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Posted by Willy Mac
I’m so excited about this weekend, I can barely contain myself. This is promising to be an exciting weekend given the obvious as well as our recent site change and the national exposure that we and the game itself is/are getting. Just the other day I was watching ESPN and saw the commercial for the game this week and went crazy as it was centered around Howard’s Rock. You can check it out here. The new College Game Day site is up and running which you can also see. The videos on the site are a bit heavy handed with Bama’s balls but still, it’s looking good.
There are still a lot of Clemson fans that don’t know their way around Atlanta. Given that some of my family is from Atlanta and that Chili lived there for a short time, we’re here to provide some helpful hints and ideas to fill time for you folks unfamiliar with the area. First of all, you probably want to check out the Clemson Athletic Department’s tips to avoid traffic due to massive road construction downtown and in the surrounding areas. Seriously, I’ve been there a few times this summer and it is hell. Don’t just go gallivanting around without a plan thinking that you are gonna be okay. Once you get downtown, stay there or take a cab where ever you go. MARTA is acceptable during the daytime, just don’t forget to bring your shiv as things like this can occur:
I’m pressin’ charges! (nsfw, kinda)I’ve provided links to some cool things that might interest a few of you taking the trip to Atlanta. These are loosely based around my own itinerary and are labeled with the days of the weekend as those would be the be the best days to visit said establishments.
Friday
- For you high society folk, I suggest checking out Kevin Rathbun’s steakhouse and restaurant as well as the Krog Bar next door. The restaurant is top notch and the Krog Bar is a hole in the wall also owned by Rathbun that serves wines, salted meats, and cheeses while you wait to be seated at the restaurant.
- For you folks staying outside of the city (the side closer to SC) and want to keep it quiet the night before the big day, I suggest you check out the Movie Tavern. Great films, great service, and unbelievable prices. It’s got pretty good food as well as decent prices. I know that the things I paid for there I would have to pay a lot more at any other movie theater. Oh, and they serve booze. And food. Like real food, not just the ballpark or movie theater kind.
- Lastly, is the Brickstore Pub. For you inexperienced or redneck palatted beer drinkers (I’m looking at you, Tiger SACK), stay away. But for those of you that enjoy testing your livers and putting down some good, high gravity, Bavarian beers look no further than this place. It’s dark, it’s cozy, and I promise you that this place will deliver. Just watch your intake. I’ll probably be checking this place out. Not that far from downtown either. Just a brief cab ride.
Saturday
- Essentially, I’ve heard that College Game Day will be broadcasting from Olympic Park in the heart of the city. Good thing for me as it’s only a few short blocks away from my hotel. I’m pretty much dedicating my entire Saturday morning to gameday. I’ve been corresponding with a guy that works for ESPN, so, hopefully something cool pans out for me.
- Afterwards, most Clemson fans in the know will probably head to Stats Sports Bar & Grill, just a few blocks further from Olympic Park. Here is the physical contact info you’ll need, but asking where it is will probably suffice. That place was rocking for not only last year’s Tech game but the Peach Bowl as well. They have tables there with kegs in them. Cmon! That’s freaking awesome!
- I’m sure there will be some sort of big-to-do with the ESPNZone in Buckhead given the heavy presence of the big red network in the metro area. The place itself is pretty cool and the last time I went I had a decent burger, but it’s so far out of the way that I wouldn’t worry about it unless you’re staying in Buckhead.
Sunday
- Ok, I know this sounds like a bad idea, but I’m throwing it out there anyway. Six Flags Over Georgia. Yes it’s labor day weekend but it’s still fun and the park will definitely be open on Sunday. Here’s a helpful link to navigate around.
- There’s also always the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke, but I’m assuming those will be just as packed as Six Flags would be. You could always check out the big Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville on the way back home for you South Carolinians.
Lastly, don’t forget that on Monday, September 1st, Chik-Fil-A will be giving out a free three piece chicken strip meal to anyone wearing ANY football logo… be it college, pro, high school, pee wee, whatever. Check that out. I plan on going to the five nearest to me and making a day trip out if it. Why not.
FIVE MORE DAYS
Word on the street is we will have some crazy new concoction for uniforms.
Posted by Willy Mac
NEWS
- RAPE!… AND BUTT FUCKING!… IN GEORGIA OF ALL PLACES! Things have been desperate on their campus for so long that someone finally snapped over at Georgia Tech. Paul Johnson suspended Jerrard Tarrant from the team indefinitely. Kind of interesting that we’re kind of going through the same situation, though, this one seems pretty legit. Tarrant was contending for a starting cornerback position as a redshirt freshman coming out of spring ball.
