The "Forget the Doubters" Edition

We head into the final weekend without college football until January, and Swanny is juiced to the max!

Episode Transcript

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

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Finally, Clemson Sports Talk has come back two drive time.
Hello everybody, Lawton Swan back in the saddle once again.
It is the show that shakes the South Lane. Clemson
Sportstal for you each and every afternoon as you make
your way around the great state of South Carolina and beyond,
listening to us on incredible radio stations like Fox Sports

(01:04):
Radio fourteen hundred in the Midlands, heard around the world on
the iHeartRadio application. Download today, it's free. The website, put
the dot com on it, dog gonet that's Clemson Sports
Talk dot Com at three four five Oho zero zero
eighty six text line, phone line. And again be a
part of the program anytime, any place, anywhere on our website.

(01:25):
And of course show that Shakespeare South lamb brought you
in part by our good friends over at METS Plumbing.
Seven three two drip, Drip, drip drip, you know the
jingle seven three to two drip. That's METS Plumbing, mets
Plumbing dot com. That's the website as well. All right, busy,
busy Friday afternoon. We're gonna slice and we're gonna dice

(01:49):
the interview that we did earlier in the week with
Will Merit for you. In the upcoming segments, we've got
audio from Dabo Sweeney as we get you fired up
and ready to go for the Clemson Tigers opener at
home against LSU, which, mind you, tomorrow officially becomes two

(02:10):
weeks away. Hard to believe, but it will be two
weeks away.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
Just like that.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
I warn you, guys, I always warn you guys that
the college football season will get here faster than you
can imagine. And here we are looming on the precipice
on the college football season. Absolutely love it, Absolutely love it.

(02:44):
Age zero, three, four or five O zeros or eighty six.
Give us your thoughts on it as well, and of
course we'll get to some more audio from Dabo Swingy. Yesterday,
as Clemson wrapped up their second scrimmage of the of
the fall camp, Troy sent us a text message said, Swanny,

(03:05):
if our O line can give Cade club Nick the
seconds he needs in the pocket, I'm calling it now.
We're hanging forty on LSU opening night, and I don't know, Troy,
if it got you giddy. Yesterday when I was talking

(03:26):
with Tim Bray and I talked about as well, the
punting situation and Clemson and saying that, hey, you know,
here are the games that maybe punting comes into into
being a tough spot for the Tigers, and this LSU
game would certainly be one of those. Maybe it was

(03:47):
the Colin Sadler article that we wrote on Clemson sports
talk dot com. Maybe it was the news that dabos
Winni mentioned that Walker Parks is good to go. I
don't know what it was, but something in the water's
got Troy up in Greenville fired up. If ro line

(04:08):
could give club Nick time in the pocket, I'm calling
it now. We're hanging forty on LSU opening night. Who man,
can you can we just for a second digest this
text and you could text us too eight oh three
four or five Oho zerosie eighty six. I got another
one to get to as well, But let's just digest

(04:32):
this text for a moment. So what I hear, what
I hear you saying is that we're venturing into the
arena in what would that be September?

Speaker 3 (04:44):
First? Monday September the first?

Speaker 2 (04:47):
Is that Labor Day? Am I off that day? I
don't even know. I think that might be I'm pretty
sure that's Labor Day. Probably won't have a show. So
let's say it's September. The second you're telling me, Troy,
I'm waltzing into this arena with Clemson dropping a forty

(05:09):
spot on LSU.

Speaker 3 (05:14):
Holy smokes.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
You want to talk about you think, Troy, if you
think people have been buying into Clemson during this offseason
so far, if what you say happens, holy smokes. I mean,

(05:39):
the thought about Clemson and how good the Tigers are,
it will be through the roof. And again, I don't know,
I'm assuming Troy serious. I'm assuming Troy's not a game cock.

(06:02):
But if you're if you're throwing up a forty spot
in the opener against a top ten team, if the
offense is clicking, and Adam Randall, who ripped off a
huge run, das when he's saying fifty sixty yard run,
I've verified it was like a fifty seven yard run

(06:25):
on this first carry during the scrimmage yesterday. I mean,
don't look now, but if that comes to fruition and
you've got these wide receivers and a quarterback that's in control.

(06:45):
You heard Tim Bray talking about it again that scrimmage
yesterday was very situational. But you heard him talking about
Kay Clubnick and Club Nick's efficiency.

Speaker 3 (06:56):
Forty.

Speaker 2 (06:59):
Now there's there's probably some people out there thinking, hey,
that's a tough one, but fans are all in all
the time. Troy obviously all in. Appreciate the text, all right.
We also had another text that came in from Nick

(07:21):
listening to us in Georgia, and Nick of course was
asking the other day about the betting situation that we
talked about with John Matteer several years ago, where he
paid a buddy over Venmo for you know, gambling, and
it may just have been a friendly wager between friends.
That was what Nick pointed out a couple of days ago.

(07:44):
But Nick also texted apparently there's some screenshots that seemed
to insinuate that arch Manning may have been making some
purchases of the hippie Lettuce or at least some form

(08:05):
of THC. I listen, I'm not in that lane, so
I don't really know what all that's about.

Speaker 3 (08:17):
I'm not I'm not.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
Abreast of the hot topics in Smokeville. Maybe he's a
way to put it, but if if Nick Nick might
know more about it or might have picked up on
it from somewhere, and so Nick Man appreciate you dropping
that one on us as well.

Speaker 3 (08:35):
And heck, why not.

Speaker 2 (08:38):
While I'm cleaning cleaning out the old text messages and
again hit us up eight oh three four five zero
zero eighty six. Big Earl in Lake Murray says, forget
the doubter swannye Clemsones D line is gonna look like
a brick wall with rocket boosters against lsu all right,

(09:03):
I'm I'm imagining what you're saying. They're Big Earl, a
brick wall with rocket boosters. I'm thinking what I guess
if I'm kind of piecing this puzzle together. What Big
Earl is saying is I almost called him Nick. Sorry Nick.

(09:24):
What Big Earl is saying is that it's gonna be
a brick wall that you can't get through. But yet
if you do get around the edge, they're fast.

Speaker 3 (09:37):
TJ. Parker will help. Obviously.

Speaker 2 (09:42):
You've got a run stuffing monster like Demante k Part
in the middle. You've got the versatility of Peter Woods.
You've got Dabosweeny talking about Jaheem Lawson. You've got Vic
Burley making a little noise you've got Stephilin Green making
some noise, and Big Girl's picking up what Davos Winn

(10:05):
has been putting down about that Clemson D line, and
maybe even more so, right big Girl, you think about
like Clemson's defensive coaching staff and the changes with Tom
Allen and all of that, I think also generates a
lot of a lot of feeling from people, a lot
of positive feelings about this Clemson Tiger team heading into

(10:30):
this huge opening game against LSU. And if by some chance,
this offense is on fire and this defense is lights out,
and I could tell you you guys are two weeks out.
You guys are two weeks and ready to go. Some

(10:54):
of y'all are probably out in the front yard this
weekend with your tailgate gear getting set up. I remember
when that was like a struggle. Remember you want to
go out and test everything, make sure you could get
your satellite locked in. Now everybody's streaming now. I mean,
as long as you got internet, you're good to go.
You're good to go. It's it's pretty easy. But man, man,

(11:16):
oh man, you guys got me out of the gates
here with a couple of texts I needed to clean
up so text threads are empty. Feel free to hit
us up anytime because we are happy to talk about
your tigers right here on the Show that Shakes the
South Land. So college football looming, and the thing about

(11:39):
it is I mentioned Clemson, you know, being two weeks out.
Next Saturday, a week from tomorrow, Dublin, Ireland, Aviva Stadium,
a top twenty five matchup as number seven team Kansas

(12:00):
State and number twenty two Iowa State face off opening
game of the Big twelve. Kansas State favored by three
and a half. Then we'll have a little five day
that's like the appetizer. Then we have a little five
day respite and we get fired up on Thursday, August

(12:22):
to twenty eighth with ESPN's matchup or ESPN and by
the way, that other games on the ESPN two. But
ESPN will be covering number twenty five Boise State in
South Florida that game at Raymond James Stadium. Remember Boise
State was in the College Football Playoff a year ago.
Surprisingly to me though just six and a half point

(12:42):
favorites over South Florida. And South Florida has been a
program when you know they transitioned to Jeff Scott. I
mean they were they were a pretty bad program and
had a ways to go to improve last season. However,
they finished the year with a five overtime Bowl victory

(13:05):
over San Jose State. I think they finished with like
a seven and six record, but I mean to be
six and a half, six and a half. M that
game might be closer than I expect. And you know what,

(13:26):
I also probably need to throw in that. There are
other games. There are other games on next Saturday, UNLV
and Idaho State, Kansas and Fresno State, which I mean,
if you if you think Lance Lighthold is maybe a

