The "2025 Spring Game" Edition

Clemson gears up for an offense vs. defense spring game as Dabo Swinney doesn't feel the Tigers have enough healthy players to field two teams.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Each time for Clipson Sports Talk with Luten Schwan.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Finally, Clemson Sports Talk has come back to drive time.
Hello everybody along the swan back in the saddle once again,
it is the show that shakes the Southland. Clemson Sports
Star for you each and every afternoon as you make
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(01:04):
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(01:24):
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(01:49):
out of the gates. Some news on the basketball front
for Clemson through the portal We'll also hear today from
Antonio Williams, the former Dutch Fork product. We'll also hear
from Clemson's backup quarterback Christopher Vezina as the Tigers get
ready for the spring game taking place in Clemson this weekend,

(02:11):
and speaking of which, talked about the spring game, we
will be joined by Will Van Derboort from The Clemson Insider.
He'll be joining the program to not only talk about
the format of the spring game and his thoughts on that,
but we can also talk with him about some of

(02:32):
the situation with the Clemson basketball team bringing in a
now three players via the transfer portal one though, one
though making a return visit to Tiger Town. But we'll
get into the minutia of all of that here on
the program this afternoon. So a whole lot of shaking

(02:56):
going on in the world of college basketball with the
Final Four looming, and for Clemson Tiger fans, Saturdays afternoon
or Saturday afternoon will begin with a trip to Death
Valley again. Alcohol beer will be sold for the first

(03:17):
time for a Clemson football game. That's one of the
things that's a misconception that's out there. There have been
plenty of concerts and events at Death Valley where beer
was sold. There have been NFL games when the Carolina
Panthers are there and beer was sold. So it's not
as if you're buying the first beer in the history
of Death Valley. It would simply be you'd be buying

(03:40):
the first beer in the history of Death Valley at
a college football game, right, So little semantics on that front,
but a change. There also a change in the way
Clemson is going to be handling the spring game since
it's not going to be on TV. They do have
an option with the ACC network, I think to put

(04:02):
together like a thirty minute or an hour long show
about the team, sort of like what South Carolina is
going to be doing. But in the game, Clemson's offense
will wear orange jerseys, the defense will wear white jerseys.
There's not going to be any teams. And I wrote
an article about Kai Clubnick, and I do wonder how

(04:26):
much you know Kate will play. I would imagine it
will be very little from Kai Clubnick, which is why
we're going to play some of Christopher Vezina coming up
here in just a little bit. The reason being that
they did not go with two teams. According to Dabosweeney
is because they don't feel like they're really able to
field two full teams to play in this capacity. The

(04:51):
spring game will be played as a normal scrimmage. However,
there will be a scoring system for fans to follow.
The offensive team can score in traditional ways. Touchdowns will
get you six points in a pat, we'll push you
the seven. A field goal will count this three points,

(05:13):
and two point conversions will still exist. There are eight
ways though the defense can score. The defense can get
a point if they force a three and out. The
defense can also get a point off of any missed pats.
The defense can get a get two points if they

(05:38):
were to stop a two point conversion. The defense can
also score in a traditional format of a safety. They'll
get two points. If the defense were to get an
interception or a fumble recovery or something like that turnover
a takeaway as Clipson now calls them, that would be
three points. If the defense gets a stop on fourth down,

(05:58):
they also get three points. A missed field goal from
the offense will be three points for the defense, and
then a defensive touchdown will yield six points plus the pat. Now, well,
it'll be what will be interesting about This is the
fact that I believe the score is gonna start at

(06:20):
zero zero. A couple of years ago, Southern cal had
a similar system where the defense could score some points,
but they started the defense with a twenty eight nothing lead,
and the offense just continued to you know, get downhill
and score touchdowns. And I think the offense ended up

(06:44):
winning that game. I can't remember what the final score
ended up being, but there there were some you know,
points for the defense. And I'm not completely against it
quite frankly, starting the defense out with like a twenty
one to nothing lead, you know, they get a stop
on their first possession, right, get a three and out,

(07:04):
that's a point that'll push them up to twenty two.
I think it's gonna be hard based off of the
way Clempsones got it set up. Unless there's some advantage
for the defense in terms of points, I think it's
gould be tough for the defense to win. I really do.
I mean, if you think two touchdowns from the offense

(07:26):
right would be fourteen points, tell me how the defense
generates fourteen points in in that scenario. If that's the
halftime score, the defense might get a takeaway, they might
get a couple of three and outs, but that's only

(07:48):
five points. Again, I don't know how it'll all work,
or how it'll all or how it will all look,
but that's the scenario and the way they're gonna play out.
What it's all will van. More about that coming up
an hour number two. I think the other thing that
I again really wonder about Kay Clubnick, like, if I

(08:09):
said ten snaps, would you take the over of the under?
I think I tend to lean in to the under
on that. I could see kid maybe getting eight snaps
ten probably at the most. If you told me today
that Kay Clubnick takes twenty five snaps tomorrow, I'd tell

(08:32):
you I just don't believe that. And that's, of course
with him wearing a purple jersey where the guys can't
hit him. But I I just it's very hard for
me to imagine that Kai Clubnick would be in any way,
shape or form on the field all that much, especially
given the fact that you really need to feel comfortable

(08:57):
with Christopher Vizena. You need Zena to feel like a
guy that you can trust to run out there and
make a play, trust to lead the offense down the field.
Even if it's a situation where it's just for like
just for a series or two, you know what I mean,
like a game late where k Clubnick gets injured and

(09:18):
you need a first down or something. I mean, that's
the main thing in my opinion. I don't think we
can afford to live in a bubble of uncertainty around
Christopher Vizena when foot meets the ball on what August thirtieth.

Speaker 3 (09:39):
I just.

Speaker 2 (09:41):
I think that the truth of the matter is, given
the fact that K Clubnick was I would argue, fortunate
to get through the season a year ago without really
any major moments or issues. And to think, given the

(10:03):
nature of the sport, that you're gonna somehow get through
another year without some sort of tweak that puts the
ball in Zina's hands for a half, for a couple
of series and all that, it seems far fetched. And

(10:24):
not to mention with this being K clubtck senior year,
I think it's also time. And that's one of the
things when we hear from Christopher Vezina, he'll talk about that.
I think that's one of the things that you also
need to see, is some presentation of trust that you

(10:45):
can go Yep, He's ready, he's ready for next season.
He can be the guy. But again, everything gets underway
at Death Valley tomorrow at one o'clock. And remember, there's
a whole lot of stuff going on throughout the day.
There's that whole be a Tiger Field Day event presented
by BASF, lots of sciencey stuff, lots of fun stuff

(11:07):
for the kids to do. There's also I almost called it.
I almost called it a rummage sale, not a rummage sale,
surplus sale. I think, what's the name of the event.
Let me get the spring guide open here. That surplus
sale begins I think at eight o'clock. Yeah, eight am.

(11:29):
The surplus sale will be in the Burton Gallery at
Little John Coliseum. You can shop for exclusive gear including jersey, shoes, polos,
jacket shorts, pants, bags, and more. I've never been to
the surplus sale. Surplus transactions are cashless, No checks or

(11:50):
cash will be taken. I've never been to the surplus sale.
I don't know if this stuff's expensive or cheap. It
feels like it's a yard sale. If you've been to it,
text me let me know A three four to five
zero zero zero eighty six. I would imagine there's significant discounts.
But either way, you've got that going on from eight

(12:14):
to one, you've got the field day at Little John
Long from nine to twelve. The spring game gets going
at one o'clock over at Death Allley, and again, don't
forget it's a clear bag policy. Metal detectors will be
in effect. Tiger Walks at eleven thirty. The gates to

(12:35):
the stadium will also open eleven thirty, and the parking lots.
I don't know if I said this or not, but
the parking lots open at eight am as well, So yeah,
it should be. I would imagine a good crowd for
the spring game tomorrow in Death Valley. And again with
the points scoring, if you want to see that information

(12:55):
about the scoring system, you can. It's overall Clemson Tigers
dot com. In the spring game, God, all of the ways,
all the ways that you could score offensively and defensively.
I'm just I'm not certain that there's enough juice there

(13:18):
for the for the defense to keep up. Quite frankly,
a three four five oh Yer zero eighty six. All right,
shifting gears to basketball for a minute, you know it wasn't,
but just what two days ago Clemson basketball basically was

(13:40):
in terms of players you've seen, it was just Dylan Hunter.
Well Yesterday the news came out that Clemson had signed
transfer Nick Davidson, forward from Nevada by way of Mission Viejo, California.
Versatile guy that can shoot the ball from the perimeter

(14:02):
as a big something Clemson covets. The Tigers also today
landed Utah Valley transfer Carter Welling. That news came out
a few hours ago. Welling's a power forward, and you know,
I don't know a whole lot about him, but again,

(14:25):
here comes Clemson going out and trying to get a
big guy. Looks kind of based off of what I
see of him, he looks a little Ian Shefflin esque
in that sense. But I'll have to watch I have
to watch a little bit of his tape to really

(14:47):
get some insight into Carter Welling. But then conversely, RJ. Godfrey.
We mentioned this earlier in the week that there were
rumors speculation about R. J. Godfrey and whether or not
he would return to Clemson from Georgia, and that news

(15:09):
came out today. Godfrey sixty seven two and ten pounder
from over at North gwyn At High School. He will
return to Clemson after a year's absence, and that year's
absence really bothers me. I have a legit problem with that.

