The "Pollen Overload" Edition

We hear from Clemson's David Eziomume as the Tigers close in on the 2025 spring game. Plus, Swanny complains about all the pollen in South Carolina right now. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's time for Clipson Sports Talk with Lawton Swan. Finally,

(00:44):
Clemson Sports Talk has come back to drive time. Hell
everybody long and Swan back in the saddle once again.
It is the show that shakes the south Land. Clempsones
Sports Talk for you each and every afternoon. You make
your way around the great state of South Carolina and
be I'm listening to us on incredible radio stations like

(01:05):
Fox Sports Radio fourteen hundred the Midlands, around the world
on the iHeart Radio application downloaded today, It's free the website.
Put the dot com on it, dog on it. That's
Clemson Sports tal dot com aight O three four five
oh zero zero eighty six text line phone line. And

(01:27):
don't forget the show the shakesa south Am and brought
you in part by our good friends over at METS Plumbing.
Seven three to two drip, Drip drip. You know the
jingle seven three to two drip. That's METS Plumbing all right.
A couple of texts that came in over the past
twenty four Clemson Larry hits us up. He says Swanee

(01:50):
Terrace Oglesby was one of the best and most articulate
guests you've ever had. I hope you can bring him
back more often. It's always good to catch up with too.
We've taught to him a few times over the years,
and there was a portion where before he got too
involved with the field of sixty eight and all the
things that he was doing there. We had him on
quite a bit. But Larry, we will work, especially during

(02:13):
basketball season to get him on the program that Wednesday.
Spot's always available. That might be the perfect time for him.
Tiger Chuck also hit us up. We were talking about
Clemson's women and the basketball team the last time they
got in the NCAA tournament, and Tiger Chuck knew it man,

(02:34):
he had it in his back pocket. He dropped that
dime during the program yesterday at five to nineteen in
the PM. I didn't even get it in yet, but
wanted to make sure that we dropped that to you
here on the program today. A three, four, five h
zero zero eighty six. Now, maybe I am the jinx apotamus,

(02:56):
maybe it's all me, but yesterday I talked about this
Clypson Tiger baseball team and I said that, you know,
they had done so well in the midweek and then

(03:17):
the Jinks hit and it's on me. Just when I
think you couldn't possibly be any dumber, I don't know
what I was thinking. Eight to two the final Coastal
Carolina cruises past Clmpson last night. They are a twenty
first ranked Coastal Carolina team that came into Doug Kingsmore Stadium, and,

(03:42):
much like Wake Forest, jumped out to an early lead.
They took a six to zero lead in the top
half of the third inning, expanded at the seven zero
and the fifth. Clemson got a run back in the fifth,
but even as good as the Tigers were this past weekend,
they could not answer the against the Chanticleers, who end

(04:03):
up scoring their eighth run in the top half of
the eighth inning. Clemson scored a run in the bottom
half of the eighth, but that was it. Eight to two,
your final score. Just it's on me, man for me,
I'm a man, I'm forty, I'm not a kid. Six

(04:26):
o'clock today on the ACC Network, Clemson will take on
Presbyterian And let's face it, you're twenty three and four.
That's a non conference loss against the top twenty five team.
Let's just put it in the perspective of what it is, right,

(04:47):
Let's not crank up ye old panic button. Remember the
Tigers had previously faced Presbyterian, who they'll play today. That
was a twelve excuse be eleven to two victory back
on March the fifth, so about three weeks ago. As

(05:09):
they will face off today at six o'clock. Clemson heading
into their first road series in conference plays. They will
travel to Atlanta Friday, Saturday Sunday sets against the Yellow
Jackets six o'clock on Friday, four o'clock on Saturday, one

(05:29):
o'clock on Sunday, all of those games on the ACC
Network Extra. And then next week the Tigers will face
Georgia Southern in North Augusta over at the Green Jacket
Stadium next Tuesday, April Fools Day, if you will. So
we're heading towards the month of April. The weather's obviously

(05:52):
warming up, feeling better outside. The pollen is in the air.
Saw a friend of mine talking about taking their car
to the car wash and said, the second I got
out of the car wash, it looked like it had
not been to the car wash. Yeah, that is the
truth about this time of the year around here, for sure.
In the Midlands and really in the entire state of

(06:14):
South Carolina, pollen season doesn't bother me really from the
standpoint of the my respiratory system. I just can't stand
getting it on my hands and feet, you know what
I mean, Like when you're taking the trash can out

(06:34):
or whatever. Just I just don't like the collection upon everywhere.
That's why I always like a little sprinkling of rain.
But tonight, hopefully none as Clemson gets rolling against Presbyterian
as we go off the air. Also today on the program,
we will hear in the back half of our number
one from Garrett Riley, Clemson offensive coordinator. He met with

(06:58):
the media. Great art article up right now on our
website on David Iziamumey. We'll hear some from iziamume today
on the program as well. Plus Mikeyva from gamecoccentral dot
com joins us on a Wednesday afternoon. And I can't
remember if I said this or not. I know I
thought it a little bit earlier. If I didn't say it,

(07:23):
I apologize and maybe some of you have forgotten it
any But Mike Eva from game Coccentral will be here
on a Wednesday because we had Terrence Oglesby on the
program yesterday. So that's the way things will line up,
and don't forget again in the midst of the NCAA

(07:45):
Sweet sixteen, we are eyeballing the tip off tomorrow of
the Sweet sixteen. Amazing how quickly this tournament bracket trims
it down. And I did some more research and I
am correct. You only have to get thirty two games wrong.

(08:05):
In order to have a perfect windless bracket in the
NCAA tournament, you have to get sixty three games right,
which means it is it is much easier to pick
an entire bracket wrong than to pick one right. Now

(08:27):
it's hard to do both. But I thought about this
next year, when my buddies want to get together and
do our little pick them pool, I'm gonna say, look, let's,
just for fun, have two brackets and let one of
them be the one where we try to go winless,
where we try to lose every game, and then have

(08:51):
some sort of deal where where if somebody does lose
at all, they get whatever it is, a gift card
or you know something, because you only got to miss
the thirty two games. I'd be intrigued to see if
anybody can pull it off in a pool of only
twenty five people or so. Nonetheless, basketball is back in
action tomorrow seven oh nine pm on CBS, second seed

(09:16):
to Alabama and six C to BYU will open things up.
Then at seven thirty nine on TBS and True TV,
it'll be top seeded Florida or number one seed. Don't
let me, don't let me stumble down that that mistake again.
The top seed in the tournament's Auburn, the number one seed.
Number one Florida, who's the number one seed in their region,

(09:41):
will take on four seed to Maryland. Duke, who is
the one seed in their region, will take on four
seed Arizona, and third seeded Texas Tech will take on
Arkansas Tomorrow. Start times of all four of those games
seven oh nine, seven thirty nine, nine, and ten oh nine.

(10:03):
So that's what you got going on tomorrow in the
NCAA Tournament Sweet sixteen. Speaking of which, you remember the
bear that used to be on ESPN. You know, he
was a part of College Game Day, He made the
picks against the spread, et cetera. I can't remember how
he said his last name. It looks like Felicia maybe,

(10:27):
but anyway, he put out some notes on the Sweet sixteen,
and since we've been talking about the NCAA tournament quite
a bit, I thought it was worth diving into some
of these because we gave you the notes on the
acc and the history of the NCUBA tournament teams who
have won the tournament, et cetera. But since twenty eighteen,

(10:47):
favorites in the Sweet sixteen are twenty six and twenty
one straight up, how about that? And they are twenty
and twenty seven against the spread. Favorites have not performed
well during Sweet sixteen. Favorites of eight plus points are

(11:11):
more in the Sweet sixteen from twenty twenty two to
twenty twenty four are two and two. But during a
stretch from nineteen ninety eight to twenty twenty one, for
twenty three years, teams that were eight points favorites are
better in Sweet sixteen were forty five and two. Forty

(11:37):
five and two over twenty three years, two and two
over the past three seasons. That's a wild number. And
I wonder if this goes back to some of what
we've talked about with the way teams are now constructed
because of the transfer portal, et cetera. The Bear also

(11:57):
put out that number one seeds are three, three and
six in the Sweet sixteen. Over the last three years,
and since twenty eighteen, there have been five instances of
a two seed favored by three points or fewer in
the Sweet sixteen, and two seeds have lost four of

(12:19):
those five games, including twice twice where it was Chris
Beard coach teams that pulled the upset. In twenty nineteen,
Texas Tech beat Michigan sixty three forty four as two
point underdogs, hammering the Wolverines, and in twenty eighteen, Texas

(12:39):
Tech beat per Due seventy eight sixty five as a
two point dog, and Ole Miss is currently an underdog
against Michigan State. That game is one of our Friday
matchups and it is a seven to nine tip on
CBS in Michigan State favor by three and a half

(13:03):
in that one. For Bruce Pearl, head coach of the
Auburn Tigers, in the top seed in the tournament, this
will be his sixth trip to the Sweet sixteen, but
it's only the first time that he's ever had a
team that's favored. The Auburn Tigers will get back on

(13:27):
the hardwood on Friday as well at nine thirty nine
pm in Atlanta, Georgia, as they face fifth seeded Michigan
Auburn and eight and a half point favorite in that ballgame.
Six seeds have won their last four Sweet sixteen games. However,

(13:48):
one of those wins came versus a fifteenth seed and
two games versus seven seeds. John Calipari is now on
his sixteenth trip to the Sweet sixteen with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Coach cal is twelve and three straight up during those games,

(14:08):
and four and one straight up as an underdog. And
if you're wondering, yes, indeed they are underdogs. The Razorbacks
are five and a half point underdogs to Texas Tech.
That's the ten oh nine tip off tomorrow on TBS.

