Posted by Chili

Fellow Clemson blogger and Block-C reader Charlie has done some serious research and gotten to the bottom of Clemson’s early 80s NCAA sanctions. Check out the post right here. Clemson’s infractions and whether or not they were Danny Ford’s fault are an issue often brought up here and on other Clemson sites, and this post should go a long way towards clearing up some of the ambiguities surrounding just what Clemson was popped for and who is to blame.

Was the probation of 1982 Danny Ford’s fault? If so, how much?

The answer is yes, I think its reasonable to put some blame on Danny Ford. Contrary to my own prior beliefs, the major infractions did not all occur under Charley Pell. In fact, a majority of them occured under the early part of Ford’s tenure. A large majority were actually perpetrated by Boosters around the program, particularly cash payouts, rides, meals and free gifts of some sort (T-shirts, hats, shoes, etc.). In some cases, the assistant coaches provided their cars for transportation to or from summer camps and recruiting visits.

Charlie has really done his research here. The answers he finds aren’t always the ones we necessarily want to hear, but that’s life.

Posted by Willy Mac

For those of you actually going up to Boston to catch the game, we’ve put together a list of some things to check out as Willy Mac went up there back in 2006.  If you haven’t gone up to Boston for the game you should check it out sometime. Since there are a bunch of Tiger fans staying near or at Copley Square, most of the items we’ve put on this list are located close by there.

Be sure to pack plenty of warm clothes, thermal underwear, and jackets (Thanks mom!) as it will be very cold, ranging from lows in the mid twenties to highs in the mid fifties.  We’ve found a ten day forecast from Weather.com for you guys.

Vinny T’s

This is a great Italian restaurant that is extremely accommodating. Dress nice but not too nice.  The menu is fairly priced but you might want to set up reservations in advance if eating dinner there.  Here is a link to their corporate website.  Here is a link to the contact info and a review for the restaurant near Copley Square. At first we thought that Vinny Testaverde had something to do with this joint but apparently this isn’t so.

Copley Place shopping mall

There is a pretty good mall set up and connected to the major hotels.  It kind of resembles a really nice Peachtree Plaza.  If anything, it’d be a nice suggestion if you’re bringing chicks along for the trip.

Cigar Masters

Cigar Masters is a very good cigar lounge/shop located just a few blocks from the Copley Square area.  The website says you need reservations but Willy Mac went there in 2006 and got in just fine without any.

Sam Adams Brewery

This is probably one of the cooler parts of a trip to Boston.  You can check out their tour schedules on their website. It’s not the main brewery, but it is a lot of fun.  They take you through the history of the Boston Beer Company, Jim Koch, and the process they use to make the beer.  At the end there is a gift shop as well as a free pitcher of whatever booze they have on tap.  Definitely a must see.

Boylston Street

Located just a few blocks from Copley, this is where a bunch of good bars, pubs, and restaurants are located.  When in doubt, just find that street and you’ll be fine.  One tip: the streets heading towards the bay are all in alphabetical order if you get lost.  Oh yeah, one more tip: Don’t go to a bar named Ramrod.  Don’t even google it.  Trust me, I fell on that grenade for you already.

Posted by Chili

ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich reports that CJ Spiller will play against Boston College after missing the Georgia Tech game with a partially torn hamstring.

The AP tells us how Clemson’s star seniors are coping with the slew of losses experienced this season. James Davis is especially bearing the brunt of shit talking about his decision to return this season.

I wasn’t sure what happened the other day. It looked like the clouds started to part and the sun suddenly shined brighter. I heard a chorus of angels, their voices like buttermilk, singing in concert to some magical heavenly song. Well, that or it was some Hank Jr. Pretty sure it was Bocephus, now that I think about it. Dabo Swinney met up with Danny Ford on the Ford farm out in Pendelton yesterday and Heaven surely smiled on the Clemson boys of Alabama.  Swinney wouldn’t discuss specifics of the meeting, but did state that the two knew a lot of the same people and had essentially been thrust into the same situation, which we’ve covered before. Both were brought up under the tutelage of Alabama greats, both were thrust into the Clemson head coaching position as young assistants, and both love pepper vinegar on their collards. (I’m just speculating on that last one, but who doesn’t love pepper vinegar on their collards? GREAT MEN LOVE GREAT GREENS)

It’s a sad day for Post & Courier readers as we learn that Clemson coverage specialist Larry Williams is bolting for Rivals and Tiger Illustrated. Guess we’ll have to pony up for a membership now.

