It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

Well maybe not but that is what came to mind as I have been laying in bed listening to CCP this morning as I listen to Mickey Plyler talk about the Clemson-South Carolina baseball games coming up this weekend. There is something that gets me excited when I think about Clemson and South Carolina meeting on the diamond. The comment was made that the baseball rivalry between the two schools is bigger than the basketball rivalry, which I do not disagree with. What you will see this weekend is essentially two solid AA baseball teams getting after it.

That leads me into another point of why I enjoy college baseball so much. When you watch a college baseball game, especially one with Clemson and South Carolina, you are going to see guys play with tremendous effort and passion for the game. Unlike their major league counterparts, you will see guys slide hard into 2nd trying to break up double plays, you will see emotion, you will see guys run out grounders, you will have a packed house with fans engaged from start to finish. Give me a choice between Omaha and a World Series experience, I am heading to OMAHA!!! A Clemson-South Carolina baseball game is not just something to do, there is pride on the line and it is a great experience if you ever get a chance to take in a college baseball game.

I do not know what to say about the basketball game Wednesday night. While I got the margin of victory correct, I walked away from my computer not knowing whether or not to be happy or pissed off. I know, I know, I should be happy any time we win. I was just incensed at the fact that we were up 17 at halftime and at one point were down 1 in the 2nd half. I know, they fought back and ended up wining and that is all that is important. We are 8-5 with a trip to Maryland on Sunday where I will be posted behind the bench so you all look out for your boy on the television Sunday night.

Some interesting news came out this week as Clemson goes through Mat Drills leading up to Spring Practice. It was announced that Rendrick Taylor would move from WR to SLB. I was pretty shocked with the move, especially moving a senior to a position he has never played. There was talk at different points of moving him to the other side of the ball early on in his career but he always managed to stay at WR. This is not a knock on him but it seems like he has managed to stay injured most of his career, it always seems like it is one thing or another with him on the injury front. I just hope he can stay healthy all year regardless of what side of the ball he is playing. In another move Jock McKissick will move from DT to OL, another senior changing positions in his last year. Again, I am not sure what to make of this, J-50 was one of our better DTs especially as a freshman and sophomore, but seemed to have gotten in the doghouse during the later half of last season. The Taylor move to LB is the one to watch, we are thin at LB so it will be interesting to see how he takes to his new position.

On this Leap Day 2008, we are 6 months away from College Football!!! Less than that for my friends at the Trade School and at The U. All the best to everyone in their baseball matchups this weekend. I know Miami and Florida will tango this weekend and The Trade Schoolers will take on the University of New Jersey. GO TIGERS BEAT CAROLINA BEAT MARYLAND!!!!

Pretenders or Contenders

Tonight I will be placed in front of my computer listening to the Miami-Clemson basketball game. Thanks to the great foresight of TV producers and the fine leaders of the ACC, WCCPFM.com will be my only option for coverage of tonight's contest.

Once again, Clemson finds itself behind the 8-ball. All season I have heard how this is the best Clemson team in history, this team is special, blah, blah, blah and the proceed to turn in an effort like they did against FSU 8 days ago. With all due respect to my good friend from Miami, but there is no reason why we should not win this game. I don't give a rip about Jack McClinton. I do not give a rip about Duke and then their follow up win against Maryland. That being said, you have to respect Miami because they did something that our friends on Rocky Top could not do after defeating Memphis this past weekend.

Call me cocky, call me misinformed, call me whatever you may but I just feel like if we play our game, can get into our press, which means we are scoring, that we can beat Miami tonight by 10 points. I know Jack McClinton is HOT. I really do not give a freak, play DEFENSE, get after him, deny him, make someone else beat you. I know Miami presents a challenge down low on the blocks, hell James Mays was considering leaving school for the NBA last year if he cannot handle a guy from Miami on the blocks then he needs to reevaluate his career goals. Travis Booker has to do his part.

The key to tonight's game is going to be guard play. Clemson's guard play has been suspect to say the least. Maybe inconsistent is the better word. Nah, our guard play has just sucked. White Chocolate is going to have to stop pulling up from Greenville and jacking 3's. This is not AND1!!!! Stitt has to force tempo, get the ball down low and score off of dribble penetration. I would like to see Hammond and Rivers hit some shots and make good decision on offense. Will we hit free throws tonight? The more I read what I have written, the more concerned I get about the game tonight.

Maybe it is just Clemson Disease. I feel like I am back in the fall all over again. Here we are with our destiny in our own hands. You win, you're in, you lose you are playing on Thursday and are not guaranteed a trip to The Dance. What more can this team want? Playing at home for a chance to take one step closer to locking up a #3 seed in the ACC Tournament, in front of a Sold Out crowd, with a chance to do something that has not been done in 10 years, I would be excited to play in that type of atmosphere but I still hold my breath.

Which Clemson team shows up tonight? I guess if I could answer that question I would be a wealthy man and not wasting the taxpayers money while writing my rants about Clemson basketball and listening to Clemson baseball.

Enough with the crap!! Clemson 75 Miami 65 in a seesaw game where Clemson hits shots down the stretch to win comfortably. GO TIGERS BEAT MIAMI!!!!