(14:32):
And you know, we talked about I'll get back to
some of the numbers here in a minute, but we
talked about the NCAA tournament and you know, how maybe
to change it up and playing games at home and
things of that nature. But can we for a moment
just talk about the fact that these games are coming

(14:54):
on on school nights with a tip off of ten
oh nine pm Eastern. I mean, like you you could
complain about the Super Bowl tip off on Sunday or
a super Bowl kickoff on a Sunday if you want to.

(15:16):
But the super Bowl start time of six point thirty
ish by comparison to a tip off of a postseason
basketball game of ten oh nine pm, most of you
by ten oh nine pm during the Super Bowl have

(15:38):
had enough. You're like, all right, this, we gotta get
this game. Is this game over yet? I'm not sure
the last time my wife watched the Super Bowl at
ten oh nine pm. And I understand, sweet sixteen college
basketball is not the equivalent of the super Bowl. But

(15:58):
when you've got all of those channels, and I know
you want people to have the chances to watch them,
But have we forgotten the era that we lived in,
not all that long ago that we harped on last
week where you just had CBS. Why can't these games?
Why can't these games be a little better staggered? I

(16:24):
get it, they they they are. The teams are playing
in the same venue, so one game's got in before
you can start the next one. I understand that, But
ten oh nine, I mean nine thirty nine is pretty
rough in that in that the start time nine thirty
nine of that other game. Yeah, I don't know that's

(16:52):
that's tough. I think it's the venue more than anything,
and just having those being played in one place, But shit,
that is tough. Sledding ten oh nine pm for that
tip off. All right, Back to some of the numbers.
Matt Painter at Purdue, He's two and five in the

(17:13):
sweet sixteens, and four of his teams five losses have
come by at least twelve points, and one of those
losses was to a fifteen seed. Speaking of losing in
the sweet sixteen, Houston, who I was really hoping Clemson
would match up with, has lost in the Sweet sixteen

(17:35):
as a number one seat each in the last two years.
Both of those losses were the ACC schools, and two
of Kelvin Sampson's four Sweet sixteen wins have come against
teams seeded eleventh or worse eleventh or worse. By the way,

(18:01):
speaking of wins in the sweet sixteen, Maryland hasn't won
a Sweet sixteen matchup since their national championship year back
in two thousand and two. I remember that team. Golly,
that was a good basketball team. Lonnie Baxter, Juan Dixon,
those names ring a bell for any of you, dude,
they were tough to stop. They were fun though. They

(18:24):
were a fun team to watch. Undersized guard and a
bruiser in the post. I feel like they had some
other pieces on that team that were really, really good,
but I can't think of their I can't think of
their names at this point. Let's see two thousand and
two Maryland, all right, Jan Dixon and Lonnie Baxter. Oh,

(18:49):
Chris Wilcox was another guy. He went on to play
in the NBA. Who else were their star players that year?
Byron Mouton and Steve Blake. Ah, that's the guard. I
knew there was another guard. Steve Blake went on to
have a pretty good career in the NBA. Byron Mouton,

(19:10):
What did he look like? I need to see this
kid because I feel like I feel like I had
a lot of concern with Clemson faced off against him
back in the day. This was back when you knew
the guys when they Oh, yeah, I remember this kid's
forty six. Now I'm like, yeah, I remember, I remember that.
You remember that young ripper? Never, yeah, I remember Byron Mutton.

(19:36):
That was a tough squad. That was a fun, fun
basketball team to watch. I know, my buddy Francis hates
Maryland with a capital H, probably all letters capital. That
was a good basketball team, an even time a team
could take it to the Duke Blue Devils. You liked
him back then, at least I did. All right, quick break,
We'll come back with more hero On a Wednesday afternoon

(19:57):
stay with US Clemson Sports. Saw the show The Shakes
the south Land a three four to five zero zero
zero eighty six text line phone line. So we were
talking about that Maryland team earlier and the job that
those guys did. I mean that that was a good
basketball team. But we know the greatest basketball programs in

(20:21):
the ACC history Duke North Carolina. Uh, I would venture
to guess that for most people behind NC State, who
has eleven ACC championships, probably I mean, is it Maryland?

(20:45):
Maryland only had three ACC titles, but when they left
the conference, that was more titles than Virginia had and
the same amount of Atlantic Coast Conference championships as Georgia Tech.
The only school with more would be Wake Forest. But
I feel like if I was going from like my

(21:06):
at least in my existence, I don't know, maybe I'm
maybe I'm wrong on that, but the national title is
a big part of it too, just one of those
back in two thousand and two. But either way, you
start talking about like the Christian Latner Duke teams, and
you think through the teams that won the national championship

(21:29):
at North Carolina, you know, the group that listed we
went through the other day where we were looking at
a SEC teams that have made it to the Sweet
six team and this was a historically good year for
Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference. But who's the greatest team?

(21:56):
I mean, we have, we have great we have debates
about the greatest player in the ACC's history. You know,
the casual observer will probably believe that it would be
Michael Jordan. The old head so to speak, would probably

(22:17):
lean in on David Thompson, who was spectacular in the
mid seventies with NC State. And then there's another contingent
of people that are just a little older than me
who might feel differently about both of those two guys,
Jordan and David Thompson. Everyone, everyone, I have something to say,

(22:42):
And they would say that that was lim Bias and
that lim Bias was going to be the next great
player in the NBA, and that lin Bias could have
challenged Michael Jordan for supremacy in the eighties in the NBA,
especially being along side Larry Byrd and Kevin McHale and

(23:03):
Robert Parrish and DJ Johnson and all those guys that
the Boston Celtics had Danny Ainge back on, you know,
those mid eighty Celtic teams. Either way, the team that
some people think is the best in the history of
the Atlantic Coast Conference ever, is the nineteen seventy four

(23:26):
D and C State Wolfpack with Tom Burrelson David Thompson.
Thompson was the National Player of the Year. They were
the They won the national championship, They won the ACC Tournament,
They went undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They beat UCLA,
who had won the previous seven national championships along their
path to that title. They were thirty and one and undefeated,

(23:49):
as I mentioned, in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Second on
that list of the best teams in the league's history
the nineteen ninety two Duke Blue Devels with Christian Latner,
Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, that I mean Bobby Hurley got
in a car accident, stifling his NBA career. Christian Latner's

(24:10):
career was a strange one where he never developed into
the player that he was collegiately. But he like a
fine wine, and you might say he got better with age,
like he was better at the end of his career
I thought than he was early on. I know, he
had a pretty good season at the beginning of his career,
but then sort of the middle, he kind of had

(24:32):
the Oreo cookie of a career. Pretty good upfront, not
so great in the middle, and then a little resurgence
when he got a little older, a little more mature
and maybe settled in, and then Grant Hill was really
really spectacular in the NBA. This team was similar to
the team in nineteen ninety one, but it is believed

(24:53):
that that ninety two duke team is probably the second
best team in the history of the ACC. They went
thirty four to two fourteen to two in the league,
won the ACC Tournament, won the NC DOUBLEA Tournament, and
were loaded the nineteen fifty seven North Carolina tar Heels,
who were undefeated thirty two and oh fourteen to oh

(25:16):
won the ACC won the NC DOUBLEA, are considered to
be the third best coach. Frank McGuire was the head
coach you would go on. The coach at South Carolina
h Lenny Rosenbluth was the ACC Player of the Year,
Tom Kerns, Pete Brennan. I mean, these guys are way
before my era. These guys would have been playing with

(25:38):
my dad had just I guess was in college or
just getting just graduated college. And my biggest issue with
this is trying to qualify them in this group is
the difference in the era and the older I get,
the more I really see that as a thing, and
the athleticism that guys had and the way the game

(25:59):
was played, the three point like, it's so hard to compare,
it's almost unfair. Another duke team, and one that was
fun to watch that Maryland team beat up on was
the one group with Shane Battier and Jason Williams and
Nate James, who I think it's still an assistant there.
They had, you know, a lot of guys that had

(26:21):
left the program already, Elton Brand, Corey mcgetty and those
guys that already turned pro. But you had Mike Dunleavy junior,
who was like this huge shooting a small forward, shooting
guard whatever he played back in the day, at his
height and length. That team ended up winning the national Championship.

