AUGUST 2013
❘
1
IPTAY, P.O. BOX 1529, CLEMSON, SC 29633
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID GREENVILLE SC PERMIT 336
Clemson Spirit is Closer Than You Think Whether you’re throwing a neighborhood tailgate party before the game or you’re off to work, learn or play at the university, Patrick Square is perfectly located for all things Clemson. Just three miles from campus — with an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Lake House and growing Town Center within the community — Patrick Square is eager to welcome you. All brand-new, energy-efficient homes in traditional styles, with a variety of sizes, floor plans and finishes to suit your lifestyle. Come tour our model homes, explore the neighborhood — and catch the spirit. New homes from the $250s to the $400s. Now Building in Phase III. 578 Issaqueena Trail • Clemson, SC 29631 • 864-654-1500 • Models Open Daily 2
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
Where Legacies Begin
PatrickSquare.com
A proud sponsor of Clemson University Athletics
Tailgating is now the most important meal of the day. Come on into FATZ® and pick up some delicious food for you and your friends to pounce on. World Famous Calabash Chicken,® tender wings, meaty baby back ribs and more. Eat’em up, Tigers. FATZ.com AUGUST 2013 75021 FATZ Clemson R3.indd 1
❘
7/19/13 3:36 PM
1
2
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
AUGUST 12, 2013
Volume 5, Issue 1
DEPARTMENTS 6 Davis Babb
Coming aboard at an exciting time for IPTAY, Clemson Athletics
SOMETHING IN THESE HILLS 8 Pawsitive Press
Trio of Clemson Legends to be Honored
10 Bill D’Andrea
Tiger Letterwinners Association
12 Coaches Corner
Mike Noonan
14 Beyond the Game
Tyler Shatley
16 Tiger Cub Club Birthday Party
Men’s Basketball Takes to Italy
18 IPTAY Representative Spotlight
Max Gregory
20 IPTAY New Donor Spotlight
INSIDE 28 Meet the Tigers A position-by-position breakdown of the 2013 Clemson football team.
38 Men’s Soccer Outlook
22
William Ferguson
61 Memorials
Unfinished Business:
Tajh Boyd returns to write final chapter of stellar college career.
49 Mark Elliott Brings Winning Pedigree to New Position Clemson’s new head coach for track & field, cross country has been trained by the best.
Head Coach Mike Noonan looks forward to a successful season behind a team with more experience and composure.
51 Cross Country Outlook
42 Women’s Soccer Outlook
53 NCAA Compliance
Talented newcomers and experienced returning players creates a good synergy heading into new season.
54 Clemson Provides ‘Touching’ Experience for Wounded Warriors
46 Volleyball Outlook
56 One IPTAY Year In Review
Building early-season success and chemistry will be paramount as mostly new squad attempts to carry on the tradition of success.
57 Ticket, Stadium and Parking Information
Anthony, Ramirez will be looked upon to lead new-look groups.
62 IPTAY Donor Photos 64 The Last Word
A new league of our own
Editor: Philip Sikes Assistant Editors Tim Bourret Steven Bradley Lindsey Leonard Graphics Coordinator: Melissa Bradley Contributing Writers Sam Blackman Jeff Kallin Libby Kehn Gavin Oliver Victoria Reid Chief Photographer Rex Brown
IN THE NEXT ISSUE ... Spencer Shuey goes from little-used backup to model of consistency at linebacker.
Orange: The Experience is published eight times a year by IPTAY Media exclusively for donors to the IPTAY Scholarship Fund. A minimum priority contribution is $140, although contributions of any amount are welcome. To join IPTAY, call 864.656.2115 or go to www.clemsontigers.com and click on IPTAY. To advertise in Orange: The Experience, call 864.882.2375, fax 864.882.2381 or e-mail to jerry@myiptay.com, or call 864.656.2975 or e-mail to lsweval@exchange.clemson.edu. If you’ve had an address or phone number change, call the IPTAY office at 864.656.2115; go to www.clemsontigers.com and click on IPTAY; or send your name, IPTAY number, new address, new phone number and e-mail address to: IPTAY, P.O. Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29633.
AUGUST 2013
❘
3
4
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
AUGUST 2013
❘
5
COMING ABOARD AT AN EXCITING TIME FOR IPTAY, CLEMSON ATHLETICS Davis Babb
chief executive officer of iptay
I
moved into my new office at IPTAY the first week of June, and by the time this magazine reaches you, will have been on the job for a little more than two months. Almost without exception every new person I have met has said, “Welcome to Clemson. We’re glad to have you. You’re going to love it here.” That has been a common thread, and what I had heard about Clemson has definitely come true — the family atmosphere and the genuine care and passion that people have for their university is second to none. That has been loud and clear. I knew before I got here I wanted to hit the ground listening and have done so upon arrival. I’ve met with many IPTAY Board members and a number of donors and had the opportunity to meet with the university’s Board of Trustees in Charleston last month. I’m really starting to get a sense of what is on people’s minds, and in working closely with Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich and the department, what our priorities are going forward. Since 1934, IPTAY has been a leader in intercollegiate athletics fundraising, and our brand has been built by grassroots efforts and representatives spread throughout the Southeast who work in their communities to build support. We have had many people contribute their time and resources and who have been incredibly passionate about supporting the university. That has manifested itself in big season-ticket bases, incredible passion and a great deal of people being involved. Going forward, we are trying to grow the brand even more by expanding the scope of what IPTAY does. In the last 20 years, college athletics has seen incredible growth in facilities. The entire process of recruiting student-athletes is so critical for programs. If we’re recruiting against ACC and SEC schools for these talented young people, we need to be prepared to offer them equal to or better than what the competition is offering. We received $26.7 million this year in commitments and actual dollars in the door. That is a combination of annual giving, major gifts and planned giving, so it was quite a successful year. Clearly, with the initiatives that are now in the planning stages, we will want to grow that number even more. We’ve worked on the “One Clemson” ideal, and we are also truly “One IPTAY,” which is to say that IPTAY includes all those components: annual fundraising, major gifts and planned giving. There are many different ways that people of all ages can support IPTAY. We are growing, and there is a lot of energy here. The energy Dan is bringing, the planning and the longer-term view — it’s not just where we are today, but where we are going to be in four or five years — makes this an exciting time for Clemson. We have seen the successful results of the investments many loyal donors made to the WestZone and the Indoor Practice Facility, and 6
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
with more facility initiatives in the planning stages now that would impact a number of sports, there will be other opportunities for people to continue the growth of our programs. Clemson is a great academic institution with a beautiful campus, a great athletic history and a passionate fan base. This is a place where academics are prioritized, while at the same time competing on a national level athletically. Our student-athletes’ grade-point average for this past semester, 2.99, tied for the best in school history, which proves that it’s not just lip service here. It’s real. The results are in, and our young people are performing well. The point of all that is, with the investment our donors are making in the program, the return on that investment, or ROI, is good because our kids are performing and they are graduating. We are going to be meeting with all the teams this fall individually, and here is the message to them: If you are on scholarship, IPTAY was responsible for funding it. Even if you’re not on scholarship and are receiving academic support, IPTAY had something to do with it. If you’re in an athletic facility for practice or competition, IPTAY funded it. We are trying to connect with the student-athletes to let them know somebody helped them along the way. It’s important for us all to remember that individuals have contributed these funds in order to provide these scholarship opportunities, great facilities and academic support. Somebody funded that, and that somebody was IPTAY and its donors. Our organization is now incorporated, and that restructuring led to the creation of my role, along with changes that included adding the president of the university and two members of the Board of Trustees to our IPTAY Board. Those changes officially went into effect July 1. Those changes are also part of our new “One IPTAY” ideal. You have the president of the university and two Board of Trustees members involved. Dan Radakovich also presents information at each IPTAY Board meeting to keep all the members aware of what is going on, and this further enhances our collaboration with the athletic department. Everybody works together for the betterment of Clemson Athletics. This is such an exciting time, and we are on the cusp of so many things happening — new facility initiatives, a new-look conference, we have a new director of athletics and a new structure for IPTAY — and I just wanted to take this opportunity to express how excited I am to be part of it. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for IPTAY, our student-athletes and athletic program. You are important members of the team, and I appreciate all of your support.
STACK UP THE SAVINGS WITH
HERE’S HOW IT
ONLY AT WORKS AT THE PUMP.
SAVE MORE! EVERY
5
¢
=
1
$
OFF
20 Gallons of Gas AUGUST 2013
❘
7
SOMETHING IN THESE HILLS PAWSITIVE PRESS Highlighting Clemson’s top performers in athletics Laura Basadonna Rowing • Torino, Italy Basadonna was named a second-team CRCA (Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association) All-American in June. The rising senior competed at the U23 World Rowing Championships with her native Italy in July.
Ben Martin Men’s Golf • Greenwood, SC The 2009 Clemson graduate was named the Web.com Tour Player of the Month in June. He climbed to No. 2 on the money list after winning the United Leasing Championship in June and Mylan Classic in August.
Brad Miller Baseball • Windermere, FL A standout hitter for the Tigers from 2009-11, Miller was called up to the Seattle Mariners this summer after compiling a 22-game hitting streak for the AAA Tacoma Rainiers. Miller is the starting shortstop for the Mariners.
Charone Peake Football • Moore, SC Peake was one of two Tigers – along with classmate Sammy Watkins – named to the Preseason Watch List for the Biletnikoff Award, awarded annually to the nation’s best wide receiver.
Brianna Rollins Women’s Track & Field • Miami, FL After turning professional to compete for Nike, Rollins broke the American record in the 100 hurdles (12.26) and won the USA Championship. She will compete in the IAAF World Championships next week in Russia. She is one of three finalists for The Bowerman, awarded to the nation’s top collegiate track & field athlete.
Brandon Thomas Football • Spartanburg, SC Thomas was named to both the Lombardi Watch List and Outland Trophy Watch List. The Outland Trophy is presented each season to the best lineman, while the Lombardi Award is given to down linemen or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
8
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
���
TRIO OF CLEMSON LEGENDS TO BE HONORED
Few others would downplay Danny Ford’s worth for the Clemson Athletics Ring of Honor, although the legendary coach himself managed to put the distinction into perspective in his typically humble manner. “I feel a coach is less deserving of something like this than a player,” Ford said of the announcement he will be inducted at the Georgia game on Aug. 31. “They are the ones who did all the blocking and tackling; the coaches just try to direct them and draw up the plays.” Ford did an awfully good job of those things during his tenure. He became Clemson’s head coach at age 30 — a first-time head coach — and led the Tigers to the National Championship in 1981 at the age of 33, still the youngest coach in college football history to win a Division I National Championship. Likewise, the other man who will be inducted this year, longtime baseball coach Bill Wilhelm, also has credentials for the Ring of Honor that speak for themselves. Wilhelm coached Clemson for 36 years (1958-93) and finished with a career record of 1,161-536-10, a .683 winning percentage. Twenty years after his retirement, he is still the winningest coach in ACC baseball history and still holds the league marks for ACC Championships with 11 and regular season titles with 19. Wilhelm will be inducted posthumously, as he died in 2010, and will be honored at a Clemson baseball game next spring. “I could not think of a better person to go into the Ring of Honor with than Bill Wilhelm,” Ford said. “When I first became the head football coach he was someone I looked to for guidance. Everyone had so much respect for him.” The Ring of Honor is the highest honor bestowed by Clemson’s athletic department. Jim Phillips will also receive a significant honor at a home football game this fall, as the home radio booth at Memorial Stadium will be named in his honor. Phillips was the “Voice of the Tigers” for 35 years between 1968 and 2003. He died suddenly the Tuesday after broadcasting the Furman-Clemson game in Memorial Stadium on Sept. 8, 2003. Phillips’ career behind the microphone spanned eight Clemson football coaches and six Clemson basketball coaches. He broadcast 401 Clemson football games and over 1,000 men’s basketball games, and he missed just one game in Littlejohn Coliseum over his 35 seasons behind the microphone. — by Steven Bradley/IPTAY Media
GO S! TIGER
WeSellLakeKeowee.com ... since 2004
Patti Cason - Assoc. Broker ALHS 864.903.1234
GO TIGER S!
Gary Cason - Realtor 864.903.0312
Patti & Gary
$445,000 - MLS20143011 CHARMING KEOWEE WF HOME — Fully equipped w/furnishings, move-in ready! Gentle slopping lot, screened porch, workshop, covered dock.
$655,000 - MLS20142553 POTENTIAL RENTAL INCOME — Charming traditional WF home, unrestricted property, deep water location!
$725,000 - MLS20140764 GORGEOUS WF HOME — Main level living, seasonal screened porch, 3-car garage, gentle sloping lot, covered dock w/lift! Over 225’ shoreline in large bay.
$769,000 - MLS20140055 EXCEPTIONAL WF HOME IN PREMIER COMMUNITY — 3 gas fireplaces, gourmet kitchen w/quartz, fully equipped terrace level! $950,000 - MLS20136396 REDUCED! PANORAMIC LAKE VIEWS Hardwood floors, sunroom, screened porch, 4-car garage, covered dock, private beach, riprap, close to town and shopping!
$1,599,900 - MLS20143995 STUNNING LAKE HOME 5” Hickory floors, pine ceilings, gourmet kitchen, fitness room, wine cellar, covered dock w/lift, boat included!
GO S! TIGER
Discover Your Dreams! LAKE KEOWEE WeSellKeowee@gmail.com
GO TIGER S!
AUGUST 2013
❘
9
Tiger Letterwinners Association Interview with Bill D’Andrea — associate athletic director —
W
ith 30 years of experience at Clemson University between his time as a coach and an administrator, Associate Athletic Director Bill D’Andrea has now taken charge of the Tiger Letterwinners Association. D’Andrea recently sat down with IPTAY Media Editor Steven Bradley to discuss his new role and the vision he has for the future of the organization. IPTAY Media: Billy D, it’s always good to catch up with you. What can you tell us about your new role in charge of the Tiger Letterwinners Association? D’Andrea: I’m really excited about the opportunity to work with some of our coaches and student-athletes, and particularly with the Tiger Letterwinners Association. I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Charlie Bussey and John Seketa for their previous work and solid efforts to make the Letterwinners Association what it is today, which is a very good organization. However, we have made some changes in hopes of building on that. We have restructured the membership fee to accommodate some of our expenses with meals on Saturday tailgates. We also are providing each member a T-shirt, a Tiger Paw key chain, membership decals and membership cards. Our effort is really trying to grow the organization by getting as many former student-athletes as possible to participate. IPTAY Media: For our readers who may not know what the organization is all about, could you give some background on the history of the Tiger Letterwinners Assocation? D’Andrea: Clemson University historian Jerry Reel told me that years ago — back in the ’20s and ’30s — they actually had major letters and minor letters, and he said that was reflected in the yearbooks. But, the Tiger Letterwinners Association organized itself in 1970, and it was designed primarily to embrace the experience of all former athletes. At the inception of the organization, the membership was primarily football players, but our goal now is to get all former athletes involved — including managers, trainers, cheerleaders and Rally Cats — that have the opportunity to earn a letter. We want them to be engaged so they can stay connected to our institution and continue embracing their legacy. The way we look at this experience is that it is a legacy, and by just joining for a minimal fee of $15 gives them an opportunity to be informed and to stay engaged with Clemson. IPTAY Media: You touched on some of the changes you have made already. Why did you feel those were important? D’Andrea: One of the things we want to do is focus on the younger graduates to help them become more engaged. We have good participation from our older former student-athletes, but I would say in the last 15 years we have not had those athletes join as much as we would like. That’s one of the things we’re trying to do — get some of those people back in, and not just football players, but all of our former student-athletes.
10
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
IPTAY Media: At a school like Clemson that has such a close-knit athletic community and is really built around a family atmosphere, it seems especially important to keep former athletes involved. Is that how you see it? D’Andrea: Absolutely, and I think by being involved, it gives them an opportunity to come back to campus for a game, get their families involved and share that experience that they had here as a studentathlete. I’m not sure you can put a price tag on the relationships you establish, the friends you make and the competitions that you went through. Being able to continue that legacy and experience is hopefully something all our former Tigers will embrace. IPTAY Media: You mentioned that the organization is designed to embrace the experience of the student-athletes. What are some areas you believe the Tiger Letterwinners Association can do a better job? D’Andrea: I just returned from the National Letterwinners Conference in Oxford, Mississippi, and there really were some creative ideas that other schools are doing. Naturally, the focus is moving toward technology and social media. So, we’ve got to get our Web site up to speed, and we are improving that. We generate a weekly newsletter, and most other schools do the same. But there appears to be something of a disconnect when it comes to the number of former athletes and the number of letterwinners that are members. Other schools are way ahead of us in membership numbers, so we need to improve upon that. IPTAY Media: For former athletes who may be interested in getting involved, what does being a member of the Tiger Letterwinners Association entail? D’Andrea: Primarily, the organization’s mission is to be social and to induct individuals in the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame. Being a member, you can tailgate for every home football game at the Letterwinners Room, which is located in the south atrium of Littlejohn Coliseum. Certainly, the Hall of Fame and reunion weekends are big events, when we recognize championships — conference or national championships — as well as all the various reunions that we have for specific sports. We just hate for people to miss the opportunity to come back and relive their days at Clemson. IPTAY Media: Finally, what are your goals for the Tiger Letterwinners Association moving forward? D’Andrea: I think we can grow our membership, and I think we can embrace being more of a visible organization by being involved in more community service activities and sponsoring various charities. It’s been said that an organization is defined by its members. So, it really is up to former student-athletes to reach out and to give back to their university, and we hope that the Clemson spirit and passion will make this organization special.
AUGUST 2013
❘
11
CORNER
Q&A with Men’s Soccer Head Coach Mike Noonan In our latest installment of Coaches Corner, “Orange: The Experience” Editor Philip Sikes sat down with Head Coach Mike Noonan, who will begin his fourth season in charge of the men’s soccer program on Friday, Aug. 30. In the question and answer session, Noonan discussed the difference between coaching in the Ivy League and the ACC, building a team’s identity, making improvements to the offensive side of the ball and the enhancements that have been made to Historic Riggs Field. Q: You cut your teeth coaching in the Northeast. What has it been like to transition to coaching at a place like Clemson? Noonan: “There are different challenges in every environment, whether it’s changing conferences or changing geographic locations. In the Northeast, it wasn’t 90 degrees when you kicked off at 7:00 at night. The adjustment has been really good. The Ivy League was very competitive, but the ACC is the premier soccer conference in the country. Internally, we’ve had some challenges trying to get our footing back within the ACC in terms of recruiting. The second thing we needed to address was to set parameters for the players, so they knew what the expectations were. We’ve established that, and now it’s a matter of taking advantage of what we have. “In the ACC, because of our RPI, we can play more non-conference games at home. We used to seek out ACC-level teams when I was in the Ivy League to improve our RPI. We don’t have to do that here. Those are some of the subtle differences. In terms of coaching and our style, we are a possessive, attacking team. That’s the way the team’s been recruited. Some parts of that have come out, but we’re really looking forward to this season and taking another step in that process.” Q: Teams often take on the identity of their coaches. Your teams have been noted for scrappy, tough-minded play. Do you see your teams mirroring your identity? Noonan: “There are elements that are true to that. I’m not a genius, but I’m a grinder. And my teams will work really hard. Stylistically, we play a very attractive brand of soccer. There are no days off, when you’re on the field. If anything, personality-wise, we want well-oiled, hard12
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
working teams where people are sacrificing themselves for the good of the team. We want unselfish, selfless teams. I married a woman because she’s that way. Does it reflect some of my personality? I hope so.” Q: Generating offense was a bit of a struggle last season. What has been done in the offseason to address that side of the ball? Noonan: “One thing was to get Iain Smith healthy. He broke his leg in the second game of the season. Brynjar Benediktsson left and didn’t return, and those were our two leading scorers. When you lose a large percentage of your goals within the first month of the season, it’s difficult to manufacture those. Iain is healthy now, and we’ve recruited some other forwards. The guys that had to play last year were freshmen, and they’ve grown through the offseason and will step up. “One of our big issues was that Manolo Sanchez had a lot of opportunities and was trying to find his footing. We’ve seen it recently with the U.S. National Team. Jozy Altidore doesn’t score, doesn’t score, doesn’t score and suddenly they come in buckets. In the spring, Manolo was scoring. Tom McNamara has transferred in from Brown and scored a bunch of goals for them, and for us in the spring. Bobby Belair is another transfer from Brown, he and Tom have experience playing in NCAA Tournaments and scoring goals in big games. I think we’ve addressed that, and we’re excited about it. “We had a lot of one-goal games. We had a very young team. You have to put them in the fire and let them get burned every now and then, and we were burned a couple of times last year. We weren’t able to hold leads and lost by a goal. We had a few distinct situations that come to mind. Against Furman, we completely outplayed them and had a two-goal lead, but a poor decision went against us and we unraveled and lost in overtime. We lost 1-0 to San Diego State, and we hit the post and did everything but score. The final was obviously the heartbreak in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, where we had a 1-0 lead with seven minutes to go. We conceded the equalizer, missed a breakaway, and Maryland won on an own goal that goes off of a defender. Sometimes the breaks go your way, sometimes they don’t.”