(15:30):
And the reason that I have a legit problem with
that is because of how good the season was for
Clemson And what if you had just stuck it out,
What if you had have just said I'm gonna stay here.
What would the season have been for Clemson with R J. Godfrey?
And I'm not trying to insinuate that he would have

(15:51):
been a big time player or somebody that you would
have counted on a whole bunch, But who knows. Maybe
he's good enough that you don't lose to Georgia tacking
overtime and you win the ACC regular season. Maybe he
would have been a good enough player that you don't

(16:15):
lose to Louisville in the ACC Tournament and you end
up winning the ACC Championship. I don't know. Maybe he
would have been a big enough piece that in the
NCAA tournament when things are starting to go sideways against McNeice,
you've got, you know, a proven guy on the roster

(16:39):
that you could turn to. But we'll never know. Regular
season champ, ACC tournament champ. Maybe moving on in March
Madness to the Sweet sixteen or beyond. But he left,
you know, he bailed a year ago, and they're listen,

(17:02):
I'm not telling you you can't cheer for him or
be forgiving of him being a kid and making that
decision and going to Georgia, but quite frankly, given how
good things were without him, and maybe the bigger maybe
the bigger takeaway is boy Clemson, Clemson's covered is so

(17:23):
bad that they have to resort to, you know, bringing
in a guy that bailed on him. That's a fair
take as well. But to see his name come across
and be back in Clemson leaves me with a somewhat
better taste in my mouth because I really wanted, you know,

(17:48):
to see this season, this past year be a great
year for the Tigers, and maybe because he wasn't there,
it ended up being a great regular season in a
subpar postseason. And I know it can't all be on him, right,
but still it is frustrating, at least for me. A
zero three four or five zero zero eighty six. We'll

(18:11):
we'll see what Will Van Dervoort has to say about
that coming up in our number two of the show.
As we roll along on a Friday afternoon. You know
I mentioned that surplus sale. Don't forget about our friends
over to Alumni Hall as well. While you're up there
in Tigertown this weekend, on the corner of campus on

(18:32):
College Avenue, just a stone's throw from historic Riggs Field,
just a stone's throw from Bowman Field, you could see
it all right there at Alumni Hall. Go check out
all of their incredible inventory officially licensed Clemson merchandise, hats,
t shirts, stickers, items by Yetie and Moore. Don't forget

(18:54):
Clemson's students, faculty, and military members get ten percent off
when shopping in store. Or you can also get to
Alumni Hall through our website clemsonsports dot com. And if
you do that, you can support us when you make
your purchases online. So a couple of new names and

(19:17):
one old name landing back in Tigertown as Brad Brownell
continues to do work in the transferred portal to replace
a ton of talent that vacated the premises just a
few weeks ago. All right, when we come back, former

(19:37):
Dutch fort wide receiver Antonio Williams, who's now one of
the veterans in Clemson's wide receiver room. He met with
the media to talk about how springing practice is going,
some of the young guys like Brant Westco and TJ Moore,
the transferretrist to Smith, all of that coming up here
on the program as we get you out to Mike
Williams when we get back, stay with us here on

(19:58):
the Show That Shakes to south Land. Clemson Sports saw
The Show That Shakesare south Land on a Friday afternoon.
Earlier this week, Clemson wide receiver ahead of Clemson's spring game,
Antonio Williams met with the media and he was asked
about kind of being one of the old heads in
that wide out room.

Speaker 4 (20:15):
I think I've kind of been developing into that role
over these last couple of years. Last year and then
this year pretty much. Yeah, like the oldest guy besides
or at least the oldest guy that's like been here
for a while.

Speaker 3 (20:28):
I think Trisian's older than me.

Speaker 4 (20:32):
But it's been cool just to like kind of develop
as a leader and try to like just get the
guys just to buy in every day and set that
standard in the room.

Speaker 2 (20:45):
Williams was also asked about Tristan Smith, the transfer who's
made his way in and has made quite the impression
on a lot of the people inside Clemson's coaching staff.
Here's Antonio Williams given his insight.

Speaker 4 (20:58):
He just has a different a body type, for sure.
He brings a lot of personality as well. He's got
six or five frame. Sometimes you'll see a ball and
it's like, no way he's getting to it, or no
way he's like getting up that high and then somehow
he just brings it down with them just them long
arms and frame he has, so he brings obviously length

(21:22):
and then he's just a fun guy to be around.

Speaker 3 (21:24):
I've got a chance.

Speaker 4 (21:25):
To be around him outside of football, and he's a
He's just a joy to be around.

Speaker 2 (21:32):
Antonia Williams was asked to give a little more insight
into Tristan Smith's intentionality and his love of the game.

Speaker 4 (21:39):
He's real down to earth and I mean football's first
with that guy. Like he don't care about any of
the n I L or money anything like that. He
just wants to play football. And he said that to
me personally from day one he got here. His story
you'll probably get to learn if you don't know, he
just he comes from a pretty rough background and just

(22:04):
like the opportunity that Coachweney gave him here. I know
he really appreciated that, and I mean, I think it
means the world to him just to be on this team.
But I know he's not complacent and he's gonna work
every day and try to get on that field they.

Speaker 2 (22:20):
Wont Antonio Williams, Clemson wide receiver. He was also asked
about his decision to return to Clemson. You know, we
heard Kate Klebney talk about that the other day. Here's
Williams's thoughts on being a Tiger for another year.

Speaker 4 (22:34):
Yeah, it was obviously a very tough decision, A lot
of thought put into it.

Speaker 3 (22:41):
It took me a while.

Speaker 4 (22:41):
To come to a decision, but at the end of
the day, I felt like I had a great opportunity
to come back, win the national championship and just submit
myself as one of the best receivers to come around
through here.

Speaker 3 (22:55):
So that's my goal.

Speaker 4 (22:57):
Hopefully I can put together a great season and as
a team, we can achieve all our goals and win
the big thing.

Speaker 2 (23:06):
The former Dutch Fork wide out Antonio Williams. He was
also asking about Clemson's experience in the playoffs and how
that might help this team grow heading into the twenty
five football season.

Speaker 4 (23:19):
We definitely have grown up and we've seen what the
top looks like. And last year with that playoff lost
first Texas, I think we all learned a lot from that.
And you know, that was our first time or my
first time, my classes first time in the playoffs. So
I think that was good for us. Obviously we don't

(23:39):
want it to end there, so with all the experience
we have coming back, I think that's really going to
help us and being able to finish games like those.

Speaker 2 (23:47):
Additionally for the Tigers going on the road into a
hostile environment but against Texas. But nonetheless, Williams was asked
about the learning experience that that game provided for the group.

Speaker 4 (24:00):
I think, really I was just I think as a team,
even though we lost, it was just a great experience
to be a part of in a great atmosphere like
a playoff game. Playoff setting is just really different, especially
away in a place like Texas.

Speaker 3 (24:18):
It kind of feels like surreal.

Speaker 4 (24:19):
But I mean that's what we came here to do,
is be in games like that, So I mean, I
think that was good for us, and we're gonna try
to take the next step moving forward.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
That's clips of wide receiver Antonio Williams heading into his
final year in Tigertown. He was asked about his decision
to return and what it could mean for him as
far as his legacy up in Tigertown.

Speaker 4 (24:45):
When they were trying to give me to convince me
to come back and stuff, as well as my family.
So I think a big word thrown around was legacy.
And I felt like leaving early, not really inting it
the way I want to, wouldn't have been a great
finish to my career here at Clemson, So I mean

(25:07):
legacy was a big part of it.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
Antonia Williams was also asking about Clemson wide receiver Tyler Brown,
who dealt with an injury through his sophomore year, much
like Antonia Williams, and you know, kind of having a
little bit of a kinship, if you will, a little
relationship in that sense that both of those guys sort
of had to fight in battle through some adversity pretty
early on in their career. Here's Antonio Williams on his

(25:31):
relationship with Tyler Brown.