(26:42):
They won the ACC. They were thirty five and four
thirteen and three, just a loaded group. And then the
one that people might argue based off of the names,
the nineteen eighty two North Carolina tar Heels are the
fifth best team in the ACC history. Thirty two and two,

(27:03):
twelve and two overall, won the ACC, won the NCAA.
James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Michael Jeffrey Jordan on that roster.
So those are considered the top five teams in the
history of the ACC. That's seventy four INC State Team,
ninety two Duke, fifty seven North Carolina one Duke, and

(27:24):
eighty two North Carolina. Quick break, We'll come back. We'll
hear some audio from Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley in
his time of the media earlier this week. Stay with
Us Lawton swan with you on a Wednesday afternoon. On Monday,
Garrett Riley mid the media and he was asked about
Clemson's offense and the focus heading into his third spring

(27:47):
up in Tigertown.

Speaker 2 (27:49):
I mean it's kind of it's rents and repeat a
little bit, you know, I mean every year for us
in Spring, it's it's it's laying the foundation of what
we do, all right. I don't care if it's the
thirty year star with Kay Klubnick, like you got to reset,
and so for us, that's always going to be the
deal is we got to lay the foundation of what
we do.

Speaker 3 (28:06):
We've got to improve.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
Individually our technique, our fundamentals, all those things. And then
I think the overall emphasis on top of all this,
you know, not introduction, but just some of the core
things that you're trying to accomplish in Spring. On top
of all that is kind of the sharpness of our execution.
Like we are an older team. We're older for the

(28:32):
first time collectively on offense since I've been here. You know,
you've got guys third year, same system, same coordinate, coordinator,
all those things. So from a continuity standpoint, we're obviously
in a better spot than what we were two years ago.
And so I think that's kind of the overlying message
for us as coaches to these players, and I think
our players have you know, taken that to heart, is

(28:56):
we got to become a very very sharp team and
we should be.

Speaker 3 (28:58):
That's the expectation for us.

Speaker 1 (29:00):
That's Climpson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. He was also asked
about working with Matt Luke and the benefit of having
Coach Luke the offensive line coach there for a second
season in Tigertown.

Speaker 2 (29:10):
You know, the second year that he and I get
to work with one another. It's the second year that
him and Coach Filler have to dial up run game
and blitz, pick up and pass protection, all those things together.
Same with with he and Kyle and our tight ends
obviously are asked to do a lot in this offense.
They kind of are the jack of all trades. So
everybody's tied end together, and so yeah, there's there's continuity

(29:32):
from a staff standpoint for sure. And now that we've
been through the fire of a season together and you
kind of figure out one another a little bit more,
you know, I'm certainly excited about that moving forward.

Speaker 1 (29:45):
Garrett Riley was also asked about having a veteran quarterback
in kid Clubnett running the show for this Clipson Tiger football.

Speaker 3 (29:52):
Team, No doubt.

Speaker 2 (29:53):
I mean, I think Cade's leadership is has obviously improved
the year he at a year ago, you know, and he.

Speaker 3 (30:03):
He takes that to heart.

Speaker 2 (30:05):
But I also think we have really good leadership at
other positions on our offense that I'm that I'm proud of,
and I know that they'll continue to to take that
to hard and improve as well.

Speaker 3 (30:16):
But I mean receiver at O line.

Speaker 2 (30:20):
You know, we're young, probably overall in the room of
tight end, but we've got people that have been here
for a couple of years, and obviously they got some
shoes to fill. But from a leadership and quality standpoint,
I really think we're set up to to excel in that.

Speaker 3 (30:35):
Area all right now.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
Obviously you got to still go out there and make
plays and all that stuff matters, but I think from
a leadership standpoint, you know, we're in a good spot
right now.

Speaker 1 (30:43):
Garrett Riley, Clemson offensive coordinator, was also asked about new
or younger players that he feels have sort of stood
out to him during Clemson's spring camp so far.

Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, I mean just new to to us, new to me.
I mean, certainly Tristan Smith has has caught my eye.
You know, a guy that's played, but new to us,
new to Clemson. He's he's just someone that's flashed and
I know he's just gonna get better and better.

Speaker 3 (31:09):
At a at a quick pace. You know, there's been
a lot of people.

Speaker 2 (31:13):
I mean up front, those guys have gotten a ton
of reps, those new old linemen. I mean they've gotten
a million reps already, which is awesome.

Speaker 3 (31:21):
Really, all those guys have stood out to me.

Speaker 2 (31:22):
I've been impressed with just the kind of the grind
that they're in right now. Have they messed up, of course,
but they're They're a hungry young group, I think at
the old line. So I've been I've been impressed with
them as a whole. And then Logan Brooking, Gideon Davidson,
they've obviously made some plays and flash as well, you know,

(31:42):
so I mean just really collectively already through what is
this ten practices, you know, I can think of a
handful of plays off the top of my head right
now where all of them are flashed, no question about it.
Like you said, the good thing is it hadn't just
been a small sample size. I mean, these guys have
gotten a ton of reps through ten practices.

Speaker 1 (32:01):
Garrett Riley was also asked about what he's seeing from
Gideon Davidson. What stands out.

Speaker 2 (32:05):
Guy's just natural, you know, I mean he's a natural
natural balance, a cutter, you know, he can be a
violent runner. I think he's got natural hands and can
do things we're spreading him out or things in the
passing game.

Speaker 3 (32:17):
You know.

Speaker 2 (32:17):
I just think he's a very natural kid. Just seeing
him on the field just strikes me as a person
that's not really faced by a whole lot. Like I
think he's confident in himself and just his demeanor. It's
certainly a strength of his.

Speaker 1 (32:29):
Garrett Rothery was also asked about what he wants to
see in terms of growth from backup quarterback Christopher Vezina.

Speaker 4 (32:34):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (32:35):
I mean, big year for him, you know, and he's
gotten a ton of reps already as well. But all
these guys got to improve, and I think it's always
going to start with decision making, you know. And all
these guys are talented, right, They've got a skill set
there at Clemson, So they've got a skill set.

Speaker 3 (32:48):
And I think for us to have that sharp execution,
like I've talked.

Speaker 2 (32:52):
About for us offensively, is each each and every one
of those quarterbacks and especially CV, is the decision making
that comes with reps. It's not like he's deficient or
anything like that in that area. That comes along with reps,
it comes along with confidence, and that's what we're starting
to see with them.

Speaker 3 (33:10):
So I fully expect him to make a big jump.
And he would say the same.

Speaker 1 (33:15):
Final thing this segment from Climpson offensive coordinator gar Riley,
he was asking about Adam Randall and his presence in
the running back room and just the running back room
in general. With all the talent that the Tigers have
unproven talent, I should say.

Speaker 3 (33:28):
Yeah, it's obviously a big, big, big group for us.

Speaker 5 (33:32):
You know.

Speaker 2 (33:33):
I think we've got a variety of different skill set
and different talent in that room that we're trying to
figure out and disperse these reps here in the spring football,
you know.

Speaker 3 (33:42):
And Adam's a kid that's unique. I mean, he's he's.

Speaker 2 (33:46):
A guy that I think has a little bit different
look in his eye, which is a great thing, you know.
I think just kind of the breas or breath of
fresh air a little bit from a position change. But
obviously he can kind of be a Swiss army knife
type of person, type of player. But I've been really
impressed with him through ten practices.

Speaker 1 (34:05):
So that's Garrett Riley talking about this Clemson offense we'll
hear a little bit more from him around the bend
when we come back. But you know, calling a guy
like Adam Randall ser of a Swiss army knife. And
we heard from Adam yesterday talking about the opportunity that
he has and the advantages that he has when you
are talking about getting him, you know, in space and
getting him in a situation where he's one on one

(34:29):
with a linebacker who's not generally accustomed to covering wide receivers.
And the bigger question and thought I have is how
is the wide out different than the running back in
the sense of the advantage of speed. But I think
what it probably comes down to more than anything is
their ability to you know, run routes and leverage a

(34:52):
guy in that respect. So I don't know, I think
it'll be interesting to see. I know this, Adam Randall
looked really good at running back, and to add him
in with some more practice time cannot hurt this Clemson
Tiger offense. Quick break. We'll here. We will hear more
from Garrett Riley right around the bin. Final statement of
our number one Clemson sports aw Mike Youuva coming up

(35:13):
around the bin. So Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley met
with the media earlier this week and he was asked
about this Clemson freshman offensive line or the freshman on
the offensive line and how he feels like they've adjusted
to things this spring.

Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well, I think just early on, we're throwing a lot
at them right and like I said, just the nature
of it.

Speaker 3 (35:34):
They're getting a ton of reps right now.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
So I think just handling the daily grind of it
here early, you know, in a big sample size, that alone,
to me, is a good sign that these.

Speaker 3 (35:47):
Guys can handle it, that they can grind through it.

Speaker 2 (35:49):
I've seen physicality with every single one of them, you know,
I don't see a ton of like timindnus that maybe
your hesitation you would see from some young old linemen
where their heads spinning and everything's just going fast for him.
Not that they've been perfect by any stretch, but I'm
seeing a lot of good signs there, just from a
young offensive lineman standpoint of.