(13:49):
guy that will move into a bigger job at some
point down the road head coach at Kansas, They're taking
on Presno State six point thirty on Fox SAM Houston
and Western Kentucky and then stanfordwai I will face off
out in Honolulu. So Stanford opens the season way out west,

(14:09):
so to speak. And there are other games as well
on that Thursday, August to twenty eighth, including East Carolina
and NC State, which is going to be played at
Carter Finley Stadium there in Raleigh. N C State's a
twelve and a half point favorite. That is a matchup
though that more so than when East Carolina ever plays

(14:32):
North Carolina or when East Carolina ever plays Duke those
two schools. I don't know if it's kind of the
party school mentality. I don't know if it's the geography
of where the student body population for those programs lands.
You know, maybe it's kind of seen that. And I
don't want to offend any EC you guys like my

(14:55):
brother in law or any NC State fans, but I
think those schools are kind of seen as the schools
that you go to if you can't get into UNC. Yeah,
and and and you're not getting to if you're if
you're not getting into UNC, you're not getting in the
wait force a duke, right. So I think those two
schools have always had kind of this rivalry. It's always

(15:19):
been a little electric when they get together. And and
credit East Carolina for this for never playing in that
power for Power five level, but yet having a similar
vibe and feel when they face off with South Carolina too.
I've always felt that South Carolina and East Carolina was

(15:41):
a compelling matchup to tune in and watch now for
our fine feathered friends hanging out with us and peeking
over the fence here on a Friday afternoon. You might
find that as a little bit of a slap in
the face from me. That's not what I'm trying to
do here, But so you.

Speaker 4 (15:57):
Could continue to peek over the fence at the best
radial showing the.

Speaker 2 (16:01):
Naked part of that was because for a lot of years,
South Carolina has not been a really good football program.
They had a stretch with Steve Spurrier where they were
really good, and I think this is a very good
version of South Carolina, but for years when they faced

(16:26):
East Carolina, it was, in my opinion, it was a
toss up, absolutely a toss up. Also on that opening weekend,
you've got some other games. Nebraska and Cincinnati is an
interesting one. Certainly, Matt rule at Nebraska has a lot

(16:47):
more excitement around them than they did when Scott Frost
was there, which is incredible. I mean, if we were
labeling the biggest hiring disasters of the past twenty years,
how Scott Frost didn't work at his alma mater of
Nebraska is really bizarre. And I'm sure there's some Cornhuscar

(17:08):
fans that could lay it out as to exactly why
it didn't work, But buddy, that felt like a home
run higher especially coming off of the success that he
had at UCF. And of course, if you're following that storyline,
you know, of course he's now back as the head

(17:29):
coach at UCF. So Scott Frost makes his return to
where he served as the head coach from twenty sixteen
for twenty sixteen to twenty seventeen. And in twenty seventeen,
remember UCF went undefeated and claims a national title. But

(17:50):
now Nebraska will be facing off with Cincinnati. The Cornhuskers
favored by six and a half in that ballgame, And
those are really the only games that I would say
are of substance in my opinion. Now, given that we
haven't watched the football game since January, a college football

(18:13):
game since January, I guess they're all.

Speaker 3 (18:16):
Of substance in some respects.

Speaker 2 (18:20):
But as it comes down to, like bigger schools, bigger
college football, and then man, Friday, you've got games Saturday,
You've got boatloads of games across the country. And it's
right here, we are on the precipice, closing in on
the doorstep tomorrow, one week away. Get ready, And I

(18:43):
think I think Iowa State Kansas State. I think that
games Must watch TV absolutely top twenty five matchup, opening
game of the season. The winner of that game will
put themselves in a pretty good spot to start the year.
I did not put either of those teams having, you know,

(19:06):
to be a team that would work their way in
to the top twelve because obviously I think Arizona State's
gonna win the Big twelve, and I don't think the
Big twelve is gonna have another representative. But if Kansas
State wins that ballgame, you look at their schedule, North
Dakota Army, Arizona UCF, Baylor, TCU, Kansas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Utah,

(19:34):
and Colorado Texas Tech. Outside of Iowa State's the only
ranked team they face. You know, I don't really believe
in Oklahoma State right now. Utah is way down Colorado
I'm not buying. Maybe they are a team that could
crack into that top twelve, but it'll start where they
win over Iowa State and they got to pull that
off to get on the right path. Stay with us,

(19:56):
we'll come back with our conversation with Will Merit from
earlier in the week. Sports Taught back at it on
a Friday afternoon. Earlier in the week, we talked with
Will Merritt, former Clemson Tiger offensive lineman, former Clemson color man,
color analyst on the Clemson Tiger Radio Network. We step
into that conversation here on our Friday afternoon Well, what's up, man,
how are.

Speaker 4 (20:15):
You LOLd and how are things going?

Speaker 5 (20:17):
My man?

Speaker 4 (20:17):
Good to hear from you.

Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yeah, it's good.

Speaker 2 (20:19):
You know, anytime college football season gets ready to get
cranked up, I get excited. And that kind of begins
with really going to Charlotte for the ACC kickoff.

Speaker 3 (20:27):
And I know you've been.

Speaker 2 (20:28):
Around this game for a long time. I think the
thing that I've really tried to process this offseason, Will,
is how well thought of this Clemson Tiger team is,
maybe even by comparison to teams that were led by
Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson. It's kind of wild to
me how well thought of they are.

Speaker 4 (20:46):
I'm just telling you right now, I don't like it. No,
I mean, I selfishly, I'm gonna tell you, I do
agree with how good this team's gonna be. I don't
like when you get preseason attention like we're getting. You know,
I remember going through that years ago after a good
run going into our senior year, and it's you can
never do right. Anything you do wrong is going to
be magnified, and anything that you do right you were

(21:09):
supposed to. It's kind of a lose lose situation in
the preseason when you have not played anybody yet but
long and I'll tell you this, you would much rather
be in the fan base, on the coaching staff, or
a player any way around that people think more of
you than less of you. So instead of complaining about it,

(21:30):
I guess we have to embrace where we are as
a program and people think a lot of our Tigers.

Speaker 2 (21:35):
So well, let me ask you, let's go back a
little bit, because this feels like sort of a new
era in Clemson football given the run that Daboswindy spent on.
But when you committed back in the day of when
I was in school at Clemson, it was a completely
different program in a sense. How do you think that's
kind of transferred to recruiting and the types of guys
that you're bringing in the program. And that's by no

(21:57):
means to disparage anybody you ever played with. You play
with a bunch of talented guys but it does seem
like things are on a completely different level right now.

Speaker 4 (22:06):
Honestly, I think you're gonna find more things that are
different than the same. I think it's a completely different game.
I think it's a different atmosphere. I think it's a
different approach to recruiting. Obviously, we could go we could
spend an hour and a half talking about nil. We
could spend another hour and a half talking about portal.
We could spend anything that you wanted to about how

(22:26):
that players are not necessarily set in stone for an
entire career. That's different. Back in the day, even just
some a decade ago, you still had to sit out
if you wanted to transfer. Now it's you know, it's
just what's the flavor of the week, and you know,
whatever it is, and whoever's going to offer me the
most coin to rattle my pocket that I'm gonna jump

(22:47):
ship and go.

Speaker 2 (22:48):
Now.

Speaker 4 (22:48):
I will say this in conjunction with that, I'll tell
you that Clemson's probably done as good a job outside
of military schools of not letting the portal hurt them.
If anything, I think it'll help them this year, especially
on the defensive side of the ball. But back to
your original the genesis of your question. I'll tell you
it's not the same game, because a they're bigger, they're stronger,

(23:11):
they're faster, they're all the things that you can have
attributes as far as the athlete. But then in parallel
to that, the money, the hype, the media presence, the
social media presence, and not to mention the fact that
these guys have the NFL in mind from day one.
That has not been the case until really this last

(23:35):
probably ten to twelve years under Dabo Whinnie's helm.

Speaker 2 (23:38):
Will merit with us here on the program again, the
former Clempson color commentator as well former Clempson offensive linemen
who joins us today and will I'll take it there.
So you are around Dabosweny obviously during the early goings
of his run, and yeah, I am amazed that in
this era where there is so many guys that will
just move at the drop of a hat to go

(23:58):
somewhere else, that he's been they able to continue to
build the culture the way that he wants it built.
What would you say it is about Dabo Sweeney that's
I can't say he's solely unique in this. There are
some other coaches out there that are certainly trying to
do it this way, but man, there's just not a
lot of guys that have managed to do it quite
as well.

Speaker 4 (24:18):
Well, let me just take you quickly back to when
he took over his head coach. You know, Dabo and
I became really really close when he was a wide
receiver coach, and I remember spending a lot of time
with him on the road, and you know, I would
go in the offensive line room and watch film before
we pete and I would call a game and the
next day, and I could sense that there was something

(24:39):
different about him. Never in a million million years did
I anticipate what he would actually change the program into
and see what it is today. Obviously, everybody is pleasantly
surprised by that. The only person I don't think it
surprised was Debo, And I honestly believe that with all
my heart. I think he knew it from the get go.