Q: Where’s the level of optimism within the program heading into the 2013 season? Noonan: “There are always expectations when you play and coach at a place like Clemson. You accept those when you come here, whether you’re a player, coach, administrator or an employee. The expectations are to win. I had a staff meeting in mid-July with our supervisor and coaches, and I’ve never been this excited about the beginning of a season this early. Usually, you’re just recovering from camp mode. I want vacations and fall camp to be done, and get going. And I think the players feel the same way. In the first couple of years, although we had some quality individual players and people, there were challenges on the field. This is a young team that we still have to be patient with, but is poised. We still have some maturing to do, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.” Q: What’s your take on the Highway 93 project and some of the aesthetic upgrades to Historic Riggs Field? Noonan: “That adds into the excitement. It’s like putting a fresh coat of paint on the house. It’s going to look really nice, and people are going to be excited to be in the stadium and about the soccer program. We already have the most ideal location you can have. It’s another enhancement that will make the players want to play harder, the coaches work harder, and the fans yell louder. It’s another great addition to the Clemson facilities. We just hope all the rain from June and July doesn’t affect the playing conditions (laughs). I know we’ll have it ready to go.” Q: Through three years, what have you taken away the most from what it’s been like to be the head coach of the Clemson men’s soccer program? Noonan: “History and tradition. It’s a huge responsibility to steward the program with such history. A lot of it was made when I was growing up with the game in this country. The responsibility we have to our alumni, our fans and the university as a whole is exciting. Our job isn’t necessarily to reflect on the history and tradition, it’s to add to it. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Official Wireless Provider of the Clemson Tigers
Official Wireless Provider of the Clemson Tigers
TRACK YOUR TIGERS ALL SEASON LONG.
Stay connected to your Tigers all season long with up-to-the-minute Stay connected to your Tigers all season long with up-to-the-minute news, stats and more on America’s Largest 4G LTE Network. news, stats and more on America’s Largest 4G LTE Network. Verizon. Official Wireless Provider of the Clemson Tigers. Verizon. Official Wireless Provider of the Clemson Tigers.
Learn more at verizonwireless.com. Learn more at verizonwireless.com. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Network details and coverage maps at vzw.com. © 2013 Verizon. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Network details and coverage maps at vzw.com. © 2013 Verizon.
AUGUST 2013
❘
13
��� Beyond the Game with ...
Tyler Shatley � Senior Offensive Lineman, Football
You graduated in May with a degree in civil engineering. What is it about that area of study that appealed to you? “I’ve always enjoyed building things and fixing problems. At first I thought I wanted to do something with construction, but I learned that civil engineering would allow me to do both construction and a wide range of other things as well.” You have made academics a priority, as well as your football career. How difficult has it been juggling the two, and how much have the resources available at Vickery Hall helped in that regard? “It was pretty tough at first. When I was younger, I didn’t realize that football was going to be as time consuming as it was. Vickery Hall strongly encourages study hall and tutors, which helped me get used to it all.” When you get time away from the field and the classroom, what are some of the things you like to do in your spare time? “My big thing is fishing. I just bought a boat, so I go out onto Lake Hartwell every chance I get.” What is your favorite genre of music? “My favorite genre is definitely country. I like all of the old stuff — Alabama, George Strait. I enjoy some of the new stuff, also.” Do you have a favorite movie? What do you like about it? “I don’t have a favorite, but I love any type of comedy with Adam Sandler or Vince Vaughn. All of their movies are guaranteed to be funny.” Your brother, Chris, is a graduate assistant strength & conditioning coach here. What has it been like having him around? “It makes it easier on my family because they can come down and see us both instead of having to split time. It’s been nice to have a brother to always call for help. A friend can say no to you, but a sibling can’t.” Outside of football, what do you think you’ll remember most about Clemson once you’re done? “Being able to hang out with my friends. We would all go out to the lake a lot, tie up a bunch of boats in the cove and just relax. A lot of schools can’t say they are able to do that.” What was it about Clemson that appealed to you when you were making a decision on where to attend college? “My first recruiting trip was a night game against Virginia Tech. It was Military Appreciation Day, so they did the fly over, and it just blew me away. After the game, I met some of the players, and they told me what there was to do in Clemson. All of it was stuff that I enjoy doing, like fishing and hunting. It was a good choice because Clemson is like my home away from home.” What is your best memory from your career here at Clemson? “Definitely the Chick-fil-A Bowl against LSU. Everything was topnotch and Chick-fil-A put on a great bowl game. Obviously the game went even better.” — by Victoria Reid, photo by Dawson Powers
14
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
RELAX. ! s r e g i T , o G See the Founders difference. With 24 offices, Founders Mobile and ATMs on 7 college campuses including Clemson (located at Byrnes Hall), we make managing your money easier than ever. Call 1-800-845-1614 to see if you qualify for membership. Founders Federal Credit Union offers its members: Free Checking with Debit Rewards1 • Founders Mobile Bill Pay • Competitive Loan Rates • Investment Services2 Insurance Services3 • And so much more!
foundersfcu.com • 1-800-845-1614
Federally insured by NCUA. Requires credit evaluation. Teens under the age of 18 are required to have an adult sign as joint owners. Points earned for signature-based purchases. 2 Securities and investment advisory services offered through Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC - Founders Federal Credit Union, Founders Financial Group, LLC and Founders Insurance Services are not affiliated with Cetera Advisor Networks. Investment Services is a department of Founders Federal Credit Union. Registered Sales Branches are located at 607 N. Main Street, Lancaster, SC 29720. Not NCUA Insured - No Credit Union Guarantee - May Lose Value - Not Deposits - Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency. 3 These products offered through Founders Financial Group, LLC doing business as Founders Insurance Services. Insurance products not underwritten by Founders Financial Group, LLC or any affiliated company. Not NCUA Insured - No Credit Union Guarantee - May Lose Value - Not Deposits - Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency. 1
AUGUST 2013
❘
15
IPTAY Tiger Cub Club ��� Birthday Party The Tiger Cub Birthday Party will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 prior to the South Carolina State football game. The event will be held in the North-East concourse of Littlejohn Coliseum. All members of the Tiger Cub Club and CATS are invited to the Tiger Cub’s Birthday Party prior to the South Carolina State football game. An invitation will be sent in the mail in the coming weeks with more details. You may purchase youth tickets for this game for $10 while supplies last (ages 18 and younger) through the Ticket Office at 1-800-CLEMSON. Please mention that you’re a Tiger Cub or CATS member when ordering.
16
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
If you are interested in signing up a friend or loved one for the Tiger Cub Club or CATS (open to fans age 18 and younger), please call 864-656-2115 or visit us online at clemsontigers.com/iptay. The membership fee is $30 annually and $500 (one-time) for a sustaining membership. Members receive a membership card and gift, newsletters, access to the Summer Reading Program and the Tiger Cub’s “All-A’s” Team, select ticket offers, one IPTAY priority point per year of membership, and more! The sustaining membership is a onetime donation that lasts until the member is 18. The sustaining membership also includes an engraved brick in our Tiger Cub Club Plaza. Go Tigers!
Tigers Tour Italy Look for full coverage of the men’s basketball team’s European excursion in the next issue of “Orange: The Experience” Head Coach Brad Brownell believes the 2013-14 season marks the dawn of a new generation of Clemson basketball, and the Tigers ushered in that era by departing for Italy. The team flew out of Atlanta on Aug. 8 and landed in Rome, where it began a 10-day tour of the European nation. Clemson will visit four cities — Florence, Venice and Lake Como, in addition to the nation’s capital — and play four games against Italian clubs and all-star teams along the way. “It’s a cool trip for all of us,” Brownell said. “We’re really excited about it. It allows us to begin to develop our identity. Each team takes on its own personality, and I think this year’s team will begin to develop a personality on this trip.” IPTAY donors can look for full coverage of the Tigers’ Italian excursion in the Sept. 30 edition of this magazine from “Orange: The Experience” Editor Philip Sikes, who will be along for the trip in his role as Associate Athletic Communications Director for Men’s Basketball.
Remotely Secure, Monitor and Control Your Home from Anywhere Coaches Dabo Swinney and Brad Brownell joke around a lot, especially on the golf course! But serious security for your home is no laughing matter. Consider the security and peace of mind that comes with knowing your home and family are safe, 24-7, even when you are away. With the TotalControl app and your cell phone or mobile device you can: • arm /disarm your Blue Ridge Security System • turn lights on or off in your home • set your thermostat • open and close your garage door • view up to 6 video cameras, 24-7, watch streaming video, record video clips • get real time alerts via email
Call Blue Ridge Security today at 1-888-407-7233 to learn how TotalControl can be a real convenience to you!
www.blueridgesecuritysystems.com A subsidiary of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
Serious Security
AUGUST 2013
❘
17
REPRESEN TATI V E SPOTLI G H T
When did you become a Clemson fan? “My first introduction to Clemson was when Mike Southers and his parents took me to a football game in the early 1960s. They taught me about tailgating, and Mike made sure that we went on the field after the game to try and get a player’s chinstrap. It was years later that I realized that I was hooked for life, but that simple introduction to Clemson was the spark that made it all possible.”
Max
Gregory
Why did you get involved with IPTAY? “To be honest I first got involved for selfish reasons. There was a time when Rita and I would go to games and buy tickets outside the gate. At one of the UNC games in 1978, I waited too long to buy tickets and almost didn’t get in to the game. At that point I realized that the best path for me was to join IPTAY and purchase season tickets. As time has gone by I’ve come to understand that my donations to IPTAY help our teams compete on the athletic field and that I am doing my part to help with the overall program.” What is your favorite gameday tradition? “I love being able to go on the field after a game. I love to hear the bands play and watch the children enjoy running all over the place.” Who is your favorite all-time student-athlete? “I am going to go with Jeff Davis for leading the Clemson Tigers to the National Championship and for continuing to give back to the university throughout his lifetime. A close second is Cliff Hammonds. For Cliff to major in architecture and to excel on the basketball court is mindboggling.”
Max and Rita Gregory in Atlanta before the Clemson vs Auburn game.
Who is your favorite Clemson coach? “I love Coach Swinney. In my opinion he is the complete package and is doing everything in his power to not only win championships, but to draw the Clemson family together.”
Current Hometown:
What is one thing you always do when you come to Clemson? “Whenever I come to Clemson I always think back to the time I spent there as a student. It would be nice to be able to go back and relive that experience and maybe do a few things differently the second time around.”
Years of Membership:
Duncan, SC 35 Years
Why should someone who is not an IPTAY member join? “As I indicated earlier joining IPTAY is a way for each of us to help the Tigers succeed on the athletic field. I think that we as Clemson fans should want to do our part to help support the Tigers in every way, and joining IPTAY is probably the best way to demonstrate that support.”
— compiled by Victoria Reid
“I love Coach Swinney. In my opinion he is the complete package and is doing everything in his power to not only win championships, but to draw the Clemson family together.” Max with Mary Foster Gregory and Peyton Gregory in January 2013.
18
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
Based on 2013 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index®. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2013 Hyundai Motor America.
Rain or shine. Hot or cold. Win or lose.
That’s loyalty.
#1 in cusTomeR loyalTy
Hyundai is a Proud automotive sponsor of clemson Football.
Hyundai.com
AUGUST 2013
❘
19
N E W DO N O R SPOTLI G H T
When did you become a Clemson fan? “First of all, my dad was a Clemson fan. I grew up in rural Greenville County and went to church with a lot of farmers, and if they went to college, they went to Clemson. I’ve been a Clemson fan for as long as I can remember.”
William Ferguson
Why did you get involved with IPTAY? “I first got involved with IPTAY around 1975 when Red Parker was head football coach. I joined to become part of the Clemson football family, as well as the benefits available to members. I remained a member until my daughter was too old to leave at the church nursery on gameday. I retired in March of this year, and once again joined IPTAY so that I can attend games with my sister, Linda Fleenor, who still lives in Greenville.” What is your favorite gameday tradition? “When the cannon fires, and the Tigers run down The Hill to ‘The Song That Shakes The Southland,’ of course.” Who is your favorite all-time student-athlete? “‘The Judge” Jeff Davis for the defense, but Tajh Boyd may replace him this year.” Who is your favorite Clemson coach? “Danny Ford will always be my favorite, but Dabo Swinney is rising fast.” What is one thing you always do when you come to Clemson? “I like to walk the parking lots and soak up that Clemson football family spirit, plus I always enter the stadium early so I won’t miss anything.”
Current Hometown:
Clover, SC
Years of Membership:
1 Year
Why should someone who is not an IPTAY member join? “It’s a great way to follow the Tigers, plus you are afforded benefits not available to the general public.”
— compiled by Victoria Reid
(Why did you get involved with IPTAY ...) “I first got involved with IPTAY around 1975 when Red Parker was head football coach.
I joined to become part of the Clemson football family, as well as the benefits available to members.” 20 20
❘
O OR RA AN NG GE E :: T TH HE E E EX X PP E ER R II E EN NC CE E
AUGUST 2013
❘
21
TAJH BOYD WAS ONE OF THE NATION’S ELITE RECRUITS WHEN HE PLEDGED HIS FUTURE TO A MAN WITH AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY AND EXACTLY ZERO WINS AS AN OFFICIAL HEAD COACH. NOW THE ONLY FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN QUARTERBACK IN CLEMSON’S HISTORY IS BACK FOR HIS SENIOR YEAR DETERMINED TO PUT A FAIRY TALE ENDING ON A CAREER THAT BEGAN WITH A LEAP OF FAITH. by
Steven Bradley , IPTAY Media
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
22
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
AUGUST 2013
❘
23
It was December of 2008, and the interim tag had just been removed from his title as Clemson’s head coach when Dabo Swinney went to Hampton, VA for an in-home visit with one of the nation’s elite recruits. The area had produced a laundry list of quarterbacks in recent years — Allen Iverson, Ronald Curry, Michael and Marcus Vick, Aaron Brooks, E.J. Manuel and Tyrod Taylor among them — and Swinney knew he was fighting an uphill battle to land the latest player of that pedigree. If he hadn’t been sure beforehand, Swinney certainly figured that out as he made his way to Tajh Boyd’s front door and spotted Oregon coach Mike Bellotti hanging from a tree in the backyard with a pair of binoculars and Ohio State’s Jim Tressel steering his car into the driveway to wait for his departure. That’s how Swinney remembers it anyway. “It was that intense of a recruiting process,” he recalled. “Here I am, I just got the job, I have zero track record, and I’m trying to get this guy to believe in me: ‘Here’s what we’re going to do. Here’s my vision for you in our program and four years from now. I’m going to build this thing around you.’ As opposed to those other guys, who were very proven and successful and were already doing it.” Boyd was a consensus national top-100 recruit who had been verbally committed to Tennessee before the school made a change and Boyd was told he didn’t fit into new coach Lane Kiffin’s plans. At Phoebus High, Boyd posted a 43-2 record as a starting quarterback in his career and led his team to two state titles, including one his senior season when he played on a torn ACL. Once he parted ways with Tennessee in October of 2008, plenty of coaches were interested — none more than Swinney, in search of a signal caller to build his program around — when he found himself back on the market.