Speaker 3 (36:08):
Of guys that will fight, guys that will get in there,
guys that will be physical.

Speaker 6 (36:13):
You know.

Speaker 3 (36:13):
I don't think they don't strike me as people that
will kind of bow down too much. So I think
those those things you see in practice has been a
good sign.

Speaker 1 (36:22):
Garrett Riley was to ask how hungry Tyler Brown had
been this spring of white Out.

Speaker 3 (36:27):
Tyler's been great, man.

Speaker 2 (36:28):
I mean he's kind of the same deal a little
bit that that Tone had to go through, you know,
two years ago, my first year here. You know, you
get injured and all this stuff gets taken away from you,
and that's that's hard. That's a it's a hard deal
in this game. I think probably seeing Antonio go through
that two years ago, it gave Tyler Brown the opportunity.
But he also saw saw how Antonio worked and he

(36:50):
came back off of injury, you know, and so I
think he probably drew a lot of that from from tone.
But Tyler's been I think, more more driven, more of
a I see more of a pro approach right now.

Speaker 3 (37:04):
You know.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
I just see some consistency with the way he's practicing,
and that's been great to see. And uh, yeah, he's
he's he's pretty fast too when he's healthy, So that's
been good.

Speaker 1 (37:13):
Garrett Riley also gave some insight into that tight end
room and how he feels about those guys as well.

Speaker 3 (37:19):
Yeah, it's a fun room, you know.

Speaker 2 (37:22):
I think we've got a really athletic room overall in there.
And you know, Christian Bittencore has been a guy that's
got a ton of reps and and really like his
upside and and I think he's got a physical presence
to him. I think he's someone that can kind of
do everything, and I think that's what he'll end up
being here. Is is kind of a jack of all trade,

(37:42):
Swiss army knife type of tight end that could be
a problem.

Speaker 3 (37:46):
He can be a matchup problem. I really believe that.
But you know him, Josh Sapp is definitely flash.

Speaker 2 (37:51):
He makes a great play for us in the scrimmage
right before spring break for a touchdown.

Speaker 3 (37:58):
And you know.

Speaker 2 (38:00):
Banks Pope, he's kind of got figuring out his role.

Speaker 3 (38:03):
But he really brings a lot of value to our team.

Speaker 2 (38:06):
And we had to kind of insert him in twenty
twenty three, my first year here, kind of that second
half of the season, he had to insert himself into
some critical situations for us. So he's he's a valuable guy,
and you know, I've been proud of him as well.
But you know, Logan Brooking, Charlie Johnson is a guy
that's kind of moved from receiver to a little bit

(38:26):
more tight end, you know, and he kind of gives
you another big body, wide out type of weapon. And
I think he's someone that's picked up, you know, some
of this pretty quickly.

Speaker 1 (38:36):
That's Clipson offense. The coordinator Garrett Riley, now in his
third season at Clympson. Of course he'll be facing that
practice against a new defense, a new look defense, going
up against Tom Allen, the former Penn State defensive coordinator
joining the Clempson staff this offseason, and he was asked
about facing off against Tom Allen.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
Yeah, I mean new challenge, and I mean the thing
with starting spring football or early is like, you know,
I know he was getting here and off the road
and all that, but I'm on the road recruiting and
coming back and all of a sudden boom at spring
practice and you know, I have no clue what Tom
Allen's defense is doing. We're just kind of doing our
deal and practicing and going out there and figuring it out.

Speaker 3 (39:16):
But that's what's awesome.

Speaker 2 (39:18):
It kind of forces you to poke holes and maybe
what you're doing offensively, but just seeing seeing him and
seeing the staff and in the way that they're they're
coaching and approaching this thing.

Speaker 3 (39:28):
It has been great, you know. I think the I
think the defense. I think the kids are.

Speaker 2 (39:33):
Having fun, at least just from my perspective. I think
they're doing a great job of flying around. But it's
it's certainly a challenge, There's no doubt about it. There's
some good players over there too, So it's been a
it's been a good back and forth so far.

Speaker 1 (39:45):
Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley was also asked about what he
wants to accomplish in the spring game. Obviously, these things
are very unique and different across the board, some schools
even getting rid of them. But here's what Garret Rally
had to say about what he'd liked to see from
the These.

Speaker 2 (40:01):
Are all just so different now, I feel like just
the spring games in general, you know, And I think
it's actually a good question, like what are you trying
to really accomplish out of it from a coach's perspective,
And I think for us, for us offensively, is some
of these guys that we know we're going to have
an opportunity to have a bigger role, or players that

(40:22):
are just new from the get go of seeing how
they handle themselves in a stadium in front of a crowd,
and just being able to.

Speaker 3 (40:29):
Function, right.

Speaker 2 (40:30):
I mean, like, to me, that's kind of the biggest
thing that we're trying to see. We're not trying to
go out there and be perfect. I don't need KD
to go out there and be perfect or anything like that.
I need to see some of these other guys and
you know, see can they function when they're kind of
under the lights, and can they make routine plays? Can
we get calls in or are we going to freak
out just because there's, however many thousand people in the stands.

Speaker 3 (40:52):
Those are things that we need to evaluate and see
on you know, the spring game. I think it's cool too.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
The other thing you see as a coach when you
get those settings is you see kind of the demeanor
and just the presence of some of these players and
coaches on the sideline.

Speaker 3 (41:07):
You know, it's a little bit more real, right. So
I think that's always something.

Speaker 2 (41:10):
That I like to personally engauge is just kind of
how to do these people react when it's a little
bit more of a game setting.

Speaker 1 (41:17):
All Right, We'll save some more of Garrett Riley about
four or five more questions. We'll save those four Tomorrow's
program as well as Clemson continues to press forward towards
the spring game, and those guys just coming in fresh
off of a spring break and a chance to get
away and relax a little bit. Nonetheless, they've got that

(41:40):
spring game queue up for you April the fifth, so
right around the bend. Not this Saturday, but next it
will be the twenty twenty five Orange and White spring game.
That will be a one o'clock start, no television, you
can catch live stats. I'm assuming I'll ask Tim Brey

(42:01):
tomorrow because I know people enjoy watching the spring game.
But your best choice if you're not gonna be there,
is probably w CCP or a Clemson Tigers dot com.
But we'll double check with Tim tomorrow. I'll make a
note and hopefully won't forget to check that note while
he's on the air with us on Thursday. All right,
quick break, we'll come back. Hour number two, Mike, you

(42:22):
have a game. Cock Central joins the program. Right after this,
it's time.

Speaker 3 (42:27):
For Clipson Sports Talk with Luwton Swan.

Speaker 1 (43:07):
It is our number two. That's drivetime. Right on the show.
The shakesa South of a Clemson Sports Salt, long and
Swan hang out with you on a Wednesday afternoon. Moved
him back a day so we can be a part
of the program with us here. Mike, you'veagamecoccentral dot com.
You can follow him on Twitter at Mike Underscore UVA.
And also don't forget that our number two of the

(43:27):
program is brought you in part by our good friends
over at METS Plumbing. Seven three two drip, drip drip.
You know the jingle seven three to two drip, that's
Mets Plumbing. All right, Mike, you'ves on the guest line
gamecoccentral dot COM's own Mike. What's up man? How are
you buddy?

Speaker 6 (43:46):
I'm doing well?

Speaker 4 (43:46):
Swannie? How you doing?

Speaker 1 (43:47):
I'm good? Look, I know we got a lot to
get to NCAA tournament. Getting ready to get cranked up
again tomorrow night or tomorrow evening Thursday, they'll be back
on the hardwood across the country. But I do want
to start with some spring football here, because our gamecock
listeners certainly want to get your thoughts on this South
Carolina team as they venture into spring football, and notably

(44:10):
star quarterback Leonora Sellers being one of those big names.
So Mike, how are things going so far? Just a
couple of days at it for the game Cocks. What's
the latest news there.

Speaker 7 (44:20):
Well, at this time of the year, you know that
you know people, oh wow, look at his arm, right,
he's throwing it. Only just shorts and helmet and some
shoulder pads. That's typically the stuff that you're going to get.
But I think in all seriousness, the good things that
are coming along from talking to people close to the program.
You're making the transition over to a new offensive coordinator.
Mike Schule is taking over. Of course he took over

(44:42):
for the bowl game after dal Loggins was named head.

Speaker 4 (44:44):
Coach over at app State.

Speaker 7 (44:46):
But just some of the transitional stuff and from the
sounds of it from a schematic standpoint, and this probably
won't surprise a lot of people, both Gamecock fans, Tiger fans,
and just people who follow college football and saw what
sellers last year. Yeah, schematically speaking, schematically speaking, the offense
is pretty similar. Now There's gonna be some added wrinkles

(45:07):
and I'm sure we will see them throughout the course
of the year. Because it's springball number one and number two,
we're not at practice, so we're only going based off
and some of the things we're hearing.

Speaker 4 (45:15):
And at this point with new.