(25:00):
You sinceed it, Obviously, Coach Bowden knew it. He knew
it when he pulled him out of the world of development,
real estate development and brought him on to his staff.
He knew it. He saw it, and he felt it,
and that's why he tagged him early on. So much
has been written and talked about, you know, early on
in his career, but he was building a foundation and

(25:21):
he is reaping what he sowed. My man. He I mean,
he is gaining traction year after year, championship after championship,
and that trophy case is getting crowded because he had
a vision of year seventeen long before we got to
year seven. Let's just put it that way.

Speaker 2 (25:39):
You could follow him on Twitter at Merritt Will, the
longtime Clemson Tiger player and also color commentator for the
Clemson football team, joining us here on Clemson Sports Taught Today. Okay,
so from there, let's talk about this weekend because you
put up a picture on social media and appreciate you
tagging us and it glad we could retweet it. But
some of the old heads, if you will, hanging out

(26:00):
in the old offensive lineman, you guys getting a chance
to see Matt Luke's guys go to work this weekend
at the scrimmage. First off, what's it like getting back
with those guys that you've been into trenches with for
all those years?

Speaker 3 (26:10):
And then what do you make of the job that
Coach Luke's doing?

Speaker 4 (26:13):
Yeah, man, it was so much fun. I got to
see two guys that I haven't seen I think in
almost twenty years. Had we had four of the five
starters in that picture for one of our seasons, including
Jason LeMay at tight end, who's on the staff now,
which that was such a rarity, such a you know,

(26:33):
obviously John McDermott coming in town, t J. Watkins, Kyle Young,
Brady Washburn was there. It was just a it was
so neat. Man, it's amazing. I'll say what I posted
on social media. It's amazing how by the end of
the day I forgot just how good we really were,
which is a lie. By the end of the day,
we had told so many lies about what we used

(26:56):
to be like. And then you go out there and
you watch the guys today and you're like, man, i'd
be like twelfth String. I'm not sure i'd ever see
the field if I was on these because they're just
they're so good, they're so talented. But it was so
much fun. I got to see so many of the
old hat from back in the you know, the eighties
and nineties as well, and man, it was just fun.
And Dabo does an unreal job of just extending such

(27:20):
an invitation to guys that laid foundations from back in
the sixties, seventies, eighties, all the way through. He wants
them there, he wants them a part of the program.
He wants them wearing that Paul on Saturdays, and it's
an open door policy for former guys.

Speaker 2 (27:34):
Quick breat will come back with more. Will Merritt stay
with us, Lawton Swan back with you. On a Friday afternoon,
we were listening to some of our interview that we
did earlier in the week with Will Merritt, former clips
of Tiger offensive lineman, and he was talking about the
impact of Matt Luke.

Speaker 4 (27:46):
You mentioned Matt Luke. I don't know that there's a
guy that has had more of an impact than Matt Luke.
I'm not talking about just in the living room of
mommies and daddies getting their boys to come play, because
he is a recruiting man, a machine, but also the
technique that he's installing and the cohesion, and also they're

(28:08):
gonna benefit from a lot of those guys returning. They've
got leadership from last year coming back this year. And hey,
by the ways, they're healthy again now. We'll know a
little bit more about Walker Parks here in the couple
of weeks. But as far as like from last year
to this year, the bringing guys back that rubbed shoulders
together week after week last year and now they have

(28:32):
so many weapons around them, I don't think you can
say enough good things about what Coach Luke has brought
to the table.

Speaker 2 (28:39):
Well, you mentioned kind of looking at these guys now,
I know when we were in school, when you were
playing people with us, said, oh man, Will and those
guys dwarf the guys from the nineteen sixties and the
fifties that played at Clemson.

Speaker 3 (28:51):
I mean, do you feel that way when you go
out there?

Speaker 2 (28:54):
I mean, has the size changed in these guys, whether
it's the defensive lineman or the offensive lineman in the
any nearly thirty years or so since we've been away
from the game.

Speaker 4 (29:03):
Sure, well, not in the gut area. We still are
holding our own in the gut area, but not maybe
not something not necessarily in the weight room, you know,
I mean you're looking at in that picture, you know
you've got to You've got quite a few of us
that we're all conference and Kyle Jung right all American
and great attributes. The attributes to those guys, but you

(29:23):
look at the size and the speed and the strength.
Credit Joey Batson. Of course, you know he's going into
his final year as the strength and conditioning coach. Ironically,
his very first year at Clemson was my very first
year as a player. We came in together, so it's
kind of bittersweet for me to see him walk away
from the program. But I will tell you this, I'm

(29:44):
not gonna I'm not gonna belabor this point with you.
They're bigger, they're better than we were. I have no
problems saying that. It's a different breed of old lineman,
and it's a much different breed of defensive linemen. The
speed that they boast in the trenches now on both
to the ball is uncanning to what we've seen. You know,

(30:05):
in the modern era of football, there are literally some
of the biggest gladiators and well trained athletes that I've
ever seen.

Speaker 2 (30:12):
Will Merritt with us here on the program for a
few more minutes, talking about the clips of Tigers and
their scrimmage this past weekend.

Speaker 3 (30:17):
He was there.

Speaker 2 (30:18):
So obviously Tom Allen taking over the defense is something
that a lot of people are focusing on this offseason
getting a chance to kind of see those guys playing
what I guess we'd label as full speed as you
can at this point, right, Well, what did you see
and what do you think about what you saw?

Speaker 4 (30:36):
They're they're fast, and they're faster. They are they are fast,
and I'm not talking about in the secondary. I'm talking
about we've got four guys up front that can move
and change direction on a dime. You've got two linebackers obviously,
and Sammy and Wade that are just that, I mean,
they're just they're ball hogs, man. They just know where

(30:57):
the ball is and they're so quick to get there. Lawton,
I think going to this year, the focal point's going
to be on Cade and him having some, you know,
so a wide receiving cord that he didn't have in yesteryear.
You got a stable full of running backs. You had
an unhealthy motha last year. Now you've got four healthy
guys going in the season. But if you want to

(31:18):
get death Valley excited on that Saturday night against LSU,
wait till that front six, wait till that box walks
out there on defense. That's six grown men that are
looking and they're not the only ones, guys. I'm telling
you they're not the only ones. There's other ballhawks in
that secondary and the second team guys are extremely talented

(31:39):
as well, and you know, adding guys like helps on
the defensive end to compliment, you know, TJ and Peter
and those guys. It's just that there's no weakness upfront.
You did have weaknesses last year, whether you want it
to admit it or not. People had their way at times.
I do not think that will be the case this year,
and I think it will be evident Week one, Game

(31:59):
one is there.

Speaker 2 (32:01):
I hate to simplify it down to this, but is
Clemson's limiting factor this year? K Klubnick and how good
he plays?

Speaker 4 (32:08):
Yes, although yes, okay, so the short answers, yes, I don't,
I don't. I don't want to say it's not. I mean,
obviously I was. I was impressed with Zena and there
and there's other guys. He did a really good job Saturday.
But we will live and die with how kid Comnic plays.
And I'm not trying to over sensationalize, right because a

(32:30):
lot of times you live and die with your quarterback.
You don't win national championships without Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson.
You don't do that, Okay, you don't have the success
without the Taj Boyd's or even the Woody Dancers. Your
quarterback is the key to running your offense. He is
the He's the guy that gets to put the keys
in the ignition on every play. Cae just happens to

(32:52):
be one of those generational type players. And if he's healthy,
if they protect him, not only can he sling it,
I mean he can. I mean he can spin that ball,
but he's got great wheels. Man watching him flush out
of the pocket Saturday, he outruns some folks and I
do think that the way he plays will dictate a
lot of the success of our season.

Speaker 2 (33:14):
Will Merritt with us here on the program again today
talking about the Clemson Tigers. The other coordinator, obviously, Garrett Riley,
another year in the system. You know, when Clemson brought
him in from TCU, the first thing I did, I
pulled up three screens YouTube TV, put on multiple TCU
games and just watch the offense. And then it didn't quite.

Speaker 3 (33:31):
Click in year one.

Speaker 2 (33:32):
Things clicked a little bit more this past season, you
talked about the wide receivers that you think really fit
the billing this year as well for Clemson, I mean,
how do you think he's developed and matured as a
play caller, because heck man, when he arrived, he was
just thirty two.

