The "ACC Shocker" Edition

Faxon Childress and Tim Bourret stop by the show ahead of Clemson's epic matchup with LSU this Saturday. Plus, Faxon calls for a huge upset in the ACC. Wait until you hear it. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Each time, or Climpson Sports Talk with Lawton Swan.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Finally, Clemson Sports Talk has come back to drive time.
Hello everybody, Lowton Swan back in the saddle once again.
It is the show that shakes the south Land. Clemson
Sports Saw for you each and every afternoon as you
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(01:04):
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(01:26):
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right out of the gates. A little switch around here

(01:46):
on the college Football Thursday, because we do have college
football on the docket getting going. During our show today,
we will talk with Facts and Childress from one O
five to five to row in the Upstate be a
part of Clemson's new Tiger Tailgate Show, the Updated Tiger
Tailgate Show with Faxon and Richmond Weaver. So we'll join

(02:09):
Faxon here momentarily. If you've got questions for him, you
could text us as well. Eight oh three four or
five O zero zero eighty six. All right, without further ado,
Facts and Childress joins the program. Facts and what's up, buddy,
I'm doing well, Swanee.

Speaker 3 (02:22):
How we doing?

Speaker 2 (02:23):
Man? I'm great. I know everybody's excited about the kickoff
of Clemson and LSU this weekend, and we'll get to
that one. But man, there's so many great games around
the country, and I know you cover them all. What
game outside the Clemson UH and LSU peaked your interest
to most? Is it that one two matchup in Columbus?

Speaker 4 (02:44):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (02:44):
I think it might be that one two matchup in Columbus, Swanee.
But to be honest with you, I also have my
eyes on the game Cocks against Virginia Tech. I think
that's gonna be a good one. There are a couple
other games on the slate that have definitely peaked my
interest as well. Friday night. If you want to go
Friday games, that Georgia, that Colorado one should be a
good one. But I think the easy answer is to
go with Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns versus Julius

(03:06):
Saying and the Ohio State buck Guys. That's gonna be
an absolute banger of a matchup.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yeah, and you know, those are two quarterbacks really unproven.
I don't know how you feel about it, but I
think that game is a toss up simply because of
the fact that the two quarterbacks, either one of them
could come out and struggle and that could certainly spell
a bad afternoon for either team.

Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yeah, it definitely could spell a bad afternoon for either team.
It's a great point, and I just think there's a
lot of unknown and a lot of intrigue going on
with both of those teams to where we know they're talented,
but we don't know what the quarterback play is going
to look like. So I think both coaching staffs are
definitely going to have a big adjustment period, and whoever
gets that big Week one win's going to have a

(03:50):
nice cornerstone win on their resume for the rest of
the season, which is going to be so big as
we get closer and closer to the College Football playoff.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
Facts and childres with us year on the program now.
Last week, the Southeastern Conference facts and announced that they're
going to go to a nine game conference schedule. And
I know that Clempson and LSU play next year. And
I talked to some people down in Baton Rouge, and
even though Clemson's the only Power four game on their
schedule right now outside of the Southeastern Conference, there is

(04:19):
some concern from those people that this game still might
not come to fruition. Ultimately, I mean, do you think
it's bad for the sport what we're seeing with these
leagues going to nine games or are you sort of
indifferent on the matter.

Speaker 3 (04:32):
In all honestly, I'm a little indifferent. I do think
it makes sense to have consistency amongst the leagues, right, So,
if the power leagues have a split of two and
two where two are playing nine and two are playing eight,
I do think it makes logical sense to get everybody
on the same page in that standard of being in
a power league to play those same amount of league games,
right but it's kind of been showcased to us, whether

(04:54):
it be through the media outlets, whether it be through
the College Football Playoff Committee, and whether it be through
Great Sankey. And you know what they're battling for right
now with the SEC and the Big Ten, that conferences
are not equal, and we all kind of know that
to be the truth. Maybe not as exaggerated as some
may depict, but it is the truth. So that's kind
of where I'm at on it. Like, logically speaking, I

(05:15):
would love for everybody to play nine, and I think
that that's fair, but the conferences are also imbalanced and
not equals, so that breeds a whole different conversation. I've
just kind of tried to stay out of the weeds
on that one, to be honest with the Swane, because
that creates a whole lot of follow up conversations. And well,
if the SEC is playing nine, then maybe we should
play nine in the ACC and at the end of
the day, spot the ball and the best teams are

(05:36):
going to win the championship.

Speaker 2 (05:38):
He's on Twitter at FAX and p XP go follow him.
He's a part of the Tiger Tailgate Show this year
alongside Richmond Weaver and I know you guys have getten
are getting geared up for that. So where's the location
going to be this year? You guys still going to
be at the Swan Pavilion. What's the plan on that front?

Speaker 3 (05:53):
Faction, We're actually going to be in the stadium on
stage this year near the corner of the West End zone.
So looking forward to that and Tiger pre game on
the roar with William Qwalk and Bush, will Van de
Voort and Grayson Mann. They're gonna be in Burton Gallery
this year from six hours to three hours before kick
and then the three hours leading right up to kick,
with gates opening two hours before kick. You can stop
by and say what's up. I would love to meet

(06:14):
any of y'all, shake your hand, take a picture, etc.
And just super appreciative for the opportunity and super excited
to get after it on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, I know the Tigers are also ready to get
after it. So when you look at these two teams,
I think Davos Sweeney said it best. It's a mirror
image of each other in a lot of respects. You
got two quarterbacks who've stayed in the system, stayed at
their program. You could certainly make the argument. When you
talk about Garrett Nussemeyer, I mean, he's a guy that
easily could have transferred. He's behind a Heisman Trophy winning

(06:43):
quarterback just a couple of years ago. But when this
game kind of gets down to the minutia of at all,
where do you kind of point towards? Hey, this is
what I'm keeping my eyeballs on Saturday in Death Valley.

Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah. I think the biggest key to the game for
both sides, and it's gonna be a two pronged thing,
is the LSU offensive line versus the Clemson defensive line.
I think that's the biggest talking point of this game.
And when you look at Garrett nus Meyer last year,
a guy that really struggled in true road games. He
really struggled for the majority of the SEC slate against

(07:17):
superior competition, and that was with two NFL tackles on
each side of them. Well, now they've overhauled the offensive line.
There's a little bit of continuity, but a lot of newcomers.
Brian Kelly's saying they're gonna play seven or eight bodies.
I had Hunt Palmer from ESPN Baton Rouge on my
show this morning and he confirmed that report saying he's
anticipating seven or eight different bodies on the O line
for LSU in that first game against Clemson. So it's

(07:41):
simple to me, if you let Garrett Nusmeyer sit in
the pocket clean, he's gonna dice you. He'll dice anybody
in America, and he'll dice any defense in America. I
would compare him to Kirk Cousins in that way, and
people at home might be like, Okay, Kirk Cousins, that's
not a guy that's gonna blow you away. You're right.
But when you keep Kirk Cousins clean, he's gonna throw
for four hundred and fifty yards on you because he
can make all the throws and he's great with his

(08:02):
head and he's got a great arm. And that's the
same thing for nus Meyer. Mental processing, throwing people open,
using his head to throw people open. These are strengths
of his game. So if you keep him upright and
you keep him clean, LSU's gonna have a chance to
put up some points on an inexperienced secondary outside of
Avionterrell for Clemson. But on the inverse, if Clemson's defense
can get consistent push bump Garrett nus Meyer off his

(08:25):
spot and force him out of the pocket, which is
not his strength by any means. Yeah, it could be
a long day for LSU and the offense. So we've
broke down this game, as I'm sure you have as
well as Swanee, about every which way that you can,
and I just keep wrapping back to that one point,
and it's to simplify it into one question. Can Clemson
consistently bump Garrett nus Meyer off his spot? If they can,

(08:45):
it's gonna be a great day in Tiger Town for
the folks. Wh wearn't orange.

Speaker 2 (08:49):
How big of an X factor? I mean, we talk
about the running back facs in with you know, Adam
Randall taking over his running back one, but but how
big of a factor are Kate Klubnick's legs potentially in
this ballgame, in the running game for Clemson.

Speaker 3 (09:02):
Yeah, I think it's very important. And when you look
at LSU's defense last year and the primary weaknesses for
this group, defending the quarterback run was up there, if
not number one, for a defense that really struggled in
a lot of fastts last year. So I'm expecting LSU's
defense to make a massive jump. Ye're one year two
under Blake Baker. When you look at the transfer portal editions,

(09:25):
when you look at the recruiting classes, I think they
have a phenomenal, phenomenal core on that side of the
ball from a talent standpoint, but again history would showcase
that they really struggle to defend the quarterback run. Kate
Klubnik is one of the most underrated players in the country.
Using his legs out of the quarterback spot and using
that in addition to Adam Randall potentially in some zone

(09:46):
read type of looks could be advantageous for the Tigers.