Speaker 7 (45:16):
Faces, especially at the wide receiver position, you're gonna have
three interior offensive linemen that you're trying to replace from
a year ago. You're not gonna throw all this crazy
stuff at you.

Speaker 3 (45:28):
You know.

Speaker 7 (45:28):
I try to make a comparison sometimes if you're trying
to do like algebra, you know, you're not gonna do
algebra three for a lot of these guys when they're
still trying to learn on algebra one.

Speaker 4 (45:37):
You know, it's baby steps.

Speaker 7 (45:39):
So the good news is though some of those new faces,
whether it be from the offensive line, whether it be
in that wide receiver room, even some of the young guys,
they're really stepping up and Sellers is taking on that
leadership role which you would expect, and the chemistry from
an offensive standpoint is much further ahead of where it
was in comparison to last year. It's just trying to
get the defense caught up after using so much Stark

(46:01):
talent on that side of the football.

Speaker 1 (46:03):
Yeah, he's six three two and forty pounds, the red
shirt sophomore from Florence Leonora Sellers. My question would be, Mike,
you know he's a confident kid. I enjoy watching him play,
a contrary to probably a lot of my listeners, but
you know, the sophomore slump, and even though he's been
on campus for three years. I wonder, with the schedule

(46:25):
being what you and I have talked about, how the
it's just flipped and all of these teams have seen him,
you know what I mean, Like he's not popping up
on anybody else's radar. That's really new this season per
se in the SEC advantage disadvantage. I mean, what are
your thoughts on that, even though we're way out from
college football season.

Speaker 7 (46:45):
It's funny you say that because this was a conversation
that I had on Tuesday on the message board over
on game Cock Central. Because now that he's gone up
against these teams, especially the way that the schedule is
working this year, when you're talking about conference teams, you're
playing the same teams you played last year.

Speaker 6 (47:01):
Is just book.

Speaker 7 (47:01):
So instead of at Alabama, you're playing Alabama at home.
Instead of playing at you know, instead of playing LSU
at home, you're going on the road. So yes, there
is certainly something to be said about that and the
element that I want to see take that next step
in Seller's game is the student of the game.

Speaker 4 (47:20):
I know that sounds like.

Speaker 7 (47:21):
Cheesy to say, but the reason I say that is
you look back to the Illinois game. And I actually
have this conversation with one of the clumpson Beat writers
this past weekend when they were upcovering basketball up in Providence.

Speaker 4 (47:33):
We were talking about the Illinois game.

Speaker 7 (47:35):
And I think what you're going to see teams try
to do more of is try to keep Sellers inside
of the pocket. And I think sellers understand that. And
he's not only going to have to evolve his game,
certainly from a passing standpoint, be more of a pocket
passer when those opportunities present themselves, but understand how to

(47:55):
be efficient when he has to be in the pocket,
you know, because I certainly I think when he's outside
of the pocket is when he's at his most dangerous.
I think with Sellers from talking to people and having
a chance to talk to him a couple of weeks
ago when I was up in New York City for
an event that they were doing from an NIL standpoint,
speaking with him and then speaking with wide receiver Masi O. Bennett,

(48:17):
who's a product of Greenville heading into a software year.

Speaker 4 (48:20):
That Sellers is in that facility NonStop.

Speaker 7 (48:25):
And if we hear stuff like this like oh yeah,
you know he's a gym row.

Speaker 4 (48:28):
He's watching film all the time.

Speaker 6 (48:30):
They say.

Speaker 7 (48:30):
If Sellers isn't on the practice field or if he's
not doing his homework for class, you can find him
inside of the ops building. And all the guy is
doing is watching film, whether it be on its own,
whether it be with you know, machula, whether it be
just trying to figure out things with sitting down with
other wide receivers. So he really is putting in the effort.

(48:52):
And just from talking to him, like I said at
that event a couple of weeks ago, this guy understands
the expectations that this city has for him number one,
but number two, because he's making as much money as
he is.

Speaker 6 (49:05):
There's two ways to look at it.

Speaker 7 (49:06):
It's like, all right, well I've made it, or you
know what, I have to really elevate my game. And
I can tell you from talking to the kid, this
kid is not just getting comfort. He's not getting all
fat and happy. If anything, he's looking at this as
an opportunity that he has to prove himself because none
of that matters if he doesn't go out there and
play and plays well.

Speaker 1 (49:25):
Mike, you have a Gamecoccentral dot Com with us here
on the program. There's another Sellers on the roster, Jaden Sellers,
now his younger brother, a three star prospect and wide receiver,
making his way over to Columbia from Florence. And I
saw a post on the South Carolina social media channel
channel that had I can't remember how they titled it.
It was like the last Sellers Brothers or some kind

(49:48):
of I don't know what it was. But anyway, Mike,
what do you think that'll be like for Lenoris to
have his younger brother there is a part of this
gamecock team.

Speaker 7 (49:58):
Yeah, I think what was what it was labeled as
was the brothers.

Speaker 6 (50:03):
I could be but no. The thing about the thing
about Pup.

Speaker 7 (50:09):
Sellers as they call them, Jayden Sellers, nicknamed Pup. I
remember watching him, I believe it was in the four
A state championship game this past year. And this guy,
he's not just there because of the Seller's name. I
think that if you weren't as familiar with him naturally,
you would think that this guy balled out. This guy

(50:30):
balled out last year at some South Florence. You know,
this was a team that, of course his brother played there.
They've produced some talented players throughout not just the state,
but guys that have gone on to play I'm outside
of the state some high college football, but I mean,
he caught fifty nine passes for over a thousand yards
and fourteen receptions last year, so you know, he's a

(50:50):
guy that has produced at a high level. I think
the big thing with him is when you look at
just his size, he's five to eleven. He's put some
weight on already, up to one seventy five. I think
he's a guy that can certainly throw on another ten
pounds over these next couple of months, if not more,
leaning into fall camp. But you get to that point
where it's like, all right, you're trying to put some

(51:12):
more weight on, but you're trying not.

Speaker 6 (51:14):
To lose that speed.

Speaker 7 (51:15):
So I think he's gonna get better over time. But
he's certainly from talking to people inside of that building,
they've been very pleased with what he's looked like already
through three practices. But that shouldn't come as a surprise
because he understands what it looks like to be a
pro because he has his brother to look up to.

Speaker 1 (51:33):
Mike, you Haveagamecoccentral dot Com joining the program here, So Mike,
let's shift gears a little bit. It is basketball season
with the NCAA Sweet sixteen upon us and seven of
those teams right now in the tournament remaining from the
SEC sitting a new all time mark. But you and
I were talking off the air, and it's kind of
a take that I had on Monday once everything got

(51:55):
settled this past weekend, and that is that with these
conferences being as large as they are, you are bound
to see some leagues get a lot of teams into
the Sweet sixteen, et cetera.

Speaker 6 (52:07):
Oh, no question.

Speaker 7 (52:08):
And I think it's like, what the way I look
at it is, it is very impressive. There's no question
what the SEC did this year. It is very impressive,
and it speaks to the success that they had when
you look at where they're at right now from a
postseason standpoint, in the fact that you have seven of
those sixteen teams being from the same conference. Having said that,
to your point, and we mentioned we talked about this

(52:31):
a little bit off here with these expanded.

Speaker 6 (52:34):
Conferences, with these super conferences.

Speaker 7 (52:38):
These new records that we're going to see, and of
course we're talking about this being for the Sweet sixteen.
With the SEC, this is going to continue to happen.
I mean, it's not apples to apples, but it's like
some of these records that we see in college sports
now because a kid has five years of eligibility, six
years of eligibility, and I'm not trying to take away
Little Jimmy's record for scoring touchdowns or receptions, but it's

(53:00):
not the same in comparison to a guy that did
it in four years, you know what I'm talking about.
So you know, when you have things that constantly change,
it's still as impressive. But I think you know with
the conference thing, that we're going to see new records
happen in the in the coming year simply because there's
more teams in it. You know, Texas Oklahoma. I mean,
those are two teams that made the tournament this year.

(53:22):
Well they're in the SEC. They're not in the SEC,
then that number is not going to be as high.
So you know, these are the things that happened. But
again not to take away from what the SEC did
this year, because certainly they proved that they were a
very difficult conference to go through, and they're proving that
still right now in the NCAA Tournament.

Speaker 1 (53:41):
And all you little Jimmies at home, you can hold
on to your championships and all your scoring awards because
Mike You've has got your back. You can follow Mike.
I got your little on Twitter at Mike underscore UVA. Well,
some of those Jimmies and Joe's are jumping into the
portal as well. Clemson obviously has several guys that already
got in, Dell Jones being the biggest surprise of the

(54:02):
trio that went in for the Tigers. Off of the
basketball team, it'll be a complete rebuild in the Upstate
for Brad brown l. What's the situation in the Midlands
for coach Parris and his team as the game Cocks
move further into the offseason.

