite all of his eccentricities, I feel that Jackson was more malcontent than monster. He was forever chasing the impossible. He was never 'accepted' for a mortal child by his father but sought love by being the perfect performer. Being on stage was his outlet and also his torment. It was his place of refuge but there was also a level of success on it that even he could not reach. No one could. It is reported that he was dissapointed by the success of Off the Wall despite it's large record sales. His father begrudged him for his pug nose as a child and his acne. He was never allowed to have a Christmas or holidays due to his schedule and celebrity. He will most likely forever remain a difficult person to truly understand unless some revelations come out now that he has passed. I have heard people make jokes recently about him and that is to be expected, but I will forever remember him as the once seeminly invincible superstar he was when I was a child. He was larger than life on stage and on the charts. Professionally he had the "Midas Touch" and I hope that his legacy is one of awe-inspiring musical success and not one of mind-numbing personal struggle.

re: Lebron vs. Jordan first 6 seasons

ESPN erroneously stated in an article comparing Lebron James to Michael Jordan that Lebron has had a superior start to his career when you compare the two players first 6 seasons. Since I am not an ESPN Insider I could not read the article, just the beginning which stated the above comment. I do not know if ESPN came to reality and only had an attention grabbing start to their article before coming to their senses, but it is clear Jordan has been superior to Lebron. Compare the statistics of the two players (note: Jordan's second season, in which he only played in 18 games due to injury, is excluded) Statistical leaders are bold.

Jordan averages first 6 seasons:

32.9 PPG, 6.35 RPG, 6.0 APG, 2.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 3.16 TO
52.5 FG% , 24.2 3P%, 84.8 FT%, 39.15 MPG

James averages first 6 seasons:

27.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.68 APG, 1.75 SPG, 0.85 BPG, 3.28 TO
46.9 FG%, 32.5 3P%, 73.8 FT%, 40.5 MPG

Clearly, Jordan holds the advantage thus far. He shot a much higher percentage from the field and charity stripe, scored more points, collected more steals and blocked shots, and committed fewer turnovers while playing fewer minutes (essentially doing more in less time). Expectedly, Lebron has more rebounds and assists and a slightly better assist/turnover ratio. He is also a better outside shooter. However, the rebound and shot blocking are an eye-opener. Jordan, a 6'6" guard, had more blocked shots and nearly as many rebounds as the 6'8" James, who is a forward. Lebron is an amazing player, a certain Hall of Famer, and will be mentioned with the greatest of all-time. But to think he has surpassed Jordan at this juncture in their careers is certainly incorrect.

The Anti-Tax Tea Parties

Earlier this month, 'patriotic' Americans engaged in tea parties to show their disagreement with the Obama Administrations spending. By any measure government spending has been unrestrained in Obama's first 100 days. Americans who are adamantly opposed to taxation have every right to voice that displeasure, as well. Obviously, this is the United States of America, where we have the ability to say what we feel. Unfortunately, this tea party is more hollow partisanship than the true exercising of Constitutional rights. I am sure there are many among the tea party participants who have harbored resentment toward the IRS, the government, the tax code, etc. for several years that were elated to have an avenue to protest. This is certainly their perogative and I cannot fault them. However, for the right-wingers in the crowd who are strictly anti-Obama this is just hypocrisy. Where were these whistle-blowing patriots for the last 8 years? If you are going to be against absurd government spending now then you should have been against it then, too. George W. Bush increased government spending more than any president since Lyndon Johnson (http://www.independent.org/newsroom/news_detail.asp?newsID=31) See also http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-04-02-federal-spending_x.htm.

It is impossible to argue that Obama's spending has not been unprecedented, and to be sure he has spent more than Bush. However, the circumstances are hardly similar. Obama came into office facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression with wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush entered office 9 months prior to the September 11th attacks. Whether or not the Obama administration can salvage the financial system through its spending remains to be seen, but they have the luxury of the remainder of his term to right the ship. Bush is out after two terms of record spending. How did all of these tea party attendess suddenly realize the government was spending money it doesn't have? Is it because they suddenly started reading the Wall Street Journal or is it because they are upset their candidate lost in November?