Remember to keep it suave, even in your sexual assault mugshot.- Four players (Spiller, Davis, Harper, and Kelly) have been named to the Maxwell watch list. Clemson joins Southern Cal and Oklahoma as the top schools with candidates on the list, each having four. Ricky Sapp and Michael Hamlin have also been named to the Bednarik preseason list as well.
-All but two Clemson freshman signees have made it to campus and enrolled in second summer session. The two men down are Xavier Brewer still needs to take a summer class back home. Jared Crittenton didn’t meet our standards and was released from his LOI. He has signed with Memphis.
-Kyle Parker was named to the Freshman All-American team for being a stud with a bat. Now if only he could figure out that whole defense thing, we’d be great. I’m still predicting he never plays a down of football for Clemson.
- The Deandre McDaniel’s plot thickens as the women who filed the charges against him was identified as Ms. Abra Weeks. Good thing that we’re not UGA or USC or the like because her getting killed by psychotic fans right now would not help Deandre at all. Bowden plays it smart and remains mum on the situation.
- Graduate Assistant Michael Morrell has been hired on as the new director of men’s basketball, replacing Josh Posterino who replaced Shaka Smart who accepted a job at Florida. Here’s a run down: Morrell -> Director of Men’s Basketball; Posterino -> Assistant Coach; Shaka -> Gonzo to Florida; Clemson Women’s Basketball -> Could still get beat by any girl’s JV high school team in the upstate.
- The US Army Corps of Engineers tells their residents of Orlando “Just chill out man, it’s not a big deal. Don’t worry about it…” regarding bombs that they may miss during a cleanup of a one-time bombing range from WWII turned local neighborhood.
RECOMMENDATIONS
DFIG Recommends: Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka – we’re not big fans of the Firefly Muscadine Vodka. Terrible. We wouldn’t recommend that to anyone. We do, however, promote the sweet nectar that they bottle named Sweet Tea Vodka. We’ve never tasted a better liquor drink in our lives. Here’s essentially all you need to do:
- Fill one glass with your preference of cubed ice.
- Fill glass 3/4 full of Fire Fly Sweet Vodka.
- Fill rest with Minute Made lemonade.
BEST. DRINK. EVER.
Posted by Willy Mac
If you haven’t heard about Solid Orange Weekend then [insert hilarious yet subtly quirky "out of radio contact" remark here]. Clemson’s new found call to the motherland for pilgrimage has been issued. Thankfully, you have me to guide you through the key points of the weekend that would interest your average DFIG reader.
One of the main pulls is the home series against the #4 ranked UNC Tarheels baseball team this weekend. As of late, our boys on the diamond have had a rough go of things and pulling some wins out this weekend could be really exciting. Freshmen students can check out free giveaways on Friday at the lawn at Littlejohn before the game.
Of course there is the annual Spring Game. Last weeks scrimmage was apparently shit, so let’s hope that our guys come ready to show off. The game is scheduled to start at 1pm. No idea if they’re still having the equipment sales beforehand as they have in years past. I have no idea how the parking is going to go seeing as this is the first year they’ve had the Solid Orange Live. In years past, Chili and I have been able to roll up and easily find an orange spot directly in front of the hill, tailgate, and then walk right in that gate. As I say again, I don’t know how parking is going to go now and also I don’t know how cool the cops will be this year with drinking on the streets but if I had to guess they’ll probably be pretty lax. Here’s a handy parking site from the CUAD or check out a map below.
Click to enlargeFor those of you with kids you might want to check out the field day to be held on the lawn at Littlejohn from 10am till the spring game starts. Info can be found here. Also, I think there might be a carnival on the old practice soccer fields (now known as the parking field in the middle of Littlejohn, Fike, and Death Valley) in town so look for that. Don’t quote me on that last one but I think it’s in the cards. If it is happening, look for it to be going on all weekend. As cheezy as it sounds, it’s insanely fun to experience one while hammered. No peer pressure, but I’m just saying. It’s as fun as you make it.
As Chili mentioned earlier, the Sons of Clemson game will be held before the spring game and it marks yet another day that Danny steps foot on Frank Howard field. Here is some CUAD approved literature on the game with info.
I’m more than sure the Esso as well as many of the fine establishments downtown will be open before, during, and after the spring game. Personally I’m going to shoot for TTT’s Upstairs because I like to drink PBR, watch grainy satellite feeds of random sports, inhale moldy Winston smoke, and have good ol’ boys give me seething “Eat shit and die” looks for invading their private territory.
Also, if a few of you are planning on going to the ticket office to bitch about seat equity please do me two favors: 1) Just don’t do it. This is the way most college football programs are run (which is the way it should be). The people who pay and donate more money get better parking and better seats; 2) At least be nice to the people behind the counter… they have souls too, even if they don’t show it at work. Otherwise go sit on a rusty nail, pal.