Speaker 4 (33:45):
Yeah, yeah, think about it. I mean he was one
of the younger coordinators in the country. And ironically, you know,
coach Ford was thirty three when he won his first
national championship. So Clempson has had success with younger coaches.
Look at Dabo in the helm as a young coach.
But let me speak to coach Riley being in the
system again. I mean, you're bringing back guys that are

(34:07):
averaging twelve, thirteen, fifteen, seventeen yards at catch. I mean
we're talking really good guys. You can't cover them all
at one time. Two years ago, they're freshmen. A year ago,
they got a little bit better this year. I'm telling you,
they have a playbook that is gonna be able to
turn a page and offer so much more to make

(34:28):
defenses have to be honest in certain areas. I'm telling
you straight up, buddy, I don't think you can cover
them all on any given play, and I think that's
why Riley's gonna all of a sudden become a much
smarter offensive coordinator. They're gonna be the same plays, You've
just got better players.

Speaker 2 (34:45):
There you go a little bit from Will Merritt again.
In hour number two, we'll hear from Dabos Winnie some
of his post scrimmage comments. So make sure you keep
it locked here on Fox Sports Radio fourteen hundred and
we hope to be joined now. Number two is well
by our good buddy Will Van Dervoort from the Clemson
Insider to get his thoughts on the scrimmage this week,

(35:07):
at least the message from Tigertown on that front. We'll
wrap our interview with Will Merit right after this final
segment of our number one on a Friday afternoon. We've
been listening to some of our interview from earlier in
the week we Will Merit. We jump into the final
portion of that here for you on the show that
shakes to south Land Clemson Sports Talk. Will, all right,

(35:29):
let's bring it back to center and talk about you
as a player real quick. So after Clemson won the
twenty sixteen national championship, had Robert Carswell in studio he's
an administrator at to local high school down here in
the Midlands. Had him in, talked to him about it,
and he kind of welled up when he talked about
what it meant to him to watch Clemson win a
national title. Now, you and I obviously were alive for

(35:51):
the eighty one title, but we don't remember it. Talk
to me a little bit about what that meant for
you as a former player when you think back on
what close and accomplished in twenty sixteen and twenty eighteen.

Speaker 4 (36:03):
Well, first of all, let me just say Robert Carswell
one of my favorite teammates of all times. I loved
the man. He was an unbelievable player and an even
better person. So kudos for you having him in there
with you, and I hope to do that one day
with you as well. I'm going to say this, I
was at the eighty one championship game. I just happened
to be two, and I think I was asleep when
the game was over. So the last two that I

(36:27):
have been at sixteen and eighteen, I was at both
of those, got the experience. It was one of my
best friends one time, and I got to sit arm
in arm with my brother, my older brother for the
second one, and Robert is right, there's something about, yeah,
they're not putting the ring on your finger. You understand
that at the same time you realize that it is

(36:48):
it is decades and generations that have continued to build
this program to where it's at. I think it is
nothing wrong for anybody on any era to take pride
in Clemson's success right now, and I think Dabo does
a great job of making sure that everybody understands that.
I do not think that eighteen was his last national championship.

(37:10):
I don't believe that for any at all whatsoever. I
don't believe he's done with two. I'm not even sure
he's done with three. I'm making a bold statement that
I think he will be on a track to potentially
win three or more before he just sides to hang
it up. What Robert's talking about in the swell of pride,
I think anybody has ever done that Paul on the

(37:31):
side of their head and is played in front of
the greatest fan base in the country. I don't think
there's a single person out there that probably did not
shed a tear for those boys getting to celebrate those
two titles. And not to mention. Hey, let's say this,
it wasn't just national championships. They were winning conference championships.
That's not easy to do. They were winning it year
after year and making it look easy. They were winning

(37:53):
into playoffs, making it look easy. And they weren't just
beating you know, secondary teams. They're beating the best of
the best house there. They were slaying giants. And I'll
tell you whether I was calling the game, playing the game, whatever,
anywhere in between, it is a fun, fun time to
be a Tiger fan.

Speaker 3 (38:12):
Will always appreciate you. Man.

Speaker 2 (38:14):
Let's do it again soon sometime early in the season,
for sure.

Speaker 4 (38:17):
Yeah, you let me know, and y'all do a fantastic job.
And I look forward to catching up with you during
the year.

Speaker 2 (38:23):
So there you go, some of our time with Will Merritt.
Love the insight and also you know, the thought process
of just kind of the game and how it's changed,
and certainly with the portal and Nil. I mean, I
don't know that the older guys are are jealous, per se.
I'm sure they would have liked to have made the
money that these guys are making in this day and age.

(38:46):
I think there's also the fact that, you know, if
we're being honest, the I think the degree that players
get and the emphasis at most schools now on education

(39:08):
and all of those things is certainly important. I think
it existed when Will was in school. I think it
probably had a period though, where it was sort of
las a fair and I think we've often fought to
avoid getting back to that. And I think that's a
positive for the world of sports and for college sports.

(39:32):
But man, when this thing shifted, boys shifted on a
dime in favor of the players, and guys driving one
hundred thousand dollars cars and even more expensive cars, like
there wasn't I mean unless a guy on your team's
father played in the NFL. When I was in school,

(39:53):
nobody had a Ferrari on campus, a Lamborghini. Like that's
that's not normal, you know. And I still don't think
if I'm a college kid, if I'm a college student,

(40:13):
I don't think I want that to be normal. Not
that I don't want these guys to have success, but
I remember when you went out on the town hanging
out in college and you saw the players and they
were like you. I mean, Will Merritt was like me
when we were in college. We were similar. He was

(40:36):
a football player, but he wasn't driving a one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars for truck with you know, big
rims and the big tires and everything else. Right, Like,
those guys were more in line.

Speaker 3 (40:54):
With college kids.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
Like when you're a professional and you're playing in the NFL,
you're living typically in a big city, and those guys
aren't necessarily I mean a good many of them are
some of the wealthier individuals in the area.

Speaker 3 (41:18):
But if you play for the New York.

Speaker 2 (41:21):
Giants or the Jets, there are plenty of people in
New York City that are wealthier than you.

Speaker 3 (41:28):
When you are.

Speaker 2 (41:29):
The starting quarterback, especially in the Southeast. At Less, you're
the starting quarterback like Georgia Tech and the city like Atlanta,
you're probably outside of the head coach.

Speaker 3 (41:44):
You're probably the richest dude in town.

Speaker 2 (41:47):
Now, Southern cal and UCLA out in Los Angeles, Yeah,
a little different there, and SMU and Dallas, and you know,
any school that's in a metropolitan area has maybe got
a little different flavor when it comes down to the
players looking kind of ala swords, dude. You pop a

(42:09):
kid in Clemson with four million. He's driving whatever car
he wants. Dude sticks out like a sore thumb. Alright,
eight oh three four or five O zero zero eighty
six text line, phone line, Whether quick break will come
back with our number two of the show that Shakes
the south Land right after this.

Speaker 1 (42:27):
Each time for Clemson Sports Talk with Luwton Schwany.

Speaker 3 (43:08):
It is our number two.

Speaker 2 (43:11):
That's drivetime right here on the show that Shakes the
south Land. Clemson Sports tal Swine with you on a
Friday afternoon eight oh three four five OO zero zero
eighty six. And of course our number two of the
program brought you in part our friends Overrett Mets Plumbing
seven three two drip drip, drip drip. You know the

(43:33):
jingle seven three to two drip. That's Mets Plumbing mets
Plumbing dot com. That's the website as well, and you
can find them on our site, Clemson Sports talt dot com.
All right, Will Vandiboort, the Clemson Insider, joins us on
a Friday, will they be what's up, buddy man?

Speaker 5 (43:54):
I'm doing well, buddy, just getting through these last few weeks.
I think we've got two weeks now until the Tigers
will be playing, so pretty excited that we're getting close
and we can actually start talking about some real football
instead of practice.

Speaker 3 (44:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (44:11):
Well, and for that matter, it won't be Clemson, but man,
we've got real football next weekend as well, going on
over in Dublin, Ireland, with what Iowa State and Kansas
State facing off. That'll be a fun match up, a
top twenty five matchup. But speaking of the top twenty five,
Clemson checks in depending on which Paul ap number four coaches,
Paul number six, LSU at number nine. I mean, this

(44:33):
is as big of a matchup as really I can
remember opening up in Death Valley in a while.

Speaker 5 (44:40):
I guess you have to go back to two thoy
and thirteen when Clemton played Georgia. They opened up the
season that year. I think Clemson was ranked number Georgia
was ranked number five. Clempson was ranked number eight in
that game, and obviously we know Clempson won the game.
That's the last time I can remember a top see
a matchup to open up a season in Death Valley,

(45:02):
And to be honest, it has happened very often. You know,
I can't remember another one other than that one to
open up a season with right in Death Valley. So
it's definitely a rare event that's gonna happen here in
a couple of weeks. And you know, a game that
got a lot on the line to start off the season.
You've got national championship implications obviously, as well as the

(45:25):
Heisman Trophy race because these two quarterbacks, you know, club
Nick and Nuchmeyer are considered to be the two of
the top five you know, people to win the Heisman
Trophy odds on favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. So
it should be fun from that standpoint as well. So
a lot going on, and then just the other things

(45:45):
that we're all wondering about. If through Clemson you're wondering
about the running back situation and maybe what's going on
with the corners and at defensive end. And then of
course for LSU, you're worrying about that offensive line because
you know, everything else to have is in place on
that offense except for their offensive line, and so we're
replacing four starters, and then how does their defense look?