Speaker 7 (54:18):
Well, South Carolina has already lost four players of the
transfer portal, and some of those players shouldn't come as
a surprise from what I've been told. Some of it
has to do with, you know, players wanting opportunities to
go elsewhere, but it also comes down to from again,
from what I've been talking to people, into the building.
Is the bigger picture of what Paris is trying to do. Now,

(54:41):
does some of that have to do with from an
nil standpoint and trying to distribute money here and there,
I'm sure, And again that's more of an assumption on
my part than anything else, but also from just what
they're trying to do from a personnel standpoint and what
they're looking at bigger picture. Certainly, with what they did
this offseason from a transfer portal standpoint, they didn't hit

(55:04):
on the same way as what they were able to
do the prior year. And obviously they were able to
tie the program record for wins, they were able to
make it back to the NCAA Tournament for the first
time in what about eight years or so seven years,
So look after what they did last season, I think
the expectations naturally went up. But when you play with

(55:26):
the transfer portal at the way that South Carolina has
over the last couple of years, if you don't hit
on it the way that they did a year ago,
this is exactly what you're going to get. And I
think that's the dangerous part about it. And this is
a conversation that I had with someone in the athletic
administration over a year ago at USC and that was
something that worried them a little bit, and we talked

(55:48):
about this. It was more of an off record conversation,
so I won't get too deep in those too deep
in those details, but this was something that they were
worried about. And now we'll fast forward.

Speaker 6 (55:59):
Here we go.

Speaker 7 (55:59):
What happen South Carolina. They were at the bottom of
the conference, so you know, it's gonna be interesting to
see what Paris decides to do. But they're freeing up
some spots again, some of that I'm sure they're trying
to do on their part, but at the same time too,
some guys opting to go on their own marriage.

Speaker 1 (56:18):
Mike, you've a Gamecockcentral dot com might one of the
things somebody said to me. And I think it's fair
for game Cocks and Tigers and Bulldogs and Yellowjackets and
Seminoles listening to the show. Almost every team in the
country but calls them nil in the transfer portal at
this point is having to rebuild, and so it is.
It's really strange because in the old days, coaches could

(56:40):
build their roster from the standpoint of Okay, we've got
three seniors leaving, We'll bring in three freshmen. They'll mature,
they'll be sophomores, you know, and you could kind of
work through your roster. But now, I mean, roster management
is at its worst for all of these coaches. I
don't know if it's gonna get better anytime soon. How

(57:00):
do the coaches that you talk to feel about what
they deal with on a week in and week out basis?
With the way sports is right now?

Speaker 7 (57:11):
I think the first way you got to look at
it is you just have to accept it for what
it is, because and I'm sure there are some people
from an nil standpoint, from a fan base standpoint, they
look at it and be like, oh, I don't want
to adapt to this, or I don't like the transfer portal. Well,
unfortunately for the coaches, they can't look at it the
same way because if they do that, you're going to

(57:31):
get left behind. Now, I think with the way you
have to attack the transfer portal, I think you have
to look at things as Okay, how much of it
do we make up of transfers?

Speaker 4 (57:44):
How much of it do we make.

Speaker 6 (57:45):
Up still of high school players?

Speaker 7 (57:48):
For basketball in comparison to a sports, ay like football,
that wiggle room is just so much smaller.

Speaker 6 (57:55):
It was interesting this past week and listening.

Speaker 4 (57:57):
To John pat Calabari talk about how when he.

Speaker 7 (58:00):
Looks back into his career and he there was a
year where they had basically all freshmen out there for
crying out loud, He's like, you probably aren't gonna do
that these days, simply because you have to have some
type of experience out there.

Speaker 5 (58:12):
Right.

Speaker 7 (58:12):
So I think, at least from South Carolina's perspective, they're
gonna look at it as, Okay, what are our needs
and can we find that in terms of veteran players.
But I also feel like you can't lose sight of
the development side of things because you need to be
able to have some type of core, some type of
presidence as far as all right, these are the guys

(58:35):
that understand our system.

Speaker 6 (58:36):
They understand what we're trying to.

Speaker 7 (58:38):
Accomplish, so that God forbid, you know, the crap hits
the fan, you can at least lean back on someone
that's been there to say, hey, look we can get
through this. That's what helps South Carolina a year ago
when they hit some tough patches and guess what, they
were able to bounce back and they had a phenomenal
running conference play, and they made it into the NCAA Tournament.
This year, it really didn't have of those same type

(59:02):
of players to fall back on because there were so
many new faces, whether it be freshmen, whether it be
players in the transfer portal. Jacoby right, Yes, he'd been
with the program for quite some time, but he wasn't
the type of leader that they needed him to be
this year.

Speaker 1 (59:14):
Mike, you've with us here for a few more minutes. So, Mike,
keeping with the basketball theme, you know, obviously following the
women's tournament, you've seen it. The top sixteen seeds in
the women's game get home sites for four teams to
come in and play their little quadrant. The men's games
do what you saw this weekend, where they're spread out
in eight venues around the country. You guys up there

(59:36):
in Providence, Rhode Island, having one of those your thoughts.
I know, it's great to have all those teams flood
up to that area for you to cover, But what
do you think about the men's game ever adopting a
similar model for the first two rounds.

Speaker 7 (59:50):
Yeah, putting the fact that I got to cover an
incredible region and the fact that you had Califyrie Patino.
I know Clemson, you know, it wasn't the way that
their tournament and they were hoping for going into it
and how it ended. But you had some incredible matchups here.
So I'd say that putting that to the side, I
would like the idea of them adopting a similar model

(01:00:13):
to what we see with women's basketball.

Speaker 6 (01:00:14):
And here's why. It rewards not just the team, but
it rewards the fan base.

Speaker 4 (01:00:20):
And I'm all for that.

Speaker 7 (01:00:21):
Now, probably not, but I mean I think back to
this Swanee. It wasn't that long ago when Clemson, especially
with the old college football playoff format, they were having
to play in the a SEC championship game. They would
go play in a college football playoff game and then
go play in the National Championship. And I just remember

(01:00:43):
seeing them go from and correcting me if I'm wrong,
because you lose track of some of these sites because
of how often Clempson was doing it, but I remember
covering it. You're in Charlotte for the a SEC championship game,
then you are in Dallas for the cotton ball, then
you're out in Santa Clair playing in the National Championship
against Alabama, and I thought about the fan base. And
don't get me wrong, Clempson, they travel well. You know,

(01:01:04):
they're gonna have their two dollar bills, They're gonna be
ready to go.

Speaker 4 (01:01:07):
I get that.

Speaker 7 (01:01:07):
But at the same time, too, there is some fatigue
that will factor in. There's gonna be some of these
parents or just fans in general. I mean, that's a
lot of money that you're gonna have to put aside,
never mind just the regular season. So you think about basketball,
and I'm not saying everyone's going to the same amount
of games like football, because football might be a little
bit easier to once a week thing, but it becomes

(01:01:29):
a challenge. So I'd love to see these fan base,
not just the team, but the fan base is be
rewarded too if the team has a good season and
they're able to play those first two rounds or at
least have the ability to if they are able to
make it to that second game.

Speaker 1 (01:01:44):
Mike, for the sake of the game Cocks tuning in,
I won't make you repeat Clemson success in football of
an ACC championship and the College Football Playoff in the
National Championship. We'll just leave that in the rear view
Mike Eva Gamecoccentral dot com is the website. My buddy.
Always appreciate your time you share.

Speaker 4 (01:02:00):
It's Fanny.

Speaker 1 (01:02:01):
There is Mike Eva game Cockcentral dot com. That's right.
ACC Championship game victory, College Football Playoffs semi final Cotton
Bowl victory Santa Clara, California blowout forty four to sixteen Alabama.
Natty baby, that was great from Mike. You all right quick?

Speaker 5 (01:02:22):
Great?

Speaker 1 (01:02:22):
We'll return with more right after this the show. The
shakesare South Llyna. Clemson Sports Talk on a Wednesday yesterday,
we heard from running back Adam Randall. Kind of weird
to say, and I may end up calling him wide
receiver at some point along the way. But David is
the amumey another young Clemson running back or a young
Clemson running back. Obviously, Adam Randall not young, He's new

(01:02:43):
to the running back room, but is he Amume met
with the media earlier this week during Clemson spring practice,
and he asked howse spring ball has been so far?

Speaker 8 (01:02:53):
Well, this spring has been like kind of challenging as well,
you know, we're all still lending each other's skills. But
at the same time, it's been a fun spring just
kind of get it to know these guys connect every
day and just do a better relationships and the.

Speaker 5 (01:03:03):
Coaches and soil.

Speaker 1 (01:03:04):
Izia MoU May was asked about what he could take
away from last year and how it translated to this season.

Speaker 8 (01:03:09):
Last year taught me how to be humble, like, told
me not to be entitled, told me like everything when
we give in to you're gonna have to work for it.

Speaker 5 (01:03:15):
It was kind of really a learning experience, trying to learn.

Speaker 8 (01:03:18):
From the roaster MafA Keith as well and the other
running backs, trying to see like how okay, just how
we do it at Clemson.