Michael Jordan - The Greatest of All-Time

Yesterday Michael Jordan was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame and will be inducted in September along with David Robinson, John Stockton, Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer. This adds even more accolades to the man widely considered the best to ever play the game. Jordan displayed a mood ESPN morning show host Mike Greenberg aptly described as "melancholy" about the accomplishment. Always the consumate competitor, Jordan appeared almost upset that this signaled the true end to his basketball playing career. He even admitted as much at yesterday's press conference.



"I don't like being up here for the Hall of Fame because at that time your basketball career is completely over. I was hoping this day would be 20 more years, or actually go in when I'm dead and gone."

Jordan retired twice from professional basketball during his career. The first to try his hand at professional baseball after the tragic murder of his father. He had lead the Chicago Bulls to three consecutive NBA championships from 1991-1993 immediately before his shocking retirement. After his baseball career yielded dissapointing results, he announced famously "I'm back" on March 18, 1995. He rejoined the Chicago Bulls the next day and played against the Indiana Pacers, scoring 19 points. He then engineered the Bulls to three more consecutive championships in 1996-1998, and retired following their sixth and final title.





In 2000, Jordan became part owner and President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. His competitiveness and self-confidence would soon get the best of him, and in 2001 he suited up for the Wizards at the age of 38. While he was clearly not "Air" Jordan at almost 40, he did have an impressive season, averaging 22.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.2 apg and 1.4 spg. The final season of his career saw him average 20 points per game at 40 years of age.

The list of career accomplishments is astounding. For example:

- NCAA Champion (1982) - University of North Carolina

- John R. Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of the Year, The Sporting News College Player of the Year, and ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year (1984)

- 2-time Olympic gold medal winner (1984 & 1992)

- NBA Rookie of the Year (1985)

- 6 NBA championships, winning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player six times.

- Lead the NBA in scoring 10 seasons, including 7 consecutive

- 5 NBA MVP awards

- 10-time All-NBA First Team

- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988), 9-time NBA All-Defensive First-Team

- 14-time NBA All-Star, 3-time NBA All-Star game MVP

- 2nd all-time list in career steals

- Most career blocked shots by a guard

- 2-time NBA Slam Dunk competition champion

- Lead the Chicago Bulls to an NBA-best season record of 72-10 in 1995-96 season.

More accomplishments listed at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Michael_Jordan

Random Thoughts and Such

Music Notes:

- Writing the Death Magnetic review got me in a musical mood. I have yet to hear Mastodon's newest album Crack the Skye but I anxiously await doing so. Their previous albums have all revolved around a central concept and this one is no different. The concept behind this album is actually up for debate, as some members of the band itself have varying ideas of what that is ( http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113220. ).

- If you've never listened to a Mastodon song be prepared. While they are a hard-charging metal band that can blow ear drums with their volume and intensity, they also are a very cerebral band. The Atlanta-based group features songs that play out like a movie in that you can notice something unique and different about it each time you hear it.

- I have a newfound appreciation for another hard rock track. Rollins Band has a song called "Starve" that I simply cannot get enough of.

Mark Sanford

- SC Governor, Mark Sanford-R, has been in a well-publicized contest with the White House over the use of the $787 billion stimulus package. He claims that it just delays the inevitable and the state will have to pay back the money, and he is willing to take the state with the second highest unemployment rate and guarantee that number to increase without the funds from the government. Without stimulus funds, 500 teachers in Greenville County alone will lose their jobs. While some argue that the stimulus money for education goes towards school "beautification" projects, it is a certainty that teachers and other school employees will lose their jobs. It is baffling to me that Sanford, who was quoted in The Greenville News saying his decision is based on his personal values, would put his beliefs ahead of the jobs of the people who elected him. This is another example of Sanford's decommitment to public education besides the fact that South Carolina college tuition has risen under his leadership. Aside from this, with South Carolina a perennial bottom feeder in national education statistics, teacher lay-offs will guarantee higher student-to-teacher ratios; further increasing the strain on educators to reach the needs of their students. Maybe you see it differently, but having two parents that are educators I have witnessed first-hand that the positive impact the stimulus funds on protecting the jobs of teachers and faculty is a certainty.