Speaker 4 (25:33):
I mean, obviously coming off a great freshman season like
he did, you can kind of just go through the motions.
And I was in the same position as him with
the injury happening and missing your whole sophomore season when
everybody expects you to be out there after a great
freshman campaign. So yeah, I mean I kind of tried

(25:53):
to take him under my wing and just do the
things I did differently from your two d year three,
just like with recovery, mainly just staying in the treatment room,
getting cold tub after every practice and just taking care
of your body.

Speaker 3 (26:09):
So I mean, you can't you can't blame anybody.

Speaker 4 (26:13):
But yourself if things don't work out.

Speaker 3 (26:16):
How had he responded? How did he respond to that?

Speaker 4 (26:19):
Oh, he's He's been there with me every day. He's
probably in the cold sub right now without me for sure.

Speaker 2 (26:23):
So there you have it. That's Antonio Williams talking about
his relationship with Tyler Brown here on a Friday afternoon
on Clemson Sports thought to show the shakes the south Land.
All right, don't forget about our sponsor alumni Hall. If
you guys are headed up for the spring game this
weekend up at Tigertown right there on the corner of
campus on College Avenue in downtown Clemson, just across from

(26:43):
the subway, a stone's throw from historic Griggs Field. It's
Alumni Hall. Get all your hats, apparel, tiger tailgate gear,
new stickers for your vehicle. Make sure you put those
paws at one o'clock. A big initiative on that front
for the people that don't have them at one o'clock.
I do question those of you who do not have

(27:06):
your pall turned to one o'clock, those of you that
have it pointing at noon. I even see some of
you out there with it at like eleven. Are you
guys just trying to throw everybody off? Is that just
like a part of your stick. You're just a guy
that acts like he doesn't know what's going on around you.
If you are, I'll tell you can know what is

(27:28):
going on by going to Alumni Hall or online at
alumni haul dot com. Right quick break, we'll come out.
We'll hear more from Antonio Williams. The show that shakes
the south Land, Clemson Sports Talk on a Friday afternoon again,
the Final Four. I don't know why that microphone squeaked
so much there? Did y'all hear that again? The final
four tipping off this weekend. Clemson football though on the

(27:53):
grid iron for the spring game, and Antonio Williams met
with the media. He was asked about the depth Climpses
got in that wide out room heading into the twenty
twenty five college football season.

Speaker 4 (28:06):
I think, obviously that competition is gonna make us better,
make us grow. Everybody's hungry to get out there on
the field, and I mean, whoever starts, if you get tired,
don't don't. We're not gonna be out there running around
like a day's score or anything like.

Speaker 3 (28:22):
You call your sub ben and he's gonna be ready
to go.

Speaker 4 (28:26):
So I think Coach Sweeney has been saying, have two
waves of terror. So the first second string we're gonna
wear teams down and on both sides of the ball.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
That's clips to wide receiver Antonio Williams. And it's funny too,
right you think about this wide out room and the
way people perceive Tyler Grisham up until this past year
when things sort of took off with Bryant West co
with TJ. Moore being really involved, and Williams was asked
about Clypses. Antonio Williams was also asked about that wide

(28:56):
out room proving themselves this season.

Speaker 4 (29:01):
I think if you look at it on paper, we
got the best twos in the country.

Speaker 3 (29:05):
But I mean, it's not about what I think.

Speaker 4 (29:07):
We gotta go. We gotta go prove it to everybody
else in the country. So I mean that happens when
everybody's watching on big stages in the playoffs and stuff
like that.

Speaker 3 (29:17):
We gotta just get.

Speaker 4 (29:18):
There and then take over the game and then you know,
enough will be said at that point.

Speaker 2 (29:23):
Antonio Williams was also asking about Brian West CooA junior
and how he feels the rising sophomore wide receiver has
grown over the past twelve months.

Speaker 4 (29:34):
Obviously coming in Bryan as a freshman incredibly talented. I
think the ways that coach Wene wanted him to grow
was just physically getting bigger and stronger. So I would
say the difference is just him being more physical and
being able just to, like if a release doesn't work out,

(29:56):
just being able to get strong with the deep and
hold his ground and go up and make a play.

Speaker 2 (30:03):
Antonio Williams was also asked about his role again being
a senior and a leader in that wide receiver room
as the guys get ready for Clemson's spring game tomorrow.

Speaker 4 (30:15):
When I made my decision to come back, it almost
didn't feel like real at first, because like I wasn't
used to being the oldest guy, and I always had
like older people in front of me that that I
would I would look up to. But now it's me
in the room and on the team, so I kind
of I kind of missed some of the old guys.

Speaker 3 (30:37):
But it's a it's a new experience. It's fun.

Speaker 4 (30:41):
Kind of just reminds me of high school, kind of
just being a senior and with your with your class
and just trying to make the last year account.

Speaker 2 (30:52):
Antonio Williams was also asked about how far he feels
he's come as a player, you know, through development and
battling all the end reason everything since his freshman season
up in Clemson.

Speaker 4 (31:03):
I mean, we definitely are not allowed to sit in
the back room as seniors, so we're a front row.
But I do look back and sometimes think about where
I used to sit.

Speaker 2 (31:12):
Williams was asked about what players specifically that he really
you know, maybe some former players that he looks up
to or even models himself after. As a wide out, guys.

Speaker 4 (31:24):
Like my locker mate, whatever you want to call it.
Barrett Carter was right next to me, so his locker
is still still there and nobody's in it, and he's
been back here a couple of times. So I definitely
miss Barrett, RJ, Jake Marcus, so many guys. Man, Just

(31:46):
I think we really bonded and there's like a swingy
counsel that we have and we just sit down and
talk about just ways to improve the team and things
we have going on. And you really got an in
depth looked at some of the places these guys have
come from, everything they've gone through. I peel that was
another dude. So I mean, yeah, I missed some. They

(32:10):
come back and we definitely still have a bond.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
Williams was asked about former wide receiver Adam Randall, who
has transitioned to play running back for Clemson. Did it
a little bit at the end of the season against
SMU and against Texas in the College Football Playoffs, But
Adam Randall now moving to running back to start the season,
and what he's looked like in that aspect.

Speaker 4 (32:34):
Man, you put Adam on the field, He's gonna give
all he has wherever he's at So I mean that
wasn't a question for me or any of the coaches.
I don't think they knew he was gonna give it
his all, and I mean he's just transitioned.

Speaker 3 (32:48):
Well.

Speaker 4 (32:49):
You know, when Adam has a ball in his hands,
he's hard to bring down, he can make you miss,
and he's fast. So I mean, those are some of
the best qualities you can have.

Speaker 3 (32:57):
At running back. So he's transition flawless.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
Antonio Williams was also asked about the opportunity to meet
Jazz Chisholm, the Yankees baseball player who was down in
Clemson with the Clemson baseball team when they were promoting
some new merchandise. Here's his comments on that.

Speaker 3 (33:17):
Yeah, I'm not.

Speaker 4 (33:19):
Too in tune with the MLB, but when I learned
about who he was and the type of guy he
was and where he came from, he was just a
blast to be around. He has lots of personality and
he kind of taught me some things, just like without

(33:41):
even telling me, just's he's really like. He had so
many other things going on besides baseball, so I kind
of took that away from that meeting.

Speaker 2 (33:52):
But yeah, final thing for me Antonio Williams. He was
also asked about, you know, just putting the work at
Clemson and to get back to being known as wide receiver.
You obviously, like I mentioned last year with TJ Moore
and Brian west Coast stepping up, Antonia Williams having a
good season, you know, it really did feel more and

(34:12):
more like it once did. But here his thoughts on
getting back there definitely.

Speaker 4 (34:17):
A lot more to prove. You know, you got to
handle successful the same way you handle failure. So just
whatever anybody's saying, just tune it out, get back to work.
You know, Like like we were talking about earlier with
freshman success and then not not having the same success

(34:37):
sophomore year. I gotta really push those guys like Brian
and TJ just to not fall in the same slump
that I did. And they haven't shown any signs of
that at all. But just we need them to get
where we want to go and to get back that title.
So I'm gonna stay on them and stay on myself,

(34:58):
and I want them to hold me to that same stand.

Speaker 2 (35:00):
There you go, that's Antonio Williams Clempson wide receiver. All right,
we'll hit a quick break we'll come back. We'll put
a big old bow on our number one of the show,
that Shakespeare south Land. Right after this final segment of
hour one coming up, Will Van Dervoort from The Clemson
Insider joins the program. We'll talk with Will about the
Clempson spring game. As that gets going, don't forget Clempson baseball.