Speaker 2 (09:49):
Facts and Childress with this year one though five to
five the roar again a part of the Tiger Tailgate
show as well this weekend covering Clemson and LSU. Before
you came on Facts and we asked the people, he said, Hey,
send us a cup of questions for facts and about
the game to kind of get his thought on it.
They want to know Chris and Charleston wants to know
which side of the ball for Clemson. Facts and you

(10:09):
trust the most. Going into twenty twenty five, this defense,
which is supposed to be elite or the offense has
got Kate Klubnick and all these incredible weapons.

Speaker 3 (10:19):
Yeah, for me, it's the offense and it's you know,
no slight at Tom Allen or any of the talent
nucleus on that side of the football. For me, it's
as simple Swanny as coordinator continuity. I mean, you look
at the year one to year two leap from Garrett
Riley and Kate Klubnick and it's hard to not just
say wow. And that leads me to believe that year
two to year three will also come with a subsequent leap,

(10:41):
and Kate's going to be able to progress his game
to another level because he's gotten significantly better every year
of his college career thus far. You throw into the
fact that you got four offensive lineman starters returning to
protect him, to keep him upright. You have a deep
back room of backs rather which is not something you
had last year, so a couple guys you can trust
in case of an injury. He got five wide receivers

(11:01):
that I think can play anywhere in the country. I
think Clemson's just freaking loaded on the offensive side of
the football. And then, obviously, if I'm saying that I
don't like the defense as much as the offense and
the defense features three potential first round pick Rieter Woods, TJ. Parker,
and Avionzrell. That should tell you at home where my
opinion lies with this Clemson football team. I think Clemson's
loaded on both sides.

Speaker 2 (11:22):
Okay, So this parallels right into Sarah's question. She says,
if Clemson beats and by the way, Sarah's listened to
us in Columbia, if Clemson beats LSU to start one
to zero, do you think the Tigers can actually make
a run at twelve to zer or is that asking
too much?

Speaker 5 (11:37):
No?

Speaker 3 (11:37):
I think they certainly can. I mean, Swanny, We've both
covered you know a lot of different Clemson teams, rooted
for a bunch of different Clemson teams. Obviously, I'm a
little bit younger with less experience than you on the beat,
so I wasn't necessarily in full blown media mode during
the national championship years. I was still in middle and
high school for those right, But I will say that
I do believe that there is a path now. With

(11:59):
a pass does not come a guarantee. Everything can change
overnight with one injury, and you need some luck to
go undefeated. As we've seen in Clemson's previous seasons, right
like twenty eighteen, everybody talks about fifteen to zero. Well,
what if Kellen Mond doesn't fumble the ball out of
the end zone and you lose. In College station, You're
having a completely different conversation about that football team. And
that's just in week two. So especially in these early

(12:22):
season type of spots, things can get tricky. Whens are guaranteed.
And while Clemson does have one of the best teams
in the country on paper, you know, I'm not overly
confident in projecting anyone to ever go undefeated, but I
do believe it's a possibility. Keep your eye on that
Georgia Tech game. Man, I'll tell you I've told everybody
all off season. That's the one I'm worried about is
Week three in Bobby Dodd Stadium, wide out for Georgia

(12:45):
Tech noon kickoff. That's the one that I have a
little bit of trepidation about as of right now. If
you beat LSU and you get past GT, I think
this team's gonna.

Speaker 2 (12:53):
Get rolling again. Facts and Children's with us here for
about seven more minutes talking about Clemson in LS. There
are some other games that are out there, though, this weekend,
most notably for me kind of taking a look at
it from the Atlantic Coast Conference perspective. It's Florida State
hosting Alabama. That's a two to ten Florida State team
a year ago, thirteen and a half point underdogs in

(13:15):
this ball game. I feel like Florida State's got a
lot to prove to me at this point, but i'll
get your opinion on it. Facts. Just do you think
this is a seminole team that can keep this game
close on Saturday against Alabama? Or have the ghosts of
last season lingered around enough that if the Crimson Tide

(13:36):
come out and punch him in the face, Florida State
won't have an answer. What are your thoughts?

Speaker 3 (13:41):
Bear with me? Here's Swane Okay, uh oh, I think
Florida State's gonna win. Wow, Okay, I think Florida State's
gonna win, And I'm gonna walk out the game script
that I envisioned for Florida State to win because I
don't believe Florida State's the better football team and Alabama
clearly possesses more talent on both sides of the ball.
But here's why I like FSU in this spot. Number one.
Fourteen's a lot of points. That's too many points. It's

(14:03):
an uncomfortable amount of points, and I would lay that
fourteen fairly comfortably with Florida State number two. Renovated Doak Stadium. Okay,
you got it's a little bit smaller, it's a little
bit more intimate, but it's gonna be loud, and they've
done a really good job to make it super nice.
Florida State fans are going to be fired up playing
another blue blood program in college football like Alabama, and
we have not seen an extended look at Ty Simpson,

(14:24):
the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide. When you combine
that with the fact that they're starting running back jam
Miller's going to be out due to injury, I really
struggle to see how Alabama is going to consistently move
the ball if they go down early in the game.
Florida State clearly has a bevy of concerns after a
two to ten season, but I do think they made
a phenomenal higher on the defensive side of the ball
with Tony White from Nebraska to come in and beat

(14:46):
their defensive coordinator. Now that comes with a scheme change,
because now they're going more of a three to three
five look, which comes with its ebbs and flows as
you're making that transition. But in the case of Florida State,
Tommy touchdowns Thomas Castellano's third quarterback. He's a guy that
I wouldn't want to play early on my calendar because
he's difficult to gain plan for. He's dynamic, and he
can scramble around outside of the pocket. I love the

(15:08):
backs at Florida State. I think the O line is
much improved via the transfer portal. I think the wide
receivers are better, still not where I'd like them to
be for a contending level football team in the ACC,
but for a seven and five eight and four, which
is where I'm projecting Florida State to be this year. Yeah,
they're good enough and they can get the job done.
I think the path here for Florida State is to
get an early lead and to make Alabama have to

(15:30):
throw the football back to come back in this game
and beat you, because I don't think Ty Simpson is
a very good player the starting quarterback for Alabama, and
I actually think that at some point this season it's
likely we see Austin Mack the transfer and or Keewan Russell,
the true freshman that's so dynamic that everybody's raved about
in Tuscaloosa. So I picked Florida State to win the
game this morning on my show. I'm just going out

(15:51):
there on a limb, but I think this is going
to be competitive. Swanning, I really do well.

Speaker 2 (15:55):
Man, Listen, if you hit that one, that's unbelievable. I
don't have a ton the faith in Mike Norvelle, but
hey man, that's the fun part of this business. Every
once in a while you get to walk out on
that limb. All right. So with that now, I might
as well ask you because the game that I feel
like is the one that the Southeastern Conference has to
be careful with is Virginia Tech. And you brought up

(16:17):
Virginia Tech in South Carolina a little bit ago, Like
I think Virginia Tech underperformed a year ago. I think
Kyrin Drodes is a heck of a football player, and
if he can play to the level that they expect
that he would a year ago in this game, I
think Brent Prye is a master motivator much like Shane Beemer.
I think these two teams will be ready to play
I think Virginia Tech's gonna make that game more competitive

(16:40):
than the experts imagine. I think it could be a
close game over in Atlanta. How do you see that one.
I'm gonna be shocked if you tell me you think
South Carolina's gonna be the breaks off of VT. But
go ahead, I'm listening for it.

Speaker 3 (16:52):
No, I think this is going to be a very
competitive and a very high scoring football game. Would be
what I would say, I would take the over. I
think that this is a type of spot where South
Carolina could get got. I'm gonna project a thirty three
to thirty game Cock win, but I think VT, for
kind of reasons you outlined, is going to cover that
eight seven and a half number, depending on where you

(17:13):
get it. And I think they're going to push South
Carolina into the brink. I mean, when you talk about
South Carolina, they lost an overwhelming amount of production on
both sides of the football. I mean r NFL caliber
guys on defense. Canard was the best defensive lineman in
the country last year. You lose him. And what's something
that I just never here brought up is that Dylan
Stewart was outside of the top twenty in SEC sacks

(17:35):
last year, and if you take away his Wafford and
his old Dominion game, he's outside of the top one
hundred and fifty in the country in sacks last year.
What's that adjustment going to look like for him, not
having Canard on the other side of him and seeing
an increased double team rate on the edge, Because while
I agree he's one of the best pass rushers in
the country, I think he's gotten a little bit overrated
and crowned too quickly. I love Leonora Sellers, I love

(17:56):
Fais on the running back. I really like Mike Shula,
and I think that that's going to work on the
offensive side of the ball. But on defense, you're just
hemorrhaging and you're replacing a ton of NFL quality guys
with transfer portal additions. Philip Montgomery's the new OC in Blacksburg.
It's the first time Kyrone Drones has had a former
quarterback to work with, and he's talked this offseason about
how that's done. Wonders for his mental ability on the

(18:18):
football field, I agree that he's a handful to kind
of handle, especially early in the calendar with those mobile qbs.
Lawton I swear there's something to it. When you get
a mobile quarterback early in the season, that just makes
your life infinitely more difficult. But I feel confident that
VT can keep this game close and competitive. I just
think South Carolina might have a little bit too much
talent at the end of the day, and Lenora Sellers
is going to be the best player on the football field.