(46:05):
Got a new little defense to them, you know, what
are they going to look like? A lot of people
think they're gonna be pretty good. So a lot of
intriguing things for that matchup in a couple of weeks
in Death that way.

Speaker 2 (46:15):
Well, well, and from the fan experience, obviously, we know
there's changes to the post game. And I know you're
a stickler for tradition, but they did take the suggestion
that I had seeing the alma mater from the stands,
and you know, I don't know if they already had
that one in the plans, if that was just something
that any old Einsteiner could come up with, But nonetheless,

(46:37):
that'll be different. But there are some other changes to
Death Valley. They've got what handrails in the lower bowl
and I know you guys probably got a chance to
walk around there a couple of days ago. So far
our listeners that maybe haven't been in and around Clemson lately.
What are some of those other updates.

Speaker 5 (46:53):
Well, we'll just you know, obviously, the concessions area is
gonna be a little different. Now. Everything's gonna be kiosk.
If you remember baseball season it was, it was everything
was pretty much kiosk, and so that's the way it's
gonna be now in Death Valley, and so a lot
of that, and then you'll see some areas where, which
I think is a pretty good idea. I know it's

(47:14):
getting a lot of national intention. Cochons doing their designated
driver area where they give free drinks to those who
are gonna be designated come up and say they're gonna
be designated drivers to make sure people get home safe. Obviously,
the beer concessions is gonna be new to Death Valley. Uh.
That hasn't happened in a while, so uh, that's another area.

(47:35):
So yeah, a lot of different things, a lot of
the same. It will still look the same and it's
not gonna have a different look to it as much
so as just some different things will be inside the
stadium for fans for the fan experience. And you know,
obviously the number one thing is them selling beer and
and kind of go back to what you're talking about

(47:56):
with meeting at the Paul tradition, a tradition just for
those young people after that might be listening Loton the
Uh you know that that tradition was started when Clinton
built Memorial State of nineteen forty two. And the whole
point of it is so the sons can go down
and daughters can go down and meet, you know, with
their dad and mom and meet their favorite player. That's

(48:19):
what it's about. It's not about going and trying to,
you know, run to the middle of the pall and
jump on top of daboswingey and all that stuff, and right,
you know, be or be a nuisance to the visiting
team that's come in. That's not what it's for. And
so I'll be honest with you. You know, this is the
last chance for fans to make this work. If they

(48:40):
don't follow these rules, they got three strikes and then
they're out because Clinton's not going to keep paying the
fines from the Atlantic Coast Conference. And so people that
are not I see some people online like all the
AEC sucks. I can't believe they're doing this. This is
not the ACC's fault. This is fans fault. This is
what happened last year in Columbia, this is what happened

(49:01):
in some of the basketball games with don celebrations. You
know this this is the fans fault, and they need
to take ownership of it. And all they gotta do
is follow the rules, and they won't go away. So
they don't follow the rules and they cause Clemson to
have to keep paying these sefty fines and they may say, well,
will three hundred thousand dollars is not a lot. It
is when you keep adding on to it, and it

(49:23):
stays for two years. So let's say when people understand
the first find is like fifty thousand, and then it's
one hundred thousand, and then I think it's like three
hundred thousand or whatever it is, and then it stays
for two years at three hundred thousand every time Clemson
does it. So that's what they need to understand. And
Clemson's not gonna pay those signs. Clemson will just eliminate
it before that happens. So this is the fans last

(49:46):
bitch effort to keep gathering at the ball. If they
don't respect it and ask and do what Clemson asked,
Crinson's gonna take it away.

Speaker 2 (49:53):
Well, and I don't think it's what they're asking is unreasonable. Like,
it's exactly what I suggested. Because if you go on
the road, right, if you're the road game and you're
a fan, and Clemson wins, the team comes over, they
sing the Alba Mater and then that kind of begins.

Speaker 3 (50:10):
The the ending of the game.

Speaker 2 (50:11):
So to speak after the fact, well, to me, that's
exactly what's gonna happen now. And I might make an
argument that while some people will hate that they're not
out there on the field, wheel that singing the Alba
Mater from the stands from maybe a collective hole, because
right now a lot of people are exiting when that's happening.
Right But if you know, yep that everybody the players

(50:32):
are gonna be standing, you're gonna be standing, you.

Speaker 3 (50:35):
Can really see those guys that are more visible.

Speaker 2 (50:37):
I'm thinking more fans might actually stay in for that
portion of the end of the game and then go
on the field.

Speaker 5 (50:47):
I think so too, And you know, I think it'll
be it'll look cool in the stadium with pretty much
the whole stadium. They're doing that and doing what they're
supposed to. It's a chance to Clemson gets talked about
how great their fan base is and how nice and
they are. I've been around other fan bases and Clemson
is one of the best, and they get that. They
have that reputation around the country as far as how

(51:08):
polite they are and they follow rules for the most part,
and there's really not much trouble when it comes to
Clemson fans. And this is an opportunity for Clemson fans
to prove that again, right, And you know, I know
the university is trying to educate their their freshman class
and their incoming kids that are coming in as well
as the older students about hey, do what we are

(51:29):
asking you to do, and that's you know, wait till
Alva Mater and then enter the field through you know,
the proper areas, which like you know, through the end zones,
I think is where they want fans to come out
over the walls like they normally do. So you know,
I don't think it's a problem, and I hope Clemson
people will honor the tradition you know, of you know,

(51:51):
being able to gather at the pall and go meet
their favorite players. And you know, remember we were kids,
they weren't called gathering at the Paul Law and it
was just you know, you just went down on a field,
right right, yeah, players. Yeah, But you know why it
wasn't called that because we weren't doing stupid things, That's why.
So they had to put a rule around it so
fans would just respect from something. So they put the

(52:12):
name with it to try to make people respect it.
And you know, so let's hope they follow those rules
and you know, and obey what it's supposed to be
and be polite to the visiting team and let the
coaches and players get off the field. Then you can
go meet your favorite cumpson players.

Speaker 3 (52:28):
Will Van Dervoorts here from the Clemson Insider.

Speaker 2 (52:31):
All right, Willy V. Let me ask you Adam Randall.
You brought up the running back situation. Dabosweeny mentioned he
cracked off a fifty plus yard run. I think it
ended up from what I was able to gather about
a fifty seven yard or on his first carry during
the scrimmage yesterday. And they've had two scrimmages since we
last spoke, and I'm hearing good things about him as

(52:51):
well catching the ball on the backfield. What are your
thoughts right now a couple of weeks out. I mean,
it seems like to me, Adam Randall's gonna barring an injury,
and I know he got banged up. You reported on
it a couple of days ago, But barring an injury,
I think he's going to be RB one out of
the gates.

Speaker 5 (53:11):
I don't think there's any doubt. And when you think
about that, you know, I know, people probably are like,
man at a fifty seven on the run, that's not
good for the defense. But that was the second team defense,
right because Davo, they had ones versus twos because they
wanted to see how the twos do against the one yesterday.
And that's what that second scrimmage is about, is trying
to expose some people and see, you know, how people

(53:31):
handle pressure and stress and things of that nature, and
so you know, but it's but yes, I think you know,
when you look at the totality of camp and in
the spring, he's clearly been the most consistent guy. There's
so many ways they can use him in this offense.
And I'm telling you, man, because of his skill set

(53:53):
as a receiver, as being able to run routes, being
able to recognize coverages, and now that they said he's
pretty much got everything down as a running back that
you can do, you know, and remember you know, as
a running back, as a wide receiver, you've got to
block some So it's not like this is the first
time he's had to be physical, right, you know, by
going back there and trying to pick up blitzeres and stuff.

(54:13):
So but we're hearing a lot of good things on
that end that he's doing a good job with you know,
understanding that what the linebackers are doing and blitzes and
things like that and protecting his quarterback. So hearing a
lot of good things. I think he really kind of
gives Lincoln Riley that true versutal running back in the
backfield that can be explosive in the run game but

(54:36):
also be productive and explosive in the passing game. That's
something they had a little bit with Will Shipley because
Will Shipley got banged up a lot his last year
at Clemson, didn't really get to expose him as much
as they wanted to. And so if he can stay healthy,
then he's a major weapon I think in this offense
for Plumston going into this season, and I think his

(54:58):
explosiveness shows there and we've seen it. I mean, he
had the long kicked offf return last year and they's
the championship game. He had the long run against Texas
in the playoff game, right, So he's got it in them.
And so this isn't like, oh my goodness, first time
you've seen Adam Randall have an explosive play. He's got
it in him and I think now he's going to
have more opportunities to show that and I think, you know, yeah,

(55:19):
he gets Clipson. I think a dynamic running back that
I think by mid season he possibly could be like
one of the best running backs in the ACC if
everything goes like we think it's going too.