(35:21):
This still I can't get used to. It is really
their first West Coast swing. Clypson Baseball Friday Night Action,
nine o'clock, first pitch, nine pm, first pitch from Berkeley.

(35:46):
Is this the latest Clipson has ever had a regular
season baseball first pitch? I think it might be, like,
I can't imagine there's ever been a scenario where they
would have had a later first pitch than this, because

(36:08):
if you had inclement weather, you would roll the game
over to the next day. I mean, other than like
the back to back of a double header. This has
to be the latest Clemson ever had a first pitch.
And again it's it's West Coast time for them, so

(36:28):
it's only like six o'clock. But for us here on
the East coast Clemson, although they did play, it wasn't
that long ago. What season Clemson the baseball team not

(36:49):
all that long ago had a postseason game. Let me
go back. Was it just after COVID or before let's
check twenty twenty one? Let's see, let me go down here. No,
it wasn't that one pre COVID. Maybe try twenty nineteen, Swanye,
what are you dealing with? Or no, twenty let me

(37:10):
go back to twenty eighteen. Yeah, I know, thrilling radio,
But I seem to recall Clemson did play in a
postseason out west at one point. But when was that
some of you, some of you remember it, you're probably

(37:30):
screaming twenty it was twenty sixteen. I can't remember. I mean,
those are home regionals there. Golly, has it been that
far back? Like if this is as far back as
my career on the radio, then I'm just I'm out
of way. It must it had to be post COVID,

(37:51):
because it doesn't feel like it could have possibly been
a decade ago. Nope, it was good good? No, how
could that be? How could that be? Clemson played at Fullerton,

(38:11):
they were in the cal State Fullerton Regional. I think
Arizona State, Pepperdine, Clemson. Let's see, I don't know the
start I don't know the start times on those games, though,
opening game of the Fortune Regional that would have been
Friday afternoon, so that would not have been nine o'clock.

(38:32):
I can tell you that that was May twenty ninth,
twenty fifteen. Holy moly, a decade ago. I'm going this
is how. This is how you know you're getting old
when you go when you say, you know, just a
couple of years ago, Clemson played out West in the postseason.

Speaker 5 (38:55):
Holy crap, I am freaking out.

Speaker 2 (38:57):
It was a decade ago. Pepperdine broke an eight eight
tie in the ninth inning to defee Clympson ten eight
on Saturday afternoon. I have no idea that was probably
the early game, so I am going to assume hear ye,
hear ye. I think this is the latest start time

(39:20):
on the East Coast Clemson baseball's ever had. I don't
know that to be fact, but I feel pretty certain
that that's the case, But I do not know what
to be fact. Tomorrow they'll play at five pm Eastern,

(39:40):
and then Sunday they'll play at four pm Eastern. So
that's what we're looking at from the Clemson baseball perspective.
They'll come back, and next Wednesday they'll face Gardener Web
before the Tigers will host Stanford, who will come across
the country. And the great thing about this William Qualkinbush,

(40:03):
who joins us every Monday. He's on the call this
weekend for Clemson baseball. And again, I know he's not
playing the games, but I will be intrigued to gauge
his And I don't even know if he's flying with
the team or separate flights or how that's working, but
I'm gonna be interested to kind of gauge his feelings

(40:27):
on what that travels like.

Speaker 5 (40:29):
Now.

Speaker 2 (40:29):
Fortunately, you don't do it a whole lot if you're
Clemson or any team in the ACC. I mean, I
could check the baseball schedules, you know, maybe maybe there's
a team out there that's having to fly to cal
and to Stanford this year. But I would imagine the
Atlantic Coast Conference probably did the best they could to

(40:52):
protect their East Coast interest from having to go out
west to play against those two teams. I would think,
and and and maybe some people say, well that doesn't
seem fair that the ACC would protect the teams on
the Atlantic seaboard, But I don't see a reason if

(41:12):
you could do it, I don't see a reason why
you wouldn't do it. Does that make sense, Like if
you can make it easier on the teams on the
East coast, like there's nothing like let's let's let's face
it right, there is nothing you could do to protect
the teams on the West coast. That's just that ship

(41:36):
is sailed. They got to come and play over here.
Not much you can do about it. And based off
of what I see, every team that plays one of
the California schools hosts the other one. So n C
State hosts Stanford, but they go to col Clemson goes

(41:57):
to cal and they host Stanford, like you see, and
you see that throughout like Georgia Tech goes to Stanford,
but they host Cal. So I can tell the ACC
did some planning on that front, Thank goodness. Can you
imagine if you had to do both West coast trips
that'd be rough. There's no protecting though those California schools.

(42:19):
They just have to travel, all right, quick break When
we return. Will Van Dervoort from the Clemson Insider who
joins us stay with.

Speaker 1 (42:24):
Us each time for Clipson Sports Talk with Lawton Schwan.

Speaker 2 (43:07):
It is our number two. That's Drivetime Riter on the
show that shakes the south Land, Clemson's Sports Salt Long Swan,
hanging out with you again on a Friday afternoon coming up.
We'll be joined by Will Van Dervoort from The Clemson Insider.
We'll talk with him about Clemson's basketball acquisitions and the

(43:29):
spring game as it looms. We'll catch up with Willy V.
We haven't talked to him since the ACC kickoff this
past year. We'll find out his thoughts on everything going
on up in Tigertown right around the bend. And don't
forget our number two of the program, brought team part
by our good friends over at Met's Plumbing. Seven three

(43:51):
to two drip, Drip, drip. You know the jingle, seven
three to two drip, that's Mett's Plumbing. All right, Will
Van Dervoort on the guest line, Well, what's up, buddy?
Are you?

Speaker 6 (44:01):
I'm doing good man? How you doing? Thanks for having me?

Speaker 2 (44:03):
Yeah, no doubt. Look, I know it's an exciting time
up in Tiger Town with everybody getting ready and getting
geared up for UH an opportunity to venture in to
Death Valley to see a stranger set up this year
with the offense versus the defense. I guess we'll start there.
Uh what are your thoughts on the new format that
we'll see tomorrow.

Speaker 6 (44:24):
Yeah, first I didn't know what they were gonna do
because it's been a while since. Uh yeah, actually had
a scrimmage for the orange and White game. Probably got
to go back to Tommy Bowden if I'm not mistaken.
I think Dado has always done it with the you know,
breaking them into two teams. But again this year, a
lot of guys just out because of injuries from last

(44:44):
year off season surgeries, and you really didn't have the bodies,
as you said, especially on the offensive side of the ball,
and so you know, they decided instead of just you know,
having uneven teams and kind of like it was last
year if you remember, it just seemed like it was
very uneven because they just didn't have enough bodies in either.
And I think you learned from that and he's like, hey, look,
you know, let's just do a different And I like

(45:06):
the points values how they're doing it. You know, with
the defense actually can score points. You know, you get
a third down stop, you get a point, you get
a fourth down stop, you get three points, the offense
misses a field goal, the defense gets three points. You know,
of course you got your traditional scoring as well for
the offense and and the defense with a safety or
pick six. So I like it. I think it's gonna

(45:27):
be fun. I think it'll be entertaining for the fans. Uh,
and you're gonna get a sense okay, like the Clemson
fans that you always hear about, like, hey, you know,
Clemson is all about defense, and it's you know, that's
the tradition that Clemson. Or do you see the people
cheering for the offense. Right, So we're gonna find out
right tomorrow whether there's defensive guys or an offensive guy.

(45:50):
You're gonna know me personally, I'm a defensive guy, so
I'll be pulling for the defense.

Speaker 2 (45:54):
I guess he's yeah, he's on Twitter at Steeler Will
you could go follow him there and from that sense,
Will when I think about it, like I think it
was Southern Cal maybe two years ago. I saw their
supring game and they did kind of a similar style.
I think they started though their defense off with like
twenty eight points. I just don't see a way the

(46:15):
defense is gonna win the game. I mean I was
thinking through it an hour number one, you know, kind
of talking with the listener, like, if the offense scores
twenty one points, I don't see where the defense has
twenty one points in their arsenal.

Speaker 6 (46:29):
Well probably so, but let's think of back to last year.
I think there was a couple of pick sixes last year.
The year before that, there was like two or three
pick sixes, and then you know you get a fourth
down stop. You know you're getting three points if you're
the defense. So there's a chance if you get us,
if you get let's say you get six or seven
three outs right then then they got that's six seven

(46:53):
points right there. That's like scoring a touchdown. So I
think the offense should win it. But there's opportunities at
the defense. As good as we've here and they're they're
they're looking so far with Tom Allen, you know, I
think the defense can score some points and make it competitive,
make it fun. I was asking Christopher Zena the other
day if there's any bets going on, you know, between

(47:15):
the offense and defense, and they're gonna do any side bets,
Like somebody's got to buy somebody's take dinner or something.
Uh he said, not at that time, but they're probably
you know, some guys are talking about it, but it's
probably gonna be by the time game time game time starts.
I mean, see what the BET's gonna be. And you
got to think those defensive guys over there, if there's
if there's food on the line, they're gonna want to
be a part of it. Though offensive linemen may play

(47:37):
a lot harder if there's more food on the line.
So yeah, we're gonna find.