24
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
Boyd remembers that visit “pretty vividly.” While Swinney had never won a game as an official head coach at the college level — he had a 4-2 record as an interim coach — Boyd was inspired by Swinney’s life story of his rise from a walk-on player at Alabama whose mother lived with him to now the head coach at a premier BCS school. “The story is almost like a dream,” Boyd said. “Why wouldn’t you want to play for a guy like that — a guy who’s had nothing given to him, whose back has been against the wall and who’s fought to get out of it? And you know he’ll do the same for you.” Boyd ultimately signed with the Tigers, of course, the headliner of a group Swinney dubbed “The Dandy Dozen,” a 12-man class that marked his first as Clemson’s head coach. “Tajh Boyd took a huge leap of faith,” Swinney said, “and at the end of the day I just think he had a trust factor, and he believed in me and believed in Clemson. And it’s been fun to watch it all play out. Because that’s exactly what we’ve done: We built the program around him.” ENTER CHAD MORRIS oon after his redshirt freshman season ended, Boyd’s phone rang and Swinney was on the other end. Boyd had not start-
S
The charismatic ed a game that year, Boyd was all smiles but earned significant with the media in time in the final two the winter after games of the camannouncing he paign, one that saw would return for his the Tigers stumble to senior season. a 6-7 finish. Clemson Photo by Rex Brown, had scored 26 points IPTAY Media or fewer in eight of its 12 games, and Swinney was in search of a new direction for his offense. When Boyd picked up the phone, Swinney told him he had a candidate coming in to interview for the offensive coordinator job and wanted Boyd, the heir apparent at quarterback, to sit in. Swinney said the coach’s name was Chad Morris. “I didn’t know anything about him, honestly,” Boyd said, but he admitted to being impressed Swinney thought enough of him to ask him to be part of the interview. “When I saw what Coach Morris had in store and the type of things he did — there were a lot of question marks of him coming from Conference USA and whether his system would work in the ACC, but it was all about buying into the system and performing at your level and not worrying about the other things that surround you,” Boyd said. “Once
you do that, you can do anything you want to if you put your mind to it and work for it.” When the interview was over, Boyd was quick to give Morris his stamp of approval. Of course, Clemson’s offensive record books now bear scant resemblance to those that existed prior to the arrival of Morris on campus two years ago, though Morris maintains he hasn’t even been able to utilize his entire system yet. But with Boyd back for his third season as the starting quarterback, Morris believes the reigning ACC Player of the Year’s familiarity with the scheme will allow him to delve more deeply into the playbook this fall than in the two previous campaigns. “We’ve hit it off from day one,” Morris said. “Watching him excel and watching him really grow and mature, through ups and downs — you really saw it last year, how he just continued to get better and better. I think that shows a lot about Tajh.” LESSONS LEARNED he chemistry between Boyd and Morris was clear from the very beginning on the field, as the Tigers won their first eight games in 2011 and rose to a No. 6 national ranking after being unranked in the preseason. Clemson won consecutive games against No. 19 Auburn, No. 11 Florida State and No. 10 Virginia Tech during that 8-0 run to become the first ACC team in history to win three straight games over AP-ranked opponents, and Boyd was thriving at the controls. “Things were going great,” Morris said. “He was living the high life here. He was feeling it, and all of a sudden — boom, we lose four of our last six. And it was in direct relation to his play. Now, it wasn’t all him, but it was his play. And he’ll be the first to admit that he allowed some of that (success) to get to him.” As Morris noted, the Tigers dropped four of their final six games that season, though they did hoist the ACC Championship trophy for the first time in two decades. Boyd was the MVP of the league title game after going 20of-29 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns against No. 3 Virginia Tech. But the season ended with a thud when the Tigers got thumped in the Orange Bowl, and Boyd learned a difficult lesson. “You can’t let one game affect you, good or bad,” Boyd said. “I’ve been in cases where you can get too high, and the next game go out and have a letdown. Or you can let one loss beat you twice. I didn’t really understand that was real until I was a part of it. It’s all about
going out there and just being even-keeled and consistent.” Despite sputtering to the finish line in 2011, plenty of buzz surrounded Boyd going into 2012. He had thrown for 3,828 yards and 33 touchdowns as a sophomore and
aside and said, “You know what? Just go take a seat.” Boyd sat out for only two series. During what amounted to a matter of minutes, he remembers having to hold back tears as he sat on the sideline fuming and nursing his wounded pride, but says he learned a valuable lesson that afternoon. “Deep down that hurt me, but at the same time, it made me better and made me become a better player because I knew it’s real,” Boyd said. “It’s a performance-based business, and you’ve got to perform at the highest level you possibly can.” COMING-OUT PARTY ll those lessons apparently paid off for Boyd in 2012. He threw for 3,896 yards and an ACC-record 36 touchdowns en route to being named ACC Player of the Year and becoming a first-team All-American, the first at his position in Clemson history. But as the calendar set to turn over to 2013 and the Tigers braced for their date with No. 7 LSU in the Chick-filA Bowl, there were still lingering doubts from many pundits over whether Boyd could pass muster when it came to performing against an SEC-caliber defense such as the one the Bayou Bengals possessed. Clemson had been held to a season-low 17 points in its most recent outing against a defense of similar stature, rival South Carolina, and had been unable to keep up in a shootout with Atlantic Division winner Florida State in Tallahassee,
A
T
Above: Under the tutelage of Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris, Boyd took home Chick-fil-A Bowl Most Valuable Player honors. At right: Boyd, who emerged as more of a dual-threat quarterback in 2012, will continue to be a focal point of Morris’ run game. Photos by Rex Brown, IPTAY Media
entered the following season as the reigning first-team All-ACC quarterback. It didn’t take him long, however, to realize all those stats and accolades were of little significance to Morris. During one particular session of spring practice Boyd wasn’t performing to his usual standards. Morris pulled his star quarterback
FL earlier. Many wondered if the ACC Tigers would suffer a similar fate against the SEC Tigers’ stout defense, but Boyd had no such concerns. “There wasn’t any doubt heading into that game we couldn’t go out there and win, but it was all about going out there and doing it,” he said. AUGUST 2013
❘
25
Of course, he proved the doubters wrong by guiding three Clemson scoring drives in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning march to set up a walk-off field goal. Boyd was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player on offense after he threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns without an interception and ran for another score. “I just think that game really demonstrated that he said, ‘OK, I’ve got this now. I’ve got it figured out,’” Morris said. “The toughness that he showed getting knocked down as many times as he got hit in that game, and to get back up and lead the team back to win the ball game, I think that really shows a lot about Tajh.” COMING BACK ou won’t get outside the top 20.” That’s what Boyd began hearing in the wake of his bowl performance in Atlanta, GA. Prior to the game Boyd had compiled a list of goals he wanted to accomplish against the Bayou Bengals and their vaunted defense, and told himself he would enter his name in the NFL Draft if he accomplished every one of them. Suffice it to say, Boyd ticked all those boxes and fully intended to turn pro, especially since he now believed he could be a first-round pick. But as the day drew near to announce his decision, he couldn’t deny his desire to return to Clemson.
“Y
26
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
“You’re hearing this, and you’re hearing that. After the LSU game now I was hearing, ‘You won’t get outside of the top 20,’ and those are life-changing numbers to some,” Boyd said. “But for me it was like, ‘What do you make the decision for?’ And I think I made it for all the right reasons. I believe there is room for me to grow individually, and at the same time we want to be the best as a program.” Soon after Boyd announced he would return for his senior season in January, he received a text message from Swinney that read, “Rodney Williams is the all-time winningest quarterback here. He won 32 games. You’ve won 21. I’ll let you do the math.” Boyd’s response was succinct: “Let’s get it.” The rising fifth-year senior will own 51 Clemson records when the season kicks off Aug. 31 against Georgia in Death Valley. But as Swinney pointed out, quarterbacks are measured by wins, not stats, and Boyd needs a special season to secure perhaps the most meaningful record in the school’s history books. “Tajh didn’t come back for himself. He came back because he wants to win a National Championship,” Swinney said. “He loves playing at Clemson. He’s not going out on that field against Georgia thinking about the NFL Draft. He’s going out on that field thinking, ‘How do I win this game?’ To me, the true measure of a quarterback is: Does he win? Does he find a way to win? And that’s what he has done as well as anybody we’ve had here.”
Boyd set Clemson’s single-season record single-season record for touchdown responsibility in 2012. Photo by Tyler Smith
INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM s valuable as Boyd has been to Clemson on the field, his role on the team is perhaps equally significant inside the locker room, organizing summer workouts when the coaches aren’t allowed to and always finding time to chat with his teammates, no matter their class or status on the team. “He just brings a magnetism to the whole room,” Defensive Tackles Coach Dan Brooks said. “The guy will walk into a room and go speak to 10 people before he ever sits down — and that’s just for a team meeting.” There was no doubt Boyd was the biggest name at the ACC Football Kickoff in July in Greensboro, NC. If you wanted to find him in the print media room, you simply looked for the throng of writers. Getting close enough to actually ask him a question was another matter entirely. Not every star player can spend that much time in the limelight and still be just one of the guys when he is with his teammates. But linebacker Spencer Shuey, who also attended the league’s annual media gala, said stardom hasn’t changed Boyd at all. “You couldn’t have a better guy for the role. He gets a lot of attention, and he handles it extremely well,” he said. “It hasn’t changed him one bit as a person.”
A
“Tajh Boyd took a huge leap of faith and at the end of the day I just think he had a trust factor, and he believed in me and believed in Clemson. And it’s been fun to watch it all play out. Because that’s exactly what we’ve done: We built the program around him.” — Dabo Swinney, Clemson Football Head Coach As far as comparisons, Clemson wide receivers coach Jeff Scott grew up around the Florida State program when his father, Brad, was a longtime assistant during the Seminoles’ run of dominance in the late ’80s and early ’90s, and compared Boyd to Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward in terms of his camaraderie with his team. “Obviously, (Ward) was a very talented guy, much like Tajh,” Jeff Scott said, “but he just had that respect from the whole team and worked extremely hard and was one of the top players at that time, and I think Tajh is in that same situation now.” Tigers Offensive Line Coach Robbie Caldwell also compared Boyd to a pair of future NFL quarterbacks he had been around during his days at N.C. State and Vanderbilt. “Philip Rivers and Jay Cutler, to name a couple,” Caldwell said. “Some quarterbacks can get on people, and they will like it and understand it. Others get on them, and it irritates them. You’ve got to know how to do it and the right buttons to push, and I think that’s what Tajh does.” Brooks, meanwhile, was an assistant at Tennessee when Peyton Manning was there and afterward when Tee Martin led the Volunteers to a national title. “I’ve never been around anybody more competitive than Peyton Manning,” Brooks said. “He’d lock the other quarterbacks out of the room so he could be in there with (quarterbacks coach) David Cutcliffe by himself. After coaching football all these years — you’re never going to be a great team without that quarterback. You might be a good team, but if you’ve got a quarterback, it gives you a chance to be great. That’s what Tajh brings right now because he’s gotten himself to that status.”
A FAIRY TALE ENDING winney admits it makes him dizzy to think of all that has transpired since that visit to Boyd’s house back in 2008. Boyd’s parents, Tim and Carla, have since relocated to the Clemson area, but in many ways Swinney began to build the program he has today back in their living room in Virginia that evening. During the media’s preseason voting for the 2013 campaign, Clemson was tabbed to win the ACC Championship by a wide margin, garnering 95 of 120 votes, while Boyd was named the league’s preseason Player of the
S
Year in even more overwhelming fashion, collecting 105 of 120 votes. “Tajh Boyd is not only a great player, but he lights up a room and he’s such a fun guy to go to work with every day,” Swinney said. “It’s important to him to win. He’s got guts, he’s got toughness and he’s got instincts. He is a special person, and I’m so proud of his development and how he’s handled his success and disappointments and how he’s represented our program and this university for four years. I want to see him have a great five months or
so — because he deserves that. My hope and prayer is that he stays healthy. Because if No. 10 is on the field, we’ve got a chance.” Still, Boyd admits it wasn’t always clear to him that the blueprint Swinney laid out on that recruiting visit was going to come to fruition. “As a freshman you get here and you hear this and that, and you dislike a lot of the things,” Boyd said. “Then a year goes by, and you start to understand a little more. Another year goes by, and you’re like, ‘OK, I see why.’ And then the last year comes around, and it’s just laid out in front of you: ‘This is the map.
At the ACC Football Kickoff in July, Boyd was the media’s overwhelming pick to repeat as ACC Player of the Year. Photo by Rex Brown, IPTAY Media
This is what he’s been trying to create, and this is here now.’ We’ve been working to become consistent as people and working to become consistent as a program, and I think everything is shaping up the way we want it to be. “I was the first quarterback he signed. So for me, it’s special. It’s an honor. Hopefully, we can ride this thing out and end it like a fairy tale.” AUGUST 2013
❘
27
MEET THE TIGERS A POSITION-BY-POSITION BREAKDOWN OF THE 2013 CLEMSON FOOTBALL TEAM by Steven Bradley/IPTAY Media
QUARTERBACKS
ONE TO WATCH
DEPTH CHART (Entering fall camp) Pos. #
Player
Ht. Wt. Class
QB 10 TAJH BOYD 6-1 225 *Sr. 18 Cole Stoudt 6-5 205 Jr. 17 Nick Schuessler 6-3 185 *Fr.
COACH SPEAK
“You can’t master the quarterback position. It can’t be done. You can ask Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees, and they will tell you the same thing. You never master the position; you try to gain an advantage. And (Tajh Boyd has) got to try to gain an advantage in his footwork, his recognition of coverages, and recognize what he did in the LSU game: ‘Hey, I’m the guy. It’s on me, and I’ve got this.’ So, I think he’s definitely a guy that you’re going to see excel more this year than he did his first two years.”
As the backup to Tajh Boyd last season, Cole Stoudt actually had a better completion percentage (.692) than the first-team All-American. In April, Stoudt put on a show by throwing for a Spring Game record 304 yards and four touchdowns. The son of former NFL signal-caller Cliff Stoudt, Cole gives the Tigers one of the most reliable backup quarterbacks in the ACC. Even when Boyd announced he would return for his senior season, Stoudt says he was “happy that he did” and insists he never even considered transferring. “I’ve loved it ever since I’ve been here. I don’t think I could ever leave. Even after college, I might just stay in Clemson,” he said.
THE HEADLINER
The reigning ACC Player of the Year, Tajh Boyd will begin his senior season as the owner of 51 school records. He threw for 3,896 yards and 36 touchdowns last season en route to being named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, the first Clemson quarterback named a firstteam All-American by one of the major services. Back for his senior season after leading the Tigers to their first 11-win season since 1981, Boyd believes both he and the team are capable of more. “One of the main reasons I came back to school was to improve my game, but at the same help the team accomplish a championship,” he said.
— Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris
RUNNING BACKS
THE HEADLINER
After coming to Clemson as a highly touted running back out of Sumter High School, Rod McDowell played sparingly in 2010 and 2011, carrying the ball a combined 46 times behind the likes of C.J. Spiller, Jamie Harper and Andre Ellington. As a junior, “Hot Rod” carried 76 times for 424 yards, and his 5.6 yards per carry average was the best on the team among players with at least 15 carries. Now, McDowell wants to prove he can continue Clemson’s tailback tradition as the main man. “When it’s my time, I have to kick the door open,” he said. “I want to have fun with them and show them what the real Rod McDowell is all about.” 28
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
ONE TO WATCH
Both Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris and Running Backs Coach Tony Elliott have indicated the position is likely to rely on more of a “by committee” approach this season than it did last year when Andre Ellington carried 212 times. With that, D.J. Howard and Zac Brooks will get opportunities behind McDowell to show they deserve an even greater workload. Howard is perhaps the most physical of the veteran backfield trio, while Brooks might have the highest ceiling, according to Elliott. “Zac has the potential to put it all together and be a complete back, like an Andre Ellington,” Elliott said.
DEPTH CHART (Entering fall camp) Pos. # RB FB
Player
Ht. Wt. Class
25 RODERICK McDOWELL 5-9 22 D.J. Howard 5-11 24 Zac Brooks 6-1 40 DARRELL SMITH 6-2
195 195 185 250
*Sr. *Jr. So. *Sr.
COACH SPEAK
“I’m excited about Hot Rod. He’s really worked hard. He’s really tried to develop himself into that leader role. But I also believe it is Zac Brooks’ time to step forward. D.J. Howard is another one. I think we will rely on those three guys — Hot Rod, Zac and D.J. — and then I think you’re going to see one of the freshmen (Tyshon Dye or Wayne Gallman) hopefully step into a pivotal role for us.” — Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris
WIDE RECEIVERS
DEPTH CHART (Entering fall camp) Pos. # Player WR 2 SAMMY WATKINS 1 Martavis Bryant WR 19 CHARONE PEAKE 87 Matt Porter WR 13 ADAM HUMPHRIES 5 Germone Hopper
Ht. 6-1 6-5 6-3 5-11 5-11 6-0
Wt. Class 205 Jr. 200 Jr. 200 Jr. 190 *Jr. 190 Jr. 175 *Fr.
COACH SPEAK
“To replace a guy like (DeAndre Hopkins), you’re replacing 1,400 yards of offense. But there’s no question these guys have been working very hard this summer, and I’m excited about our guys we have back. Charone Peake is a guy that we feel like is on track to have a great year. (Hopkins is) a tough guy to replace, but we have some talent there — and I’m excited about the guys we’ve got.”
ONE TO WATCH
Talent has never been a question mark when it comes to junior Martavis Bryant. At 6-foot-5 and with speed to burn, Bryant averaged 30.5 yards on 10 catches last year. That average was best in the nation among receivers with at least 10 receptions. He had seven catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Spring Game and, by all accounts, has carried his good work over into fall camp. “Martavis has been probably the most consistent player we’ve had all summer,” quarterback Tajh Boyd said. “Just a total transformation and an unbelievable player.”
— Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris
THE HEADLINER
Sammy Watkins burst onto the national scene in 2011, when he became just the fourth first-year freshman in NCAA history to earn AP FirstTeam All-America honors. Watkins’ production slipped last season, but he still joined former Tigers Derrick Hamilton and DeAndre Hopkins as the only players in ACC history to catch at least 50 passes as both a freshman and a sophomore. Entering his junior season, the consensus inside the locker room is Watkins is set to return to, if not surpass, his freshman form. “You can see the hunger in his eyes to make sure he has a great season,” quarterback Tajh Boyd said.
TIGHT ENDS
THE HEADLINER
When Sam Cooper went down with a knee injury in the Spring Game, converted receiver Stanton Seckinger found himself thrust into this role. Seckinger has big shoes to fill in replacing the record-setting Brandon Ford, who garnered All-ACC honors last season, but Head Coach Dabo Swinney said Seckinger compares favorably in terms of talent to Ford. “He’s very similar to Brandon,” Swinney said. “He’s more athletic than Brandon. He’s faster than Brandon. He’s got similar ball skills to Brandon, and he’s kind of making that same transition (to the nuances of playing tight end) — things you just don’t do as a wideout — and he’s bought in.”
ONE TO WATCH
There is little doubt the breakout star of spring ball was Jordan Leggett, who arrived in January as an early enrollee. The 6-foot-6, 235-pounder impressed the coaching staff with his athleticism, ball skills and ability to digest the playbook and adjust to the speed of the college game. “He’s just cool as a cucumber,” Head Coach Dabo Swinney said. “Nothing fazes him. He’s going to be a heck of a player.” Swinney made those comments following the Spring Game, when Leggett had seven catches for 97 yards including a 50-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winning score.
DEPTH CHART (Entering fall camp) Pos. #
Player
Ht. Wt. Class
TE 81 STANTON SECKINGER 6-4 210 So. 16 Jordan Leggett 6-6 235 Fr. 89 Jay Jay McCullough 6-3 230 *Fr.
COACH SPEAK
“I think (tight end) is a position right now that is by committee. I’m excited about that position because I think the types of players and tight ends that we’ve produced over the last few years, I can’t see that falling off. But I do see that there has to be some role-playing there and some guys that have to step up.” — Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris
OFFENSIVE LINE
DEPTH CHART (Entering fall camp) Pos. # Player LT 63 BRANDON THOMAS 78 Eric Mac Lain 79 Isaiah Battle LG 68 DAVID BEASLEY or 67 KALON DAVIS C 58 RYAN NORTON 57 Jay Guillermo RG 70 TYLER SHATLEY 77 Reid Webster RT 70 GIFFORD TIMOTHY 73 Joe Gore
Ht. 6-3 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-6 6-5
COACH SPEAK
Wt. Class 305 *Sr. 260 *So. 280 So. 315 *Jr. 330 *Jr. 270 *So. 270 *Fr. 295 *Sr. 285 *Jr. 310 *Jr. 275 *So.
“It’s like I always tell them: It’s hard to run the offtackle play without a tackle, and no play starts without somebody snapping the ball. We’re pretty valuable too.” — Offensive Line Coach Robbie Caldwell
ONE TO WATCH
While the task of replacing fouryear starter Dalton Freeman’s leadership will likely fall to seniors Brandon Thomas and Tyler Shatley, sophomore Ryan Norton will be tasked with replacing him at the center position. The native of Simpsonville, SC played in 12 games last season and was named the team’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. “It’s hard to replace a Dalton Freeman,” offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell said. “Not just in the playing ability, but to have the kind of knowledge he had… that’s going to be hard to replace. Ryan Norton and Jay Guillermo are going to be really good centers, I believe. The competition is great there, and they love the competition — and that’s the only way you’re going to get better.”