Clemson defensive coordinator Vic Koenning was many people’s choice to take the interim head coaching position when  Tommy left. We heard rumblings that he was dismayed when Dabo was given the job and Koenning was convinced to buy in. Upstate Today tells us how Koenning is dealing with mixed emotions about the job and his loyalty to Tommy Bowden.

Kevin Alexander has replaced one defensive star in Gaines Adams and is currently holding off another star at the defensive end position in manbeast Da’Quan Bowers.

Paul Strelow at The State lays out Clemson’s new offensive plan of attack.

COACHING RUMOR DU JOUR

Brett Jensen on Primtime With the Pack Man (the best local sports show in the Carolinas) stated that the agent to Butch Davis, who’s pro-Clemson job comments we reported earlier this week, has reached out to Clemson about Butch’s interest in the Clemson job. Check out Mark Packer’s site here.

According to today’s article in The State:

EXTRA POINTS

North Carolina coach Butch Davis told reporters he had had contact with Clemson about its coaching vacancy, as was reported on a Charlotte radio program.

Interesting. Butch Davis is one hell of a coach, that’s for sure, but a lot of Clemson fans are weighing the pros and cons of a guy looking for another job two years into his current tenure. Chances are he and his agent are using Clemson for a little leverage on a new contract.

***UPDATE*** The State retracted the above quote, which is now printed on their website as “North Carolina coach Butch Davis told reporters he had NOT (emphasis mine) had contact with Clemson about its coaching vacancy, as was reported on a Charlotte radio program.”

In light of that,

Posted by Willy Mac

We were listening to Dan Scott’s radio show on WCCPFM this morning and he covered an article that was posted on The Bleacher Report a few days ago about college basketball coaches that should be on the hot seat for this upcoming season.  The article is a blatant example of how to write an article and do absolutely zero research on a subject that you are completely unfamiliar with.  The article, The Road to the Final Four at Ford Field: Coaches Whose Seats are Hot, Hot, Hot, was penned by Jameson Fleming.

If you start the article out, it seems fine enough.  It lists in the number one spot Northwestern coach Bill Carmody.  Carmody has gone 3 – 33 in conference play over the last two years.  Then, just below him at number two is Clemson head coach Oliver Purnell.  Did you hear us? I SAID THAT HE LISTED AS OLIVER PURNELL AS THE SECOND MOST COACH IN THE COUNTRY WHO SHOULD BE ON THE HOT SEAT. OLIVER PURNELL ON A HOT SEAT.  HOT SEAT.  LARGE WORDS IN BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS.  IMPORTANCE!!!!

Let’s peruse through the reasons that Jameson Fleming is wrong. By the way, his  name just screams, “I’m a nerd.  No, not the Georgia Tech kind… worse than that.”

- It’s OBVIOUS that he DIDN’T do ONE BIT of RESEARCH for this article.  Because googling phrases like “Oliver Purnell” or “Clemson basketball wiki” is way too hard.  Standing on a metaphorical soap box and just spouting biased opinion is much better journalism… or at least easier.

- He’s been at The Bleacher Report for seven months and he’s a senior writer.  The guys over there tried to get us to write for them about four months ago (back when we were DFIG) and we pretty much told them no.  They continued begging so we finally told them that they could feed our articles but we were going to do zero work.  Hrm.  Following that progression, where is the DFIG article feed in this chain of command?

- Oh, ok.  It’s obvious why you should be writing on matters related to Clemson.  Because you go to Syracuse University.  And you’re a broadcast journalism student…  at a school that is 850 miles away.  Great.  Grand.  You’re an idiot.

- Wait… is that your profile picture?  That’s… you?

Wait… hold on.  This is better:

That’s because just like in the movie your name and your journalism belong in MADE UP FUCKING FAIRY TALE LAND, FAGGLE. You’re a douchebaggot (see what I did thar?)  Next time, do your homework. Please.  Purnell had two straight disappointing seasons?  What are you, huffing adhesive spray mixed with ether?  Clemson basketball used to be terrible.  At least it’s respectable now.  Believe it or not, that first disappointing season was an improvement on the season before that.  And that second disappointing season… catching on yet, Fleming?  Get it together before the owners over there fire you and give DFIG newsfeed the title of “senior writer”.

**UPDATE** You’ve got to give him credit.  Jameson nutted up and changed his article.  We were hard on him but cmon, it was fun as hell.  We do appreciate you volleying back and forth with us.

Posted by Chili

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