Quarterbacks Near and Far

- On a lighter note, Byrnes product Willy Korn is in a true battle with redshirt freshman Kyle Parker for the starting quarterback job for this coming fall. While this is a surprise to many, and honestly it is to me somewhat, Parker was a highly acclaimed prospect in his own right out of high school. Both were members of the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp and Parker is probably the better athlete as he stars on the Clemson baseball team, too. This will certainly be one of the more interesting duals to watch before the season kicks off.

- New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler may bemoan his trade demands from Denver. The Broncos new coach and former New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels had hoped to trade for quarterback Matt Cassel from the Patriots. This did not work out, and Cutler felt betrayed by his new coach. This is a completely logical feeling for Cutler to have, especially after having as impressive a season as he had last year. However, Cutler's unwillingness to get over this fact lead to his trade last week to Chicago. The grass may have looked greener elsewhere for Cutler, but he now takes the reins of an offense with little star power, and no proven target for him to throw to. Denver now has the 12th and 18th picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, and could use one of those on Southern Cal quarterback Mark Sanchez. It would be highly ironic if McDaniels chose him seeing as Cassell is himself a former Trojan. Maybe McDaniels just wants a Trojan to lead his team one way or another.

New (Old) Album Review - Metallica "Death Magnetic"

Metallica released Death Magnetic back in September and I am just now writing my review of it. I am an unapologetic Metallica fan, but I tried as hard as I could to listen to this album critically. I also feel that the new has 'worn off' and I can give a more accurate assessment after 7 months of listening to it. (Note: The 1-10 scale is against other Metallica songs. I feel it is best to judge Metallica against themselves as they have such an extensive catalog and not against all songs of all genres)



Overall: I'll start general and get specific with a track-by-track breakdown. Overall though I would give this album a 7.5 on a 1-10 scale. It is great to hear Kirk Hammett shredding like it's 1986 again, and for Metallica music to have an aggression and thrash again. However, it's not 1986 and this is not Master of Puppets and it's not Ride The Lightning, either. While many Metallica fans would like to hear a rehash of their 80s sound, that is an unrealistic expectation. It is impossible to ask middle-aged millionaires to summon the anger and angst they felt as up-and-coming 20-somethings. Any attempt to do so would come across completely fake. Death Magnetic offers up a band that has not lost their brutality or vitality, but is more energetic and spry than sinister. It is also less of a return to their roots and more of a compilation of all of their previous work and influences. After 7 months it is still on heavy rotation in my cd player, which is a testament to the staying power of the album itself. More importantly, Metallica as a band is relevant again. Despite all of the turmoil with Napster, the dreadful St. Anger, and Jason Newsted's departure they too have proven that their resiliency is as steely as ever.



Track by Track Review:

1.) That Was Just Your Life

This track starts the album off with a bang. It is arguably the best song on the album and their best opening track since Blackened. It has a frenetic pace and is as explosive and volatile as any track the band has to offer. This song unquestionably awakens the demons of the past. Hammett blisters the track with one of his signature solos, further evidence that the lack of solos on St. Anger were a terrible omission. He wastes no time in establishing himself here. This song is an instant Metallica classic. The only slight deduction I would take away from this song is James Hetfield's voice. It is as strong as it can be and sounds better than it has in years, but it's not as strong as the song itself.

Rating: 9/10



2.) The End of the Line

An epic song which mirrors Master of Puppets in structure, this track is standard for a second track on a Metallica album. It has a strong, deliberate opening riff and keeps a rapid pace, although not as fast as its predecessor. This song, like MOP, is about battling addictions and how it can rob a person of their life. It does have a little slowdown in the middle that, to me, takes something away from the song. It does regain momentum but something about the break gives it a radio-friendly, Load-ish vibe that seems a bit forced.

Rating: 6.5/10



3.) Broken, Beat and Scarred

This song is a bit of a conundrum. On one hand it has a really good, Black Album flow to it and reflects well the best elements of the blue collar, 1990s side of the band. It also has a strong resolve to it that gives it a powerful, "us against the world" message. On the other, it has some of the weaker lyrics on the album and can border on corny.