Speaker 2 (18:40):
Yeah, I'm right there with you on how that game
plays out. All right, we got about a minute. Let's
give you a chance to give us just some final
thoughts on what everybody should look for on Saturday in
death Alley.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
Yeah, you know, I think you should be looking for
a couple different things. First and foremost safety for Clemson,
that's a big question mark in my opinion because of
game reps. Tight end is the same. I love Christian
ben Tankerr. If you've heard me before, you know I'm
over the moon about his talent ability, but game reps
is something that's been report like repeated by the coaching
staff throughout the course of the offseason. Is Yeah, we

(19:11):
feel really good about our guys in a couple of positions,
but they don't have the game reps. So how are
Ricardo Jones and Ronan hannefin gonna rise to the occasion.
What about Ben tan kerr Oph Josh Sapp in the
tight end room, Adam Randall at running back, David Eziamume
Giddy and Davidson. I'm looking for the guys that haven't
had a ton of game reps to get comfortable in
the early going, and I think thinks they're going to

(19:32):
go well for Clemson. I gave a little bit of
a score prediction earlier on a different podcast with David
Hood from Tiger Net. I said, the Tigers are rolling
thirty one twenty. I'm gonna stay consistent on all platforms,
including my own show. I'll go thirty one to twenty
Clemson over LSU on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (19:47):
There you go Facts and Childress every day from nine
till noon, one of five to five the roar Facts
on sports Facts in my man. Always appreciate you.

Speaker 3 (19:55):
Appreciate you.

Speaker 2 (19:56):
Swani with a quick brain. Come back with more on
a Thursday afternoon, rocking and rolling along with you, Clemson
sports man. Always great to catch up with Facts and Childress.
Appreciate him being on the program to talk about Clemson
and LSU and man, what a what a thought? On
Florida State and the potential that the Seminoles will not

(20:19):
only keep that game close against Alabama, but that Florida
State will win that game. Faxon says, Florida State will
win that game. And I go back to a year
ago when the world was so excited about the Seminoles
and what they're gonna be and how the season is

(20:41):
gonna play out and flat tire right from the opener
in Dublin two and ten. That plant's trepidation in my mind,
that plants concerned in my mind. That that makes me

(21:01):
think and look, I've kind of had in fairness, and
I like in this business, I shouldn't hold grudges, right
like I shouldn't hold a grudge against a coach. But
if I am being honest, when when I go back

(21:26):
and I think about just the situation that took place
with the COVID nineteen year and in Florida State backing
out of that game which was going to be and
let me spell it out for the Semino faithfullest in
this program usha lacking when I go back to that moment,

(21:49):
I don't know that I'll ever come down off of
thinking that Mike Norvel is an absolute jerk. And you
might say swanny, but it was a COVID season, the
COVID season, and listen, I was all about masking up.
I was all about doing whatever, Like I said on
this program. With some people are like, I'll never wear

(22:09):
a mask, and hey, that's you're right. It's a free country.
You don't have to wear a mask. But I said this,
if I could do if hopping on one leg would
have helped, I would have hopped on one leg. Now
some of you would say, well, that's foolish, Swanny. I
just want to be a part of the solution, not
part of the problem. So if it's believed that hopping

(22:30):
on one leg would have helped, I would have hopped
on one leg. I want to do what I can
to help. I can't. If I could stroke a check,
i'd stroke a big check. I can't stroke a big check.
I'll hop on one leg. But one thing for sure,
when you talk about the COVID nineteen test back then

(22:53):
even you trust the results that you don't every player
but one was negative. The one player Clemson sent back
back home. If Florida State said no, we're not playing,
what just because you test negative before a game? Doesn't
mean you can't be positive during the game. And that
goes for every player on the field, every one of them.

(23:19):
Just because one person was COVID positive does not mean
that the other people that tested negative can't turn positive.
And that's not just the Clemson people, that's the Florida
State people as well. And I just can never get
over the fact that Clemson went down there, that we
do all the things we were doing back then, putting

(23:39):
up like a circus tent and everything that was going on,
and these guys said, now when I'll go play what man.
I don't think I'll ever recover from that until Mike
norvel is out at Florida State. And then Mike Novel
took it a step further when Florida State refused to
do interviews with Clemson me at the ACC kickoff, Like,

(24:01):
how embarrassing is that you deserve the to inten that
you got. You deserve that to inten. You earned it,
You earned it by your coach being what I think
is a jerk. Then we go to the ACC kickoff
this year and there he is Reverend Norvelle spitting brimstone

(24:25):
at the top of his lungs. Just I like I
said at the time, and everybody who saw it thought
it was weird. And in fairness, Mike Novella is a
guy that did wear corn rows in his hair when
he was a wide receiver in college. So maybe he
is a little bit weird and it's okay to be
a little bit weird. I saw I saw like a

(24:48):
meme post or whatever. You know, a kid came home
from schools said Mom, it's such as so said I'm
weird or whatever it was. Maybe maybe maybe this was
a quote from Albert Einstein or something. I think it
was an Albert Einstein quote that was being referenced. Let
me check this out. Einstein and weird quote. Let's see

(25:14):
if Albert I stactually said this. No, I don't see it.
But anyway, there was a there was a quote something
along the lines of dumb something like dumb people think
smart people are weird. There's all you know, something like that, right,

(25:35):
something like that, Like it was basically saying, hey, if
you if you're weird, that's because the dumb people don't
know how smart you are. So maybe I'm wrong on
Mike bro. Maybe he's maybe he's an evil genius, But
I I am man if we are talking on Tuesday,
mind you, we're off on Monday, Labor Day. If we
are here on Tuesday and we're talking about a Florida

(26:01):
State upset of Alabama, and and Faxon pointed at Ty Simpson,
believing that Simpson, who Clemson wanted out of the state
of Alabama at quarterback, and he chose to go to
go to the Crimson Todd and he's waited his turn.
We'll give him some credit to Let's give him some credit.
He waited. He's been patient in this transfer transfer portal era.

(26:27):
If you stick around and play, good for you. He
waited by to this time. God, he has his opportunity.
And Faxon makes it sound like he might drive that
thing right into the ground. And if if that happens
in Florida State wins, that's a huge win for the
Atlantic Coast Conference. Not to mention, I again, I think

(26:50):
Virginia Tech is going to be a tighter game with
South Carolina. Then people believe if that is the case,
what a huge week. And if Clemson were to beat LSU,
if Florida State were to beat Alabama and a Virginia
Tech or to somehow upset South Carolina, which I'm not picking,
but if they did, MAYA, what a start of the

(27:10):
college football calendar for the ACC And I'm by no
means like an ACC raw ra guy, But dude, I
can do the math on that. I can do the
math on the value of a weekend like that for
this league the rest of the season, which goes back
to something we talked about yesterday in terms of the

(27:31):
nine game schedule. I'll bring that forward when we get
back still with us rolling along Clempson's Sports Talk got Thursday,
all right, So back to what I was saying about
the SEC and their conference schedule and like what this
opening weekend could mean to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Right,
So if we assume and maybe in some respects these

(27:52):
games kind of go away, So it's not doesn't have
the impact down the road because of the nine game
Southeastern Conference schedule, But like, if you go out and
you play these games and you get beat and now
you have less conference games to play or excuse me,

(28:14):
less non conference games to play, then how do you
ever get a chance to atone for a bad start?

Speaker 6 (28:26):
Right?

Speaker 2 (28:26):
Like, how would you ever get a chance to atone
for a poor beginning to a season? Now, maybe these
games don't exist, so you don't have to worry about
atoning for them. You just play the handful of you know,
the handful of games or whatever. But I just I

(28:49):
sit here in you know, this chair, doing this show,
and I think about what a Clemson in Alabama, excuse me,
when a Clemson of Florida, State of Virginia Tech, and
who knows, heck, maybe a Miami over Notre Dame. What
those wins could mean for the Atlantic Coast Conference. And

(29:16):
it's not just for the ACC either, Like that goes
across the board, when the Southeastern Conference goes out and
wins those games over the Big Ten or the ACC
or the Big twelve, Like those are important measuring sticks.
Those are things that at the end of the year
we can reference and say, hey, remember when remember when

(29:38):
Clemson played LSU and this happened, And now here we
are at the back end of the season debating which
of these two teams should be in Well, when they
played head to head, this was the result. I feel
like when you take all of that out and when

(29:59):
you begin to minimize those number of games, I don't
think that gives you great arguments. I don't think it
gives you a good leg to stand on as a conference.
I think more non conference games are better for the sport.