Speaker 2 (55:30):
And I would take it one other step with what
he brings to the table, like I would rate him
and you can you just say I'm unfair here before
I finish my statement, I would have rated him like
a B minus C plus wide receiver. You might say
I'm a little harsh. Would you say, H'm harsh?

Speaker 5 (55:48):
No, I mean, you know he hit three years, He
had forty eight catches five hundred something yards, So I
think that's fair.

Speaker 2 (55:55):
I think given that though he's probably going to be
in a A plus receiver as a running back, I mean,
is that do you think that that translates?

Speaker 3 (56:05):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 5 (56:07):
I think it translates a lot. And you know, and
so people can understand when you have a dynamic player
in the backfield and they're gonna right off the bat,
Clemson's going to do something with Adam Randall because they
want LSU to respect him. Back there and so, but
there's so many things you can do with him. You
can put them in motion, you can move them out
to the slot, and you can start them in the

(56:29):
slot or out wide and then move them back. Think
a little bit how they use Travis Zachary. I mean
that Travis z Acary, Travis ep in his last year
at Clemson when he became a little bit more involved
in a passing game, and how it exposed the defensive
lot and it really opened up things downfield for Trevor
Lawrence in that passing attack. That's kind of what Adam

(56:50):
Randall has the ability to do. If he's as productive
as I think he can be in that backfield, he's
going to create a lot of problems. He's gonna he's
his ability to make plays with exposed linebackers and safeties
and would also tip defenses what they're doing. And that's
gonna help Kate Clubnick in his reads. And so it

(57:12):
can do a lot of things. It can also help
the running game and the standpoint of if you're playing
the two back set, what you're doing in the run
game and what looks they show you, how you're gonna
be able to run in it, and how you use
k club Nick in that standpoint as well. Puts a
lot of pressure on defense when there's a very versatile
running back in the backfield. Think about it, like the
SMU last year. Remember they had a running back, I

(57:34):
mean a wide receiver play running back last year that
SMU and had over twelvene yard rushing. And look how
much stress he calls on the Clemson defense in that
game just because he's out there on the field, right,
I mean, that's what it does. A guy like that
causes stress on the defense. And in this day and age,
when it's already hard enough for defenses to match up
with these slot wide receivers and things like that, now

(57:56):
you throw a running back in there that can do
some of the same things. Yeah, it makes a little
more difficulty.

Speaker 2 (58:01):
Will Van der Voart of course on Twitter at Steeler
Will and he writes for the Clemson Insider. So the
first question dabbosween he got after the second scrimmage yesterday
was about Walker Parks, who was banged up in Saturday scrimmage,
and Sweeny said, he'll be all right, he's good to go.
Didn't play today. But obviously that's a that's a big deal.

(58:23):
How valuable is Walker Parks's health because we've talked about
this group and having four of five guys back, but
he's kind of a road grader, mauler type guy. He's
had some injuries over his career. I think that would
have been a big blow for Clemson going into this
LSU game. And to hear that positive review from coach
Sweeney I thought was significant yesterday.

Speaker 5 (58:47):
I think it's significant for mainly for that group. You
know that they you know, they're not like, oh my gosh,
we're down at one guy already, right, and I don't
know how long he's gonna be out. Coach Sweeney didn't say,
but he said it's he's gonna be okay, and he
kept referencing that, like everybody stopped Pannikin, He's gonna be okay.

(59:08):
You know. If he were to miss the high season, yes,
it would be a blow for the offensive line, no doubt,
But I still think they'd be okay because I'm with
toch Sweeney. I think they got seven starters, and then
I think they got three or four guys that are
actually gonna be pretty good contributors, so they're actually deeper

(59:29):
that they had and that they have been in several years,
probably going back, to be honest with you, man, I
can't remember the last time, to be honest with you,
they may be just deep on the on the offensive line.
So you know they're gonna be good. I still think
even if he doesn't play, they're gonna be fine, because
I mean, Harris Sewell started at right guard a bunch,

(59:53):
he started at left guard a bunch. So you're just
throwing the starter in there, right, It's not like this.
He has no experience as a starter, and he's had
good quality moments too, and so you know so, and
then you're gonna have. You got Colin Sadler who had
a very good camp, and he's gonna he's already penciled
in as a starter at left guard. Now, that was

(01:00:14):
before even the injury. Dabo even mentioned that Walker Parks
got hurt playing center, playing backup center, so they were
already moving him in to be a backup center, which
kind of tells you a little bit where Harry Sewell is.
And that means Harry Sewell's already playing right guard, right.
And then they got Elijah Thurman, who Dabo mentioned yesterday.
He's another guy that's like a starter, and they feel

(01:00:36):
good put him in at any place and not having
to drop off. So they're okay right now. Now, what
you don't want is anybody else to get injured, right
You want to make sure everybody else is healthy going
into that game, and then you're in pretty good shape.
Whether you have Walker Parks or not. Obviously they'd love
to have them because he's an all acc caliber guy.
But but I think they'll be okay if he is

(01:00:58):
to miss that game, if they feel like he needs
to sit out a few more weeks to get better.
We'll see. Like I said, no word from coach Sweeney
on what the case is with him as far as
you know link of injury, But you know, I guess
we'll probably find out more closer to the game and
we get finally get to see if he's going to
be questionable or probable.

Speaker 3 (01:01:18):
Right right, no doubt not day to day.

Speaker 2 (01:01:21):
Will van Dervoort with us here on a Friday, Will
do you have him ment to hold over through the break?

Speaker 5 (01:01:26):
Sure? Man?

Speaker 3 (01:01:27):
All right, So we'll put Will on hold.

Speaker 2 (01:01:28):
Got a lot more I want to get to with
him here on a Friday afternoon. Again, don't forget to
our friends in Alumni Hall on the corner at campus
on College Avenue with Downtown Clemson. It's Alumni Hall for
all your officially licensed Clemson merchandise Tiger hats, t shirts,
Tailgate gear, and Moore Go check them out today or
on their website Alumni Hall dot com. And don't forget

(01:01:50):
to ask them about their Alumni Hall Rewards past program.
Plus Clemson students, faculty, and military get ten percent off
when shopping in store at Alum Hall. It's Alumni Hall
where Tiger fans shop. All right, we're gonna put Will
Van Dervoort on hold. Will come right back. We'll talk
a little bit more with him about your Clympson Tigers

(01:02:12):
as they get geared up with the win, the one
mentality driving team one point thirty. Do you know about it?
If you don't go read about it on Clemson Sports
tal dot com, stay with us back at it on
a Friday, Will Van Dervort, the Clemson Insider, follow him
on Twitter at Steeler Will joining the program. Don't hold
it against him that he's from Bamberg.

Speaker 3 (01:02:34):
We won't. I won't, so.

Speaker 5 (01:02:37):
Will starting I think pretty soon right right around the
ben that next week you know we're gonna go ahead
on our way to the state championship.

Speaker 2 (01:02:47):
Well, there you go, We're doing you guys. You guys
put out good athletes, that's for sure. Let me ask
you about the punting situation. That's why I wanted to
keep you on timberr. And now we're pretty much in
lockstep about it. Like Dabos, I don't think it gave
people the warm fuzzies when he said we got guys
that can hit them sixteen guys against shankup twenty. But
if this offense will is as good as it is

(01:03:10):
supposed to be, there are.

Speaker 3 (01:03:12):
Only a handful of games.

Speaker 2 (01:03:14):
Where the skill set of the punter should really have
much of an impact. I mean, do you agree with
me on that statement.

Speaker 5 (01:03:23):
I do. If you think about go back to the
two thousand, eighteen, nineteen, even seventeen season if you want to,
or sixteen. It's not like Clemson has been great at
punting the football. But when you look at those offenses
starting with Deshaun Watson and going through Trevor Lawrence, those
offenses were some of the best offenses in Clemson history.

(01:03:44):
And if they bogged down, they generally bogged around around midfield.
And so if your punter can only punt at thirty yards,
well he's putting them inside the twenty yard vine, right,
So that's really all you got to do. So if
your offense can move the football consistently and take care
of the football, then you're gonna be okay for the
most part. Does the game like LSU matter to have

(01:04:05):
a good punter? Yeah, this one is important, and that's
that's probably why people are nervous because it is this
game to start off the season with, right, you know,
and so there's a little bit of nervousness there about that.
But even against LSU, I think Clinton at least with
this offense at least should pick up a couple first
downs here and there, you know, and not have their

(01:04:26):
team backed up, you know, not go three and out
inside their twenty yard line. So you know, we'll see
that they are massively inconsistent. I've seen it myself. I
would say probably gun From when we've gotten to watch practice,
Robert Gunn has been the most consistent, where he will
have three or four really good punts and then he'll

(01:04:47):
have a bad one when the other ones are like
it's really what Babo says, it's like every other one.
It's like they have a good punt, then they have
a bad punt. A good punt than a bad punt.
Gun's been a little bit more consistent than the others.
And if I have this, who's gonna start is probably
gonna be him. Yeah, and we'll see it that happens.
But I'm totally with you that, Hey, if they can

(01:05:08):
just get the ball to midfield and with this defense
making a team have to drive seventy times yards, they're
gonna be in good shape.