The chorus consists of Hetfield howling out "What don't kill ya make ya more strong!". For some reason the "ya" irritates me. Why could the liner notes not say "you"? I know this is a small annoyance from an otherwise strong song, but it does deserve a deduction to me. This song was very good live, as all of the songs performed from this album were, so that counts for something. This song lends itself better to a tough workout or concert arena than it does in a setting where lyrics are less important than attitude or motivation. What it lacks in brains it makes up for in brawn.

Rating: 6/10



4.) The Day That Never Comes

This was the first single off of this album, and for good reason. It sounds the most polished and radio-friendly. It uses a common Metallica theme in that of an abusive relationship, presumably parental anger directed towards a child. This song suffers from a St. Anger problem, however. It is the most disjointed song on DM. It starts off slow, then builds with some admittedly strong riffs, and then into full crescendo highlighted by a Hammett solo. Unfortunately the parts of the song do not flow as well as they should and it comes across as a modern-day attempt at One. All-in-all it's not one of the stronger songs.

Rating: 5.5/10



5.) All Nightmare Long

This was a song that I tried to dislike. I initially did not like the name of the song and still have an issue with the lyric "We'll hunt you down all nightmare long" (I prefer "It hunts you down..." or "They'll hunt you down...."). I just don't see the fear in four 40-something millionaires - 3 of which are 5'7" or shorter - coming after me. However, the brutality and ferocity of this song won me over. This song is a full blown acoustic assault. It has traces of Iron Maiden and Slayer in it to go along with the unmistakable Metallica elements. The middle of the song features some of the fastest double bass playing Lars Ulrich has displayed in quite awhile and it flows well with the hostility of the track. It does an excellent job of relaying a sense of predator and prey, also. If only James' voice was at it's pre-2000 level....Still, this song is a mosh pit waiting to happen.

Rating: 8/10



6.) Cyanide

This is another good, solid track. It highlights a sound that is somewhat foreign to Metallica, but I can't put my finger on it. It's most aggressive moments are not characterized by the low, guttural grunts of Hetfield and his guitar, but rather a rapid-fire double bass and almost melodic chorus. It is another strong track live that ultimately lacks some substance. Nevertheless it's a fun ride to listen to and can put a hurting on your ears (and speakers). This is a track that does not sound like any previous Metallica-era but yet displays elements of all of their prior work simultaneously.

Rating: 7/10



7.) The Unforgiven III

I have no idea why they named this song what they did. I do not recall the word "unforgiven" even being mentioned in the song. True to the trilogy, it is the slowest song on the album. If the song had a different title I think it would be much more warmly embraced by fans and critics. I like it, but it does not fit on this album all that well. It is a nice change of pace though and does have some introspective lyrics that are very much like the other Unforgivens. Nevertheless it's not a song you'll hear making its way onto many concert setlists.

Rating: 5/10



8.) The Judas Kiss

This song reminds me of Leper Messiah if it were all grown up. It is hard and heavy, and if it were on either of the Loads would have been the hardest song on the album. It has some of the best riffs on the album and finishes strong. It's got the right sound for a radio single. However, it has a slow down in the middle like End of the Line, which hinders it some in my opinion. It rebounds nicely out of it and is a strong track. It also sounds a little bit too polished and fails to maintain its sinister edge throughout. Something about it seems lacking to me, but it's not a track I skip over when I listen to it. This is another track that ends on a strong, raging note.

Rating: 7.0/10



9.) Suicide and Redemption

This is the only instrumental on the disc and the band's first instrumental since Orion. For the record, ...And Justice for All did have an instrumental but I am not counting it as such because it contained about 8 words of mostly spoken lyrics. This song is a welcome change that is well constructed. It does get repetitive and is not as strong as Orion, but is probably as good as (if not better than) Call of Ktulu from Ride the Lightning. The band does a good, cohesive performance on this song and this - along with Cyanide - allow for bassist Robert Trujillo to be heard loud and clear.