THE HEADLINER
One of the reasons high expectations abound for the Tigers this fall is the return of four starters along the offensive line. Those players have 61 combined starts entering the 2013 season, and eight of the 12 returning lettermen have played at least 10 games. Brandon Thomas, who was a first-team All-ACC left tackle last year, played 987 snaps for Clemson’s record-setting offense, more than any other player on the team. Thomas also has the versatility to move inside, and the coaching staff has made it clear they won’t hesitate to do so if it means getting the team’s best five offensive linemen on the field together. AUGUST 2013
❘
29
DEFENSIVE LINE
DEPTH CHART
Pos. # Player DE 93 COREY CRAWFORD or 9 TAVARIS BARNES 90 Shaq Lawson DT 50 GRADY JARRETT 99 DeShawn Williams 94 Carlos Watkins DT 91 JOSH WATSON 48 D.J. Reader 92 Roderick Byers DE 3 VIC BEASLEY 98 Kevin Dodd 53 Martin Aiken
Ht. 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-2
ONE TO WATCH
Wt. Class 270 Jr. 275 *Jr. 260 Fr. 290 Jr. 285 Jr. 300 So. 285 *Jr. 335 So. 275 *So. 225 *Jr. 280 So. 255 *Fr.
COACH SPEAK
“When you’ve got four or five defensive tackles and four or five defensive ends, and if somebody is tired you put the other one in there and it’s like the first team, that makes you feel good.” — Defensive Tackles Coach Dan Brooks
Despite playing just 288 snaps, Vic Beasley led the Tigers last season with eight sacks. His upward trajectory continued this spring, when the junior was almost unblockable during practices and finished with a pair of sacks in the Spring Game. Dabo Swinney says the best part of coaching is that moment when “the light comes on” for a player, and he points to Beasley as Exhibit A of that phenomenon. “This time last spring I couldn’t get anybody in the whole (coaches’ meeting) room to even give him a thumbs up,” Clemson’s head coach said this spring. “Now he’s the best player we’ve got.”
THE HEADLINER
One of three returning starters on the D-line for Clemson, Grady Jarrett was named the co-MVP of the defense in 2012 and had a strong finish to the season with four tackles, including a sack, in the bowl win over LSU. He had 8.5 tackles for loss on the season, most among returning Clemson defensive players, and Jarrett’s good work carried over in the spring, when he had a game-high three tackles for loss in the Spring Game. “We feel like we can make really big strides, and that’s on every level of the defense — D-line, linebackers, DBs — so we can all come together as a unit,” Jarrett said.
LINEBACKERS
THE HEADLINER
After having 16 first- and second-team All-ACC selections in the linebacking corps between 1990 and 2001, the Tigers have produced just one all-conference linebacker since then (Leroy Hill in 200304). But Dabo Swinney believes that may be about to change. “I think we finally have created the depth and class division that we need to have to be special at the linebacker position again,” Swinney said. Top returning tackler Spencer Shuey took over the starting job at middle linebacker after five games last season. With only 17 tackles to that point, he finished the season with 93, just two shy of the team-best total of Jonathan Willard despite playing 181 fewer snaps.
ONE TO WATCH
Despite leading the team in tackles for the first half of the season, Stephone Anthony was supplanted by Shuey in the lineup for the final seven games. Anthony still finished fourth on the team with 77 total tackles, but admits it was tough to handle when he lost his first-team spot. “It was, but that’s what you learn from,” Anthony said. “That’s your learning curve.”This year, Anthony will get another chance to live up to his five-star billing out of high school, as he is again atop the depth chart at MIKE linebacker, with Shuey moved to the weak side.
DEPTH CHART Pos. # Player Ht. LB 33 SPENCER SHUEY 6-3 7 Tony Steward 6-1 52 Kellen Jones 6-1 LB 42 STEPHONE ANTHONY 6-3 44 B.J. Goodson 6-1 52 Kellen Jones 6-1 LB 34 QUANDON CHRISTIAN 6-2 41 T.J. Burrell 5-11
Wt. Class 230 *Sr. 235 Jr. 215 *So. 235 Jr. 240 *So. 215 *So. 225 *Sr. 215 *Fr.
COACH SPEAK
“I have a very high level of expectation from (our linebackers) right now. I think we’ll be better there just because of our experience, our understanding and everything that you go through in your growth and maturation of players. — Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables
SECONDARY
ONE TO WATCH
DEPTH CHART Pos. # Player Ht. CB 26 GARRY PETERS 6-0 or 17 BASHAUD BREELAND 6-0 S 11 TRAVIS BLANKS 6-1 47 Taylor Watson 5-11 S 27 ROBERT SMITH 5-11 18 Jadar Johnson 6-1 CB 8 DARIUS ROBINSON 5-10 or 14 MARTIN JENKINS 5-10
COACH SPEAK
Wt. Class 195 *Jr. 195 *Jr. 190 So. 205 *Jr. 210 Jr. 180 Fr. 175 Sr. 180 *Jr.
“(Our incoming freshman defensive backs) made plays in high school. Now it’s time to make plays in college. Until they make those plays in college and for my eyes, they haven’t done anything yet. I’ve got to be hard on them, but there are some guys that, based on what I’ve seen from them in high school, they have the potential.” — Defensive Backs Coach Mike Reed 30
❘
The biggest National Signing Day splash for the Tigers this year was made by ballyhooed cover corner Mackensie Alexander of Immokalee, FL, who donned a Clemson hat in lieu of those bearing the logos of a slew of SEC schools during a news conference at his school. Regarded as the No. 4 overall player in the nation by ESPN, the highest ranking by a Clemson signee since Da’Quan Bowers was ranked first in the class of 2008, Alexander immediately became the headliner of the class. “He’s a rare combination at that position with his size and speed and ball skills and ability to finish plays,” Head Coach Dabo Swinney said.
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
THE HEADLINER
Asked to identify the players who made the biggest strides on his unit during spring ball, the first two names out of Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables’ mouth were safeties Travis Blanks and Robert Smith. Given that safety was easily the biggest question mark on the defense coming into spring practice — the Tigers only returned one career start at safety on the roster — that development can only be viewed as positive. “Blanks and Smith have really solidified themselves where they’re at,” Venables said. Blanks played outside linebacker and nickel back much of last year and had 51 tackles to rank eighth on the team in 2012, but will move back to his natural position in the secondary this season. CONTINUED ON PAGE 35
THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP UP WITH THESE TIGERS ... Your official weekly e-Newsletter for IPTAY donors.
• Primary source for all IPTAY news and information • Behind-the-scenes coverage of coaches and student-athletes • Exclusive stories, video content and much more
For more information and how to receive MyOrangeUpdate, contact us at 864.656.2115, IPTAY@clemson.edu or P.O. Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29633.
w w w. M y O r a n g e U p d a t e . c o m
AUGUST 2013
❘
31
32
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
AUGUST 2013
❘
33
o h c E y a M r a o R s ’ . r . . e . t g i h T g i e e h T H n i a t That n u o M e h T r e O’
Experience Oconee
y a t S . . . y a l P . . Visit . y t n u o C e e n o in Oc
Land Beside the Water
A diverse, growing, safe, vibrant community guided by rural traditions and shaped by natural beauty; where employment, education and recreation offer a rich quality of life for all generations, both today and tomorrow.
34
❘
Great Housing Options • Retirement Communities Low Taxes • Great Schools • Job Growth Strong Retail Businesses and Restaurants Four Lakes • Wild & Scenic Chattooga River • 29 Waterfalls 90,000 Acres Of Sumter National Forest
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
www.oconeeSC.com
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30
SPECIAL TEAMS
DEPTH CHART Pos. #
Player
Ht. Wt. Class
PK 39 CHANDLER CATANZARO 6-2 195 *Sr. 92 Bradley Pinion 6-6 230 So. P 92 BRADLEY PINION 6-6 230 SO.
COACH SPEAK
“We didn’t try to throw the ball in the end zone or take a lot of chances on that last drive (against LSU) once we got inside the 20. I know we have a great kicker who can make kicks in the clutch. We do that every day in practice, and (Catanzaro) is on target most of the time. — Head Coach Dabo Swinney
ONE TO WATCH
With Spencer Benton — who set an ACC record last season with a 61-yard field goal against Ball State — lost to graduation, the strongest leg on campus now belongs to Bradley Pinion. The Concord, NC product had nine punts last year for a 39.4 average, including a net figure of 38.8, two yards better than Benton. Pinion also had 26 kickoffs, 18 of which went for touchbacks. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound sophomore had a 44.3-yard average on eight punts in the Spring Game. Pinion was a second-team All-American by USA Today out of high school, the first Clemson kicker signee to earn USA Today All-America honors since Chris Gardocki in 1988.
THE HEADLINER
The 2012 Clemson team scored more points than any in program history, and no player scored more points for the Tigers than Chandler Catanzaro, who had 111. Perhaps the three most important of those points came on the last play of the year, when Catanzaro made a 37-yard field goal as time expired to beat No. 7 LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Catanzaro also made a 43-yard field goal on the last play of the game to beat Wake Forest in 2011 and clinch a spot in the ACC Championship Game. By virtue of those two kicks, he joins David Treadwell as the only Clemson kickers with a pair of “walk-off” field goals in their careers.
LEARN ABOUT THE COMPETITION CLEMSON IS UP AGAINST IN ITS QUEST FOR AN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE NEXT PAGE.
FBItickets2013.indd 2
7/5/2013 AUGU S T 212:34:36 0 1 3 PM ❘ 35
BREAKDOWN ATLANTIC DIVISION CLEMSON TIGERS HEAD COACH: Dabo Swinney, 4 years (40-21) 2012 RECORD: 11-2, 7-1 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 13 — 6 offense, 6 defense, placekicker THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… The Tigers’ offense averaged 41 points and 512.7 yards per game last season — both school records — but loses its leading rusher in Andre Ellington, leading receiver in DeAndre Hopkins and the leader of its offensive line in Dalton Freeman. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Clemson returns a first-team All-American at quarterback, Tajh Boyd, for the first time in its history. The reigning ACC Player of the Year will direct an offense that set 101 school records (33 team, 68 individual) in 2012 under coordinator Chad Morris, who is also back for his third season. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “We have to put three, four, five or six quality years together and when people are trying to decide who their top 10 is, Clemson is always in that mix. We’ve made a little progress toward that, but we’re not there yet. We’ve still got a lot of work to do to become that type of program, so we need to go out and have another great season this year.” — Swinney
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES HEAD COACH: Jimbo Fisher, 3 years (31-10) 2012 RECORD: 12-2, 7-1 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 11 — 6 offense, 4 defense, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… No team in the ACC returns fewer starters than the Seminoles, and three of the departures were first-round picks in April’s NFL Draft, quarterback E.J. Manuel and defenders Bjoern Werner and Xavier Rhodes. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Because of how well it has recruited, perhaps no team in the ACC is better equipped than FSU to deal with such turnover in the starting lineup. The Seminoles also return four starters on the offensive line, two backs who had over 100 carries last season (Devonte Freeman and James Wilder) and their top two receivers (Rashad Greene, Kenny Shaw). IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “We have the least amount of starters back in the ACC, but we also have more junior and senior starters than we did a year ago. So even though they’re not considered returning starters I still think they’re very talented and will have a huge impact on our team.” — Fisher
NC STATE WOLFPACK HEAD COACH: Dave Doeren, first year at NCSU 2012 RECORD: 7-6, 4-4 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 12 — 5 offense, 5 defense, placekicker, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… Doeren was announced as the new head coach of the Wolfpack
36
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
on Dec. 1, 2012, after the Tom O’Brien era came to a close after six seasons. Doeren had a 23-4 record in two seasons as the head man at Northern Illinois, leading the Huskies to become the first MAC team to earn a BCS bid with a trip to the 2013 Orange Bowl, although he did not coach in that game. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Not much is staying the same in Raleigh, as quarterback Mike Glennon must be replaced, along with three starters on the O-line and the top four tacklers on defense. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “I can’t measure the wins and losses right now. I really feel good about the nine months that we’ve had and the progress we’ve made, so we’ll see where it goes.” — Doeren
WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS HEAD COACH: Jim Grobe, 12 years (73-74) 2012 RECORD: 5-7, 3-5 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 18 — 8 offense, 8 defense, placekicker, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… The Deacons will hope to have plenty of change on the offensive side of the ball, where they finished 117th nationally in total offense last season. With a quarterback, Tanner Price, who has started 30 straight games for the team, they appear poised to be improved. THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME… With 18 starters returning, Wake will be among the league’s most experienced teams in 2013, but has had four straight losing seasons under Grobe since it won 28 games — and an ACC title — across a three-year span from 2006-08. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “We had a really tough finish to the year last year and a lot of guys, including the coaches, were unhappy with the way it turned out. But we had some of the older guys step up and set a new tone for this season. There is a really good vibe around this team right now, and I’m excited.” — Grobe
MARYLAND TERRAPINS HEAD COACH: Randy Edsall, 2 years (6-18) 2012 RECORD: 4-8, 2-6 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 14 — 7 offense, 5 defense, placekicker, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… The biggest change on the horizon for Maryland is clearly its departure from the conference it helped to found at the end of the season. The Terps will officially bid farewell to the league Nov. 30 with a game at NC State, barring an appearance in the ACC title game. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Maryland was 4-2 last year before it lost the top four quarterbacks on its depth chart and finished the season with freshman linebacker Shawn Petty under center. With C.J. Brown back calling signals and one of the league’s most dynamic receivers in Stefon
Diggs at his disposal, the Terps will hope to regain some stability on offense. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “Our goals are the same — we want to win the Atlantic Division, we want to win the ACC, we want to go to a BCS bowl game. That’s what the focus is about when we get started on Aug. 5.” — Edsall
SYRACUSE ORANGE HEAD COACH: Scott Shafer, first year at Syracuse 2012 RECORD: 8-5, 5-2 Big East RETURNING STARTERS: 13 — 5 offense, 6 defense, placekicker, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… Syracuse will be formally welcomed into the ACC on Oct. 5, when it hosts Clemson at the Carrier Dome. In making the transition, the Orange will do so without last year’s head coach, Doug Marrone, and starting quarterback, Ryan Nassib — both of whom have moved on to the NFL — and all five of last season’s All Big-East performers. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME The Orange finished a respectable 48th nationally in total defense last season, and with Shafer having been promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, figure to hang their hats on that side of the ball. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “At our conference meeting (in May), Coach Swinney was saying, ‘Hey, we really need to take this conference to where we go headto-head with the SEC,’ and he’s right. You only live once, man. Demographics show that we are in the same pool as they are, both for recruiting and competing on the field.” — Shafer
BOSTON COLLEGE HEAD COACH: Steve Addazio, first year at BC 2012 RECORD: 2-10, 1-7 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 17 — 8 offense, 8 defense, placekicker THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… BC parted ways with Frank Spaziani after the last of his four seasons in Chestnut Hill finished with just two wins. Addazio was hired to replace him after going 13-11 in two seasons at Temple, including a 9-4 record and the school’s first bowl victory in more than two decades in 2011. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME The Eagles return three senior starters at the skill positions — quarterback Chase Rettig, running back Andre Williams and receiver Alex Amidon — who have combined for a total of 68 career starts. Amidon finished second in the ACC in receiving yards per game (100.8) last season. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “We came off a 2-10 year. We haven’t done anything yet. I think we’ve got to go out there and play well and give people a fair assessment of where we are.” — Addazio
A glance at each of the teams in the new-look, 14-team Atlantic Coast Conference in order of their projected finish according to voting by the media who cover the league at the 2013 ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, NC.
COASTAL DIVISION MIAMI HURRICANES
HEAD COACH: Al Golden, 2 years (13-11) 2012 RECORD: 7-5, 5-3 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 19 — 10 offense, 9 defense THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… Most of the change, at least as it pertains to Miami’s starting lineup, is on special teams, where it lost kicker Jake Wieclaw and punter Dalton Botts. The Hurricanes also lost offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME The Hurricanes garnered 65 of 120 first-place votes to win the Coastal Division at the ACC Football Kickoff, and a big reason for that is the return of 19 of 22 starters. Running back Duke Johnson, who finished second in the preseason voting for ACC Player of the Year — albeit with only four votes — is not even considered one of the returning starters, but finished second in the ACC last year with 947 rushing yards. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “These guys understand what the expectations are, and more importantly, what the standards are in our locker room and our facility. We’re just going about our business every day and the rest will take care of itself.” – Golden
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
HEAD COACH: Frank Beamer, 26 years (216-104-2) 2012 RECORD: 7-6, 4-4 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 17 — 6 offense, 9 defense, placekicker, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… The Hokies had the longest streak of consecutive double-digitwin seasons in the FBS snapped last season at eight, and only a three-game win streak late in the season allowed them to become bowl-eligible. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME The winningest active coach in the FBS, Beamer returns for his 27th season in Blacksburg. The Hokies also return all four starters along the defensive line and all four starters in the secondary from a defense that allowed just 284 yards per game over the final seven contests of 2012. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “Sitting there at 4-6 was disappointing, and it happened for a lot of reasons. That team could have folded its tent, but they didn’t. There are some things to draw from that. Life lessons. I’m excited about trying to get back.” — Beamer
NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
HEAD COACH: Larry Fedora, 1 year (8-4) 2012 RECORD: 8-4, 5-3 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 14 — 6 offense, 7 defense, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… Only Florida State lost more than the 10 starters North Carolina lost, which included three starters off an offensive line that paved the way for the Tar Heels to set school records in points (487) and points per game (40.6) last season.
…THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Quarterback Bryn Renner threw for 28 touchdowns against seven interceptions and gets two of his three starting receivers back in Sean Tapley and Quinshad Davis. The Tar Heels’ 8-4 record a year ago was their best finish since 1997. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “I think (the opener vs. South Carolina) will be a great measuring stick for us to find out where we are as a football team in the second year of this process.” — Fedora
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
HEAD COACH: Paul Johnson, 5 years (4026) 2012 RECORD: 7-7, 5-3 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 17 — 7 offense, 8 defense, placekicker, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… Since peaking with an ACC crown in 2009, Georgia Tech is just 21-19 overall. But with longtime veteran assistant Ted Roof now back for his second stint in Atlanta as defensive coordinator, there is reason to believe the defense will begin to complement the Jackets’ always-dangerous option offense. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME With 17 starters back from a team that fell just seven points shy of an ACC crown, the Yellow Jackets will hope to again contend in the Coastal, where they have won four of the last seven division titles. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “I think the ACC is really strong right now. It’s a fun conference to be a part of, unlike some of the other leagues, maybe. There’s competition, and it’s fierce on the field, but if you look at the big picture, from APR to graduation rates to performance on the field, of the five conferences, we’re in the top two.” — Johnson
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
HEAD COACH: Paul Chryst, 1 year (6-7) 2012 RECORD: 6-7, 3-4 Big East RETURNING STARTERS: 16 — 6 offense, 9 defense, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… The Panthers lost 19 lettermen, eight of them starters, most notably three-year starter Tito Sunseri at quarterback and running back Ray Graham, the second-leading rusher in school history. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Chryst brought stability to the Panthers program as their third coach in three years last season. He led them to six wins in their final 11 games — and four of the last seven — to earn a bid in the BBVA Compass Bowl. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “The only thing we’ve known, going back to when I interviewed for the job here, to taking part in offseason meetings, has been ACC. We’ve been recruiting, only knowing that we’re going to the ACC.” — Chryst
VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
HEAD COACH: Mike London, 3 years (16-21) 2012 RECORD: 4-8, 2-6 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 15 — 7 offense, 7 defense, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… London changed both coordinators after last season, replacing defensive coordinator Jim Reid with Jon Tenuta, a familiar name around the ACC, and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor with Steve Fairchild. …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME The Cavaliers return seven starters on either side of the ball, although they lost some standout performers on each side — notably All-ACC performers Oday Aboushi at left tackle and Steve Greer at middle linebacker. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “I don’t get caught up in where we’re picked. Obviously, it is what it is and you can’t change that. The only thing that can change that is our play on the field. I want to be competitive on the field. I want us to be tough, smart and aggressive. Where we are now is not as important to me as, when it’s over, where we end up.” — London
DUKE BLUE DEVILS
HEAD COACH: David Cutcliffe, 5 years (21-40) 2012 RECORD: 6-7, 3-5 ACC RETURNING STARTERS: 17 — 7 offense, 8 defense, placekicker, punter THE MORE THINGS CHANGE… The Blue Devils finished fifth in the league in scoring offense last season, but must replace Sean Renfree, who ranks third in ACC history in completions (898) and Conner Vernon, the league’s alltime leading receiver for catches (283) and yards (3,749). …THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Cutcliffe was named the 2012 ACC Coach of the Year after leading Duke to its first bowl appearance in 28 seasons. He has led the team to 21 wins in his five seasons at the helm, more than the Devils managed in the previous 12 seasons combined (19). IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “When we arrived here five years ago we were irrelevant, but now we are relevant as a college football program. We can go into a player’s home and they know about Duke football, they saw us in the bowl game and were impressed. In the past people assumed Duke football wouldn’t be good. They don’t assume that anymore.” — Cutcliffe
AUGUST 2013
❘
37
2013 SEASON OUTLOOK | MEN’S SOCCER This fall, Head Coach Mike Noonan is taking a “wait and see” approach to the season. “I am cautiously optimistic about this year’s team,” he said. “I am hoping that the course that we were on in the spring transfers to the fall. I believe we have more quality in front to finish our chances, as that was a concern last season. We are older and have more experience and composure. The buildup in creating chances is good, but the finishing is the toughest part, and I believe we have addressed that with our recruiting and with the maturation of our players from last season.” The Tigers return eight starters and 15 lettermen from a team that advanced to the
Ara Amirkhanian is part of a deep returning unit in the midfield position for the Tigers. Photo by Rex Brown, IPTAY Media
ACC Tournament’s semifinal round and had a 6-9-5 record overall and a 3-2-4 record in the tough Atlantic Coast Conference. “The experience we have will be key,” he said. “We have kids that have grown with the program. Although still a young team, we have a solid core and we have two graduate transfers from Brown who I am very familiar with coming to camp. Leadership is always a big factor, and we have some players that lead vocally and some by example. The potential for great leadership is there and
38
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
spread amongst the classes. “We will also be a more balanced team, and there will be more competition for playing time at each position this year. I am really looking forward to this season, as I believe that the pieces are coming together.” GOALKEEPERS Clemson will be deep in the goalkeeper position despite losing three-year starter Cody Mizell, who turned professional after his junior season. The Tigers have two solid returnees in this position, as red-shirt sophomore Chris Glodack and red-shirt freshman Andrew Tarbell return this fall. Glodack played in six matches in 2012 and was the starter in three contests. He had 11 saves and a 0.66 goals allowed average last season. Tarbell redshirted his first season at Clemson. Incoming freshman Matt Churitch should solidify this position for the Tigers. According to the coaching staff, Churitch will also compete for playing time this season. Clemson gave up only 22 goals last season and had a 1.02 goals allowed average as a team. DEFENDERS “The defensive unit will be anchored by junior Phanuel Kavita and Jack Metcalf, a senior,” Noonan said. “Kyle Fisher and Amadou Dia were also starters for us last season.” Kavita and Fisher started all 20 matches last season. Both Metcalf and Dia started 15 times each in 2012. “Richard Robinson also started eight matches for us as a forward, but has been converted this spring and did a good job in the back.” Newcomers to the defensive backfield include Mauriq Hill, a player on Bermuda’s U20 National Team, and Bobby Belair, a graduate student transfer from Brown who will primarily play as a forward, but could be used in the back.
[ by Sam Blackman ] “This area will have depth, experience and will be very competitive. One of the keys, though, will be how quickly we can get the back line and our goalkeeper to gel. We need to be more conscientious of everyone responding and making decisions quicker and faster.”
ATHLETES TO WATCH ARA AMIRKHANIAN
Jr. • Clemson, SC • Has started 26 matches in the midfield over two seasons • Ranked second on the 2012 team in both goals and points
MANOLO SANCHEZ
*Jr. • Philadelphia, PA • In second season at Clemson after transferring from Louisville • Led the Tigers in assists and was third on the 2012 team in points
ALEX STOCKINGER
Jr. • London, England • Veteran of 51 career starts in the midfield • Ranked fourth on the 2012 team in both goals and points
MIDFIELDERS “Our midfield will have a lot of versatility across the line. We have many options on how we can play – wide or close in the middle. We will have a happy balance.” Ara Amirkhanian, Paul Clowes, Manolo Sanchez and Alex Stockinger are returning starters at the midfield position. Sanchez led the squad with six assists last year, while Amirkhanian was second on the team in goals scored (5) and points (12). “Sanchez is very creative and a handful when he attacks wide, and Clowes has a great soccer IQ and is a good passer,” Noonan said. “We also have a few talented newcomers that will help boost this position. Thomas McNamara is the second graduate transfer student, and he will add an attacking dimension from midfield that should be dynamic.” John Cajka, Thales De Mello Moreno, Alexandre Rome’o Happi and Ryan Sullivan are all talented freshmen that will be vying for action. FORWARDS “We may play with one, two or three forwards this season,” Noonan said. “We have a lot of interchangeable parts that will give us the flexibility to play a variety of systems.” Back from last year’s squad is red-shirt
sophomore Iain Smith, who was lost for the season with a leg injury in the third match of the 2012 season. According to the coach-
ing staff, he will be back at 100 percent this season. T.J. Casner, a sophomore, has a lot of ability, which he showed glimpses of in his
MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE Date Day Opponent Aug. 21 Wed. Wofford (exh) Aug. 25 Sun. at Coastal Carolina (exh) Aug. 30 Fri. Mercer Sept. 2 Mon. South Carolina Sept. 6 Fri. *Virginia Sept. 8 Sun. Gardner-Webb Sept. 14 Sat. *at NC State Sept. 17 Tues. UNC Greensboro Sept. 21 Sat. *Maryland Sept. 24 Tues. USC Upstate Sept. 27 Fri. *at Virginia Tech Oct. 5 Sat. *Notre Dame Oct. 8 Tues. *at North Carolina Oct. 11 Fri. *at Wake Forest Oct. 15 Tues. Furman Oct. 18 Fri. *Pittsburgh Oct. 22 Tues. at Charlotte Oct. 25 Fri. *Boston College Nov. 1 Fri. *at Syracuse Nov. 8 Fri. *Duke Nov. 12-17 Tues-Sun. ACC Tournament
Location Greenville, SC Myrtle Beach, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Raleigh, NC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Blacksburg, VA Clemson, SC Chapel Hill, NC Winston-Salem, NC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Charlotte, NC Clemson, SC Syracuse, NY Clemson, SC TBA
Time 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TBA 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM TBA
Note: * denotes ACC match
s l acros artwel H e e k v a d on L Only fi n Locate eath Valley. lemso from D downtown C ty. rsi rom miles f emson Unive and Cl
• State of the art dock system for in water storage • Master Certified Mechanic on staff • Rental Boats Available • Full service fuel dock and pumpout system
The Grill at Clemson Marina offers waterfront dining for lunch and dinner & is open all game day weekends 864-653-6767 | 150 Clemson Marina Dr. Seneca SC 29678 ClemsonMarina.us | Find us on Facebook AUGUST 2013
❘
39
Phanuel Kavita has been a mainstay in the Tigers’ lineup. Above, he heads in the game-winner against top-ranked Maryland in 2011. Photo by Dawson Powers
freshman campaign. Kyle Murphy continued to improve in the spring, and Belair and McNamara can both play in the midfield or up front. Talented
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
freshmen Justen Shear and Austen Burnikel will also compete immediately for playing time. “With the attitude of the team and the cul-
Phanuel Kavita
When it is all said and done, we are lucky to live in this country, with our freedoms and being able to pursue happiness. For people who have immigrated to our country and have seen the horrors of war, death, and the denial of freedoms, being able to live in America is a true blessing. So is the case of men’s soccer player Phanuel Kavita. He was born in the Republic of the Congo, a country in central Africa, in 1993. As a small child, he and his family escaped the country during a bloody civil war where thousands had lost their lives. While in refugee camps, his family survived and moved to several places before coming to the United States. “We had many close calls with our lives,” he said. “I was born in the Republic of the Congo and lived there until the age of 8. A lot of crazy things were going on in my country. During the turmoil, we saw death, suffering and other travesties of war. From there, we went to Spain, France, New York, and finally Utah. It’s by our good fortune that we ended up in the United States. “What’s so sad, there were some very good friends and people I knew in our camp that we never heard from again — I still don’t know what happened to them.” From this tragic experience, Kavita believes he grew up and matured faster than most. “I feel that my brothers and sisters and I had to grow up faster and be brave. We were very fortunate that my immediate family got out and came to the United States.” Kavita is one of seven siblings – he has two older brothers, two older sisters, and two younger brothers. “My family is in Salt Lake City. My father is a cab driver, and my mom works with special needs youth. She works from nine in the morning until nine at night. They are very hard workers and appreciate the opportunities they have in this country.” Kavita is also thankful that Head Coach Mike Noonan found him in Utah, and he 40
❘
ture that is evolving, I believe there is a reason to be optimistic,” Noonan said. “I like this team a great deal and am looking forward to a successful 2013 season.”
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
became a Tiger. “When I was playing soccer in Utah, I was afraid no one would find me or offer me a scholarship,” he said. “I really worried and kept working harder and harder and Coach Noonan found me. I was so grateful — I want to get an education and graduate. It would mean so much to my family. “I really love the Clemson environment. I have fallen in love with the beautiful campus. The people here are really nice.” Noonan is glad that he found Kavita, too. “Physically, he is very strong,” Noonan said. “He has great leadership qualities and is very coachable. He is a very serious player and has a demeanor that brightens your day. He loves the opportunity he has at Clemson. He doesn’t take anything for granted.” Kavita wasted no time in making an impact with the Clemson program. Last year, he started all 18 matches as a defender. But it was his first collegiate goal scored that will not soon be forgotten. On October 28, 2011, Kavita scored the winning goal against the No. 1 ranked Maryland Terrapins at Historic Riggs Field. With 5:35 left in regulation, he headed the ball in the goal from a deflected shot by senior Keegan Priest, who was playing in his last home match. “Phanuel was in the right place at the right time,” Noonan said. “The smile that he displayed after the match when he was completely exhausted was unforgettable! It was a smile that will last a lifetime.” As for goals this season, Kavita has set the bar high. “I want the team to do well and win championships and go further did we did last year,” he said. “I want to do well in school and get above a 3.0 GPA both semesters. I want to continue improving in school and on the field.” Kavita wants to earn his degree, but he is quick to tell you to enjoy the present. “If I were to give anyone advice,” he said, “It would simply be to appreciate every day, work hard, and don’t take things for granted.” As for Kavita, he is following his own advice. — by Sam Blackman
KEOWEE FAMILY UROLOGY
Do you have an active lifestyle but can’t enjoy it because you’ve got to go? Don’t let the urge to urinate or the inability to control the flow of urine keep you from enjoying the things you love to do. Let Keowee Family Urology help.
► Examinations and testing to identify the cause of the problem
► Medical management of urinary symptoms
► Minimally invasive Call today for an appointment.
procedures that help you get back to the things you enjoy most
Dr. Steve Lawton, Urologist 107 A Omni Drive • Seneca, SC 29678 (864) 885-7475
KEOWEE FAMILY Urology
www.oconeephysicianpractices.org/kfu
AUGUST 2013
❘
41
2013 SEASON OUTLOOK | WOMEN’S SOCCER Eddie Radwanski has been looking forward to the 2013 season since he stepped foot on the Clemson campus two and a half years ago. Now that the season is here, his excitement is even more apparent. “The way that women’s soccer works, you are basically recruiting two years ahead, so when I first arrived at Clemson, it was the beginning of the 2013 recruiting class. A lot of effort has gone into this class, as it was an important one from a rebuilding perspective. “Now that this group of players is here, I’m excited about what they are going to bring to the team in all different areas — not just in terms of soccer, but also the academics, the personalities, all of the intangibles. I think it is going to be a great opportunity for us to lay a good foundation moving forward.” Radwanski’s enthusiasm is for good reason. The Tigers’ 2013 freshman class is comprised of 11 players, including three in the Girls IMG Academy Top 150 club player rankings, as well as a goalkeeper from the U17 Canadian women’s national team. The class has even been ranked in the top 10 nationally by some associations. While Radwanski is excited about the newcomers, he is quick to point out the great strides that his 18 returning players have made during the offseason. “I’m also looking forward to seeing the hard work start to pay off for our returning players. We have invested a lot of time in our team chemistry, and I give a lot of credit
to that group because we have made great progress. There has been a very significant personal investment on each player’s part to buy in, and that is creating a good synergy for us heading into the season. Our focus is to move forward doing things together as a group, united, with one heart beat.” This type of team focus will be a neces-
[ by Libby Kehn ]
Allie Kington started 17 matches as a freshman last fall. Photo by Dawson Powers
sity for the Tigers given the difficulty of their 2013 schedule. With the addition of Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the perennially powerful Atlantic Coast Conference, Clemson will play 13 league games and only
ATHLETES TO WATCH
42
❘
SAVANNAH COINER
VANESSA LAXGANG
Jr. • Rocklin, CA • Played in and started 16 games on defense in 2012 and tallied 1,503 minutes on the field, more than any other Tiger
Sr. • Arlington Heights, IL • Started all 37 games in the midfield for the Tigers her freshman and sophomore seasons; started just 10 games in 2012 due to an injury • Recorded 11 goals and seven assists for her career, and ranked second on the team in scoring in 2010 and 2011
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
TABITHA PADGETT
*Sr. • Orange Park, FL • Tied for second on the team in scoring in 2012 with two goals and three assists • Played 1,484 minutes at the forward position in 2012, secondmost on the team
KATELYN REEVE
Jr. • Cary, NC • Started 26 of 29 games in the midfield for the Tigers since earning a starting role midway through her freshman season in 2011
Savannah Coiner logged the most minutes of any Tiger player in 2012.
six out-of-conference. Eleven of the team’s 19 opponents played in the NCAA Tournament in 2012, and nine of the 11 won at least one game in the tournament. In addition, four of Clemson’s 2013 opponents Photo by played in the NCAA Elite Eight, two reached the Dawson Powers College Cup, and North Carolina won the national title last season. Seven teams on Clemson’s schedule this fall were ranked in the top 16 in the 2012 final national poll. “We are going to be more competitive, and we believe we will be improved in many different areas. We obviously hope that we will see some tangible results, but you just don’t know in this conference. The ACC was already the best women’s soccer conference in the country and now we have added another national power in Notre Dame. It just became even more difficult.” With 29 players on the Tigers’ roster for 2013, six more than were on Radwanski’s 2011 and 2012 squads, the head coach is looking forward to his team’s depth. And not only the depth, but the fact that every player is capable of making a contribution to the team. Radwanski will look to the senior class to provide leadership and a guide for the rest of the team. Midfielder Vanessa Laxgang (Arlington Heights, IL) and forward Tabitha Padgett (Orange Park, FL) are two of those seniors who he hopes will use their experience to set a positive example for their teammates. Laxgang sat out a portion of the 2012 season with an injury, but still managed to tally a goal and three assists. She started all 37 games for the Tigers during her freshman and sophomore years, and ranked second on the team in scoring both seasons. Padgett started all 18 games for the Tigers last year, recording two goals and three assists to tie for second on the team in scoring. She
We fit your lifestyle by meeting your news and informational needs. Count on The Journal to be your information source. In print or online, our publications cover life in the Upstate and all you need to know for your busy lifestyle.The Journal is the Upstate’s source for the latest news and features on Clemson football, basketball, baseball and all sports, including up to the minute recruiting news.
We’re here, 24/7, for you!
210 W. N. 1st Street, Seneca, SC 29678 phone: 864.882.2375 fax: 864. 882.2381
AUGUST 2013
❘
43
spent her first two seasons of collegiate soccer at UNC Greensboro, where she was the Southern Conference Co-Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in 2009, and a NSCAA All-Southeast Region Team selection in 2009 and 2010. Juniors Savannah Coiner (Rocklin, CA) and Katelyn Reeve (Cary, NC) will also be looked to for leadership, both on and off the field in 2013. Coiner started 16 games a season ago, logging 1,503 minutes on the field as the anchor of the Tigers’ back line. Reeve started 17 games in the midfield and scored two goals in 2012. Sophomore Allie Kington (Knoxville, TN) spent the spring and summer rehabbing from an offseason injury and will provide a spark for the Tigers in the midfield once she returns to full strength. As a freshman in 2012, Kington started 17 games and played 1,425 minutes on the field with one goal and one assist on the year. Two freshmen Radwanski expects to make a significant impact for Clemson in 2013 are Kailen Sheridan (Whitby, Ontario) and Claire Wagner (Cary, NC). In 2012, Sheridan led the Canadian National Team to a silver medal at the CONCACAF U17 World Cup Qualifier in Guatemala and then reached the quarterfinals of the U17 World Cup in Azerbaijan. This past summer, she attended Canada’s U20 Women’s National Team camp in Vancouver and also traveled with the national team to an Excel camp in Denmark. Sheridan is competing for a spot on Canada’s roster for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in August of 2014. Wagner played for the United States Women’s National Team at the U17 World Cup in Azerbaijan in 2012 and was also selected for national team camp in 2011. Her club team, CASL Chelsea Ladies 94, won back-to-back Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) championships in 2011 and 2012, and was a national semifinalist in 2010. “We are honestly looking for contributions from all players this fall,” Radwanski said. “We are bringing in a very good freshman class, but the reality is that we will still be a young team. While the young players are certainly going to help us make a difference, our focus is on the fact that everybody can make an impact. I truly believe that this year we are going to get contributions from all of our new players all the way through to our seniors.”
WOMEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE Date
Day Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 17 Aug. 23 Aug. 25 Aug. 30 Sept. 6 Sept. 8 Sept. 12 Sept. 15 Sept. 19 Sept. 22 Sept. 26 Sept. 29 Oct. 3 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 17 Oct. 20 Oct. 24 Oct. 27 Oct. 31 Nov. 3-10
Sat. vs. Alabama (exh) Fri. at Auburn Sun. Furman Fri. at South Florida Fri. South Carolina Sun. Davidson Thu. * Maryland Sun. * Boston College Thu. * Pittsburgh Sun. Alabama A&M Thu. * at Syracuse Sun. * Florida State Thu. * at Virginia Tech Sun. * at Virginia Sun. * at NC State Thu. * Duke Sun. * Wake Forest Thu. * at North Carolina Sun. * Notre Dame Thu. * at Miami Sun-Sun. ACC Tournament
Kennesaw, GA Auburn, AL Clemson, SC Tampa, FL Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Syracuse, NY Clemson, SC Blacksburg, VA Charlottesville, VA Raleigh, NC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Chapel Hill, NC Clemson, SC Coral Gables, FL Cary, NC
5:00 PM 8:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:00 PM 5:30 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 2:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM TBA
Note: * denotes ACC match. 44
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
Katelyn Reeve
On a team where 17 of 29 players on the roster are freshmen and sophomores, the Clemson women’s soccer team will rely heavily on its upperclassmen for leadership, both on and off the field, heading into the 2013 season. One of the players who will assume the role of leader is junior Katelyn Reeve. Reeve spent two weeks early in the summer studying abroad in Costa Rica. The trip was with a medical class that traveled to various cities around the country providing medical attention to those in need. A biological sciences major who plans to attend medical school after Clemson, it is clearly important to Reeve to make the most of her educational opportunities. The native of Cary, NC is equally serious about bettering herself and the Clemson women’s soccer team. Reeve and many of her teammates spent the summer in Clemson working to improve their skills and fitness. Several times a week, the players organized group sessions in the weight room to improve their strength and conditioning and played pick-up soccer to gain additional experience. They also practiced their fitness and skills testing in order to be prepared when preseason training begins on August 7. With 26 of the 29 players on the roster working together throughout the summer, Reeve feels encouraged heading into the season. “Our team chemistry is probably the best it has been since I came to Clemson as a freshman,” she said. “I believe that everyone is on the same page in terms of what we want out of this season, and it shows by the hard work we have been putting in this summer.” What Reeve and her teammates want out of the season is to see tangible improvement from 2012. “I want our team to come together and fight for a better ACC record than last year. Winning against NC State in our final game last season was just the start of what is to come for the team this season.” — by Libby Kehn
Get ready For SoMe exCItInG tIGer FootbaLL!
And after the season, head back to campus for Clemson-style hospitality!
Dine
Play
Enjoy the sensations of a uniquely Clemson
Host your next event at the Clemson University
dining experience. Seasons by the Lake
Conference Center and Inn. In addition to its garden-
restaurant offers picturesque views of Hartwell
like setting and lakeside location, the Madren Center
Lake and savory Southern fare. Joe’s Place Bar offers delicious meals and a chance to unwind. 864-656-7444
Gather
features a spacious grand ballroom, intimate meeting rooms and an open-air pavilion. 864-656-7155
The University’s Walker Course is an 18-hole
When football season winds down, don’t forget to plan
championship golf course open year-round for
your stay on campus at the University’s own James F.
public play and golf outings. The course was
Martin Inn. You can enjoy all that Clemson has to offer
selected 2013 Best Public Access Course in the Upstate by the S.C. Golf Panel. 864-656-0236
Stay
and relax right on campus. Amenities include wireless and high-speed Internet access, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and a complimentary continental breakfast, as well as the restaurant, bar and golf course right on-site! 888-654-9020 or 864-654-9020
cuconferencecenter.com
facebook.com/ClemsonUniversityInn
AUGUST 2013
❘
45
2013 SEASON OUTLOOK | VOLLEYBALL Six. 82. 1,807. 3,793. 2,817. 1,322. 4,751. Those numbers represent the number of AllACC selections, wins, sets played, kills, digs, blocks, and points, respectively, that last season’s senior class of Sandra Adeleye, Natalie Patzin, Alexa Rand and Serenat Yaz tallied during their four years. Head Coach Jolene Jordan Hoover will use a combination of her nine newcomers and seven returning letterwinners to bring a new-look Clemson team into a new-look ACC. Three key contributors over the last three seasons do return in hitter Mo Simmons, setter Hannah Brenner, and outside hitter Kristin Faust. Other than that, Hoover will look from competition to determine who will see the most action in 2013. “We lost a lot in our four seniors, who all started,” said Hoover, who enters her 21st season at Clemson. “But, we also return a lot, but are a bit of an unknown because a lot of people haven’t seen those new players play. But, I believe that we’re really going to be good, but different.” Different may be an understatement. The incoming class includes six freshmen and three transfers, and with all of the new faces will come new challenges in terms of oncourt continuity. Additionally, the nine newcomers hail from a total of four countries, six
positions, and four states. Because of the great numbers on the roster, which includes eight players listed at 6-feet or taller, competition will be fierce for the open spots. Simmons will again be one of the focal points of the offense. After finishing last season seventh in the ACC at 3.17 kills per set and leading Clemson with 995 attacks, Simmons will be called upon as a finisher on both the left and right sides. She also has extensive USA Volleyball experience, and has been voted as a captain by the team for a third straight season. Her versatility and potential will allow Hoover to fill in around her. Brenner, a three-year starter at setter, has guided the Tiger offense to the tune of 2,798 assists over her career, good for sixth in school history. In addition, hitter Kristin Faust, who was third on the team with 253 kills and 332 digs, is coming off an ACL injury, which she suffered early in spring practice. Faust was one of Clemson’s primary passers, along with Patzin and Yaz, in 2012. Faust received 596 serves a season ago with a .955 success rate. Her continued recovery is key, as she provides a high-flying and athletic option on the outside, and is an invaluable defensive asset. Hoover cites the loss of two of her main passers to graduation as one of the main storylines of fall camp. Along with a healthy Faust, freshmen Milica Stamenic and transfers Alex Lynch and Niki Collier. Cayley Balser or Irem Bayramoglu will also be looked at as other options passing. “Our biggest piece is the graduation of two of our main passers, and Faust recovering from ACL surgery as our third passer,” said Hoover. “So, that will be a big piece to focus on in preseason, and that will be a very important piece — our first ball contact.“ Clemson likes to move with a quick tempo offensively, Hannah Brenner returns at the setter position and is approaching 3,000 assists in her career. Photo by Dawson Powers
46
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
[ by Jeff Kallin ] and was one of the best at not allowing aces last season at just 0.89 per set, and led the conference in digs per set at 17.19. A great pass will be required to allow Brenner, backup Kamryn Sherman, or fresh-
ATHLETES TO WATCH HANNAH BRENNER
Sr. • Orrville, OH • Three-year starter at setter, ranking sixth in school history in assists (2,798) • Will need to step up as a leader and use her array of offensive options
KRISTIN FAUST
Jr. • Orlando, FL • Coming off knee surgery, will be important as a passer and second offensive option • Third on team last season in kills (253) and digs (332)
MO SIMMONS
Sr. • Buford, GA • Three-year starter and captain looking to build on breakout junior season • Led Clemson with 995 attacks last season, and had 345 kills
man Megan Giardina, to have all of their distribution options. Brenner has been an enthusiastic contributor over her first three seasons, and will be expected to elevate her game even further, and possibly contend for all-conference honors this season. She was named to the All-Freshman Team in 2010, and was fifth in the ACC last season in assists per set. Sherman has seen action throughout her first two seasons, including earning five starts a season ago. Simmons will see many of the offensive opportuniKristin Faust, ties, but there is also a big who was third on the 2012 chance for Faust, Balser, team in both Perri, and Bayramoglu to earn valuable swings from kills and digs, is a valuable the outside. asset in all In the middle, gone are phases of the four-year starters Rand and game when Adeleye, who combined healthy. to average nearly seven Photo by Dawson Powers points per set over the last four seasons. Junior Karis Watson is the lone returner with experience in the middle, and is a tremendously strong blocker. Beta Dumancic, a transfer who hails from Osijek, Croatia, competed in the spring for the Tigers after enrolling in January. Duman-
cic is a 6-foot-3 middle with international experience and All-America honors at Jefferson College in Missouri. Finally, Leah Perri, an AAU All-American
will also get a shot at playing time, and is versatile enough to hit, and will be tough to keep out of the lineup. “Karis has done a tremendous job, but has
Dining in Casual Elegance • Private Cabana Club • Boat Slips Available Covered Outdoor Seating with Spectacular Views Picturesque View of Lake Keowee and Blue Ridge Mountains
Reservations Accepted Walk-Ins Welcome 1290 Doug Hollow Rd., Seneca, SC • 864-888-4446 • lighthousekeowee.com AUGUST 2013
❘
47
Mo Simmons is one of the top returning hitters in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Photo by Dawson Powers
VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE Date
Day Opponent
Aug. 23 Fri. Orange & White (exh) Aug. 30 Fri. # vs. Michigan # vs. Northern Kentucky Aug. 31 Sat. # at Xavier Sept. 6 Fri. ! South Carolina Sept. 7 Sat. ! Winthrop ! Furman Sept. 12 Thu. $ at Georgia State Sept. 13 Fri. $ vs. UCF Sept. 20 Fri. ^Alabama Sept. 21 Sat. ^Troy ^Delaware Sept. 27 Fri. * at Pittsburgh Sept. 29 Sun. * at Maryland Oct. 4 Fri. * Miami Oct. 5 Sat. * Florida State Oct. 9 Wed. * Georgia Tech Oct. 11 Fri. * Notre Dame Oct. 18 Fri. * Wake Forest Oct. 20 Sun. * Duke Oct. 25 Fri. * at Boston College Oct. 27 Sun. * at Syracuse Nov. 1 Fri. * Virginia Tech Nov. 2 Sat. * Virginia Nov. 7 Thu. * at NC State Nov. 8 Fri. * at North Carolina Nov. 14 Thu. * at Georgia Tech Nov. 17 Sun. * at Wake Forest Nov. 22 Fri. * Syracuse Nov. 23 Sat. * Boston College Nov. 27 Wed. * at Florida State Nov. 29 Fri. * at Miami
Location
Time
Clemson, SC Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati, OH Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Pittsburgh, PA College Park, MD Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Chestnut Hill, MA Syracuse, NY Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Raleigh, NC Chapel Hill, NC Atlanta, GA Winston-Salem, NC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Tallahassee, FL Coral Gables, FL
5:00 PM 12:00 PM 5:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 AM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 12:30 PM 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 6:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Note: # - Xavier Invitational; ! – Big Orange Bash; $ - Georgia State Invitational; ^ - Clemson Classic; * - ACC match
48
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
just played behind two seniors, and with Beta, and Leah Perri can also contribute in the middle. The libero spot is up for grabs as well, with the departure of Patzin, who finished third in Clemson history with 1,460 career digs. Niki Collier, a California native who played her freshman season at Missouri, held down the spot in the spring, and will be challenged by the Serbian native, Stamenic, who earned a tremendous rating from international volleyball scouting services. The 2013 campaign will be fun to watch as Hoover preps her team for a tough schedule that features 17 of their 25 opponents finishing last season among the top-150 in the nation. The season-opener comes against a Michigan team that went to the Final Four a season ago. The Tigers also close the season with six of their final eight on the road. Building early-season success and chemistry will be paramount as a squad with many new faces attempts to carry on the tradition of success and manage the high expectations of the program. “I think there are still a lot of question marks going into preseason, but really good question marks. So, I think it could be a situation where we can be pretty versatile, which can make us difficult to scout and play.”
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
Mo Simmons
Senior hitter Mo Simmons spent a week this summer as part of the USA Volleyball A2 National program, competing against the top collegians in the nation in Dallas, TX. Two years ago, she made the Junior National team, competing for the USA in Peru. With these two rare experiences under her belt, Simmons is doing all she can to bring what she picked up back to Clemson. “You get an experience that you would probably never get playing anywhere else,” said Simmons. “When you get back to your school, teammates feed off of you. You get to balls that probably would have dropped two years ago.” After a breakout junior season, Simmons was left off the 18-member All-ACC team in 2012, despite finishing seventh in the conference in kills per set (3.17) and being one of the top hitters defensively at 3.06 digs and 0.81 blocks per set. “I’m coming back even harder this year,” said Simmons. “My personal goal is to be the top hitter on our team and to have no errors every game. I know it’s a high goal, but I want to attain that while going hard every time out.” Known for her feisty on-court demeanor and unmatched intensity, Simmons is doing all she can as the leader of this season’s team. It will be her third season as a captain, and with eight newcomers, she knows she needs to set the standard. “With the A2 team, it’s non-stop action. You’re competing all the time. They don’t know anything but going hard all the time.” Simmons’ infectious personality will be called upon to quickly turn one of the conference’s biggest question marks into one of its’ biggest exclamation points. — by Jeff Kallin
MARK ELLIOTT
BRINGS WINNING PEDIGREE TO NEW POSITION by Philip Sikes
CLEMSON’S NEW HEAD COACH FOR TRACK & FIELD, CROSS COUNTRY HAS BEEN TRAINED BY THE BEST
Mark Elliott was introduced as Clemson’s new head coach for track & field and cross country in July. Photo by Dawson Powers
O
ne day after he was officially announced as Clemson’s new head coach for track & field and cross country, Mark Elliott was looking for some advice. So, he called one of his closest friends in the collegiate track & field coaching community. On the other end of the line was Pat Henry, owner of an astounding 34 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships across men’s and women’s track & field. That’s not a bad sounding board for someone who had just assumed his first head coaching job. “He was giving me ideas,” said Elliott, who was recruited as an athlete to LSU by Henry and later worked under the legendary coach for a number of years at the same school. “When you have people like that behind you, it’s easier for you.” Make no mistake, securing a head coaching position has not been an easy climb for Elliott. He spent 20 years as an assistant coach – the last eight as LSU’s top assistant and lead recruiter – honing his craft and preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime. That opportunity came to fruition on July 9 when Elliott’s hire was official. With the résumé he possessed, it was easy to see why he was targeted by Clemson’s search committee. He coached five individual NCAA Champions – including Natoya Goule in both the indoor and outdoor 800 meters this past season – over the course of his coaching tenure at LSU. AUGUST 2013
❘
49
He was part of a program that produced 17 al superstars – including 2008 Olympic silver NCAA Championship teams in men’s and medalist Richard Thompson and 2011 World women’s track & field during his time on the Championships bronze medalist Kelly-Ann Bayou. Baptiste. Elliott hopes that championship mindset Recruiting will continue to be a focal point will ultimately pervade its way through Clem- for Elliott as he takes the reins at Clemson. son’s program. “At LSU, I was one of our coaches that re“I want to continue building on the success cruited across the board – not just with my Clemson has achieved,” he said. “Coming specialty areas,” said Elliott, a native of Spanfrom LSU, where we always seemed to be in ish Town, Jamaica. “I personally recruited position to win championships, my hope is most of the international kids. In all event to take my experience and move Clemson to areas, wherever you can get eight to 10 points, that’s what we want. At the end of the meet, that basis consistently.” He inherits a women’s program that has they add up all the points and whoever has the seen a meteoric rise in recent years. Clemson will enter the 2014 indoor season in possession of the last eight ACC Championships in women’s track & field – four indoor and four outdoor. On the men’s side, Elliott coached the Tigers are coming off their LSU athletes to a best finish at the ACC Indoor high performance and Outdoor Championships level, particularly (third) since the 2008 season. in the 800 Despite the enormity of meters, during LSU’s success, Elliott sees parhis 20-year allels between Clemson’s protenure as an gram and the way things were assistant in Baton Rouge. run in Baton Rouge. Photos courtesy of “It’s very similar to where Bryan Wayne, LSU I’m from,” he said. “It was an Sports Information easy transition, particularly as it related to the support the student-athletes are given. It’s a testament to how well they’ve been doing on the track.” Elliott said he followed Clemson closely throughout the 2013 season, dating to the beginning of the indoor campaign when the Tiger women were ranked No. 1 in the country. LSU’s women posted top-five finishes in both seasons in 2013, and Elliott’s tandem of standouts in the 800 meters were a major reason behind the performances. He coached Goule to national crowns in both seasons, while she and Charlene Lipsey combined to score 31 points at the two NCAA Championship meets. The two also split individual SEC titles, part of 22 won by athletes under Elliott’s coaching. While his middle distance and distance specialists were responsible for much of LSU’s success, the ones he didn’t personally coach were just as responsible. He was the lead recruiter for many of the Tigers’ internation-
50
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
most wins. “I don’t want to be boxed in a corner. If you have a great distance runner, I’m going to go after them. If you have a great hurdler, like Clemson had with Brianna (Rollins), then it’s an easy choice.” Another easy choice was accepting Clemson’s offer to become head coach, Elliott said. “It’s been in the making for a while. Once I assumed the assistant head coach position at LSU, I really wanted to be a head coach.” Now that he’s in that position, he’s established a pecking order of priorities to address within his first few months on the job. He wants to learn the Clemson campus and culture. He’s reached out to the returning student-athletes, and to the ones who will enroll for the fall semester for the first time. Most importantly, he quickly hired a staff of qualified assistants – one of the key pieces of advice he learned from Henry. “Surround myself with people I’m comfortable with,” he said. “In talking with Coach Henry, you have to follow your principles. One of the things he taught me was to surround myself with people who have the same ideas you have.” Those ideas will begin to take shape as the Tigers compete in cross country this fall, while the track & field athletes begin training for the 2014 indoor and outdoor seasons. While a first-time head coach could always be thought of as a risk, that’s not the way his college coach sees it. Pat Henry said it’s a home run hire for the Tigers. “As a coach who recruited Mark to run for me at LSU, and then to be an assistant coach with me for 17 years, it’s a very special feeling to see him as a head coach at a major program,” he said. And, it’s a special feeling for Elliott too, knowing one of the greatest coaches in collegiate history and a close, personal advisor is simply a phone call away.