Speaker 2 (47:39):
Out before we shift to the defense and talk about
Tom Allen. I do want to gauge your thoughts on
how much that we'll see k klub Nick. I'll be
shocked if he takes more than ten snaps, but maybe
I'm wrong. I mean, where do you think that number
will lie once you know the game said and done.

Speaker 6 (48:01):
Yeah, so I think what you're gonna see is I
think as far as true scrimmage snaps, I think you'll
see k do probably two series, that's what he's been
doing this spring. And then I think you'll see him
because I think they're gonna do some situational things as well.
So down down on the goal line, I think you'll
probably see him in there because they'll want him to

(48:24):
run some of those goal line stuff so they can
work on, you know, some of those things. That's why
they're doing it this way because they can actually use them.
This is another practice, right, they got to work on,
you know, red zone offense and red zone defense and
things of that nature. So I think you'll see them
in two legit scrimmage drives where they start like at
the thirty or whatever, you know, and they go try

(48:45):
to go down the field, and then I think that'll
probably be it. And then I think you'll see them
on some goal line stuff just to work on some
red zone opportunities and things of that nature. So you know,
I'm with you, probably no more than twenty snaps if
you can buy, and all those together, that's what I
think probably you'll see again.

Speaker 2 (49:03):
Will Van der Voard, the Clemson Insider, he is the
senior writer over there, and so we'll let's let's talk
about that defense. Tom Allen. The energy, we see the videos,
we see everything that Clemson is doing. The sort of
maybe on the re energize, reinvigorate the fans, belief that
it is going to be like you just talked about
a program maybe led by that defense. What have you

(49:26):
seen and what do you like about this Clemson Tiger
defense so far and maybe more specifically the new defensive
coordinator Tom Allen.

Speaker 6 (49:35):
I like the energy first of all, Well, it is
so different when you go out to practice now and
the energy is just through the roof. It's it's like
it was when when Vinnables was here. Right off the
bat the first day we were out there. Man, you
just hear Tom Allen just getting onto him first that
they were working on what he calls the Madden circle,

(49:58):
and that was tackling drills. And they've had each units,
each each position coach teaching a different area of tackling
and working on certain situations in tackling. And it was
quick cool to see Ben Boulwaer out there showing, you know,
big Burley, how you're supposed to tackle you know, and
uh uh and then you know, and then there's the

(50:19):
energy between the coaches is totally different on how they're
coaching guys up. Ben Boulware is man, as Tom Allen explained,
he's like a sponge. He's just goes in there to
the meetings and he's just taking notes and he's learning
and then he goes out there and he implements it
to the point where Tom Allen is like, I'm not
even worried about how the linebackers are being coached on

(50:41):
the defense on the side, I'm not worried about Ben's
doing a good job with the linebackers. I'm letting him
just coach the linebackers so I can focus on the
tire defense. And that's what you're seeing is he's working.
He's walking around and he's you know, using his microphone
and he's either getting onto somebody or he's coaching them
up or you know. But the energy level is totally different.
And if you saw Cleinson's instagram a few days ago,

(51:04):
there was a tackle a goal line stop they had
and Tom Allen jumps into the pile and tackles the
player right there, and you can watch it. It's pretty
great to see how him flying over the top of
the pile. Uh in the celebration. And then Hannafin was
with us the other day and he was telling us that,

(51:26):
you know, we heard that he actually tackled a player
in practice, and Annathon confirmed it and said that they
made a big stop that player did, and he's sitting
over there and he celebrated with the teammates and out
of nowhere, coach Allen just tackles them to the ground
and celebration. And it's like he said, Hannifin was like

(51:46):
it was so awesome to see, Like I can't wait
today he tackles me in practice, you know. So it's, uh,
the energy is just through the roof, man with the
defensive side of the ball, and it is unreal, man,
And that those guys are having fun. And when a
deep having fun and they're playing with a lot of energy,
and you got talent, which Clemson has, it equals to

(52:06):
some good things. So we still got a few more
months before we see in person when they play LSU.
But you gotta like what you're hearing so far.

Speaker 2 (52:13):
Will Van Dervoid on Twitter at Steeler Will senior writer
for The Clemson Insider. Will how in your you know,
in your estimation, I mean Dabo Sweety hasn't been perfect
with his hiring, and I mean he's been very good,
don't get me wrong. And I do think you know everybody,
you and me and everybody was around him and got
a chance to talk with him. I mean West Golden

(52:34):
was a good guy. How did he miss on that
hire in such a large way? In your opinion, I.

Speaker 6 (52:42):
Think Davo was wanting to give Wes the shot that
coach Stallings gave him. Remember, Dabo was a guy that
when he was playing that would never thought about coaching, right,
and he sort of just fell into coaching, and and
then coach Stallings saw something in Davo and he gave

(53:04):
him that opportunity. Because Dato's always said, if it wasn't
for coach Stallings seen something to me, I wouldn't be
where I'm at now. And I think that's where it
comes from. And then you go on and you track
Davo's career and then here comes carry down Phillips who
gives Davo the opportunity to be a head coach though
he had no coordinator experience or anything, and so and

(53:26):
that worked out right, and so Davo just kind of
wanted to pay it forward. I think this is what
it was. And he's done that with a couple other
guys too that have come through his coaching circle. But
Wes was one of these guys that he felt like, Hey,
I want to pay it forward. Let's see if it
works out, and it didn't. Wes is a great and
this is what people need to understand. I've known Wes

(53:47):
Goodwin since he was a GA in twenty eleven at Clemson, Okay,
when he came from Mississippi State, and Wes Goodwin is
one of the smartest, most creative defensive minds I've ever
talked to and been around. Okay, there's a reason why
Brent Vinnables loved him so much. But there's a difference
in being up top and you're getting to put the

(54:10):
pieces of the chessboard together right as you play the
chess match than actually being down on the field and
coaching it right. It's a totally different thing. And I
think Wes struggled with the coaching part and that's what
showed and I think that's what caused him to not
be as analytical as he is and how he sees

(54:30):
that chess board. You know, he's going back to Oklahoma,
He's workeding with coach Venables, and I guarantee you those
two together, you're gonna see it work well for them.
But it just didn't work well for him as a coach.
It's different being an analyst and being a coach, and
I think Wes and I think everybody learned that through
this experiment, But it doesn't take anything about how intelligent

(54:52):
Wes Goodwin is and how he just sees things that
nobody else sees when he's diagramming plays and drawn things up.

Speaker 2 (55:00):
Will Van der Boord with us here on the program
for about six more minutes or so, Will who's a
player coming into this spring game. I mean, there's a
lot of names people bring up all the time, you
know that people want to see what does Bazina look like?
Tristan Smith, you know, But who's a name that maybe
a lot of people aren't talking about right now that
you're kind of saying, Hey, that's somebody I'm anxious to

(55:21):
see tomorrow.

Speaker 6 (55:24):
Yeah, that's a great question. I do have a guy
that I'm not anxious to see that I think nobody's
really talking about. And it's kind of surprising that nobody is.
But Christian Benettier, the tight end. Nobody's really talked much
about him this spring and practice after practice, you know,
with the coaches and stuff. If we ask about him,

(55:46):
it's brought up, but it really hasn't been brought up much.
And I want to see how good he's going to
be because last year, if you remember, there was a
lot of conversation about him, and even the coaches have said,
and you know, he's got they he reminds them of
Dwayne Allen with his level and there you know, that's
a heck of a comp if you'd be a measured

(56:08):
that Clemson is to Dwayne Allen. They like the way
that he can block. They like the fact that he
can be tough at physical in the run game, but
also can run routes and get open, which is what
Dwayne Allen did, as you guys know. And he's he's
not the same makeup as what Clemson just had, you
know with Jake Grinnen school. He's a different kind of cat.