(30:20):
And I also will say this and I don't think
I don't think I said this word yesterday. I think
uniformity for the sport is better, meaning let's all play
the same amount of power four games non conference. Let's
make that number three a year, and it's going to

(30:44):
diminish the Group of five. Is going to diminish the
FCS schools as well, which I hate, I really do
hate that. I'm not a FCS graduate, but I know
plenty of individuals who are. And anytime you lose history

(31:07):
in a sport, I think it's bad for the sport.
And I think there are some connections back to yester
year for so many of these teams and matchups and games,
specifically in state contests, that when you when you take
it off of the docket, all parties lose, actually every

(31:33):
like everybody in the state loses the two teams, those
two parties. Every fan, the fan of the little guy,
the little guy, the fan of the big guys. Like
you think those Citadel fans that rolled into WILLIAMS. Brice
Stadium a couple of years ago and got another win
against South Carolina. You think that game has gone away,
like those guys can't hoist the Golden scepter at the Citadel.

(31:57):
But that moment to beat South North Carolina, that was huge.
And I remember when they did it back in what
was an eighty eight eighty nine somewhere, I think it
was eighty nine when the Citdel snuck up and beat
South Carolina as well, back in the day, and like that,
that kind of thing lingers for those fans and those players,

(32:21):
And if you don't play them anymore, they'll never beat
Carolina again, and they'll never beat Clemson again. And I
just I hate that. I hate that some of the
great old kind of the things that make college football

(32:41):
feel feel a little snug, make college football feel a
little local, feel a little small, feel a little like
it used to. I hate to think about those things
going away. Specifically, that always has bothered me. Hour number
two of the program, by the way, today, speaking of

(33:03):
the history of the program and this, that and the other.
Timbray set to join the program. We'll catch up. We
will catch up with him right at the top of
the hour on the Thursday, and again thanking the Facts
and Childress for hanging out with us here in our
number one. All right, so I mentioned, you know, kind

(33:25):
of how we got down this realm. Here's what Facts
had to say about Florida State and Alabama.

Speaker 3 (33:32):
Bear with me here, Swane. Okay, uh oh, I think
Florida State's gonna win.

Speaker 2 (33:36):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (33:37):
Okay, I think Florida State's gonna win. And I'm gonna
walk out the game script that I envisioned for Florida
State to win because I don't believe Florida State's the
better football team, and Alabama clearly possesses more talent on
both sides of the ball. But here's why I like
FSU in this spot. Number one. Fourteen's a lot of points.
That's too many points. It's an uncomfortable amount of points,
and I would lay that fourteen fairly comfortably with Florida State.

(33:59):
Number two. Two renovated Doak Stadium, Okay, you got It's
a little bit smaller, it's a little bit more intimate,
but it's gonna be loud, and they've done a really
good job to make it super nice. Florida State fans
are going to be fired up playing another blue blood
program in college football. Like Alabama, and we have not
seen an extended look at Ty Simpson, the starting quarterback
for the Crimson Tide. When you combine that with the

(34:19):
fact that they're starting running back jam Miller's going to
be out due to injury, I really struggle to see
how Alabama is going to consistently move the ball if
they go down early in the game. Florida State clearly
has a bevy of concerns after a two to ten season,
but I do think they made a phenomenal higher on
the defensive side of the ball with Tony White from
Nebraska to come in and beat their defensive coordinator. Now

(34:39):
that comes with a scheme change because now they're going
more of a three to three five look, which comes
with its ebbs and flows as you're making that transition.
But in the case of Florida State, Tommy touchdowns Thomas
Castellano's third quarterback. He's a guy that I wouldn't want
to play early on my calendar because he's difficult to
gain plan for. He's dynamic, and he can scramble around
outside of the pocket.

Speaker 2 (35:00):
Little bit of what facts Children's had to say that
shocked me earlier in the program about Florida State and Alabama.
Quick breat We'll put a bowl in hour one right
after this final segment of our number one Cleps's sports
song on the Thursday. Wave wood Ass, Clemson linebacker, met
with the media earlier this week, and he was asked
about this team embracing Dabos Whene's mindset of win the one,

(35:22):
because I think.

Speaker 7 (35:23):
When you look too far ahead, cause a little bit.

Speaker 8 (35:25):
Of anxiety because you're uncertain about the future or whatever.
So all we can control is what we do, like
right now in this moment, what I'm gonna do right
after this, That's all I can really focus on. A
Worry about that when I get there, but just win
the moment right now, win the meetings, win the practice.

Speaker 2 (35:44):
Wave wood As was also asked to give some of
his first impressions or his impressions of this LSU offense.

Speaker 8 (35:51):
We've only really seen the scheme just because they've brought
in a lot of guys, so like, I haven't got
to see their offensive line work together. And then obviously
they got some transfers like Barrian Brown from Kentucky, Bauer
Sharp from Oklahoma, and then Nick Anderson also from Oklahoma,
So like we haven't got to see them in this scheme,

(36:11):
but obviously we know what they can do. We played
against Barry Brown at Kentucky. He's really good. He's fast.
But overall the guys that are bringing back are good too.

Speaker 7 (36:24):
They're running back.

Speaker 8 (36:25):
Caden Durham is legit too, so and then obviously Garrett Mesmeyer,
dude can make any throw and that he wants.

Speaker 7 (36:32):
So yeah, they're good for sure.

Speaker 2 (36:35):
What As was also asked about Tom Allen's comments about
kind of getting this team confident again defensively and what
went into that this offseason preparation.

Speaker 8 (36:45):
Just teaching Really, that's what he's done for us, like
teaching us the scheme, teaching us the ins and outs
of it, so that way we're confident in knowing our role,
knowing our job in it, and then when you know
your role, go out there and let our natural ability
take over.

Speaker 2 (37:02):
Wood As was also asked to explain, without getting maybe
too deep into the scheme, if he feels like things
are a little bit simpler now than they were under
West Goblin.

Speaker 7 (37:10):
No, it's not just.

Speaker 8 (37:11):
Go, but uh, I would say it's kind of hard.
It's like comparing apples to oranges. It's tough to compare
because every scheme has a different terminology and everything. But
I would just I would say like the run fits
are a lot simpler, which allows us to not even
think about it. You can just go do it because
it's like the back of our hand, have done it

(37:32):
so many times.

Speaker 2 (37:34):
Wood Ass was also asked about the fact that when
he was the head coach in Indiana they utilize linebacker
blitz is quite a bit and whether or not that
was something that excited would as as a linebacker at Clemson.

Speaker 8 (37:44):
Anytime you get to blitz, you don't really have to think,
you just go. So yeah, definitely makes me happy.

Speaker 2 (37:51):
Wave wood Ass was also asked to give his thoughts
on what he feels like was the biggest impact on
some of the issues that Clemson had really a year ago,
and given the scores that they did at times.

Speaker 7 (38:01):
I mean stopping the run, we haven't done that.

Speaker 8 (38:04):
We didn't do that at all last year really well,
so it's definitely a gold of ours. We got to
stop the run. You stopped run, you earned the right
to rush the passers. So it really all starts with
winning first down. That's pretty simple. You hold them to
four yards or less. Or really three yards or less.
Three plus three plus three was nine and they got

(38:25):
to get off the field.

Speaker 2 (38:26):
So that's Clemson linebacker Wade wood Ass. He was also
asked about the fact that you know this offense is
expected to be really good this year, this Clemson offense
and the Dablos, when you talked about the scrimmages and
how it was kind of back and forth, and if
knowing that they played well against this Clemson offense gives
them a level of confidence heading into the season.

Speaker 8 (38:45):
Yeah, I agree, they were like very competitive. I feel
like typically at the beginning of camp it's like very
one sided and then the other scrimmage is the other way.
But both of these were both scrimmages were really competitive.
So it's definitely promising. And we know what we're going
up against. Like the dudes on our offense are legit,

(39:07):
so being able to compete against them is definitely.

Speaker 7 (39:10):
First of all, it's just gonna get us better.

Speaker 8 (39:12):
Like, look at our receiving group, like they're legit, so
our secondary have to having to go up against that
every single day is iron sharpens iron.

Speaker 2 (39:24):
What As was also asked about Clemson's linebackers and the
depth that they've got and how he kind of feels
like those guys have grown throughout Fall camp and of
course through Spring as well.

Speaker 8 (39:34):
Yeah, it's definitely their confidence, their confident in their bodies
more not getting pushed around, like how it is when
you're a young, young backer, and then confidence in the
scheme too. I think we like this summer, we really
spend a lot of time just learning what to do.
Is great to be able to see that during camp,
seeing those like C and D and Jamal and Kobe

(39:55):
like really come along. Kobe, I mean Kobe would have
played lot last year, but obviously he had an injury.
But really like seeing everybody grow into this new scheme
is really cool to see.

Speaker 2 (40:09):
Wood As was also asked about his brother Drew and
how far he feels like he's come over the past year.

Speaker 7 (40:15):
He's came a long way.

Speaker 8 (40:16):
I mean it's only been a year, but it's just
one step out of time for him. I would say,
his body's getting there and then it's you could see
it starting to click a little bit mentally. But I mean,
we're fortunate enough to have a bunch of guys in
the room too, so his opportunities have been limited for sure.

Speaker 2 (40:35):
I think one of the most quartable moments from this
US and we put it out on our social media
earlier today was when way wood Ass was asked about
David isy at Mume and his running style and the
passion that he runs with. I thought this was a
spectacular comment from wood Ass.