2013 SEASON OUTLOOK | CROSS COUNTRY The 2013 cross country season will take on a different feel in Clemson, primarily because there’s a new sheriff in town. Mark Elliott arrived in July after a 20-year stint as distance coach at LSU — one of the most successful combined men’s and women’s track & field programs in the nation. He also coached cross country at LSU, and is excited to resume that role at Clemson this fall. “I’ve coached it for years,” he said. “At LSU, our cross country teams were primarily made up of walk-ons, academic scholars and a few scholarship athletes that possessed range and could also be major contributors on the track. The product we put out — as it relates to the team — will be to maximize our talents.” Though depth is not necessarily a strength at Clemson, Elliott quickly identified a few veteran leaders on his teams that should help carry the load this season on the trails. In Natalie Anthony and Aaron Ramirez, both teams possess talented runners who lead by example and have shown what it takes to be successful at the highest level in cross country and track. Ramirez was one of the most improved runners in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2012, and he capped a solid individual season with an all-region performance. With the early graduation of former All-ACC and all-region standout Ty McCormack, Ramirez will be looked upon to increase his performance level even further in 2013. Anthony, a senior from Randolph, NJ, finished in the top 30 at the NCAA Southeast
Regionals last season. She was injured during indoor track season, before rebounding with a solid outdoor campaign. Anthony placed inside Clemson’s top three in all six cross country meets in 2012, with a top 6K time at the PreNCAA Nationals. “Aaron and Natalie will be prototypical athletes I’m looking at to help us in not only cross country, but also indoor and outdoor track,” Elliott said. “It will take some time to build it, however.” The men’s team will look to improve on its 10th-place ACC finish from a year ago. In order to do that, several young athletes will be asked to step into the lineup and contribute. The sophomore class includes several potential, but unproven runners. Jack Andritsch was a junior All-American in the 3000 steeplechase this summer, but struggled last fall getting his feet wet in cross country. Travis Christenberry scored in four meets before suffering setbacks during indoor and outdoor track season. Roland Hakes, the most consistent of the three as a first-year freshman, returns after scoring in all six meets a year ago. Other returning upperclassmen with a chance to make an impact this fall are James
[ by Philip Sikes ]
Aaron Ramirez returns in 2013 after leading last year’s team individually in all six meets. Photo by Rex Brown, IPTAY Media
Dwyer, Kevin Ketner, Sam McGill and Tim Tyler. While Elliott believes the talent on hand should be enough to field a competitive unit, he also wants to reserve judgment until he gets a closer look when tryouts begin next week. “In looking at the roster briefly, we should
ATHLETES TO WATCH NATALIE ANTHONY
BRIANNA BLANTON
Sr. • Randolph, NJ • Top returning finisher from 2012 ACC Championships and Southeast Regionals • Finished four spots shy of an allregion honor
*So. • Summerville, SC • Scored in two meets last fall, including the ACC Championships • Improved greatly last spring in track, running the No. 9 time in Clemson history in the 1500 meters
JACK ANDRITSCH
So. • Fishers, IN • Finished fourth at the USA Junior Nationals in the 3000 steeplechase this spring • Sixth-place finisher at the 2012 Clemson Cross Country Invitational
ROLAND HAKES
So. • Irmo, SC • Scored in all six cross country meets as a freshman in 2012 • Best performance was a time of 25:32 in the 8K at the Pre-Nationals in Louisville, KY AUGUST 2013
❘
51
Natalie Anthony, one of Clemson’s top distance runners on the track, will be the unquestioned leader of Clemson’s women’s team this fall in cross country. Photo by Tyler Smith
be able to field a pretty good team,” he said. “The goal is always to be as competitive as you can in the conference, and then on to regionals and nationals if our team is good enough to be at that level. But I’m a realistic coach; I want to first see the talent level we have before rushing to any predictions.” The women’s team has seen the graduation of several standouts over the past two seasons. Last fall, the Tigers competed without All-ACC and all-region mainstays Alyssa Kulik and Kim Ruck. Clemson did not suffer a major setback, thanks in large part to the performances of Erin Barker and Kate Borowicz. Both have graduated, meaning the scoring positions will be wide
open behind Anthony. Two additional seniors return for the Tigers in Lisa Girard and Cara Talty. A native of nearby Fountain Inn, SC, Girard is a veteran of 10 career collegiate meets. Talty scored in five meets alone as a junior in 2012, highlighted by a 26thplace finish at the competitive Pac-12 Preview early in the season. She was also among the top 50 individuals at the ACC Championships in October. Of the other returning runners, the two with the best chance to work their way into the lineup consistently are Brianna Blanton and Brianna Feerst. A red-shirt sophomore who showed a great deal of improvement in the middle distance events on the track, Blanton scored in a pair of meets last fall. Feerst ran four meets as a freshman and showed promise during outdoor track season in the steeplechase. A large freshman class will also have a chance to contribute right away for Clemson. Two runners to keep an eye on are Upstate native Evie Tate (Spartanburg) and Walton, GA product Alexa Womack. Elliott won’t make any excuses this fall as he ushers in a new era of Clemson cross country. His expectations are high, regardless of the roster that takes to the course for the first time on Sept. 14 for the Furman Invitational. “It’s not as funded as the track team, obviously, in terms of scholarships,” he said. “But we’ll put the best people out there, and hopefully some of them can contribute in track as well.” He speaks from experience. A distance specialist who won a pair of SEC Championships, Elliott simply wants athletes with range that can make an impact in multiple ways. Location “I went to LSU when Greenville, SC it was primarily sprintKernersville, NC ers, but I was a distance South Bend, IN runner,” he said. “I also Terre Haute, IN contributed on the track, Kernersville, NC and that’s what I’m lookEarlysville, VA ing for. We need kids to Terre Haute, IN help us in both.”
CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE Date Day Meet Sept. 14 Sept. 20 Oct. 4 Oct. 19 Nov. 1 Nov. 15 Nov. 23
52
❘
Sat. Fri. Fri. Sat. Fri. Fri. Sat.
Furman Invitational Wake Forest Invitational Notre Dame Invitational NCAA Pre-Nationals ACC Championships NCAA Southeast Regionals NCAA Championships
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
Aaron Ramirez
Last season, with Ty McCormack out of the fold due to a study abroad program, Aaron Ramirez took the onus upon himself to step up and lead Clemson’s cross country team. He’ll have to do that again this fall, after McCormack graduated early and enrolled in a graduate program at Auburn University. It’s a position the rising red-shirt junior is not backing down from.“I had a great cross season last fall, and I look forward to building upon that even more,” he said. “I’ve upped my strength training, and I’m looking to be consistent the entire year.” Ramirez said he has run anywhere from 75 to 85 miles per week this summer in preparation for the rigors of the cross country season. “I’ll bump it up right before the season picks up in mid-August, probably to around 90 per week,” he said. When camp opens on Aug. 21, Ramirez and his teammates will listen to instructions from a new coach. Mark Elliott, formerly the top assistant at LSU, has taken the reins of the Tiger cross country and track & field program. Elliott’s background as a coach is particularly of interest to Ramirez, whose favorite event is the 800 meters. Elliott has coached five NCAA Champions in the 800. “He has athletes competing next week in the World Championships in the 800,” he said. “I look forward to his experience in that area.” Clemson cross country looks forward to Ramirez’s experience and talent, as well. Last fall, he was the team’s top finisher in all six meets, earning all-region status in November to put an exclamation point on his season. The Tigers will certainly look to Ramirez to produce similar results this fall, especially with McCormack’s graduation. — by Philip Sikes
NCAA Compliance
WITH THE START OF FOOTBALL SEASON, BE MINDFUL TO COMPLY WITH ALL NCAA RULES
T
he world of NCAA compliance has dramatically changed over the last academic year. The NCAA membership is in the middle of a major reform to change recruiting, eligibility and to increase tougher ENFORCEMENT standards. Major college athletic programs and head coaches have received unprecedented penalties for violating NCAA and unethical conduct rules. With the outspoken support from college commissioners, this time next year will see major changes in the NCAA. However, one thing that will remain the same, NCAA rules will not change for you as a “representative of athletics interest.”
• Paying a student-athlete compensation for work not actually performed; • Paying for a student-athlete’s complimentary tickets or athletic awards; • Providing free or reduced-cost services, rentals, or purchases of any type (clothing, meals, etc); • Providing free or reduced-cost entertainment or tickets; • Providing free or reduced-cost housing; • Providing increased employment salary based on the student-athlete’s athletics ability, reputation, or fame; • Providing free or reduced-cost storage of personal belongings; • Providing financial arrangements (e.g. signing or co-signing a loan of money, gift, or use of credit card);
With the start of the new academic year and football season upon us, compliance services would like to remind fans of the obligation that Clemson University and our representatives of athletics interest has of complying with all NCAA and ACC rules. We strive to preserve the core principles of the NCAA and protect the eligibility of current and prospective student-athletes. NCAA rules are very complex and change from year-to-year. NCAA rules do NOT allow student-athletes and their families to receive anything free or at a reduced cost because of their status as a student-athlete or to receive compensation above the going rate for employment or for work not actually performed because of their status as a student-athlete.
Additionally, NCAA rules prohibit the use of a student-athlete’s name or picture without the student-athlete’s knowledge or consent. This prohibition specifically relates to the selling of student-athlete altered or unaltered photographs, signatures, or commercial items displaying the student-athlete’s name or picture (e.g. T-shirts, posters, framed pictures, etc.). Please note, if you or a business is selling any item that includes a current student-athlete’s name or picture, those actions have violated NCAA rules and you will need to cease and desist such activity in order to retain the student-athlete’s eligibility.
Examples of extra benefits to student-athletes which would jeopardize a student-athlete’s eligibility at Clemson University: • Inviting current and prospective student-athletes to tailgating parties before or after football games (or any other athletics event) and providing food and drinks; • Allowing a student-athlete the use of your automobile or providing any form of transportation;
We thank you for your support and compliance with NCAA rules. We had a wonderful year and look forward to an exciting year both on and off the field. Clemson is a special place and it is the goal of Compliance Services is to help each and every one of our student-athletes protect and preserve their ability to play the sport they love so dearly, and to safeguard the integrity of Clemson University.
If you have questions about Promotional Activities or any other NCAA rule, please contact Compliance Services at (864) 656-1580 or email at compliance-L@clemson.edu.
AUGUST 2013
❘
53
CLEMSON PROVIDES ‘TOUCHING’ EXPERIENCE FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS
prestigious Scroll of Honor Memorial before rubbing Howard’s Rock, visiting the weight room and watching a recruiting video made by wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Jeff Scott. “This event is just spectacular,” Clemson Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “There are by Gavin Oliver programs throughout the country who do these types of things — photos by Rex Brown , IPTAY Media and Clemson certainly is in the forefront — and we’re just happy to be involved with Keowee Key, who helps pull all this together and give someergeant Jordan Payne reflected on thing back to those who have given so much.” his long tenure in the military as The afternoon made an especially lasting best he could during the short walk impression on the military personnel with lofrom Clemson University’s West- cal roots and a zeal for Clemson athletics that Zone team room to the club area is evident in many of the 80,000 orange-andwhere he and his colleagues in the United States Armed Forces were about to be served lunch as part of Clemson’s annual attempt to give back to those who protect our freedom. “I’ve been in 15 years,” Payne said. “I hope I can finish it on out.” The difference between the sergeant and some of his mates who came to Clemson when the Wounded Warriors Program visited June 19 was that Payne was fortunate enough to be walking toward the meal on two healthy legs with the rest of his body also intact. As suggested by the name of the event, some others were not so lucky, a considerable reason why Clemson joined forces with Keowee Key to plan such a day. Given a guided tour of some of the university’s main attractions, the Wounded Warriors were briefed on the meaningful history of the
S
Clemson Hall of Fame quarterback Charlie Bussey explains the history of Memorial Stadium.
54
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
Executive Director of the Tiger Letterwinners Association Bill D’Andrea takes the Wounded Warriors through the football locker room in the WestZone.
purple smothered fans that appear in Memorial Stadium on Saturdays. For the aforementioned camouflaged aficionados, rubbing Howard’s Rock and roaming down The Hill was an unforgettable experience, even if doing so in an empty stadium to no roar of a crowd, band or opposing team. In the same breath, an eight-month tour in Afghanistan didn’t prevent Corporal Derrick Cannon from speaking with the same passion that came from many Clemson fans after learning the school’s precious and iconic rock had been vandalized. “(The vandalism) was devastating,” Cannon said. “I can’t believe somebody would do something like that. (I’m) pretty upset about
Above: Col. Sandy Edge explains the history behind the Scroll of Honor Memorial. At right: Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Larry Greenlee gives the Wounded Warriors a tour of the football weight room.
that. Like I said, it still looks good, and I’m still a Tiger fan all the way. “Rubbing the Rock was a oncein-a-lifetime experience. First time doing it, so I really loved it. Hopefully I can do it again one day.” To accommodate soldiers like Cannon whose blood runs orange, Clemson set up the Wounded Warriors tour with a realization there is a tangible relationship between sports and the military, albeit with an exceedingly different horizon of seriousness and intensity. “I think there are a lot of comparisons between athletics and the military — discipline, commitment, passion,” Associate Athletic Director Bill D’Andrea said. “We were just honored to have them here.” Clemson assistant strength and condition-
ing coach Larry Greenlee and offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain — each with a family background in the military who are capable of comprehending the tolls of a life dedicated to serving the United States —— were present during the tour to pay homage to the warriors while paving the way to a rewarding experience for the troops. Greenlee, whose father is a double-ampu-
tee as a result of the Vietnam War, fronted an exhibition of the weight room and took time out of busy preparation for the upcoming clash with Georgia to proclaim his gratitude for the freedom-protectors in front of him. “I started doing this a couple years ago, and it’s just an emotional thing for me,” Greenlee said. “This is just football, but in comparison to what they do, for them to have an interest in it, and if it helps them in any way, it’s just such an honor for me to have five minutes of their time.” Mac Lain then stepped forward to add a few thoughtful, supplementary words while thanking the soldiers for undergoing the daily “grind” of militaristic life. Mac Lain’s father is currently serving active duty in the Air Force. Before the throng departed, Greenlee authorized an act normally reserved for recognizing accomplishments in the weight room when he rang the bell that sounds off following the achievement of a player’s personal record. After the end of the subsequent luncheon signaled the day’s drawing to a close, Radakovich said the tour and accommodations provided to the Wounded Warriors were “a small thing, but sometimes small things add up.” Payne, on the contrary, left with a feeling that he had been treated to a large-scale and unforgettable afternoon, despite it being his second trip to Clemson. “A lot of those kids didn’t get to see it the first time, so they’re just soaking all of it in right now,” said Payne. “It’s overwhelming for them to come to a facility like this and see all this good stuff. It touched me the first time I came, and it still touches me this time. This is awesome for us to get a chance to do this.”
“This event is just spectacular. There are programs throughout the country who do these types of things — and Clemson certainly is in the forefront.”
— Clemson Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich AUGUST 2013
❘
55
2013 ONE IPTAY CONTRIBUTIONS: $26,779,377.74 New Donors
$1,700,000
$5,060,040
New Donors
ONE IPTAY 2013
YEAR IN REVIEW
IPTAY Annual IPTAY Annual Major Gifts Major GiftsGifts Planned Planned Gifts
$20,019,300
2013 IPTAY DONORS BY LEVEL: 15,136 New Donors 360
282
288
578
336
3015
2125
1050
New Donors
2683
2013 I P TAY S TAT S
2202
TOTAL 2013 ONE IPTAY CONTRIBUTIONS
Orange ($350) Purple ($140) Fan/Trial (<$140)
2217
$26,779,377.74
IPTAY 2013 NEW DONORS BY LEVEL: 2,039 3 11 19 16
TOTAL CUB CLUB MEMBERS
2,180
33 89
517
TOTAL COLLEGIATE CLUB MEMBERS
276
5,483
DONOR RENEWAL RATE FROM 2012 TO 2013
90%
56
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
Heisman ($10,000) Fike ($7,000) McFadden ($5,600) Jervey ($4,200) Heisman ($10,000) IPTAY ($2,800) Fike ($7,000) Howard ($2,100) McFadden ($5,600) Tiger ( $1,400) Jervey ($4,200) Champion ($700) IPTAY ($2,800) Orange Howard (($350) $2,100) Tiger ($1,400) Purple ($140) Champion (<$140) ($700) Fan/Trial
169
549
357
Heisman ($10,000) Fike ($7,000) McFadden ($5,600) Jervey ($4,200) IPTAY ($2,800) Howard ($2,100) Tiger ($1,400) Heisman ($10,000) Champion ($700) Fike ($7,000) Orange ($350) McFadden ($5,600) Purple $140) Jervey (($4,200) Fan/Trial (<$140) IPTAY ($2,800) Howard ($2,100) Tiger ($1,400) Champion ($700) Orange ($350) Purple ($140) Fan/Trial (<$140)
T I C K E T I N F O R M AT I O N
A
s the football season approaches, the Clemson Athletic Ticket Office would like to explain the process involved in assigning football tickets. However, the most important item is that we must thank you for your investment in Clemson Athletics. We truly appreciate your support. It is important to note that all seat improvement requests received by the Ticket Office are reviewed in the month of June based on IPTAY donor levels and priority points within each level. On July 22, all season ticket holders received an email with their seating and parking locations. The Athletic Ticket Office and IPTAY wanted to give all donors their information before receiving tickets and/or parking in early August. There are several challenges the Athletic Ticket Office faces when assigning season tickets each year. We feel it is critical that all IPTAY donors understand the ticket assignment process and the limitations that make it challenging when reviewing various requests. CHALLENGES: HIGH RENEWAL RATE The renewal rate for the upcoming season was 92%, which is typical for our loyal IPTAY donors. Donors who paid 50% of their IPTAY pledge by February 15th received a season ticket application. Remember for tickets to be improved, other donors either have to give up their assigned seats from the previous season or not renew their IPTAY membership. NEW SEASON TICKET PURCHASES For the 2013 football season, the Athletic Ticket Office has sold over 5,000 new season tickets. This is obviously tremendous when it comes to increased sales and a testament to our loyal Tiger fans. To receive new season tickets in the lower deck for the 2013 football season, the minimum IPTAY donation was $2,800. Depending on the number of season tickets sold and number of IPTAY donors at specific levels, this minimum donation fluctuates each year and is not known until the assignment process has begun. MORE REQUESTS THAN AVAILABLE SEATS The ticket office received over 4,200 requests for seat improvements
IPTAY Level Heisman Fike Mcfadden Jervey IPTAY Howard Tiger Champion Orange Purple Totals
Dollar Amount $10,000 $7,000 $5,600 $4,200 $2,800 $2,100 $1,400 $700 $350 $140
for the 2013 football season. The process begins as we assign all donors to their seats from the previous season (as long as their IPTAY donation covers their minimum seat value) prior to reviewing any seating requests. Then every request is reviewed in IPTAY priority order based on donor levels and priority points within each level. The chart below demonstrates the number of tickets that were purchased at each IPTAY level and how many requests were made at each level. The number of IPTAY donors in this chart only note the donors that ordered football tickets for the 2013 season. *The average season ticket holder requests improvement of 4 seats each year, making the total number of seats to be improved over 16,000. SEAT AVAILABILITY The IPTAY Seat Equity Plan outlines the minimum per seat donation to qualify for a specific area. Many donors contribute more than what the IPTAY Seat Equity Plan requires for a variety of reasons. The number of IPTAY donors that qualify for seats in our highest per seat donation area, highly outweighs the actual number of seats in these areas. Donors must keep in mind that seats must become available to offer any seat improvements. Season tickets and parking will be mailed the week of August 5th. Single-game tickets will be mailed on August 7th and away game tickets are mailed three weeks prior to each game. DIGITAL TICKETING REMINDERS The Athletic Ticket Office introduced digital ticketing for all home football and basketball games in 2011. The digital ticketing system offers increased security with barcodes located on every ticket to identify counterfeit and stolen tickets. Fans have the opportunity to “Print-at-Home” single game tickets; re-sell tickets via Clemson Ticket Marketplace by utilizing StubHub; and transfer tickets from season ticket packages to a fellow Clemson fan via email. All of these digital ticketing options can be accessed at www.clemsontigers.com by signing into your personal ticketing account with your IPTAY/ customer number and password. If you have questions the digital ticketing, please feel free to contact our office at 1-800-CLEMSON or visit ClemsonTigers.com. Once again, thank you for your support of Clemson Athletics.
Number of Donors Number of Requests Number of Tickets Ordered in each Level 358 259 285 331 2091 1033 2070 1964 1748 564 10703
153 86 127 149 855 391 970 721 635 182 4269
4704 2641 2537 2379 12459 4750 8028 6339 4875 1247 49959 AUGUST 2013
❘
57
MEMORIAL STADIUM INFORMATION North
- Gates
CLEMSON
MEMORIAL STADIUM
AVE. OF CHAMPIONS
IPTAY CENTER / ATHLETIC TICKET OFFICE
CENTENNIAL BLVD.
64 uites 100– vel 2 S Suites 63 –27 uite Le tive S Level 1 Execu cutive Suite Exe
UQ
UR
US
T2
UT
T
O
SUITE ENTRY
2 1
2
1
2 1
N
M
L
K
Executive Suite level 2 S uites 10 Executive Suite lev el 1 Suit 0–64 es 63–2 7
UO
UP
UN
UM
Q
P
O
N
M
2 1
2 1
1 2
1 2
1 2
VISITING TEAM BENCH
5
UL
UK
L
1 2
KK
1
1 2
W
W2
W1
2 1
East
1 2
Y2
Y
2
1
1 2
Y1
1 2
1 2
2 1
2 1
G
F
E
D
2
J2
H
2 1
I
2 1
J
CLEMSON TEAM BENCH
A
B
C
AA
2 1
J1
CENTENNIAL BLVD.