Speaker 5 (01:03:24):
So I really liked last year. It kind of gave
me like a feel for what's going on down here
in the valley.

Speaker 1 (01:03:29):
Izia MoU May was asked what he learned from Phil
MafA during his time with the former Clemson running back.

Speaker 8 (01:03:34):
And go hard honestly, just to have a running liss
attitude and just to never quit, never let them see
you sweat. So I really shout out to Maca.

Speaker 1 (01:03:41):
That David z and Moumee Clemson running back was asked
about kind of coming to Clemson and being humbled early
on and if he was expecting that because we.

Speaker 8 (01:03:49):
All know as a whole Clemson is the university to
talk to university, so being humbled as a part of
this process.

Speaker 5 (01:03:54):
Honestly, it's just.

Speaker 8 (01:03:55):
Football, Like he not everything's gonna give it to You're
not always gonna be that guy. And I'm glad that
I'm experiencing now and not later on the life. It's
just really not only is it like shaving me to
a man, but it's really helping me grow as well, honestly,
is it?

Speaker 1 (01:04:08):
New May was asking how he sees himself fitting in.

Speaker 8 (01:04:10):
Really focused every day, like you're gonna have a bad day,
You're gonna have a good day. I'm just gonna see
what I can take away from there and grow on it, honestly.

Speaker 1 (01:04:17):
David nz Moumay was asked how much things have slowed
down for him in his second season. In spring practice
at Clemson.

Speaker 8 (01:04:23):
I remember last hit. It was just like like a blur,
really like I was ding headlights. I remember coach he's
saying that.

Speaker 5 (01:04:29):
It was just like I heard this, but I.

Speaker 3 (01:04:31):
Don't know if I'm doing it.

Speaker 5 (01:04:32):
It was just a lot of overthinking, like a lot
of anxiety.

Speaker 8 (01:04:34):
And now it's just like kind of cool kind of chill.
You're still gonna have those nervous moments, but it's just more.

Speaker 3 (01:04:39):
Like, can I know what I'm doing now?

Speaker 5 (01:04:41):
Kind of chill. Getting more confident in myself. The main
thing about it is just really confidence.

Speaker 8 (01:04:46):
I'm trying to build my confidence every day. I probably
just say, learn how to be a college football player
because we go from high school. We go from just
taking the bar and running. But the small details are
the main thing. Just understanding as a bar here, you
gotta have low pad level. You gotta understand like the game.
You gotta understand what the linemen are doing. You gotta
understand what the defense is doing. Now, it's so much,

(01:05:07):
so much.

Speaker 1 (01:05:09):
Running back David izimu May was asked about a tweet
that was put out where he said, basically, you know,
the running back room is gonna be fine. It's gonna be.

Speaker 5 (01:05:16):
Fine just knowing my guys. Honestly, like if you look
at the running back room, we have those guys. I
believe we had a top running back room in the country, honestly,
because we're Clemson, we're the standards. So it's just like
that's really it. Honestly, I don't really try to worry
about the media.

Speaker 8 (01:05:31):
Honestly, Yeah, I just try to focus on my guys
because at the end of the day, the media is
the media.

Speaker 5 (01:05:36):
They're on the outside. I'm on the inside, so I
know what's really going on.

Speaker 1 (01:05:40):
He was also asked his initial thoughts on what he's
seen from freshman running back Gideon Davidson.

Speaker 5 (01:05:44):
Uh, that's my.

Speaker 8 (01:05:45):
Dog, really, that's my I look at him like my
little brother because I don't have one. But the kid's
gonna be special. Kind of reminds me of ETN. Like
he's very quick and he rocks stand of anomal purpose.
So he's gonna be that guy eventually.

Speaker 1 (01:05:58):
He's gonna be that guy eventually. That David Izziamume talked
about Gideon david He was also He was also asked
about Adam Randall's transition to the running back room and
what he sees from the former wide out talent, cut.

Speaker 8 (01:06:10):
Speed, power, He's just brought like a like another caliber, honestly,
Like that's a running back that you can look at
and learn from because he's a veteran as well, and
he understands the game not only from like the passing game,
but he's starting to understand on the running game, so
I'm starting to try and nitpick on what he sees
and just like kind of like talking to him about it, honestly.

Speaker 1 (01:06:28):
He was also asked about Adam Randall's presence in the
running back room and what it's like to have an
older guy, you know, kind of moving in.

Speaker 8 (01:06:35):
Oh, yeah, he's a leader. He uh, kind of the
standard the standard role, like we know to follow him.
We know, like whatever he does, kind of like he
leads the drills, so we follow behind him. And at
the same time, he's still learning, so like not he's
not perfectly what he's doing. But at the same time,
I know, like with Adam, goes like I'm gonna go
right behind him, see what he's doing. I'm gonna ask
him questions on what he's seen on that player stuff

(01:06:56):
like that, kind of like the mafar Row because you know,
you got.

Speaker 5 (01:06:58):
To the alpha dol, so you got to learn the leader, honestly.

Speaker 1 (01:07:02):
David ze Moumy was asked about Adam Randall's ability to
impact the offense by catching the ball out of the backfield.

Speaker 5 (01:07:07):
He's smooth, very smooth. You can still see the receiver
in him, honestly.

Speaker 8 (01:07:10):
I mean that's never gonna go away, but very smooth,
like he's just an athlete, like a freak athlete. It's
like six or four. I don't know how much you weigh,
but you could see he's stocky. So it's just crazy.
When he gets out on the field, he's running rounds
and then he goes in the backfield.

Speaker 5 (01:07:22):
It takes off. It's crazy to though, it's really crazy.

Speaker 1 (01:07:26):
In the era of the transfer portal, Izia Moumey decided
to stick it out for another season at Clympson. He
was asked about his decision to stay around Tigertown.

Speaker 8 (01:07:35):
I really just think like believing in God, honestly, because
I'm a big man on my face, just like I'm
here for a purpose. Like I could be anywhere else
in the world. I could be in California anywhere, but
I'm here for a purpose, and I know that God's
not gonna allow me to leave here without a purpose.
So just honestly, just trusting the word, listening to my
support system, and just believing in my coaches as well,
just believing that they found.

Speaker 6 (01:07:56):
It right now.

Speaker 1 (01:07:57):
Running back David izia Moumy was asked what he feels
like he brings to the table for Clemson fans that
maybe haven't seen him a whole lot as a running
back for the Clemson Tigers.

Speaker 8 (01:08:06):
I try to always relate to old players just so
I can get y'all a little picture, kind of like
Wayne Gomman, but like Etn as well, like I got
the power, I got to speed, and I'm still learning
how to work. Honestly, still a process every day when
I home in Iland, It's gonna be special.

Speaker 5 (01:08:20):
That's all I can say, is it.

Speaker 1 (01:08:22):
A Moumey was asked about some of the things that
he felt like he still maybe needs to improve on
a little bit.

Speaker 5 (01:08:27):
Oh, I mean understanding the concept anymore, chemistry.

Speaker 8 (01:08:31):
You're just working out myself, like working on the little
details footwear, pad high things of that extra.

Speaker 1 (01:08:37):
So there you go, David IZI Amumey, Clemson running back
again as the Tigers continue to push through spring football.
Is he a Moumey a red shirt freshman for the
Clemson Tigers this season, and again a unique case study
in that room right now because of really the experience.

(01:09:02):
You know, I don't question coaches all that often, but
there every once in a while I run into a
situation where I'm like, why didn't that guy maybe get
more touches and more opportunity, And I know you don't
want to burn his red shirt. But the red shirt
freshman six foot two and ten pounds out of Acworth, Georgia,
David izi Amume, speaking there with the media yesterday, looking

(01:09:25):
at his stats this past season. He got to play
in five games, but preserve his red shirt because the
game against SMU and Texas are both post regular season
matches or games, so they don't count against you. So
he played three regular season games, ten carries, sixty two
total yards for the then true freshman running back David

(01:09:50):
Isi A Mume. All right, quick break, We'll continue with
more here on the show The Shasta south Land on
a Wednesday afternoon on Fox Sports Radio fourteen hundred, Clempson
Sports sw Fox Sports Radio fourteen hundred, the website Clempsonsports,
saw dot com, Twitter at Clemson Sports Instagram, TikTok we
are where you are. College basketball back tomorrow seven to

(01:10:10):
nine pm. The East Region, second seeded Alabama in six
seed a BYU facing off on CBS. Later in the
East Region, top seeded Duke and four seeded Arizona will
face off at nine thirty nine. So the East Region

(01:10:31):
games on CBS Alabama favor by five and a half,
Duke favor by nine and a half. The West region
top seeded Florida versus four seeded Maryland seven thirty nine
on TBS and True TV, and then in the West
third seeded ar excuse me, third seeded Texas Tech, and
ten seed at Arkansas at ten o nine on TBS

(01:10:53):
and True TV. That's tomorrow. Then on Friday, same start times.
The South Region gets us going with the two seed
in the South, Michigan State and the six seed Old
Miss facing off seven to nine on CBS and any

(01:11:16):
other match up there. In the South region, it will
be top seed at Auburn, the number one seed in
the tournament in fifth seed to Michigan nine thirty nine
on CBS, then at seven thirty nine. In the Midwest
region is second seed to Tennessee and third seed to
Kentucky seven thirty nine on TBS and True TV. And
then in the Midwest top seed a Houston and four

(01:11:37):
seed to Purdue at ten oh nine and tickets to
get in to see that Old Miss Michigan State Auburn
Michigan matchup. In the South region with those teams, two
from the SEC, two from the Big Ten, the two
Michigan schools, all of that in Atlanta, dominating the other numbers.