Speaker 8 (40:51):
Yeah, David runs really angry. You can like hear it
in the way he runs like grunting and.

Speaker 7 (41:00):
Runs angry.

Speaker 8 (41:00):
You know, like you look at Marshall Lench, you see
him like you just see him running angry. That's exactly
how David runs and you like, don't you can just
see it? But yeah, I have had a tackle. It
wasn't like a blow up or anything. It's just like,
do you know what I'm saying, do my job? But yeah,

(41:21):
he didn't run me over either.

Speaker 4 (41:23):
So any questions for Wade virtually.

Speaker 2 (41:28):
Way wood As was also asked about his comments back.
I can't remember if it was the beginning of fall camp.
He said something along the lines if you know, he
was tired of looking at some of the same faces
on the wall that Clempson with those national titles, and
that he wants to do enough that you have to
take some of those down and now getting to go play.
How he feels about it all that the season is starting, Like, if.

Speaker 8 (41:49):
I'm being honest, we're just really focused like him right now.
I think if we just keep our heads down and
keep doing the work every single day, look up and
great things will happen. But I mean it's not like
like that's not on the forefront of my mind.

Speaker 4 (42:05):
Really.

Speaker 8 (42:05):
It's more so like, Okay, how do I prepare for
l s U this week? How do I prepare for
Troy next week? When it's all said and done, it
all be said and done, so.

Speaker 2 (42:15):
They go just a little bit from Wave would as
all right, wait a quick break, we'll come back Clemson
Hall of Fame or a longtime Clemson s I D.
Tim Bray joins the program right after this.

Speaker 1 (42:25):
It's time for Clipson Sports Talk with Lawton Swan.

Speaker 2 (43:05):
It is our number two. That's drivetime. Ready on the
show The Shakespare south lay and Clemson Sports aalt on Swanne,
you know with you on a Thursday. Tim Ray coming
up in just a moment, of course, the show that
Shakespeare South Layn brought to you in part by our
good friends over at Mets Plumbing. Mets Plumbing dot com.

(43:26):
That's the website. The phone number two two six seven
one oh eight Mets Plumbing. That's two two six seven
one eight Mets Plumbing dot com. Go check out Mets
Plumbing today. All right, Tim Bray with us, Tim, Welcome
in Happy game week, college football on the horizon. Were
we now just thirty minutes out from college football kicking

(43:48):
off today? Should be outstanding. Hope you're doing well.

Speaker 6 (43:52):
Yeah, you gotta love this time of the year. You
get five straight days of college football games on because
an a SCC team playing Thursday through Monday, and it's
a great way to start the season.

Speaker 2 (44:02):
Yeah, when you think back to the early years, to me,
like this seems so early in the season, kicking things off,
I mean historically, how do you look at it when
you're talking about college football starting on August You know,
I guess it started last week, but you know what
I mean, like August twenty eighth. When I say football
is underway on August twenty eighth, you as the longtime sid,

(44:25):
how do you see that date?

Speaker 6 (44:29):
I'm laughing to myself as you say that. My freshman
year at Notre Dame, the first game of the season
was September the twenty first against Purdue Wow September the
twenty first. Of course, there was only ten regular season
games in those days, but that's when you started back
in nineteen seventy three, and it just kind of you know,

(44:49):
then they went to eleven games, and now they go
to twelve games, so they gripped it up a little early.
Even earlier. Of course, there wasn't that much talk about
having an open date back forty years ago, so at
least they were some open dates in there. Clemson has
two open dates this year. Mold schools are two open dates,

(45:10):
so that helps it out a little bit. As far
as prayer tear, as guy's.

Speaker 2 (45:15):
Body, yeah, it really, it really is so different. I mean,
you know, we called it fall camp all fall, but
it was summer. I mean, like, like, it's not fall
camp anymore, Tim, And I'll take it one step further.
You talk about the the guys bouncing back and the
injuries and everything these guys go through. I was actually

(45:38):
talking about that earlier this week, and you probably have
some great insight into the advancement in health and wellness,
and not just from the food standpoint. The big difference
that you've seen during your time at Clemson. But what
is it like with all the recovery and all of
that that these guys go through versus what I don't

(45:59):
know when you got Clemson. Imagine you just handed the
guy bag of ice and said, hey, I sit down
to night. I mean, how different is that aspect of
the game from your standpoint?

Speaker 6 (46:08):
Oh yeah, it's it's uh, it's you know, they've got
an army of people that work in that field.

Speaker 5 (46:15):
Now.

Speaker 6 (46:16):
Was one hundred yards of wellness in the the football
facility over there for to cover all kinds of things
for nutrition and uh, you know the cold the cold
tubs or pools or whatever that they that they have
that they never had, you know when I was at school.

(46:37):
So yeah, it is fascinating. But everybody's got them now,
so it does does help you through what could be
a sixteen game schedule.

Speaker 2 (46:47):
Okay, so this is a weird question, but I'm gonna
ask it anyway. Tim Berray hanging out with us here
on the program. I know from speaking with you that
when you go to the facilities, you do occasionally get
to eat. I guess when you go, But do you
ever go over there and go Man, I'm kind of
tired of you ever called a nap in one of
those bubbles or a massage in one of those chairs. Like,
I know you're not trying to take advantage of the situation, Tim,

(47:09):
but I'm not gonna lie as somebody that's on the
outside of that opportunity. I would want to at least
test it out, just to see if you know, the
I'm not seeing you're in a hyperbaric chamber or whatever,
but maybe if you're not feeling so fresh, could you
go over there and get yourself, you know, get a
little pep in your step if you will.

Speaker 6 (47:28):
No, I mean I never have. And when I was
full time. You know, my last fall is the I
said it was twenty seventeen. We really did. We didn't
have those things. The Beams building opened in in the
uh A Fine open for signing day twenty seventeen. So

(47:53):
I guess I was full time for my last semester.
But I guess I could have. But uh, but no,
I never tried it out of kind of always looked
at those things, to those for the players and and
and that type of thing. But and I don't know
that Ross Ross avails himself for that. But yeah, other

(48:13):
than other than eating in the facility. That's that's that's
about it.

Speaker 2 (48:17):
Yeah, I just kind of I kind of picture like
Dabo Sweeney opening up one of those little bubbles or
whatever the guys are in and like Tim Bray's laying
down in there like I'm riding you with it. Give
me a minute, Uh, Tim, huge huge kickoff, huge kickoff
coming up in Death Valley. I think I heard Don
Munson on Dabo Sweeney's radio show say the foot will

(48:39):
meet Ball at seven fifty two in the PM is
certainly going to be a big production from that standpoint
of the pregame and everything, and as you've kind of
watched the expansion of the jumbo tron and now the
lights and everything that goes into it, walk us through
those moments for you, as somebody that's seen it up

(49:00):
and personal and and for so long, what is it
like for you? Because I know for me as a
Clemson graduate, I know you're a Notre Dame graduate, but
I still get chills on my arms when those guys
come around the stadium and unload because, uh, it just
I don't know it. It harkens me back. I guess
you might say, Tim to my younger years how do

(49:21):
you experience that as someone that that's been around Clempson
for so long.

Speaker 7 (49:25):
Oh?

Speaker 6 (49:26):
Yeah, No, there's there's no doubt about it. The when
you see the buses coming around the corner, that's that's
that that kind of certainly will get you going. And
it certainly will as far as very interesting that you know,
the production of the TV version that the you know,
the best, the best version of showing running down the

(49:47):
Hill that I've remember seen was the twenty thirteenth Georgia
game and Bill Bonnell was the producer that night, and
he's he's gonna be the producer of this game. So
oh wow, producer. Yeah, he does a Saturday night college
football games though he successfully reinvented the wheel and how

(50:07):
he produced that and days she's go that that'll be
interested to see. If we've got a twenty two minute
window in the pre game. I got to believe he's
gonna do something similar to this time.

Speaker 2 (50:18):
Should be a huge game in Death Valley Clemson LSU
the Bayou Bengals, in the Tigers facing all for the
first time ever in a home field environment. Tim Beray,
longtime Clemson sid Clemson Hall of Famer as well with
this year on the program. Follow him on Twitter at
Tim Beray. Now, from the standpoint of this game, Tim,

(50:41):
it presents one of the rarities it feels like in
college sports. Two quarterbacks who have stuck around and stayed
with the program and not transferred out. Not necessarily that
that's an advantage one way or the other for either team,
but as somebody that's going to be on the call
and doing, you know, the color commentary of this ball game.

(51:03):
I mean, Week one performances can often be shaky, but
I would imagine with these two seasoned quarterbacks, most people
are expecting that they're gonna play pretty well. How excited
are you to be able to call two veteran quarterbacks
or not call it, but you know, to give the
color analyst side of things to these two veteran quarterbacks

(51:26):
facing golf under the lights.