12
1
1
X1
X
SCOREBOARD
X2
- Suite Access Elevators
TICKETS & INFO.
THE HILL
11 LOST&FOUND
- ATM Locations
K
1 2
1
V1
V
V2
2
R
S
T1
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TICKETS & INFO.
P
- First Aid Room
AVE. OF CHAMPIONS
WILLIAMSON RD.
Q
R
S
T
9
GENERAL WILL CALL
10
7
6
- Handicapped Seating
VISITING TEAM WILL CALL
West
20
TOP DECK GATE
1 CLEMSON PLAYER, CHEERLEADER & CLEMSON PLAYER HIGH SCHOOL COACHES WILL CALL WILL CALL
13
UI
UH
Execu t PRES ive Suite Le ve IDENT ’S BOX l
TICKETS & INFO.
I
H
UG
UF
Suites 2 6–1 PRESS BOX
G
CONCESSION STANDS Concession stands are located beneath all stands inside Memorial Stadium and can be reached from any portal. EMERGENCIES First Aid stations are located on the South side under Section J, North Side under Section T, North Top Deck under Section K, and South Top Deck under Section E. Trained nurses are on hand. If a doctor is needed, ask any usher. For emergencies, call 911. HANDICAPPED Entrances are at Gates 1, 5 and 13 for the handicapped.
58
❘
LOST & FOUND Please report any item to the Gate 11 information booth. NOTICE Solicitation for any purpose is prohibited at an athletic contest in Memorial Stadium. PASSOUTS Passouts are allowed, however, fans will have to go through the same level of security screening as they did upon entering. PROHIBITED ITEMS Umbrellas, folding chairs, chaise lounges, food, and beverage containers of any type. SMOKING Memorial Stadium is a smoke-free
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
UD
UC
TICKETS & INFO.
6–1 ites 2 el Su VEL uite Lev LE Executive S CLUB TIGER DEN
F
TOP DECK GATE
FAN INFORMATION
UE
UA
UB
WILLIAMSON RD.
UJ
E
16
ENTRY Lost&Found MEDIA
D
C
B
South
facility. In accordance with Section 44-95-20 Code of Laws of South Carolina smoking is prohibited in Memorial Stadium or within 25 feet of the stadium. PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM The public address system is intended for spectators’ information. Do not request its use to make social contacts. SEASON TICKET HOLDERS/ OTHER VISITORS All visitors to Memorial Stadium are requested to enter at Gates 1, 5, 9, 11, or 13. Top deck ticket holders must enter via the ramps, located behind the North and South stands. Ramp entrances are adjacent to Gates 1 and 13 (South) and Gates 5 and 9 (North).
DIGITAL TICKETING All tickets will be barcoded and scanned in upon entry into the stadium. WILL CALL Will call tickets can be picked up at the ticket office (Gate 9) 4 hours prior to kickoff.
IPTAY and the ticket office will open four hours prior to kickoff. The IPTAY office will close 30 minutes before kickoff and the ticket office will close at halftime.
2013 PARKING AND TAILGATING POLICIES For the safety and enjoyment of all fans, please adhere to the following policies so that Clemson can continue its tremendous game day atmosphere. 1. No parking in areas not designated as football parking area. This includes the sides of Perimeter Road and all sidewalks. 2. Follow the instruction of all parking attendants. Park as directed to ensure that all space is used efficiently. SAVING SPACE(S) is NOT ALLOWED. 3.Trailers, cookers and overall vehicle size cannot exceed spaces wider than 9 ft. and longer than 23 ft. Any vehicle or tailgating items that go beyond these parking space dimensions will be prohibited. 4. Golf carts, mopeds, motorcycles and scooters are discouraged inside the interior of Clemson’s parking areas. 5. Tailgating tents are allowed. However, they must be confined to your designated parking space as described in #3. Please make sure that your tent is secure and will not damage vehicles or pedestrians in the event of inclement weather. 6. No large tailgating groups (20 or more) are allowed. No bands, large speakers or PA equipment is allowed. Personal portable restrooms are not allowed. Please make use of all restroom facilities (permanent or otherwise) that are provided by Clemson Athletics. 7. Solicitations of any kind are prohibited. Items will be confiscated and you will be removed from the campus. 8. Portable generators are allowed as long as they are rated at 70dB or lower as to not disturb other tailgaters. 9. Banners and signage for advertising purposes are not allowed without prior approval from CUAD. Product sampling is also prohibited without CUAD approval. 10. Outside catering companies are not allowed without prior approval from CUAD. Clemson University Athletics reserves the right to refuse access to any parking lot regardless of placard. Counterfeiting or placard passing will result in loss of parking privileges and offenders will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Please make use of all permanent restroom locations: Littlejohn Coliseum, Doug Kingsmore Stadium/Chapman leftfield grandstands, Memorial Stadium (open 90 minutes prior to kickoff), Rock Norman Track Complex, Hoke Sloan Tennis Center and the Student Union connected to Harcombe Dining Hall.
IPTAY FOOTBALL PARKING
F O OT B A L L PA R K I N G I N F O R M AT I O N MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ... Q: What is the reason that I am not in the same parking space that I had during the 2012 season? A: Parking is reassigned each year using donors’ current level of giving. Priority points are used to rank donors within each giving level and are assigned in that order. If the demand from donors at higher levels exceeds the number of spaces in a specific lot then reassignments occur. For example; if you are a $1400 donor and parked in Lot 5 in 2012 it isn’t likely that you will be in Lot 5 again for the 2013 season due to our increase in donors at the $2100 and $2800 levels. Q: I order six tickets but only get one parking pass. Why doesn’t IPTAY give another parking pass since you can’t put six people in most cars? A: We realize that most vehicles can’t accommodate six people but even with our inventory of 15,000 parking spaces we wouldn’t be able to provide parking passes to everyone at the $350 level and above if we didn’t have a limit of one pass for six season tickets purchased. Individual passes are not for sale from the IPTAY Center. Q: My family and/or friends park in another lot. Can I call the IPTAY office and swap my pass for another lot? A: Due to the tremendous support of IPTAY during the 2013 year and the increase in season ticket sales there are very few spaces remaining for people to move to other lots. While it never hurts to ask; it isn’t likely that we will be able to make any exchanges for the 2013 season. Q: Can I exchange one of my single game car passes for a single game RV pass? A: Unfortunately we don’t have that as an option. RV passes for Jervey Meadows are assigned on a season basis just like all parking spaces available for IPTAY donors and IPTAY doesn’t have any open spaces once assignments are made.
1. Parking lots open at 6:00 a.m. for 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. kickoffs, 8:00 a.m. for 3:30 p.m. kickoffs and 9:00 a.m. for all games starting after 6:00 p.m. 2. Handicap parking is available at the Hendrix Student Center at the corner of Cherry and McMillan Rd. All that is required is a state issued handicap hangtag or license plate. The individual that the pass is assigned to must be present in the vehicle and will be given two wristbands to use the shuttle service to Gate 1. The wristbands are for themselves and one person to assist them to the stadium. 3. On game day parking information and assistance is available at West Gate of Littlejohn Coliseum.
AUGUST 2013
❘
59
A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Clemson wore throwback uniforms for the 1996 home opener against Furman. The Tigers won 19-3 on a day when the AllCentennial Team was honored at halftime. Dexter McCleon, pictured, returned this punt 51 yards to help the Tigers to victory. Photo by Jim Moriarty
60
â?&#x2DC;
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
IPTAY Mrs. Dorothy H. Taylor passed away May 12, 2012. She was an IPTAY member for 64 years. Mrs. Annie Nobles passed away January 17. She was an IPTAY member for 30 years. Mrs. Tippy Cope passed away May 27. She was an IPTAY member for 32 years.
Mrs. Marilyn Gantt passed away June 8. She was an IPTAY member for 25 years.
Mr. James Galletly passed away June 28. He was an IPTAY member for 33 years.
Mr. James Bailey passed away July 13. He was an IPTAY member for 16 years.
Mr. Hal Garrett passed away June 8. He was an IPTAY member for 65 years.
Mr. Oscar Hodge passed away June 29. He was an IPTAY member for 32 years.
Mr. Donald Greer passed away July 17. He was an IPTAY member for 17 years.
Mr. Howard Lee, Jr. passed away June 11. He was an IPTAY member for 54 years.
Mr. Robert Poole, MD passed away July 4. He was an IPTAY member for 61 years.
Mr. John McIntosh passed away July 18. He was an IPTAY member for 4 years. Mr. Lawrence Gressette, Jr. passed away July 19. He was an IPTAY member for 56 years.
Mr. T. Ed Garrison passed away June 16. He was an IPTAY member for 67 years.
Mrs. Diane Kimbell passed away June 1. She was an IPTAY member for 29 years.
Mrs. Anne Lake passed away June 25. She was an IPTAY member for 45 years.
The Antonakos family, Milton, Jr., Kim, Olivia, Mills and Ana passed away July 7. They were members of IPTAY for 31 years.
Mr. Teoman Doruk passed away June 1. He was an IPTAY member for 7 years.
Mr. William Smith passed away June 26. He was an IPTAY member for 32 years.
Mrs. Myrtle Walters passed away July 8. She was an IPTAY member for 39 years.
Mr. Hubert Haas passed away July 21. He was an IPTAY member for 45 years.
Mr. Wade Seyle, Sr. passed away June 6. He was an IPTAY member for 66 years.
Mr. Willam Rew passed away June 28. He was an IPTAY member for 4 years.
Mr. Edward Harvey passed away July 10. He was an IPTAY member for 55 years.
Mr. Charlie Gale passed away July 23. He was an IPTAY member for 42 years.
F
or more than a century, NBSC has been committed to the needs and dreams of individuals and families seeking financial advice and insight. Today, this heritage of financial responsibility is embodied in unquestioned integrity, exceptional service and seasoned expertise, and delivered through a personalized relationship that is defined solely by your preferences and goals. Visit or call an NBSC Banker to discuss your needs. We look forward to putting our unique combination of services to work for you. www.bankNBSC.com 1-800-708-5687
NBSC is a division of Synovus Bank. Synovus Bank, Member FDIC, is chartered in the state of Georgia and operates under multiple trade names across the Southeast. Divisions of Synovus Bank are not separately FDIC-insured banks. The FDIC coverage extended to deposit customers is that of one insured bank.
AUGUST 2013
â?&#x2DC;
61
IPTAY R DONotOos ph
Lindsay Soto at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy on July 2, 2013.
ez, lkenberry in Saint-Trop Gary (‘65) and Toni Fau 2013. y, Ma in ise cru ean rran France during a Medite
Reed (‘05) and Julia Rogers (‘09) welcomed son Henton Rogers on May 24, 2013 and pictured in his grandfather, Rusty Darby’s (‘78), cotton field in Chester, SC.
Carlito (‘93) and Jennife r Estoquia at the Clemson vs. Troy footba ll game.
Jacob Estoquia son of Carlito (‘93) and Jennifer Estoquia was born on Dec. 8, 2012.
rch 26, 2013 to Caroline was born on Ma mer. Joel (‘06) and Lauren Pal
MK Penley and her father, Keith Lyerly (‘80) visiting the Great Wall in Beijing.
Charlotte Crosby and Francine Reed (IPTAY Members since 1985) in front of Durty Nelly’s Pub in Dublin, Ireland in April 2013. Corrie Davis (‘07) and Bill Tindal tied the knot Tiger style in Bishopville, SC on April 6, 2013.
62
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
rried on x Baldwin (‘13) were ma Hall Hunter (‘13) and Ale SC. on, ms Cle Madren Center in
Medicine Class of 2013: MUSC College of Dental ), ), Rachel Rittenberg (’07 (’09 e gat Front - Jeanette Win ), (’08 s ert Rob a Ann ), Allison Caldwell (’08 ley Tankersley (’08), Andrea Carrieri (’09), Ash ), ah Anne Knowlton (’08 Sar ), (’09 lor Tay Middle - Sarah (’09), zell Miz n kso Jac ), (’07 Chris Daniel n Jaques (’07), John Early (’09, FB), Bria Cason Hund (’07), Back - Sarah Rush (’06), n Phillips (’07). Bryan Wingate (’09), Rya
June 1 at the
Steven (‘97) and Carrie Hodge (‘99) gave birth to Ellis Grace Hod ge on April 15, 2013. Grandparents are Steve and Carolyn Dunlap.
Monica McDill Roberson (‘98) at Niagara Falls in June 2013.
Lee McDow (’13) and Angela Capelle enjoying the Murray’s Mill Bike Ride in Catawba County, NC on June 1, 2013.
) and Scott Reid (‘13) on Holly Mosley Reid (‘13 . ellence Riviera Cancun Exc to oon eym hon their
Crystal Carcell and Eric Seymore (’02) were ma rried June 22, 2013 in Easley, SC and pictured at the Upcountry History Mu seum in downtown Greenville . Giant Tiger topirary at the 2013 Greenwood, SC Festival of Flowers on Clemson Fan Day. Sponsored by the Greater Greenwood Clemson Club.
Bobby Ballentine (‘64) and Sara Ann Newton Ballen tine (‘63) at Omaha Beach in Norma ndy France on May 14, 2013.
E-mail photos, information & IPTAY number to Lindsey Leonard at lsweval@clemson.edu, or mail IPTAY, Attn: Lindsey Leonard, PO Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29633
AUGUST 2013
❘
63
A New League of Our Own by Tim Bourret
W
hen I walked into the lobby of the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC on July 20 for the ACC Football Kickoff, there were about 25 sports information representatives hob-knobbing. They were gathering for an SID group dinner at Pastabilities, an outstanding Italian restaurant in Greensboro that is frequented by ACC office employees. Seeing all those stat-a-holics made me think how much this league has grown since I started at Clemson in 1978. In fact, it has exactly doubled, from seven schools in 1978 to 14 today. You can’t keep track of the roster of schools in various conferences without a scorecard today, and that includes the ACC, which has three new teams this year in Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame (all but football). Louisville joins in 2014 as Maryland departs for the Big Ten. The addition of the four schools will make the ACC the premier league in men’s and women’s basketball, and many other sports for that matter. Syracuse will play in the Atlantic Division in football and will play Clemson every year, so that addition will have the biggest impact in the short term. Louisville will replace Maryland in the Atlantic next year, and the Sugar Bowl Champions from last season will come to Clemson in 2014 for a league contest. The Tigers will be the first league football game for Syracuse on October 5 at the Carrier Dome. A look to the history of Syracuse football shows it has had a lot of success, more than Clemson in some areas. Syracuse has 698 alltime wins, compared to 668 for Clemson. The Orange have 14 former players or coaches in
64
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
the College Football Hall of Fame, compared to just six for Clemson. Both have one National Championship, Clemson in 1981 and Syracuse in 1959. The New York based institution has a Heisman winner (Ernie Davis in 1959) and Clemson…well, we are working on that with our current quarterback. Pittsburgh will also be a strong addition to ACC football from an historical standpoint. The Panthers have had two Associated Press National Championships, one in 1937 and another in 1976. They have 677 career wins, one Heisman winner (Tony Dorsett) and 49 consensus All-Americans. Since the Panthers are in the Coastal Division, Clemson won’t go to Pittsburgh until 2021. Pittsburgh will come to Clemson in 2016. In fact, Clemson will play Notre Dame twice before it plays at Pittsburgh. The ACC has an agreement with Notre Dame that the Irish will play five conference teams per year starting in 2014. It will be on a rotating basis, meaning everyone will play Notre Dame home and away over a six-year basis. The Irish come to Clemson in October of 2015 and Clemson will go to South Bend in 2018. While Notre Dame won’t compete for the ACC Championship, it will have an effect on ACC football starting in 2014. You can look at its impact from many vantage points. Notre Dame will be a part of the ACC bowl pecking order and could jump ahead of a conference team in the selection process. But, if you look at the announcements that have been made this summer, the ACC will be involved in some different higher level bowls in the future, most notably the Gator Bowl and the Capital One Bowl. Notre Dame’s affiliation with the ACC helped the league get involved with those bowls.
Notre Dame’s affiliation will help the ACC’s brand and exposure and will have an impact on the league’s strength of schedule. The third highest rated football game on television involving an ACC team last year was the Notre Dame vs. Boston College game in Boston. The Eagles had a losing record entering the game and finished 2-10. Will Notre Dame ever join the ACC in football? The school has always taken the “America’s Team” approach with its football program dating to the 1920s when Knute Rockne took his team by train to play at Southern California. A look to Notre Dame basketball history tells us it is possible. The school was dedicated to being independent in all sports in the 1970s when I was in school and Digger Phelps was producing a top 10 basketball team annually. But once Digger left, there was a period of mediocrity, and the landscape of college basketball changed, so Notre Dame joined the Big East in 1995. An era of mediocrity and a feeling by Notre Dame administrators that joining a conference will significantly help the program reach the college football playoff might push the school to conference affiliation in football. With a 12-0 regular season and appearance in the BCS National Championship game last year, it does not appear Notre Dame will be mediocre any time soon. But, factors that influence a program can change quickly. My favorite all-time example involves two of the new ACC schools. In 1968, I listened on the radio to a Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh game in which the Irish had a 49-0 lead at the half. Notre Dame Head Coach Ara Parseghian and Pittsburgh Coach Dave Hart (father of the current Tennessee Athletic Director) met at halftime and decided to play “running time” in the second half. It was the quickest half in NCAA history. Eight years later as a senior in college, I watched Pittsburgh beat Notre Dame in South Bend by a score of 31-10, a key win for the Panthers en route to winning the 1976 National Championship. One of the provisions of Notre Dame’s agreement with the ACC is that if the school joins a conference in football before the 2026-27 academic year, it has to be the ACC. A lot could happen to the structure of college football between now and 2027.
Mayor Dan Alexander and Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie O’Kelley invite you to be ALL IN.
Downtown Seneca Every Thursday Night 6:30-9:00p.m. thru October 24. Come in early for the game and check out Jazz!
1st Saturday of Every Month 3 P.M. - Until Thru October 5.
Terrific Dining Great Shopping Beautiful Lake Keowee
Seneca CITY OF
10 JUST ES T MINU HE UP T ! ROAD
Santas Workshop SENECA HALF MARATHON Coming March 15, 2014. Sponsored by Upstate Medical Association
SENECA MUD RUN
August 24 at Shaver Recreation Department featuring over 45 obstacles, $1000.00 to First in Male, Female & Coed Divisions.
December 7th. • 5-8
GHOST AND GOBLIN 3K Oct 27th
thru downtown Seneca
VISIT WWW.SENECA.SC.US FOR DETAILS WHILE YOU’RE HERE, VISIT OUR PARTNERS...
City of Seneca
www.seneca.sc.us / 864.885.2700 sponsored by
HAT
AUGUST 2013
❘
65
A
special place on campus, To honor those we’ve lost, To offer faith and spirituality to all, For a stronger Clemson Family
LET’S BUILD A CHAPEL Help Us Help Clemson
‘‘
I look forward to the day when the Interfaith Memorial Chapel will grace the heart of our campus. It will be a special place that offers people of all faiths a peaceful refuge in which to reflect, remember and celebrate loved ones.
‘‘
— James F. Barker, FAIA
66
❘
ORANGE: THE EXPERIENCE
Many other institutions, including all other ACC schools, provide a tranquil and inviting facility for their university family members, and Clemson students deserve the same.
Please help us make this possible by donating at
www.clemson.edu/chapel