(01:12:01):
Four hundred and five dollars to get into that venue.
The closest to that in the ticket prices is one
hundred and seventy four to get in up in Newark,
New Jersey. For that Alabama BYU Duke Arizona Regional. I mean,

(01:12:23):
just absolutely smashing the other numbers. Four hundred and five
dollars to get in by comparison to those other contests.
So that's what you've got on the docket. Over the
next couple of days as we whittle it down to Monday.
Get this Monday, we'll be talking about the final four.

(01:12:45):
I know, it doesn't seem possible that we go from
sixty four and all the hoopla just not this Sunday
but last Sunday, to this coming Monday we're at the
final four. But that's how quick things go with the
NCAA tournament. And that's part of the reason that for
a lot of people, this is unequivocally the best time

(01:13:06):
of year, the best sports time of year, and occasionally
you do get to have the Masters and Clemson Spring Game,
and a little baseball all involved in again. Clemson baseball
coming up tonight in just a little bit as they
will take on Presbyterian, looking to bounce back from their

(01:13:29):
eight to two loss yesterday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Two
twenty first rank Coastal Carolina. Now, one of the other
things that I know a lot of people are following
is the transfer portal for Clemson basketball. And you know,

(01:13:50):
you see these names that are out there social media, etc.
Guys who are in the portal, you might not know
much about him, whether or not you should want your
school to be involved with them or not. I mean
that's the hard part, right because recruiting in this era

(01:14:12):
is not just about the talent on the court. I
think it's also needs to be about the individual and
what they bring to the table, much like it does
in recruiting. But now that windows so different and players

(01:14:33):
do have a chance to be developed. Well, there are
reports out there from Sam Kazer that Clemson has reached
out to produce fort Wayne transfer Jalen Jackson. Jackson averaged
nineteen points and four rebounds for the Mastadions in the
Horizon League. You know, you just look at the kid.

(01:14:54):
He looks like a baller, looks like he can play.
But you're talking about a whole other level of basketball
by comparison to what you want to play in the ACC. Furthermore,
you know, when I'm on social media, I see some
guys going the portal, like, I'll give you one New

(01:15:15):
Mexico guard Donovan Dent, the Mountain West Player of the year.
I'm not telling you Clemson is gonna get this kid
by any means, but he's a junior six' to two
average twenty point six points per, game six point four
assist as, well shot forty one for forty one percent from.
Three now he's considering a potential return To New. Mexico

(01:15:41):
BUT i just don't know how you keep up with
it all if you're a, COACH i don't know how
you realistically and reasonably build rosters and and hope to have.
Consistency like we can all sit here and wring our

(01:16:01):
hands about the talent that's Left clemson through graduation in
the portal in, basketball and we can also look at
how Good clempson has been over the past two. Seasons
and it's easy to assume that you're not gonna be
in THE ncaa tournament next year just because of the
size of the hole in the. Tire the size of
the hole in the tire makes you feel like there's

(01:16:23):
no way they can patch this up before the year gets.
Going if they, do they're gonna be running around there
like mcguiver got it with a stick of bubble. Gum
it's a rental rap like to hold it. Together Watching you,
know the number of kids that got into the portal
during the first, DAY i believe set a new mark
and you just shake your head at what's happened to college.

(01:16:49):
Sports AND i DON'T i JUST i can't make my
brain can't say this is good for these. Kids it
just it can't. Be it can't be good for the.
Fans rarely DO i talk to anybody anymore about college
sports where they get where that's not the. Topic, LIKE
i don't love what's, happening and if the people that

(01:17:10):
support it don't love, it then they don't support. It
then there's no value in. It And i'm, cautioning cautioning
the college world about. This we've got to figure this
thing out because right now it is still absolutely terrible
for the fans and they are the driving factor behind the.

(01:17:30):
Value all, right quick Breat we'll put a ball on
the show right after.

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

(01:17:54):
have you? Done always are the. Same we win.

Speaker 1 (01:18:44):
Sometime final segment on A. Wednesday thank you To, mike
you for joining, Us thanks To Terrence oglesbek for joining us.
YESTERDAY a little shift, there but maybe we can work
T o in more often A wednesdays and Keep michael
on his normal day either, way especially during basketball season

(01:19:06):
With terrence's insight man lots of fun and we talked
a little bit about the transfer a portal with him as.
Well but you, KNOW i was thinking during the, break
in addition to all of the other stuff THAT i
brought up before about, it you KNOW i may have
left off one key factor that influenced the game for

(01:19:29):
years before nil and the transfer portal and has heard,
it AND i think this is making it even. Worse
and that's knowing the teams and the opponents that you
were going to face in these. SPORTS i think that
is arguably as bad as losing your own. Players, Oh
i'm just.

Speaker 4 (01:19:49):
Smart, Oh i'm just.

Speaker 3 (01:19:51):
Smart hey TEM MARKI i mean he's A.

Speaker 1 (01:19:54):
R think about it for a, second when when we
were growing, up you knew the G LIKE i just
went through those duke teams With latner And Bobby hurley
And Grant, hill you, Know Cherokee. PARKS i, mean you
could go on and on and name those names. Today
and what's sad and inconvenient and makes fans disinterested is,

(01:20:20):
that you, know LIKE i, SAID i said On Monday, show,
Right i'm working in the garage and i hear Nor
chadommere And i'm, LIKE i know that. Name and of,
course when you cover recruiting the way we, do there
are there are a lot of names that come. Across
AND i was just, thinking, MAN i THINK i know that.
Name AND i turned and saw him AND i told my,
SON i, said look him. UP i think he played

(01:20:41):
it At. Miami there's no reason that it would make
any sense to college sports fans that your rosters have
less retention and less continuity then rosters in THE nba

(01:21:04):
or college football versus pro, football AND i guess it's
not as bad with pro football as it is with
college basketball because there's only five guys on the. Court
but to think about What Brad Brown nils got to
do to fix This Clemson tiger offense or this Club's

(01:21:26):
tiger basketball team and get it to where it could
possibly qualify for AN ncaa tournament berth this. Year And i'm.
Glad i'm glad there's the availability to go out and
bring in. GUYS i, Mean i'm thankful that. Exists but
while it's happening At clemson we talked about this, week
it's happening. Everywhere and that means when you turn on

(01:21:47):
that game next, season who ever that player, is whoever
that player is that you detested this, Year let's say
It's Cooper flag and he could very easily be a
one and. DONE i know there's been conversations about him,
returning But Cooper, flag if we were living in the

(01:22:08):
era where he played for three or four years, collegiately
Like Tim, duncan do you know what it would be
like to have that roster all together and to watch.
IT i went through that list of great teams in
the history of the acc And i'm gonna say something
here that might shock. YOU i don't think you'll ever
see a better team than those five that we just,

(01:22:29):
mentioned whether you agree with the order those five are,
in you will never see a better team in The
Atlantic Coast conference than those because those teams had. Continuity
those teams grew together as a. Team that's. It that's.

(01:22:50):
It the biggest difference in all of this is the,
continuity and that affects how the fans feel about these
teams and the. Players and on the flip, SIDE i
think it's going to affect the rosters and how these

(01:23:13):
teams play together or don't play, together and how they
struggle in type moments because they haven't been. TOGETHER i
think that's as big of an issue down the road
for sports college sports is anything is in. Football maybe
we get some argument about it because it is a

(01:23:36):
lot of players and there's not as much, turnover BUT
i don't think you'll ever see even if a team
goes out and gets the best guys you can find
from the, PORTAL i think we would be hard pressed
to look at that hodgepodge group of players from other
teams that play together for one year and go, yeah
you know, WHAT i think that was better than that

(01:23:56):
seventy FOUR Nc state team or that ninety One dude.
TEAM i think that becomes a big, issue not in
the sense of the, sport but just in the sense
OF i don't think you're gonna be setting records like.
That you might have a team that wins more games

(01:24:16):
and has a historically good, year Like clemson, does BUT
i don't know that you'll ever have a team that
will have such a historically good year that people will
look at it and, go that was one of the
Best i've ever, seen because part of being the best
you ever saw is you've seen some growth in those
guys over the years and you kind of, know you, go,
man remember where he, was and, man how good is He?
Now you don't have that. ANYMORE i think that's sad for.

(01:24:39):
Sports All, right we'll be back tomorrow on The. Thursday
Timper ray joins. Us until, then as, always you'll take
care now and Goat.

Speaker 5 (01:24:45):
Tigers