(56:29):
Uh So I missed to see him. I want to
see him tomorrow and is seeing that final piece of
this offense needs because if you remember those early Taj
Voyd teams with Sammy and Nuke and all those great receivers, well,
what made it, what complimented them and allowed them to
continue to do what they did, was Dwayne Allen. Right,

(56:49):
Dwayne Allen is why they were all so explosive. Because
Dwayne Allen was that guy in the middle of the
field that could just dominate and get open and just
cause mismatch problems and that allowed everything else to open up.
And so I think if Benettier is that guy, then
you know, Clinson's got a great chance to really be
super explosive on offense. And we'll see, you know, if

(57:12):
he is that missing piece right now that we're needing.
And he's the guy to me that I think you
need to watch the spring game, and you need to
watch him in the summer and then into early season.
In that game against LSU, I think he's gonna dictate
how good this offense could be.

Speaker 2 (57:28):
Well, let's let's shift gears to basketball for a minute,
because the cupboard was pretty bare for a while off
of the best regular season Clipson basketball has ever had,
you know, a little bit disappointment there in the NCAA tournament,
especially with that first half against McNeice. But they go
out over the past couple of days, they bring in
Nick Davidson, a center, a forward in Carter Welling, and
then they bring back r J. Godfrey from Georgia. Not

(57:49):
gonna lie him. A little little little bitter taste in
my mouth about r J. Godfrey coming back simply because
I wonder what this team could have been this past
year had he stayed none in the le us. Uh,
what are your thoughts on where this basketball program is
right now with all the transition in the turnover that
we're seeing.

Speaker 6 (58:08):
Well, first of all, I I love the guys they
brought in. I think Davidson. Davidson is a guy that
he is a more of a PJ. Hall type guy,
so he's gonna be more offensive than he is defensive.
But then they answered that by saying, Okay, we got PJ.
We got a PJ Paul White guy on the offensive end.

(58:29):
What are we gonna do on the defensive side of
your aplace like Victor Lauchlin, who is so good at
rent protecting where you go. And you bring in Carter Welling,
you know that's what you do. A six eleven guy,
the Matt Defensive Player of the Year, and so that
is a great pick up for Clemson as well. His
skill is unbelievable. It's just as Davidson's is.

Speaker 3 (58:51):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (58:51):
So they got that. They're taking care of the front courts.
I think you got your You're there. And then when
you got Godfree, who can now come in and play
that small four when you need him to, you know.
Uh so I think you know you're gonna see him
and and and Wellington kind of you know, depending on
who they're playing, who's going to be starting in those games, right,

(59:12):
but both are going to play significant minutes and both
are going to be major contributors. So you feel good
about now what's happened on the up top, I mean
down at the bottom now the top of the team.
You know, you got to you got to replace one
of the best players you ever had, Chase Hunter. We'll
see what they did there. They weren't expecting to lose
Dale Jones. I can tell you that that was a

(59:33):
shock there. But they're trying to figure out ways to
do it. They do like the Foster kids. He's coming in.
They think he can be a major contributor and scorer.
How good is he on defense, I don't know yet. Obviously,
the Brad's defense is a very difficult to learn for
for guys who's never really played it before. So we'll
see how he does there. But there, I think they're

(59:53):
gonna go out and get an experience number two guy
at the guard position.

Speaker 4 (59:58):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (59:58):
They still need an experience guy as well. So I
still think they got some shopping to do. There's a
couple of guys I know they're looking at and they're
talking to, but right now, not willing to report anything
at this point. But I think I think they're okay.
Last year's this this past season was disappointing, right because
you know, when I still think if Dylan Hunter doesn't

(01:00:21):
get hurt, that they beat Louisville. I think if Dylan
Hunter's playing in the tournament, I think they get to
the sweet sixteen.

Speaker 4 (01:00:28):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (01:00:28):
That's the disappointment is that we didn't get to see
the true potential of this team and tournament play because
you know, they lost the key cogs, you know, and
if people don't realize that, I mean they did after
those two tournament, those two games, because you can see
how different they were when Dylan Hunter wasn't then that
we're in their lineup now.

Speaker 2 (01:00:45):
I guess the other question would be, has the ship
sailed on Jaden Zachary from what you're hearing, or is
there any chance that they can figure out a way
to keep him on campus for another year?

Speaker 6 (01:00:58):
Yeah, he's still he's There's still a chance. I won't
say it's you know, one hundred percent or seventy five percent.
It's probably more less than fifty percent, to be honest
with you. But there still is a chance because you're
seeing other guys kidding that are now getting that extra
year back, right, And so I think it's just they're

(01:01:18):
doing it on an individual cases. Clemson has put in
for a waiver. He did tell me directly the day
before the McNeese State game. I asked him directly, Hey,
if you get the waiver and they say you can
get that six year, are you coming back to Clemson.
He says, I am absolutely one hundred percent coming back
to Clemson if I get that waiver. So he did

(01:01:39):
say though either way, he's going to test the NBA waters,
but he says, I'm just going in to see where
I'm at. He says, if I get the waiver, I'm
coming back to Clemson.

Speaker 2 (01:01:47):
There you go.

Speaker 6 (01:01:48):
So so that that then you go there with him,
And so now it's just a matter of see if
he gets the waiver or not.

Speaker 2 (01:01:54):
Will Van Dervoort on Twitter at Steeler Will he's a
senior writer for the Clemson Insider. Will, hey, man, look,
let's do it again. Next Friday if you're available.

Speaker 6 (01:02:03):
Absolutely, my friend, I always here. You know, I'd be
happy to help.

Speaker 2 (01:02:06):
You out, buddy, appreciate it. Well, there you go. Will
Van Dervoort, senior writer for the Clemson Insider. He was
on with us last at the ACC kickoff, as I mentioned,
But great content there from Will. All right, quick break,
We'll come back. Christopher Vizina CV was at the podium
earlier this week. We'll hear what he had to say.
Right after this. Lawton swan with you on a Friday
of the show The shakesa south Land. So we had

(01:02:29):
an article up earlier this week on the website about
Christopher Zena, Clempson's backup quarterback. Well, CV met with the
media earlier this week. I had a clipson spring game.
I mean, he's got to keep your eyes on right,
especially you know, if something were to happen to Kay
club Nick or he just gets banged up in the game,
you're gonna probably hand the keys to CV. Here's Christopher

(01:02:50):
Vezina talking about how this spring has been different for
him by comparison to the last two in Tigertown.

Speaker 5 (01:02:58):
Uh, first off, just getting go with the first team
last year. This was a big time for me going
with the second team getting all those reps. But now
this year they've let Kate step off to the side
because you know, he had a great year, say let
me get some reps first team this year, and that's
been very beneficial, different things, different speeds. I feel like
I've gotten a lot better because of that, and just

(01:03:20):
very grateful for that too, Coach when he let me
know that four springs started, So I feel like I've
taken big steps because of that.

Speaker 2 (01:03:27):
Bazina was also ask about how much he feels like
he's grown with the increased amount of reps that he's
gotten during Clemson's spring practices.

Speaker 5 (01:03:37):
You know, just going into it. Coach, when he told
me a couple of times he would throw me in
there at some random points. In the first scrimmage, he
just threw me in there on a random play and
threw a touchdown. It was a great play, great design play,
and that kind of boosted my confidence with that because
you know, man, I just stepped in there. I was ready,
paying attention, and so that was just testament do a
lot of hard work being ready, but also just you know,

(01:04:00):
being able to communicate with the first team. Uh, you know,
going in the Florida State game, kid got knocked out
for one play and I went in, and you know,
to me, it had meant a lot because I looked
around and nobody was freaking out. I could tell everyone
was trusting me, and you know, we took we took
a deep shot on that play, So that was pretty
fun too. But just to see everyone that day believe
in me, and then now fasterward to spring and get

(01:04:21):
those real reps, it's it's been really good.

Speaker 2 (01:04:23):
Lazena was also asked about his decision in this era
where everybody wants to play immediately, why he was willing
to come to Clemson and and sit and have to
sit for multiple seasons before he got the opportunity to
be a starter.

Speaker 5 (01:04:40):
Definitely a different scenario than a lot of quarterbacks would
probably accept. But for me, I knew coming out high
school like I was either gonna be ready or I
was gonna need to develop. And I was with that
plan one hundred percent. I talked talked about with my
parents and my high school coaches, and coming out of
high school, I just felt like that was a good
plan for me. And then just that first year, I
was just really I was able to just sit there

(01:05:02):
with Coach Tweeny every every practice and go through it
with him, and so I could see that plan kind
of playing out. And now the next year, I got
more reps and just continue to see myself developing because
of that extra year. And I think I'll look back
and think about that as being one of my biggest
years for my development.

Speaker 2 (01:05:17):
Bazina was also asked about trusting the coaching staff and
their plan for him as a football player and sort
of what was his mindset around that.