Rating - 7.5/10

10.) My Apocalypse

Finally. At long last. This is the balls-to-the-wall, sonic explosion Metallica fans have been itching for since the early 90s. Perhaps the best attribute of this song is that while it has a definitively 80s feel in attitude, it does not try to recreate anything the band made back then. Instead of making an 80s-era thrash track played by men who have changed drastically since then, they made a 2008 thrasher that suits the band members' strengths. Hetfield's voice is at its howling best while Hammett, Trujillo and Ulrich are sharp throughout the song. Combined with some of the most haunting imagery of one's own demise the album has to offer, this is a true return to form for Metallica. This is truly a welcome addition to the band's catalog.

Rating: 9.5/10

Obama First 100 Days: Hits and Misses So Far

President Barack Obama is over halfway through his first 100 days in the White House, and his tenure has been eventful to say the least. He has signed legislation allowing federal funding for stem cell research, a troop withdrawal in Iraq and a massive infusion of money into the country's financial sector. There have been highs and lows, as is the case in any nascient presidency. This post will review a few of Obama's biggest hits and misses so far:

Hits

Campaign Promises: Like them or not, Obama has come through on many of the promises he was elected to enact. According to PolitiFact.com, he has come through on 19 promises, compared to only 3 broken. Included in this are significant decisions such as the Ledbetter law, stem cell research funding, and SCHIP. However, the site lists 44 others as being 'in the works' and it will be interesting to see how those come out.

Troop Withdrawal: Obama's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq received postitive reviews from many on both sides of the aisle. John McCain even came out in support of the move, despite being a harsh critic of Obama's on several other issues.

Retaining Robert Gates: As hard and effective as Obama has been at distancing himself from his predecessor, he did retain the Secretary of Defense. This has allowed some fears about national security to subside and has allowed the communication between those protecting our country to not suffer with a transition.

Misses

Personnel Appointments: The list of pesonnel decisions that have gone awry is long and embarrassing. Back taxes claimed Tom Daschle and very nearly cost embattled Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner his position before it began. Attorney General Eric Holder had questions surrounding him and Judd Gregg's decision to leave the role of Secretary of Commerce only days after accepting. All of these left a definite black eye on the on the administration.

Too Much, Too Soon: While Obama has moved swiftly to resolve the mounting financial crisis, he has also moved rapidly to revolutionize healthcare and investments in education. The $787-billion dollar stimulus package, coupled with the $410-billion omnibus bill and now his hotly contested $3+ trillion budget are all staggering amounts of money. The latest Congressional Budget Office projections also cast a mostly ominous shadow on the long-term effects of the projected budget, as well.

Going Forward

Whoever won the past election, either Obama or McCain, was going to be in for some rough times early in their presidency. Regardless of what John Boehner or Glenn Beck say, Obama truly did inherit the deficit and a woeful economic situation. And the era of so-called "big government" is in the eye of the beholder (i.e. the party making the accusations). After all, government spending increased a whopping 104% during Bush's presidency (Source: http://www.mercatus.org/PublicationDetails.aspx?id=26426). Despite what Rachel Maddow or Keith Olberman say, Obama will have to curtial the national debt at some point and the sooner the better. His administration has been spending at a lighting fast rate, and that is certainly reason for strong concern.

Most of Obama's biggest decisions are too early to rank as a win or loss. Closing Guantanamo Bay was promised by both McCain and Obama in their campaigns. How that situation is resolved will determine its effectiveness, such as what happens to the detainees and how are their cases reviewed?

The same goes for the stimulus plan. If unemployment levels off sooner than later and Americans return to work it will largely be viewed as a success. However if it fails to generate a response and another stimulus is deemed necessary by congress, public opinion will almost certainly sour.

Overall, his first 100 days have been a mixed bag. It is worth noting that while the early returns on the budget proposals are not optimistic, the proposed budget is in its infancy, and was never believed to be implemented exactly as introduced. However, it's hard to believe that their estimates could not foresee detrimental effects on the national debt with the proposed plans and record amounts of spending.

In a side note, while the current economic situation is indeed dire, it is premature to compare it to the Great Depression. The highest projected rate of unemployment for Americans during the current crisis is a little under 10% (Source:http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/02/18/afx6067181.html) . By comparison, during the Great Depression (1933), nearly a quarter of all Americans were unemployed (Source: http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/Timeline.htm). While this is only one statistical comparison, it is still noteworthy.

Michigan - 62 Clemson - 59; Next Year?