Speaker 6 (51:28):
Yeah, you know. You you bring up a good point
that you know, this day and age, you get quarterbacks
more than any of the physicians transfer because they're afraid
of sitting behind somebody. And of course Nuss Myers that
behind Daniels, who was a great player at LSU and
now he's gonna be in these second or year as

(51:49):
a as a starter course, Kade, he's kind of been
you know, this is gonna be his third full year starting,
so like he had to wait that month, played a
lot as a freshman, who won ACC MVP ACS and
Championship Game MVP as a as a freshman, so he's

(52:10):
had a little bit more of opportunity than the LSU.
I think there to the l a LSU quarterback, but yeah,
both of them are terrific quarterbacks. Aspired through for over
four thousand yards last year. I think he's the only
returning quarterback to throw for four thousand yards and club
they had a thirty six to six touchdown the interception ratio,

(52:31):
which is the best, which is the best for anybody
last year who's at least thirty touchdown passes. So they
both are coming off terrific years, have improved as they've
gone along. LSU fans probably thinking as far as got
a tonal future MIDI interceptionsy through twelve last year twice

(52:52):
as many as kid. But I think they're both gonna
show improvement this year and have terrific years.

Speaker 2 (53:00):
Tim Burray with this here on the program, sticking with
the quarterback situation. Thusmy are not known for making plays
with his legs. But Kay Clubnick, that is an aspect
of his game. And we've talked a lot about the
situation at running back with Adam Randall being the starting
running back. But but Kay Klubnick, you know, can impact
the game with his legs. And I was a little

(53:20):
bit surprised and went back and looked at the rushing
numbers for Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson, and what I
didn't realize was just how good per rush in twenty
nineteen Trevor Lawrence was. I think he rushed for like
five point five yards per carry. And I'm not saying
that Caid's got to push that number, but I can

(53:42):
imagine a situation where Tim his legs become the biggest
factor perhaps in this game, given the fact that both
of these quarterbacks can really throw the football and have
a ton of talented wide receivers. Would you say, Kay
Clubnick's legs are a potential X factor for Clinton on Saturday?

Speaker 6 (54:01):
Yeah, I would. I would say so. And and that
was an area that LSU had trouble last year. Now,
they got a lot of new defensive players on their
team transfers, but they did have trouble stop and running
quarterbacks last year. So hopefully that will be something that
that Cage can do well in. We saw him, of

(54:22):
course against Pittsburgh that that was the case. And he's
been pretty good, you know, you know running the ball,
especially on design runs. It's kind of difficult to evaluate quarterbacks,
you know, rushing per carry sometimes because the sackyards you know,
he's taken off of their rushing total, which is not

(54:42):
the NFL. But it will be a factor, and we
certainly saw the Pittsburgh game where that was a big
factor that he running the game.

Speaker 2 (54:53):
Tim Bray with us here for a few more minutes,
talking about the Clemson Tigers halftime. I know I got
the press release from you earlier today. Michael Dean Perry
and Larry Penley will both be inducted into Clemson's Ring
of Honor. I know how close you are with both
of those individuals, and certainly Michael Dean Perry that'll get
quite the uproar at halftime when they unveil his facade

(55:17):
there in Death Valley. We talked about them when that
news came out this year or earlier this year. If
you don't mind, Tim, just give us some insight into
what it takes to put something like this together, the
coordination of it all and making sure that Michael Dean
and obviously Larry's local, but you know, making sure those
guys can be there. What goes into that.

Speaker 6 (55:39):
Yeah, as far as the selection for the game, we
always it's never a designated Ring of honor game until
we make sure the person that's going in, but the
people that are going in be there. We did a
little bit backwards this year and that we knew that
the Tiger Golf Gathering is this weekend. In fact, I'm

(56:03):
going to an event for it after I got off
the phone with you, and so we kind of started.
I would say, well, but really would be neat to
have Larry go in when he's gonna have all these
former golfers in town for the game. So then we
went to Michael Dean and said, so can you do
it for lsus that picture scheduled? He said it definitely would,

(56:28):
and of course they're both liked it. Being a very
big game. It made a little bit of a strain
as far as getting the tickets that we needed in
hotels and all that stuff, but we were we were
able to work it out and so yeah, halftime, but
I think they've got some good things planned during the
presentation that's gonna get involved in, some uses, some spotlights

(56:53):
that we haven't views before. So they've got a nice
video on each guy, so to get ya gonna be
pretty good again.

Speaker 2 (57:02):
Timbray with us here before we get back to Clemson,
Before we circle back to the Tigers in LSU, I
do want to ask you Notre Dame another top ten matchup.
They'll be on the road at Miami, and man, you know,
I think about the SEC going to nine games in
the conference, and I know the concerns about the future
of some of the scheduling out there. I really do

(57:23):
hate it. Back in the day, obviously, Miami was a
was an independent team, much like Notre Dame in South Carolina,
and you had so many great matchups around the country,
and this would have been one of them. I mean,
when I was growing up, Tim, this would have been
I mean I would have been in front of the
television from start to finish. How significant in your mind?

(57:45):
I know, Notre Dame's got a lot of great rivals
and a lot of great matchups, but what's this Notre
Dame Miami game? Kind of mean to you.

Speaker 6 (57:54):
Oh yeah, it's it's now. Notre Name played Miami when
I was in school. In fact, the last regular season
game my graduate school year was in the Orange Bowl
against Miami nineteen seventy seven, a game Notre Dame had
to win and continue its march towards the national championship,

(58:15):
which they did. But of course it really hit the
high point from nineteen eighty seven to nineteen ninety, when
both teams were certainly in the mix for the national championship.
Every year Notre Dame one the national Miami won the
national championship in eighty seven, or they wanted an eighty
eight in Miami won in eighty nine. Neither of them

(58:38):
won in nineteen ninety, but they but they played each
other in a kind of an epic game in South Bend.
And of course the highlight game of the whole series
was the Catholics versus Convicts game that ended up thirty
one to thirty in nineteen eighty eight, which was it
was a thirty for thirty on that on that game.

Speaker 2 (58:57):
And so from there, I mean, if you were ranking,
like I know, Clemson's main rival is South Carolina, I
feel like Georgia's number two. I feel like with Notre Dame,
number one is Southern Cal. Maybe I'm wrong. You correct
me if I'm wrong. Who's number two? Is it Miami?

Speaker 6 (59:14):
No, you're you're You're right. I think you know, they
went so long without playing, but now that they're playing.
As far as the acc relationship in the in the schedule,
it's right. Southern Cal has been the consistent major rival
since nineteen twenty seven when they first met. But it's

(59:37):
kind of gone back and forth. I mean, in the
forties it was Army with the second biggest rival, and
then we went for a time when Michigan State was
the second biggest rival, and then Purdue with all their
quarterbacks in the nineteen sixties was there was Notre Name's
biggest rival. Then we had that kind of a run

(59:57):
where Notre Name in Alabama played four times I's in
the seventies and early eighties and that kind of became
a big, big rival. And then in the in the
late eighties and early nineties it was Miami so and
then there were some epics Florida State game. So you're right,
it's kind of gone back and forth as who's their

(01:00:18):
secondary rivalry he kind of has gone, and I kind
of optimistic that Clemson is going to be that way.

Speaker 2 (01:00:25):
He's going to ask you, no.

Speaker 6 (01:00:26):
I mean now that they've started this contract that's going
to start at twenty seven.

Speaker 2 (01:00:31):
Well, especially if you consider nine game conference schedules for
the Southeastern Conference. I don't think Georgia's actually, you know,
I don't think the bulldarg is going to be looking
to pencil and Clemson anytime soon. All right, tim, final thing,
give us some you know, maybe we got about a
minut and a half. Give us your key to this
ball game between Clemson and LSU.

Speaker 6 (01:00:54):
Now, you know, I think, But then the key is
going to be Clemson this past defense against this Meyer.
I think he's really a good quarterback. He can hit
some big plays. They've got very good wide receivers. I
think it's gonna be our secondary play is gonna have
to step up by Aka Terrell Khalil Parnes has been

(01:01:19):
a little bit hurt, but I think he's gonna be okay.
So I think the secondary against their wide receivers is
gonna be a key. Now, it is important that Clempsons
stopped them run late in the game. I know I've
given you that stat that Clempson last year was one
hundred and thirty first the country and out of one
hundred and thirty four teams and yards for carrying all

(01:01:42):
out in the fourth quarter last year. I'm optimistic that
our run defense is gonna be a lot better. LSU
is not that much of a running team then rush
for fifteen hundred yards and thirteen games last year. But
you know, I think, you know, stopping them run and
of course if we get ahead, they're not gonna try
to run the ball in the fourth quarter either. But

(01:02:03):
that was a problem for Clemson last year. So that's
something I'm gonna really look for this gate.

Speaker 2 (01:02:08):
Hear him on the call alongside Don Munson and Richie Mary.
Whether Tim beray with us each and every Thursday, Tim,
have a great weekend. I appreciate you.

Speaker 6 (01:02:16):
Sounds good, they have it.