Speaker 5 (01:05:26):
I mean, it really just comes out of Coach Tweeny,
me trusting in him and you know, just the plan
that we had, the plan when we talked about when
I was recruiting. You know, to me, it sounded great.
I was either going to come in and be ready
or I was gonna need to develop, and you know,
I needed to develop. And I you know, this is
what happened, and I'm I'm grateful for it. I'm I
don't ever think twice about it.

Speaker 2 (01:05:46):
So Bazina was also asked about whether or not he's
sort of heard from his teammates about, you know, maybe
what his decision was or his willingness to sit and
grow in Clemson system.

Speaker 5 (01:06:00):
I got a couple buddies that have to asked for that.
But I mean, I can't sit here and complain about
not playing when I knew this was like this could happen,
Like when I knew I was coming in behind another
top graded quarterback and I was gonna red shirt, Like,
I can't sit here and complain when I knew this
was possibility. So and at the same time, I mean,
I'm in here working every single day. They don't coach
me any different than case. So I still feel like

(01:06:21):
I'm getting better every day and you know, I'm getting
ready for next year at the same time.

Speaker 2 (01:06:25):
So Clemson backup quarterback Christopher Bazena was also asked about
what he feels incoming wide receiver via the transfer of
portal Tristan Smith has brought to this Clemson Tiger football team.

Speaker 5 (01:06:40):
Number One, He's a great guy. He came in here.
I mean he's I think coach when he said this, y'all,
he's he's like the happiest guy, like you could tell
like this is genuinely something he really wanted to do
and he's happy to be here. But at the same time,
he's like six'. Five you, know he's kind of that
Traditional clemson RECEIVER i grew up watching and so the
throw to him is really. Exciting we had a couple
of big connections in the scrimmage just because he's a

(01:07:01):
big target and the way he runs, routes the way
he just wants to. LEARN i can really see him
being a big time player for.

Speaker 2 (01:07:06):
Us The zena was also asked to, address much Like
Antonio williams, earlier what he's seen From Tyler brown In
brown's journey back from being injured during his sophomore.

Speaker 5 (01:07:19):
Campaign What i'll say About tyler, is you, know even
when he was, hurt he still wanted to. Learn he
was still coming up to me trying to get his repsent,
mentally and it's always been that way for. Him but
now to see him get out there and make those
big time plays like he was two years, ago like
that means the world for me to, see AND i
know it means to the world of him BECAUSE i
just know how hard he works and it's been really

(01:07:39):
good to see.

Speaker 2 (01:07:39):
That That's clemson backup Quarterback Christopher. Vzena he was also
asked about how he feels he's grown most as a,
quarterback and Obviously i'm sure getting an opportunity to watch
Kay klubnick has. Helped but Here's Christopher zena on his
growth at. QUARTERBACK i, MEAN i feel like the.

Speaker 5 (01:07:56):
Whole thing for me has, been you, know the mental
side of the game and being able to see more in.
Practice LIKE i, said my first year is really all mental.
Reps it felt LIKE i got, better and then the
second YEAR i was able to apply that and Now
i'm doing that with the first and second, team and
LIKE i, Said i'm applying it. Now but the mental
side has always been big for. Me and you, know
the Coaches Taj, Boyd Cole, Stout Paul, tyson Coach riley

(01:08:20):
and Coach. Winning you, know they've all been helping me do,
it and SO i really appreciate them for helping. Me
lazena was also asked about the opportunity to face off
Against clemson's top, defense that first team defensive group during
the spring. Practices so, FAR i wouldn't said it's too.
DIFFERENT i, mean obviously the, speed but it's still the same.
Guys but they've developed and you know the. Same at

(01:08:41):
the same, Time i'm, thinking, like all, right this is
the best defense in the country That i'm going up
against on A wednesday. Afternoon but it's a little bit,
different but not too much BECAUSE i see those guys
all the. Time but at the same, TIME i know
it's really just me getting used to the STANDARD i would.
SAY i, mean we're a really good, team so getting
to practice practice against everybody has been.

Speaker 2 (01:08:58):
Huge also gave some insight into how beneficial it is
for him to be in year three With Garrett riley
as offensive. COORDINATOR i think.

Speaker 5 (01:09:09):
It's helped a.

Speaker 3 (01:09:09):
Lot you.

Speaker 5 (01:09:11):
Know it was obviously WHEN i first got, HERE i
was with Coach streeter for about three days and then
they made the. Switch but Coach, riley he's really helped
me like get adjusted at the college, game and then you,
know the past two years he's helped me learn from
the Reps i've gotten and developed that. Way but at
the same, time and he's just a great coach and
he's always there to help, me even When caidson we're

(01:09:33):
talking about what's going on. Everything so he's been a huge.

Speaker 2 (01:09:36):
Help so there you have. It christopher Of, azina we
got a little bit more from him coming up around
the bend as he gets ready to be one of
the key figures In clemson's spring, game which will take
place tomorrow up In Death. Valley it's not going to be.
TELEVISED i know that's a bit of a downer for
a lot of, you but it is what it is
in this day and, age for. Sure all, right quick,
break we'll come back with more FROM cv In. Tigertown

(01:09:58):
right after this the sports so they show the shakesare
South land on A friday. Afternoon, again we were listening
To clemson backup Quarterback christopher Of vezena before the break
is The tigers get ready for their spring game tomorrow
up In. Tigertown speaking to, which if you are up In,
tigertown don't forget to stop by our good friends over

(01:10:20):
At Alumni hall in the corner Of campus On College,
avenue right there in Downtown, clemson just a stones throw.
Away think you can see Historic Riggs field basically probably
the lights at least From Alumni. Hall don't forget to
upgrade your tailgate. Gear shop for officially Licensed clemson, merchandise

(01:10:40):
get your new, stickers upgrade your summer, merch your winter,
merch your fall merch everything that you need right there
At Alumni hall or online At Alumni hall dot. Com
don't forget you can get to their website through our,
website and if you do, that it will support, us
so we would be we would greatly appreciate you helping

(01:11:01):
us out and Supporting Alumni. Hall and again On, saturday
it'll Be climpson of spring. Game Christopher, vezina meeting with the,
media was asked, about you, know what his hopes were
or what he hopes to accomplish during the spring game On.
Saturday all, RIGHT i just could.

Speaker 5 (01:11:19):
Go out there and. PLAY i Don't i'm not going
to change. ANYTHING i think this has been another good.
SPRING i said that last year BECAUSE i was just
disappointed because my spring was so. GOOD i just felt that.
WAY i felt like another good. Spring But i'm not
going to change anything this This, saturday but just go
have fun and display what we've been working.

Speaker 2 (01:11:36):
On Christopher asina was also asked if he likes the
offense versus defense format That clemson will put together for
this twenty twenty five spring.

Speaker 5 (01:11:47):
GAME i, MEAN i.

Speaker 3 (01:11:48):
Do it's.

Speaker 5 (01:11:48):
DIFFERENT a lot of other places are doing. IT i
think one of the pluses, is you, know getting the
costs of Coach riley and having that type of, chemistry
and then you Know rotaine. Receivers when we split the,
teams it's kind of like some of the receivers that
you have the best chemistry with or on the other,
side and it's, like but this year we got everybody
on one. Side i'm excited about. It there's a little
bit of trash. Talk we were a little bit tresh talk,

(01:12:10):
today But i'm sure that will continue to ramp. Up
but no bets right.

Speaker 2 (01:12:14):
NOW cev was also asked to give his perspective on
what he's seen from K klubnick And clubnick's growth as
a quarterback over the past couple of. Years, well you
know WHAT i got.

Speaker 5 (01:12:26):
Here he was coming off of his THE ACC mvp
game and then The Orange. Bowl SO i really seen
him just you know WHEN i first met him till,
now like he's JUST i feel like he's taking a
big step in his leadership and you really can just
tell he's taking control the offense and then really just
him being, comfortable him seeing himself. DEVELOP i feel like

(01:12:48):
that's kind of HOW i see it as. MYSELF i,
MEAN i haven't gotten to play as, much but just
the CONFIDENCE i see him like, developing SO i KNOW
i can develop just like that because we're in the same.
SYSTEM i think him just getting the older but at
the same, time just the more reps he's gotten and
it means a lot to. HIM i really respect him
for how he goes about his, business how he comes in,

(01:13:09):
daily how he comes to. Practice he always has the same.
Energy he's always pushing. Me i'm always pushing. Him you
can just tell much it means to him just about
the way he walks in the.

Speaker 2 (01:13:19):
Room lazina was also asked about what he's seen From
Adam randall making the transition to running back this year
from wide.

Speaker 5 (01:13:27):
Receiver it's really, cool you, know standing next to someone
that's a little bit taller than mirror as tall as
me as something That i've never experienced in the.

Speaker 3 (01:13:36):
Backfield so but.