Clemson was defeated tonight (as I predicted, unfortunately) by Michigan, 62-59. As has been the story for much of the latter portion of the season, the halfcourt offense revolved around shooting bad shots and missing easy ones. Defensively, Manny Harris frequently had too much room to operate and his teammates' timely outside shooting helped Michigan narrowly escape with a victory. The low point of the game came when Terrence Oglesby, now a rising junior, was ejected after throwing an elbow - and connecting - on a Wolverine defender.

Head coach Oliver Purnell has yet to win a NCAA tournament game. He is 0-2 with Clemson and 0-5 overall in such games. Even though the 2009 tournament is in it's first day, it's now time to look forward to next season for Tiger fans. Which leaves us to ask the question:

What are the prospects for the Tigers next season? (Player class rankings - sophomore, junior, etc. - reflect what they will be next season.)

Coming off back-to-back NCAA tournament berths and three straight 20+ win season, this is a variable 'golden age' for Clemson basketball. Despite his postseason shortcomings, Purnell has unquestionably improved the program considerably in his 6 seasons at the helm. However, next year's team will not feature departing senior K.C. Rivers, who has been a catalyst for much of Purnell's progress. Besides undersized center Trevor Booker (15.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg in '08-'09), next year's team has no real proven commodities. The aforementioned Oglesby is a perennial variable. When he is playing well, he is a truly lethal shooter with a penchant for big shots. However, at his worst he is little more than a defensive liability with an itchy trigger finger.

Point guard is another position of concern entering the offseason. Junior Demontez Stitt is capable of playing well and has had success when he is aggressive. He also has bouts where he is a turnover machine that dribbles into trouble, and he is not a reliable offensive weapon. Sophomore Andre Young is diminutive but displays good range and was a prolific scorer during his prep career. He may have the brightest future at the position. Many Clemson fans hope he can become a Terrell McIntyre-type player, who was the pint-sized point guard who quarterbacked the Tigers during the program's last successful stint in the late 90s.

Booker, a senior, should be the focal point of next season's team. At only 6'7" he lead the ACC in rebounding in 2008-09 and became one of the best inside players in the league. He will most likely be joined down low by junior Jarai Grant, who may prove to be an upgrade over graduating senior Raymond Sykes. To Sykes's credit, he was a high energy player that did alot of the dirty work that does not show up in the stat sheet. Senior David Potter should see increased playing time and potentially start at small forward. He has the ability to hit the long range shot, but it is not his forte. He, like Sykes, is more of a hustle player that is at his best when he is limiting mistakes and taking care of the intangibles. Sophomore Tanner Smith will also log more minutes as a swingman. He is a hustler who is not an overwhelming athlete bit does have some fair offensive skills. He may become more of a weapon as he develops in the offseason.

The real unknown for next season will be the impact of highly-touted freshman Milton Jennings, the program's first McDonald's All-American since 1991. Jennings is 6'9" and should see immediate playing time. His impact could provide a viable scoring threat in the post alongside Booker, which could transform the offense dramatically. However he will be a true freshman and with the exception of Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, Carmello Anthony and, to a lesser extent, Tyreke Evans this season, most true freshmen take time to adjust. Another freshman to keep an eye on is Devon Booker, Trevor's younger brother, who will add depth to the frontcourt.

Purnell may not be the most popular man in Clemson tonight on the heels of his team's second consecutive first round exit from the NCAA Tournament, but he has excelled beyond the expectations of most optimistic Tiger fans. The 2009-10 season should be another good one for the Tigers. Wake Forest will most likely be gutted by the NBA Draft and North Carolina will lose Danny Green and Tyler Hansbrough, who are both seniors. They are also almost certain to lose guards Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington to the NBA as well.

The Tigers must find a reliable scorer from the backcourt before next season. Rivers was commonly the man who could create his own shot but no one on next year's team has shown that ability. Oglesby is the most likely candidate to fill that void, but he has been a long range marksman more than anything else thus far in his career. His catch-and-shoot style does not translate well to scoring off the dribble. Andre Young may be the best suited to this role, but that is certainly a concern. Also, Purnell will have to review his press defense. It became apparent that as the season wore on, opponents became less rattled by this strategy and actually turned it into mismatches and quick baskets.