Speaker 3 (01:05:15):
Now.

Speaker 2 (01:05:15):
One of the other things that a lot of people
hit me up, and I'm sure you get this on
social media as well, they say, we're tired of hearing
dabosween he hype the teams up and hype the players
up during the fall. And a prime example, you know,
I we put out an article on Vic Burley and
Sweeny's positive comments there and he's had great comments and

(01:05:38):
you and I talked about Jahem Lawson last week.

Speaker 3 (01:05:41):
I mean, where are you on this?

Speaker 2 (01:05:43):
It does seem like Dabosweeny spins a pretty positive bounce
preseason about a lot of these players. I mean, what
do you think is this stuff hyperbole or do you
think that this year is the year where fans could
take it all in and take Dabosweeny for his word
on these guys, you could fancy.

Speaker 5 (01:06:01):
You know, I've been doing this a long time because Sweeney,
as you know, and so you got to know how
to listen for what Dabo's doing. He sends messages to
his players through us. So the other day he criticized
Nolan Hoosier, right, and he talked about how he was
average last week. Well, this week he goes out there.
Dad was like he was like mister purfect again. So

(01:06:23):
you know, and then when you see a guy like
Vig Burley, he talked about big Burley go back to camp.
Last year, Dabo wasn't saying sweet things about Vic Burley, right,
And so now Dabo's like saying, yeah, he's ready. You know,
you go and look at Christopher Zena last year. Davos
Sweeney was concerned about the backup quarterback situation last year
going into this year because he didn't think Christopher Zina

(01:06:45):
was where he needed to be and they were worried
about that, like they needed to get him some experience
to make them so they could feel a little better
about where he's at right now, he's like saying, you know,
I totally trust him, Like that was the exact word,
was I trust him. He didn't say we trust him.
He says I trust him. So yes, then when you
look at he talks about freshmen and stuff like that, Yeah,

(01:07:06):
he's gonna he's gonna say that the positive spins and
stuff like that, because you know, he's you know, they're
freshmen and he's trying to make sure their confidence is
good and they're feeling good about their choice of coming
to Clemson and not being too hard on them and
that kind of stuff, right, I mean, that's that's normal. Again,
that's normal coach Sweeney talk when he's talking about the
freshman So you know, you listen for things, you know,

(01:07:29):
like he talks about Oliver in the secondary. You know
he used to hip saying a lot of Oliver. He's like, man,
we don't ever know if he's ever gonna be healthy,
you know, you know, we don't know what we're gonna
get out of him. And now he's like talking about him.
He's gonna be really helpful to us this year. So
he's like for the first time ever, So understand how
he talks and how he spends his messages, and when

(01:07:49):
he talks about a Vic Burley, you know that's legit,
that's Dabbo being legit because he's not been good. He's depends.
He's been hard on Big Burley through the media the
last couple of years. So you know, it all depends
on who he's talking about. And that's what you got
to pay attention for when Coach Sweeney because he's always
has a purpose behind when he talks to us in

(01:08:10):
the media about what he wants to get out there
and how it's going to translate for his players.

Speaker 2 (01:08:16):
Well, final thing for you, we got about a minute
and a half. So Tyler Brown's obviously expected to make
his return at wide receiver, and I make the argument that, man,
he's probably the least talked about, super talented player on
Clemson's team. What do you think about that statement that,
I mean, this is a guy a lot of people
are forgetting about.

Speaker 5 (01:08:36):
Yeah, and but when he talks to the players, they
don't forget about him. That Bo even mentioned him a
couple of weeks back, had he had a big catch
during a dinner practice and above the players will say
something every once in a while like, you know, he's
making plays and people better watch out for him. You know,
he's going to be part of that with two waves
of Terror they're calling it, and he's gonna be he's

(01:08:57):
going to be part of that. I mean, he's not
going to start. We think, you know, we think we
know who the starters are. As long as everybody does
what they're supposed to and comes to practice and tutors
and all that stuff. You know, it should be Bryant westco,
it should be TJ. Moore, and it should be Antonio
Williams as your starters. But next guy in is Tyler Brown.

(01:09:18):
That's it, don't matter who which one it is. Next
guy in is Tyler Brown, and then the next guy
in after that's Tristan Smith, right, and then you're probably
looking at Cole Turner being the third being the next
guy in in those scenarios.

Speaker 3 (01:09:31):
Hey, Will, I'm gonna have to put you on hold
real quick. We'll come back.

Speaker 2 (01:09:34):
We'll get Will's continued thoughts on the Clemson Wide Receiver
Room and much more right here on Fox Sports Radio
fourteen hundred. Of course, it is the show that shakes
the South Land, or as they said in the Olden Days,
The show that shaketh the south Land Clemson sports Talk
each and every afternoon from four until six o'clock and
subscribe to our podcast Today stay with us. Lawton Swam

(01:09:58):
back with you, Will Van der Bort on the guest line. Will,
we were talking about the Clemson wide receivers. I'll let
you pick it up where you left off, my man.

Speaker 5 (01:10:06):
So they feel really good about the six wide receivers.
They got, damasis, the best group they've had that deep
in a long time, where they felt like, you know,
they got really six high caliber wide receivers where there's
no drop off at all, no matter who's on the field.
And so, you know, and I think Tyler Brown, dude,
he's I think he's gonna be exactly who he is.

(01:10:28):
And the thing I like about Tyler Brown is he's
a very confident young man. And so he's gonna go
out there playing with a lot of confidence and he's
just gonna do his thing and show people that he's
still the Tyler Brown that was a freshman All American
two years ago. And you're right, people forget about his
ability to make plays. And so, you know, Antonio Williams
comes off the field for a breather. You get Tyler

(01:10:50):
Brown out there, guess what, there ain't no drop off.
They're the same guy. They got explosiveness, They're hard to
catch in space, and you know they can break open
big plays and they can make great catches. And I
would be to say Tyler Brown is actually when it
comes to like saying, going up and getting the ball
making a catch, I think he's better than Antonio Wims,

(01:11:11):
you know what I'm saying. He thinks back to that
one headed catch he had a couple of years ago.
He did also against Notre Dame and Florida State. Remember
going across the middle, he makes one handed catch. How
many times did we see him do that a couple
of years ago? So I know, Kate Clubman is glad
to have a guy back that like that back on
the field. And people forget that when Kaye was the

(01:11:32):
backup quarterback like Cay. You know when Tyler Brown first
came in that first year. Yeah, that was Cay's first
year starting. He got that rapport with Tyler Brown and
so they have that rapport from that whole season when
he was his first year starting as a quarterback. So
that's a big deal. Too in my.

Speaker 3 (01:11:47):
Opinion, Well, and he reminds me.

Speaker 2 (01:11:51):
He reminds me of our Tava Scott, I mean more
than anybody else doesn't.

Speaker 3 (01:11:54):
He doesn't.

Speaker 5 (01:11:55):
That's a great comp Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:11:56):
He doesn't remind me of Amari Rodgers quite as much,
more of an ur Tava Scott type player. I don't
know the Clemson's got an Amari Rodgers type player on
this team this year, but yeah, that's kind of where
I see him.

Speaker 5 (01:12:07):
Fitting Williams is probably close. I would say Antonio Williams
has got the wiggle of a Marii Rodgers and that
kind of stuff. I mean, go back to the Texas game.
He saw that. Yeah, if he can break a guy down,
he's got some wiggle to him. So yeah, I would
say he's more of an Mariy Rodgers. Aly I would
toomp him, And you're right, I'd definitely comp Brown to

(01:12:30):
r Tavis Scott. And he's got the physicality that ar
Tavis Scott has too. People forget that Artica Scott was
a great run blocker and Tyler Brown does a good
job in the run blocking game as well.

Speaker 2 (01:12:41):
R Tavias Scott may have had one of the greatest
touchdowns in the Clemson South Carolina rivalry, the tiptoe down
the sideline, stand on the game cocks, glove out of
bounds and keep going.

Speaker 5 (01:12:53):
Yeah, my brother actually has a picture of my brother's
photographer sports photographer, and he actually has a pick that picture.
He happened to be the closest one on that sideline
and he's got probably the best picture of that touchdown
than anybody may. So it's pretty cool. So it's pretty
cool that my.

Speaker 3 (01:13:10):
Brother got that follow Will on Twitter.