For those of you with Facebook, you can check out the nifty and easy to navigate Solid Orange Live group.
Lastly, there are some pretty awesome acts playing on Friday (alternative and rock) and Saturday (country music) nights. Below is a list of some of the performers. Personally I’d like to check out the Wailers, Eddie Money, and Wyclef Jean. You can find schedules in that first link at the top or on the Facebook group page. Also, $35 for the regular crowd, $25 for student with CUID. Expect to pay a $2 handling fee at the gate if you don’t pre-order. Pretty neat all in all in that since Freedom Weekend Aloft left Anderson, Clemson can step up and hit one out of the park.
UPDATE (04/11/08): If you’re a commuter student that parks and takes the bus, don’t even bother coming to class today. Just take the day off and start your weekend early. Parking and bus routes are beyond screwed. Near Death Valley is figuratively a ground zero for commuter students today.
Posted by Willy Mac
NEWS
- The AAFL will probably fold before training camp opens a la their wikipedia entry. It was a cool concept while it lasted but because of the bad economy, no major backer, and no television contract it looks like our friend Marcus Katz will be needing to find himself a new job. Marcus, if you’re out there and still have us on google alert, let us know whats up in the comments section.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Willy Mac: Pat O’Briens – Whether you’re in Memphis (sorry that you’d be there), San Antonio, Cancun, Orlando, or New Orleans (the one I went to), you’re bound to get a good stiff drink. For some reason they’re stable drink is a non-Irish hurricane (which I ironically pounded in New Orleans). This thing was so strong and so sweet that I nearly had to get Liberty Medical on the phone cause it nearly gave me the Beetus. Also, mixed drinks are your best bet as singles are usually a tad more than a half and half and doubles are pretty much just full glasses of alcohol stirred with a Q-Tip dipped in the desired mixer. Best shots in New Orleans too. Also, you get to take some of the glass ware with you and they even package it up so you look extra touristy. If you’d like to dry their hurricane mix you can go to just about any grocery store and buy their death in a bag. Best served on rocks and not blended. Also, check out their online store as they sell hats, t-shirts, hurricane glasses, and several mixers as well. Just follow the link up top.
Posted by Willy Mac
NEWS
- Cliff Hammonds was named to the ESPN All-District Team. He is a senior with a 3.2 GPA. Impressive, but what’s even more impressive is that he’s a double major in architecture and psychology. Congratulations Cliff. But seriously, the only career I could see a former college athlete with superb grades and those two majors winding up as would be a Ghostbuster.
- The State has an interesting article about Clemson’s recruiting of Jamie Harper and how the high school star almost changed his mind.
Clemson (16-5, 4-3 ACC) @ Virginia (11-9, 1-6 ACC). Thursday, February 7th, 7:00 PM, ESPN2 HD, XM Radio Channel 190, WCCPFM 104.9 in the upstate (Live feed).
Line: Clemson -3
The more you know: Clemson is 63.5% as a team on the year for free throws, but have gone 24/30 in the past two games. The Tigers also lost to UVA last year in Littlejohn in terrible fashion. Shitting the bed in the final minutes of the game, they allowed the Cavaliers to score 15 unanswered points and beat them.
Our take:
Willy Mac: At first glance I thought that this could be a great opportunity for a hiccup game but UVA really has been that bad this year. Granted that they’ve nearly beaten some good teams in the final seconds, they’ve also lost to some decent at best teams like Seton Hall and absolutely go pounded by Xavier. I think if we play smart and just make some of our free throws we should be fine and come away with a win. Considering injuries and players being banged up, we’re playing some really good ball right now sub the loss to Miami. I just hope the refs actually call a clean game and not one like they did against Boston College and Wake Forest with all the holding and arm push-offs.
OP is tired of the no-calls for holding as mentioned briefly Monday night in his show.
Chili: Forthcoming.
Posted by Willy Mac
NEWS
A depleted Tiger basketball team faces a tough challenge in BC’s Tyrese RiceRECOMMENDATION
Moe Joe Coffee Company – Run by a former Clemson football player and graduate, Moe Joe is the only true local coffee place out of a handful that have popped up in Clemson. You’ve got the national Starbuck’s, that crap store in Bilo that I can’t even pronounce, Spill the Beans which started in Greenville, and Jittery Joes, a UGA based company. I can vouch that it’s some of the better coffee in town. Oh yeah, the fact that they have great food and, oh yeah, my favorite, a good selection of premium cigars. Just do me a favor and buy local because not only is it a quality product but I’m just sick and tired of seeing national chains come into Clemson and force local businesses into closing down.