Speaker 5 (01:13:38):
At the same, time you know he he's done a
great job of getting in there and learning what to
do back. There and at the same time we put
him out wide in an empty. Formation he's done some
things out there, Too so very.

Speaker 2 (01:13:49):
Versatile very versatile indeed Is Adam. Randall vazita was also
asked about what players he thinks will give the fans
a good. Performance you, know who's he feeling good.

Speaker 5 (01:14:00):
ABOUT i, MEAN i would just say the whole mid year.
Group those guys have gotten a lot of reps to
some of the injuries we've, had and every single one
of them has wanted to. Learn they came in they
the first TIME i saw him there asking, Questions like
first TIME i met all of, them they wanted to,
know they wanted to know what we were. Doing SO
i think That Saturday saturday just will be a display

(01:14:20):
of the hard work they put, in the reps they've
gotten early. On So i'm excited about those.

Speaker 2 (01:14:24):
Guys final thing From. Bezena he was asked about what
he feels makes being a part Of clemson.

Speaker 5 (01:14:32):
Special you, know in my, opinion it's just how real everybody.
Is we always talk about this being a family, atmosphere
and it. Is it's really a true family. Atmosphere and
then on the other, side it's you, know if If
i'm doing, bad they're gonna tell Me i'm doing. Bad
If i'm doing, great they're gonna tell Me i'm doing.
Great so it's NEVER i never have to sit there
and guess on WHERE i sit or How i've been.

(01:14:53):
Doing they're gonna let me. KNOW i can always go
ask him ANYTIME i want to ask coach twenty. Something
his door is, open and you know you don't get
that everywhere. Else so it's just a real. Atmosphere so
there you.

Speaker 2 (01:15:05):
Go That's christopher Of vezena again ahead Of clemson's spring
game taking place tomorrow in Death, Ally and AS i mentioned,
yesterday there's a lot going. ON i was looking at
some of that gear that they've got for sale before.

Speaker 6 (01:15:20):
The.

Speaker 2 (01:15:20):
Game that stuff what's at the surplus, sale which will
be over near The Swan. Pavilion the surplus sale from eight,
pm excuse, me eight am to one. Pm some really
Cool clemson. Gear they'll also have THAT Ba tiger event

(01:15:42):
taking place as, well the Field day presented BY. Basf
parking lots open at eight, Am Tiger walk will be
at eleven. Thirty the gates to the stadium will open
at eleven. Thirty they'll be beer sold at the game as.
Well mission to the game is. Free there will be

(01:16:04):
metal detective screening and remember a clear bag, policy so
just remember that as you're heading into the. EVENT i,
mean the good news is it's not it doesn't cost
anything to get in and you're not going to miss
like the kickoff of The CLEMSON lsu game because you
didn't bring a clear bag or. WHATEVER i will be interested,

(01:16:25):
though with the game not being broadcast on, television to
get an idea of how many people will be in.
Attendance clempson has done a really good job with attendance
at the spring, game and a big part of that
in recent years has been because of all the success
that The tigers have had on the gridiron this past,

(01:16:47):
year obviously making it to The College Football playoff and
K klubnik and all the pieces returning has a lot
of people. Excited but you're not gonna learn a whole
lot about this team during the spring. Game but the
fact that you're not going to be able to watch
it for the first time in a long, TIME i,
think does make me think that there's probably gonna be

(01:17:07):
a pretty good. TURNOUT i could be, wrong but that's
my hunch, anyway hard to. Believe where at the back end.
Again clemson baseball coming up tonight nine. Pm Holy moly Against.
CAL i told my dad yesterday we were talking ABOUT i, Said,
dad you'd better take a nap if you go stay
up and watch that nine pm first pitch. TONIGHT i

(01:17:28):
almost want to watch the whole thing just to do,
it you know WHAT i? Mean all, right quick, break
we'll put a bow on the show right after.

Speaker 5 (01:17:33):
This what have you done for me?

Speaker 3 (01:17:37):
Lately it's a fair. Question just don't lose sight of
the bigger. Picture don't forget. History lucky for us At,
clemson the answer to the questions what have you done
for me? Lately and what have you? Done always are the.
Same we win.

Speaker 2 (01:18:49):
Final segment on A friday afternoon the show The shakespeare
sala And clemson sports doll Long swine appreciate Will Panda
bort from The clemson inside of joining, us don't forget
if you're up In Tiger town to stop By Alumni
hall on the corner of campus On College avenue in Downtown.
Clemson you can support us if you shop, online but
you can subward them by walking right there in the.

(01:19:10):
Store don't. Forget clemson, students faculty in all military get
ten percent off when shopping in store At Alumni. Hall
upgrade all your. Gear get The Clemson tiger baseball team
on the road at cal nine pm to. Night how
many of you were how many of you were staying
up for that. One AS i, SAID i think it's

(01:19:34):
the first Time clemsons played out In california in a.
DECADE i believe they played That Fullerton California regional back
in twenty. FIFTEEN i think was the last time they
played that far west in. Baseball BUT i think this
is the latest start time. Again in other, News clemson
basketball with a couple of pickups over the past few.

(01:19:54):
Days they Get Nick, davidson the transfer center From. Nevada
they bring In Carter, welling, forward defensive minded, forward kind
of reminds me looking at, him of a of a
kind Of Ian shefflin like, player maybe a little better
defensively Than. Ian and then you get BACK. R. J,

(01:20:18):
godfrey who spent a year with The Georgia. Bulldogs godfrey
have a six point four points and three point eight
rebounds per game for The, bulldogs similar numbers to what
he had At. CLEMSON i don't understand. IT i, MEAN

(01:20:39):
i get, it you got to take guys when your
rosters is sliced and diced As. Clemsons but you, KNOW
i see people saying this is so. Dumb once A,
tiger always kind of a. TIGER i mean there it

(01:21:02):
really it really does bring the light just the ridiculousness
of it all and the fact AGAIN i, think what
if he'd, Stayed what if he would have, stayed and
what could it have? Been what could it have meant

(01:21:24):
for This clemson. Team it's, like, man when you do,
that you just pull the rug out from under your,
program from your friends that you and now you're Coming,
WELL i GUESS i guess he's really not coming back
to anybody that he. Left let's be. HONEST i guess
the only person in the room that can really look
at it and, go, man why'd you do? That would
Be Dylan. HUNTER i, Mean Brad, brown el and the coaching.

(01:21:45):
STAFF i just you, Know i'm, LOOK i want the
basketball team to be. GOOD i hope that he's gonna
help this basketball team be good BECAUSE i recognize how
much they lost and they've got three big men and
they need a good, guard As Will vanderbolt was talking

(01:22:07):
about to help out to help Out Dylan. Hunter BUT
i almost feel like you need this guard to be,
elite like the elite of the, Elite LIKE i think
the guy that you bring in has to end up
being one of the best guards in terms of a

(01:22:28):
season that you've ever seen At, clemson BECAUSE i think
if you bring in just a you, know mid to average,
GUARD i think you're gonna have a mid to average. Season,
now If Jayden zachary could come, back that, Helps But

(01:22:49):
zachary's not. Elite zachary's definitely not. Elite he's got his
he has his. Moments BUT i think you got to
land like the former high, value four, star high, value you,
know maybe even a former five star that slipped off
a little, bit and bring their career to a place

(01:23:14):
that's never been you, Know AND i don't, know like
some people are, asking you know what about Like Del, Jones.
SWANEE i, mean are these guys all. GONE i haven't
seen landing. SPOTS i don't remember hearing That Dell, jones,
uh you, know landed somewhere and it's playing somewhere. Else

(01:23:36):
Remember dell transferred a lot during his high school. Career
this is kind of his M o, unfortunately and and you,
KNOW i compared. Him this is WHERE i REALLY i
think at the end of the, day you're gonna be
watching THE Ncaa tournament at some point you're gonna See
Del jones making this great play and you're gonna. Go
was that the same guy that we had At, Clemson

(01:23:57):
because in my, opinion Del jones has the ability to
be a great, player very, composed left. HANDED i think
he's you, know he had some moments where he looked
like a, freshman BUT i think as he gets older and,
older he's gonna get better and. Better but far be

(01:24:17):
it from me to Tell Brad brownell what to. Do
they've gotten the three pieces back in the portal just
a couple of days. AGO i mean they were, like you,
know it's like that that you, know was, like oh,
no somebody just hit him with a draw. Too all,
right we gotta get out of. Here we'll be back
On monday to talk about The National. Championship my guess

(01:24:38):
is we're gonna be talking about The Florida gators versus
The Duke Blue. Devils let's see If i'm. Right until,
then as, always you'll take care now and Go. Tigers