Speaker 2 (01:13:12):
All right, Will, final thing for you, We'll push it
just a little bit longer with you here the tight
end situation. Where do you see this thing finally playing out?
And from what I understand, Ian Shefflin is still getting
opportunities at times with the two's out there at tight end?
How do you think this thing all shakes out? And
can Shefflin and for a second part on this, can

(01:13:36):
Shefflin become a guy that's less of a you know,
this kind of freakish red zone commodity and maybe somebody
that you're using throughout a game.

Speaker 5 (01:13:47):
I don't know. Yes, you can use them like a
Jordan Leggett, like you're gonna use your Josh stat where
you got a big body out there on the outside
that can run routes or something. Depends on how good
his route running is. That's the thing. We personally haven't
been able to see it yet. But if he's out
there working with the two sum and there's something there,
and then coaches know they only got one year right

(01:14:09):
to get use him. And so I've always said this,
Dabo doesn't do something and not have some kind of
purpose behind it, right, So, like he get Ian Shefflin
on the team, He's gonna do everything he can as
long as Ian helps them get him out on the field, right,
And so like if Ian's out there busting his button
doing what he's supposed to do, and yeah, they're gonna

(01:14:30):
find certain packages to use him and to get him
out there, because think about it, man, I mean you
can throw a ball as he can able to run
a go route and you can throw ball down the scene.
I'm gonna take my chances with him out jumping to
safety every day of the week, aren't you.

Speaker 3 (01:14:47):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (01:14:48):
Is there anybody that can match up with six foot
seven Ian Sheflin? Hardly any right, There's hardly anybody. And
so like you know, you like your chances on that,
and so, you know, I think those of the ways
you kind of use him in a way where he's
not having he's not asking to do too much because
he's still learning a lot. He talked about that a
few weeks ago with this He's got a lot to

(01:15:09):
learn in the game. But he's just he does have
a skill set. He's a very athletic person. People forget
he was successful and was a all acc performer in
the most athletic sports in sports competition, that's basketball. So
you're telling me you don't think this guy can go
out there and be athletic and make plays. I think

(01:15:29):
you're crazy if you don't think that. You know, as
long as he learns what he's supposed to do then
and he's doing that, then I think he's got a
chance to be part of part of something and they
can have some set plays just for him, and I
think that's what we're gonna see. Uh, definitely, I think
he's gonna be using the red zone because I think
you're stupid if you don't use him. Uh. And then uh,

(01:15:51):
and then there might be some plays, like I said,
going down the scene and stuff like that over the
middle of the field where he's not asked to do
too much and really putting pressure on the same you
can do other things to kind of get him in
a one on one situation and say all right, just
throw him the ball and see if he's gonna go
win it.

Speaker 2 (01:16:07):
Follow him on Twitter at Stealer. Will read his work
on the Clemson Insider dot com. He's Will vandiwort will
have a great weekend, man, Thank you.

Speaker 5 (01:16:14):
All right, man, appreciate everybody.

Speaker 2 (01:16:16):
So they go a little extended run with Will Van
der Voort again. You can check him out on the
Clemson Insider dot com. They've got a lot of coverage
of Clemson, much like our site as well. And we'll
get you we'll get you called up with everything going on. Man,
it's a lot, it's a lot. And again thank you
to all our sponsors, Great Southern Homes, Lexington Medical Center,

(01:16:37):
Kaufman's Meeting Place, just the name of f you who
not only sponsored the radio show but also the website
as well, and we try to make sure that we
let you know about them and mets plumbing the course
and don't forget the jingle seventh three two drip drip,
drip drip. There you go Mets Plumbing online at mets

(01:16:58):
plumbing dot com as well. All right, well, a quick
break will come back. We will put a big old
bow on the Friday edition and get you to the weekend.
Guess what next Friday. When we're doing this, We're getting
you towards college football.

Speaker 3 (01:17:12):
Baby. I know it's hard to believe, but right around
the bend it will be here.

Speaker 2 (01:17:17):
And again, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast in
your favorite podcast app. Simply search for Clemson Sports Talk.
We make it easy for you to find us on
all of your favorite apps. We'll be back to put
a bow on the show.

Speaker 3 (01:17:31):
Right after this.

Speaker 1 (01:17:34):
It's time for Clson Sports Talk with Lawton Swan.

Speaker 3 (01:18:15):
Final segment on a Friday.

Speaker 2 (01:18:19):
Baby, this is the last time I say that until
like January and we don't have college football.

Speaker 3 (01:18:27):
Let's go.

Speaker 2 (01:18:30):
I mean, that's a good feeling. That's a good feeling.
Oh man. All right, Michigan, you know the we talk
about the scarcity of the college fotball playoff national Championship.
I'm not sure Michigan wouldn't cheating that they wouldn't have

(01:18:50):
won a national title, or that they would have won
a national title I'm not sure THEIRS has a big
asterisk bite and it always will for me. Michigan received
a series of fines and sanctions for the sign stealing
scandal that took place with Connor Stallions. Their head coach.

(01:19:14):
Scharon Moore, also received additional penalties today as that news
came out. Michigan received a series of fins that could
eclipse thirty million dollars with avoid punited penalties such as
a postseason ban or vacating victories during the twenty twenty
three National Championship season. As the NCAA Division One Committee

(01:19:35):
on Infractions ruled on the Wolverines advance scouting case on Friday,
the NCAA also imposed in an additional game suspension for
Sharon Moore, which will be served for the first game
of the twenty twenty six season. Moore is expected to
serve a two game suspension in the upcoming season, which
was reported back in May by ESPN. The university proposed

(01:19:57):
to self impose. He also received a two year show
calls penalty. The twenty twenty five games he will miss
will be the Wolverinees third and fourth of the season,
a home game contest against Central Michigan and a road
matchup at Nebraska. The twenty twenty six openers expected to

(01:20:18):
be against Western Michigan in Frankfurt, Germany. The NCAA committee
also levied an eight year show calls penalty for former
Michigan staff O'Connors Stallions in a ten year penalty for
Jim Harball, who is now the head coach of the
NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers. Those essentially act as
barriers to schools from hiring those two in the future.

(01:20:43):
Harball's new ten year show calls penalty will not begin
until after he serves a current four year show calls
penalty that runs through twenty twenty eight from a previous
NCAA case like, as far as I'm concerned, Michigan was
cheating so bad that they just got the hammer dropped
on them and should, in my opinion, be stripped, should

(01:21:07):
be stripped of their championship. Honestly, take the thing away.
You want to curb the cheating, that's how you do it.
So a four year probation finds it could surpass thirty
million recruiting restrictions. Ten year show calls order starting in

(01:21:28):
twenty twenty eight for Jim Harball, Cherion morganets a two
year show calls order, a three game suspension, Connor Stallions
with an eight year show calls order, Denard Robinson with
a three three year show calls order, and finds our
fifty thousand plus ten percent of the football budget, postseason
revenue from twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six, and

(01:21:50):
the cost of ten percent of scholarships awarded in twenty
twenty five twenty twenty six. So the NCAA has dropped
it on Michigan. And the only issue I have with
any of it is that they did not take Michigan's

(01:22:12):
national championship away from them.

Speaker 3 (01:22:17):
I mean, honestly, that's the way.

Speaker 2 (01:22:20):
You That's the way, and I don't care you could say, yeah,
but Swannee, the fans still have it.

Speaker 3 (01:22:28):
Guess what not if you take the trophy?

Speaker 2 (01:22:35):
Like I said right now, the national championships in this
sport are so intimate. The college Football Playoff trophy is
located in so few venues that if you would take
it out of their venue, people would say, yeah, we
won the national title in twenty twenty three, we had
to forfeit it. Where's the trophy? Well, we got pictures

(01:22:58):
with it. Yeah, guess what pictures with it aren't the
real McCoy that to me would be the thing.

Speaker 3 (01:23:06):
Take the trophy. It is a prestigious trophy.

Speaker 2 (01:23:13):
It stands in my eyes and a lot of respects
almost alone in terms of how great it looks and
how much it stands out amongst other championship trophies in
the world of college sports. If you took it from
them this early in the process of the college football playoff,

(01:23:37):
if you said, hey, guys, not only are you getting this,
we're ripping We're ripping the trophy from you and all
you gots the pictures and when you bring a recruit
in you don't have the real thing.

Speaker 3 (01:23:52):
Dude.

Speaker 2 (01:23:52):
That to me, that's the gut punch that Michigan deserves.
It was cheating on equivocally. The stats to me, don't lie.
The numbers they put up defensively don't lie. The cheating
was blatant. The reputation has been besmirched. These sanctions are

(01:24:16):
spectacular and should have been worse, should have been more,
should have taken the trophy. Actually, when it all came out,
shouldn't have been able to play. That's where you really
missed the bus. Michigan hammered, in my opinion, but not
to the degree that they could have been all right.

(01:24:38):
We'll be back to talk more about it on Monday,
game week for college football at least until then, as always,
y'all take care now and Goat Tigers.