My premature prediction for next year? Another 20-win season is a possibility and, barring injury to Booker or his unexpected (and unwise) decision to test his mettle in the NBA, very likely. Many of this past year's underclassmen - especially Stitt and Oglesby - will be expected to take more ownership in the team as upperclassmen, and that may pay dividends. A serious run at the ACC championship is probably out of their reach, but not an impossibility. Much of that probably depends on how much talent Wake Forest will return. No matter what year it is Tobacco Road holds the key to success in the ACC. With wins over Duke in their last two meetings the Tigers have the confidence to take on the Blue Devils. The Tar Heels are another story.

Right now, I would guess the Tigers will win aother 21-24 games and receive another invite to the "Big Dance". Success there relies on who their future opponent is but also how that team finishes the season. Purnell's teams have stumbled across the finish line and that has to change for any real success in March 2010.

NCAA Tournament Tonight: (7) Clemson vs. (10) Michigan

Check out http://www.block-c.com for a preview and anything else you need to know about Clemson Tiger sports.


Clemson squares off against the University of Michigan Wolverines in a first-round NCAA Tournament game at 7:10 ET tonight in Kansas City, MO. The Tigers are the favorites but that hasn't meant much as of late. Michigan is led by a pair of explosive scorers in Manny Harris (16.8 ppg) and DeShawn Sims (15.7 ppg). They also have a quality head coach in John Beilein, who had an impressive tournament run in 2005 with an overachieving West Virginia team. Clemson and Michigan both notched victories over ACC Tournament champion Duke, which is the 2nd seed in the East Region. Clemson has struggled as of late, with the nadir coming in a loss to woeful Georgia Tech in their most recent contest. On paper, Clemson should advance. Unfortunately, the Tigers have not been smart with the ball while appearing lackadasical in their half-court defense recently. A turnover-prone offense coupled with a disinterested defense most likely spells a loss tonight against the Wolverines. Hopefully, coach Oliver Purnell will earn his first NCAA tournament victory tonight and the Tigers will advance.

Prediction: Michigan - 68 Clemson - 63

Unfortunately, I don't see Purnell getting over the hump tonight. Beilein has proven tournament success and Clemson has looked awful in their last handful of games. Unless Trevor Booker can get on track early and the Tigers can score inside-out, and not try to force threes, I see the Wolverines advancing.

Exercise: Front Squat Research Shows Benefits Over Back Squats

New research from the National Strength and Conditioning Association show that the front squat may be better for the participants' knees than the traditional back squat. In addition, the muscle activation is higher for front squats in the ascending phase while the compression forces at the tibiofemoral joint were significantly less than the back squat. Unfortunately, compression forces for the patellofemoral joint were not studied. The abstract is posted below:

Gullett, JC, Tillman, MD, Gutierrez, GM, and Chow, JW. A biomechanical comparison of back and front squats in healthy trained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 23(1): 284-292, 2008-The strength and stability of the knee plays an integral role in athletics and activities of daily living. A better understanding of knee joint biomechanics while performing variations of the squat would be useful in rehabilitation and exercise prescription. We quantified and compared tibiofemoral joint kinetics as well as muscle activity while executing front and back squats. Because of the inherent change in the position of the center of mass of the bar between the front and back squat lifts, we hypothesized that the back squat would result in increased loads on the knee joint and that the front squat would result in increased knee extensor and decreased back extensor muscle activity. A crossover study design was used. To assess the net force and torque placed on the knee and muscle activation levels, a combination of video and force data, as well as surface electromyographic data, were collected from 15 healthy trained individuals. The back squat resulted in significantly higher compressive forces and knee extensor moments than the front squat. Shear forces at the knee were small in magnitude, posteriorly directed, and did not vary between the squat variations. Although bar position did not influence muscle activity, muscle activation during the ascending phase was significantly greater than during the descending phase. The front squat was as effective as the back squat in terms of overall muscle recruitment, with significantly less compressive forces and extensor moments. The results suggest that front squats may be advantageous compared with back squats for individuals with knee problems such as meniscus tears, and for long-term joint health.

Mission of This Blog

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