Speaker 2 (01:02:18):
Timber Ray quick break. We'll come back with more on
a Thursday afternoon, Clempson Sports Talk on a Thursday. Thinking
to timber Ray, don't forget about our friends at Alumni
Hall on the corner of campus on College Avenue in
downtown Clemson. It's Alumni Hall for all your officially licensed
Clemson Merchandise hats, t shirts, Telgate Garymore go check them
out today or online at alumni haul dot com. It's

(01:02:41):
Alumni Hall where Tiger fans shop. Don't forget to ask
them about their hat wall and Clemson students, faculty, and
military members get ten percent off when shopping in store
at Alumni Hall. It's Alumni Hall. Check them out online
Alumni haul dot com. All right, Davosweeney last night media
sort of his final meet not sort of, but his

(01:03:03):
final media meeting post practice with the clips of Tiger Media,
and we'll jump into some of his comments. He had
a great one liner we put on our social media
accounts about beer sales and death Vallere alcohol sales, and
we'll definitely get to that. But the first question was
about Walker Parks and whether or not he'd been practicing.

Speaker 9 (01:03:24):
Uh, pretty good, Bett, he's been, you know, he's been
out here in pads the last couple of days and
getting uh getting his getting some reps in and getting
you know, a lot of the lot of the team work.
Still working his way back to one hundred percent, but
he's he's in a good spot.

Speaker 2 (01:03:39):
Davos Sweeney was also asking about the battle on the
offensive line that left guard and how that sort of
shaped up this week.

Speaker 4 (01:03:44):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (01:03:44):
I mean, look, we got seven guys and they're all starters,
and you know, whoever runs out there first, I could
care less between that group. Honestly, I think they're all
gonna play, and whoever Matt runs out there first, I'll.

Speaker 2 (01:03:58):
Be good with it, Davos. Sweeney was also ask about
Jade and Lucas missing most of the you know, most
of the time practicing in spring and what it kind
of takes to get him back to full speed.

Speaker 7 (01:04:10):
Yeah, he got.

Speaker 9 (01:04:11):
Behind early, but he was able to get some scrimmage
work in, so that was good.

Speaker 7 (01:04:15):
We did some we got some live work in.

Speaker 9 (01:04:17):
You know, he missed the two actual scrimmages, but we
were able to do a little, you know, couple periods
of live work that he got, and so he's been
he's been rolling.

Speaker 7 (01:04:26):
For the last you know, uh two weeks, and looks good.

Speaker 2 (01:04:31):
Sweeney was asked if Lucas would be considered Clemson's number
three corner.

Speaker 7 (01:04:35):
He might be number two, he might be number one.
I don't know, we'll see.

Speaker 4 (01:04:39):
Uh.

Speaker 9 (01:04:40):
He's he's definitely uh, he's definitely one of them for sure.

Speaker 7 (01:04:44):
He's a good one.

Speaker 2 (01:04:45):
Dabo. Sweeney was also asked about Tyler Brown, Clemson wide receiver, who,
during some of his comments with the media, talked about
how the perspective of being on the sidelines and watching,
you know, kind of gave him a chance to see
things a little bit differently, and whether or not Sweeney
had kind of seen that from him overall.

Speaker 7 (01:05:00):
Yeah, I mean, it's just great to have him back.

Speaker 9 (01:05:03):
I mean, the rotation that we have, those guys being
able to i mean just roll and go play. I mean,
it's been it's been a lot of fun to watch
and he's just been about his business every day.

Speaker 7 (01:05:13):
He is, he'sat in excellent camp. He's just shown up
every day.

Speaker 9 (01:05:16):
He plays fast, he plays tough, and he's just a
He's a he was a g I thought he was
a great player as a freshman. Obviously he was out
last year, but he is, he is He's the best
version of Tyler Brown that I've seen since he's been
at Clemson. He's still got more work to do, but
he's he's the best that he's been since he's been here.
And he's been here two full years, so he's beginning

(01:05:38):
his third year and he's.

Speaker 7 (01:05:40):
As you should. He's really really developing into a good player.

Speaker 2 (01:05:43):
Now here's the one I really like. This is Dabosweeney
being asked by Chapel Fowler from the State newspaper about
the fact that this is the first time there's been
alcohol sales inside Death Valley, and here's Sweeney's.

Speaker 9 (01:05:56):
Response, Well, it's probably the first time they're selling it,
but it ain't the first time they've been there, I
promise you.

Speaker 7 (01:06:01):
Uh So, I think I think that's probably the only difference.

Speaker 9 (01:06:06):
I mean, I think as long as I've been here,
they've been they just let people go out at halftime, right,
So I'm sure they ain't all bringing diet coke back in.
But it's kind of like n I L and pre
in il right. Ross got a kick out of that comment.
He's turning red over there.

Speaker 2 (01:06:27):
So Dabo Sweeney there with a little jab, I think
towards maybe the era where people were paying players. I
think that's what that if I'm putting the you know,
if i'm if I'm picking up what he's putting down.
He was also asking about the expansion of the rosters
from eighty five to one hundred and five players and
sort of the process that has gone into that.

Speaker 9 (01:06:44):
Yeah, yeah, we we've we've put our one oh five
on scholarship. I think we were about eighty eighty nine
or something like that. And then we we you know,
we've got our group of guys that we knew we
wanted to keep for sure.

Speaker 7 (01:06:58):
We've got several of those guys. Guys, you've got snappers.

Speaker 9 (01:07:01):
And and you've got some receiver guys. You've got some linemen.
You got guys that you need to practice again. So
and we have a number that we will operate as
we move forward and that we'll recruit to. And again,
if if your numbers fourteen at receiver, you know, you

(01:07:21):
have to be very strategic. You can't you can't go
get fourteen West Coast or TJ. Moore's right, because first
of all, you can't pay all them, and they can't
they won't stay.

Speaker 7 (01:07:31):
So you have to be very strategic on how you
put your roster together.

Speaker 2 (01:07:34):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (01:07:35):
So you've got to have some you've got to have
some top.

Speaker 9 (01:07:37):
Forty guys, some some eighty five guys and some one
o five guys as far as how you put it together.
But yeah, we've we've you know, we've got our word,
a full allotment of one O five and you know,
we we've got.

Speaker 7 (01:07:50):
Our recruiting strategy moving forward, ready to roll.

Speaker 2 (01:07:53):
Daboswiny was also asking if he felt like Vic Burley
was kind of ready to be in the regular rotation
on that defensive front.

Speaker 7 (01:07:59):
Yeah, he is. He's earned it.

Speaker 9 (01:08:01):
He's had a good and it's been it's been good
to see he's had a really good fall camp. It's
kind of what I said about Tyler Brown. I mean,
Burley is the best version of Vic Burley that I've
seen since he came to Clemson. You know, his first
year was kind of just a wash. He was pretty
much hurt all year and red shirted. And then last

(01:08:21):
year just kind of same thing, up and down from
an availability standpoint as a red shirt freshman, just kind
of inconsistent.

Speaker 7 (01:08:28):
And got some maturing to do.

Speaker 9 (01:08:30):
But he had a good spring, he had a great summer,
and he had a great camp and it's awesome he's
a red shirt sophomore and h he has really earned
the opportunity to be in that mix.

Speaker 7 (01:08:42):
And proud of him.

Speaker 9 (01:08:44):
And so again, he's nowhere near the finished version of
him as far as what the Clemson version can look like,
but he is the best he's been since he arrived,
and so he's put himself in position.

Speaker 7 (01:08:58):
To help us.

Speaker 2 (01:08:59):
So there you go. That's a portion of Dabbo swinging
his comments again as the Tigers get ready for this
matchup against LSU. And and look, I know, I think
Tim Bray I was I meant, I meant to go
in and correct it, but he was on such a
role I think, he said. Ajterrell men Avion Terrell talking

(01:09:21):
about this Clemson Tigers secondary, and certainly that's gonna be
a big part of the success or lack thereof for
Clemson in this game. But as much as those guys
will impact or influence the outcome of the wide receivers
for LSU, I think the ability to create pressure on
Garrett Nusmeyer and what that can do for Clemson over

(01:09:45):
the entirety of the game is also important because if
you can pressure him, get him off his line, you
make throws tougher. That's an advantage for the Tigers with
a quick break on a Thursday, Keep it locked, Lawton Swan,
Clemson's Sports Talk. Don't forget about our friends at Alumni Hall.
As I mentioned just a little bit Ago Bro You're
officially licensed Clemson Merchandise Hats, T Shirtstellgate, Gary Moore. Right

(01:10:07):
there downtown Clemson, just the stones throw away from Historic
rigs Field. It's Alumni Hall. Go check them out today
online in Alumni Hall. Ask them about their Alumni Hall
Rewards program where you can save a little bit of money.
And speaking of saving money, Clempson students, faculty, and all
military get ten percent off when shopping in store at

(01:10:32):
Alumni Hall. It's Alumni Hall where Tiger fans shop. We
mentioned being a stone store away from Historic Riggs Field.
The Crimson Tigers will be back on Historic Riggs Field
for a matchup against UAB. You might recall Clemson wallops
South Carolina a little earlier this week. Clemson just hammered

(01:10:55):
the game Cocks four to one. That is a beatdown.
As I said, in soccer, Clemson's ranked number six in
the country. They will face UAB for the first time
since twenty twenty two. The Tigers shut out the Blazers
in that game to nothing. Seven pm. Kick will air
on the ACC Network Extra. As my dad said, I

(01:11:17):
don't really understand it, but I enjoyed watching it, especially
when you're winning, right, he said, I knew when we scored.
The Tigers beat South Carolina four to one. Clemson leads
the all time series against UAB three to two. Again
seven o'clock start Friday at historic Riggs Field for your

(01:11:40):
Clemson Tigers. And you know that's one of the things
I was talking about, Buddy, Brad about this. What's incredible
to me is like, as good as Clemson football has been,
you have won two soccer national titles since your last
national champ hip in football, like all the all, all

(01:12:03):
of the hoorah that you give to Dabos Sweeney. And
again I don't I don't deny that college football is
much bigger than college soccer. But for all the hoorah
that Dabo Sweeney gets, you gotta get, you gotta give

(01:12:25):
that same hooah to Mike Noonan. You just you just
have to a zero three four five zero zero eighty six.
That is the text line in the phone line. Thank
you to Tim be Ray and thinking the facts and
Childress or joining the program. All right out to the
text line here on a Thursday afternoon, Brad, listen to

(01:12:53):
us in Colombia, says Swaney'll keep talking about twelve Oh,
but didn't Georgia smack Clemson around last year? What makes
this team different? Well, Brad, I mean you could added
to that Clemson getting beat by South Carolina. I know
there wasn't smacking around seventeen to fourteen, and Clemson getting

(01:13:14):
beat by Texas. I mean the Tigers were in fairness.
Somebody texted the other day Brad and said something along
the lines of, you know, the the Clemson's got to
stop losing to the SEC, something along those lines. I
don't remember it. You know, it's dabble on the hot seat, Daboa. Listen, first,
let's put this in the books. Dabosweeney will never be

(01:13:36):
on the hot seat, I don't think. And Clemson he'll
get to decide when he leaves. You don't do what
Dablosweeny does or did and then have people be like, oh,
I get it. You he gets to decide, you know,
when it's all said and done. But I'm not necessarily

(01:13:57):
talking about twelve zero and I don't think facts, you know.
I think it was a Texter that maybe asked the
question earlier about if they go undefeated or if they
win the LSU game, can they go undefeated? I'm sure,
that's probably where Brad's coming from, and I respect that,
but you know, I think you look at the season
and you recognize that if you play the way you're

(01:14:19):
supposed to play, and who knows, man, maybe you're maybe
you're two and ten Florida State in sheep's clothing or whatever.
But I just I think in the regular season, Brad,
especially if listen, if Clemson first off, less acknowledged, Clemson
is favorite in this game against LSU. But if Clemson

(01:14:40):
goes out and beats LSU substantially by more than most
people think, if they look, if Clemson looks really good,
then I don't think they will be an underdog in
any game the rest of the year, and that likely
includes that game in Colombia. Like they like you say

(01:15:01):
to me, like Swanny, how could you possibly say that
Clempson could go twelve to oh And Brad, I say
to you, how could you not think that's possible? Like,
I'm not saying that it's a certainty, but I think
the most honest game Cock fan hanging out with us
and peeking over the fence, so.

Speaker 4 (01:15:21):
You could continue to peek over the fence at the
best radio showing the.

Speaker 2 (01:15:25):
Nation if you're just being just generally speaking looking at
Clemson's schedule, if you don't think twelve to oh is possible,
I don't know that we're looking at the same thing. Likely, No,
not likely, possible, Yeah, and arguably you know, I think

(01:15:48):
if Ohio State wasn't playing Texas, then maybe Ohio State
would be the team that I might lean in on
being the most likely team in the country to go undefeated.
But because they open with Texas, it's hard for me
to put them into that spot. But given the teams
that Clemson plays, without being dismissive of the opening to
SEC contest, I think of all the teams in America,

(01:16:12):
Clemson has the most favorable schedule to go undefeated. Well,
that's cause they play in the ACC and I don't
play anybody Swanni, No, no, no, it's because the teams
that they are playing. Clemson's better than Alabama can go
undefeated in the SEC when they are better than everybody.

(01:16:33):
Guess what this year, I don't think they are. I
don't know that there's a team in the league that
has established itself as a power by comparison to its
contemporaries in the Southeastern Conference as much as Clemson has
in the ACC. But when it happens, you do get
the occasional undefeated team in the Southeastern Conference, and you

(01:16:54):
can look. It doesn't mean Clemson's gonna win the national title. Okay,
it doesn't even mean they're gonna win a game in
the postseason. But Brad, I think that looking at the schedule,
it is possible, and if they beat LSU, it gets

(01:17:15):
really possible. And if they look really good playing LSU,
then I think Clemson would have to basically shoot themselves
in the foot to not go into that game in
Colombia at eleven and zero. I don't think that's a reach.
On August twenty eighth, final segment, next, what have you done.

Speaker 4 (01:17:34):
For me 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 (01:18:47):
Final segment on a Thursday, college football on the television already.
But I know we were talking a little bit of
soccer earlier, and I know that we don't all follow soccer,
especially European soccer. I do watch though the uh I

(01:19:10):
do watch the Premier League when I can. It gets
a little tougher during this time of year, just because
of college football and the timeline. I follow Liverpool if
you're wondering, some of you might hate that, but I

(01:19:30):
was asking my son because I saw this come across
my feed and I don't know enough about it all.
I mean, I know the top teams and all that,
but apparently a huge moment in the world of Premier
League soccer took place today as Grimsby Town top to

(01:19:53):
Manchester United in the Carabulla Cup. And I mean this
was a shocking scene and just listen to an unfold INMPKS.

Speaker 3 (01:20:07):
Wamo hasn't been under that pressure yet.

Speaker 2 (01:20:10):
But now he is. He has to score anever listen
to the newise should have Grimsby fans a flamo off
the cross.

Speaker 5 (01:20:23):
Dreams me the Beata fan Chestianit it in the most
dramatic circumstances. It is blooddo pop felt Christie tim is
a gulf a flamo hit the truss bump, he grips me.

Speaker 1 (01:20:46):
Go through.

Speaker 5 (01:20:48):
Manchesti United astonishingly.

Speaker 2 (01:20:51):
Beaten, and I mean the fans poured out on the pitch.
It was an absolute it was unbelievable. I mean, that's
what sports are. So Grimsby Town, to give you an example,
is a fourth tier English club and Manchester United is
one of the richest and most successful clubs in the world.

(01:21:13):
David versus Goliath basically is what we're talking about. And
so I asked my son, I said, give me an idea,
like what get in your mind as a soccer kid,
what is that like? He said that that's like Wolford
going to Alabama and beating Alabama, and that's why it's

(01:21:34):
such a celebration. And so I threw it in the
old chat GPT. I said, hey, what is a similar
result in college football the Grimsby Town beating Manchester United
in soccer? And they said Appstate b Michigan in two
thousand and seven. They said, that's probably the most famous
parallel that exists. Appstate was in the FCS at that

(01:21:57):
time and went into the Big House and beat number
five Michigan. They also talked about Georgia Southern beating Florida
in twenty thirteen, and so that game over in Europe today.
Remember the feeling you get or got and still get

(01:22:20):
when you see that Michigan block kick in Michigan winning
that game. That's the feeling the entire country of England
has watching Grimsby Town take down Manchester United. And you
know what's amazing about it is some of the commentary online.

(01:22:40):
There are people saying, you know, Manchester like it comes down,
it's simple who's playing harder, who's playing harder, and the
criticisms of Manchester United and people saying man You needs
to play You know, they could take some notes from
Grimsby and the effort those guys are given. Because here's

(01:23:03):
the thing about sports. The team that's favored in a
game of that magnitude, they don't get a whole lot
in there. You know, in their brains they're not getting
a whole lot for winning. They basically are playing just
not to lose, because you don't want to be the embarrassment.

(01:23:25):
But the other team is playing like crazy because that
win will never go away for Grimsey Town ever. Grimsey
will be able to celebrate that forever. It was a
really cool moment, really cool moment. Again. Thank you to

(01:23:46):
Tim Beray, thank you to Facts and Childress. I hope
you've enjoyed all the content we've been pushing out on
social media, all the stories on our website. If you
haven't read anything that we've put out, I would encourage
you to please go check that out and share our work.

(01:24:06):
That really helps us grow. Share our stuff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok.
We are where you are, and we are continuing to
grow and we are not slowing down. If anything, we
are picking it up again. Thank you for being a
part of this show and appreciate each and every one
of you. We will be back tomorrow. Don't forget. You

(01:24:28):
can call or text as much as you want. It's
a twenty four hour text one. You're not gonna wake
me up. Eight oh three four five h zero zero
eighty six. We will be back tomorrow. Predictions on Clemson
and LSU heck, I might have to run the simulation.
I don't know. We'll talk then. As always, I'll take
care now and go Tigers