Clemson beat the snot out of South Carolina on Sunday, 19-6. With the win, Clemson took the series in the this year’s new, 3-game, in-state rivalry format.

• After last night’s road win over FSU, I took a deep breath. However now is definitely not the time for the basketball team to relax. They’re still something of a bubble team with 2 regular season games remaining. Next up is GT, at home fortunately. The last game is Sunday at Wake Forest. Wake is on a three game skid and just lost at home to UNC.
• The baseball team remains undefeated after sweeping Wright State over the weekend. With the wins I can now claim collegiate baseball dominance over my dad, a Miami University alum, and my brother a Wright State alum who even made a decent run to be a walk-on for the Raiders many years ago.
• From the NFL combine, we get some reports of the best 40 times. Per the Buffalo News:
  

  The fastest running back was California’s Jahvid Best at 4.35 seconds. Next was Clemson’s C.J. Spiller at 4.37 seconds.

  The fastest time among receivers was run by Clemson’s Jacoby Ford, who was timed in 4.28 seconds, according to the NFL Network.

• The Bills are apparently taking a look at Charlie Whitehurst. Maybe he’ll end up getting some playing time within the next 5 years.
• Lastly, Khalil Greene’s fresh $750k contract with the Rangers has been voided. Hopefully Khalil can get his shit together.

• The basketball team takes the court tonight against UNC. The game is in Littlejohn, so the Tigers might have a chance. Tip is at 9:05, The OP has your pre-game information and links.
• The assault charges against Trevor Adair have been dropped. Ultimately he will only have to pay a $1100 fine for violating the noise ordinance.
• Greg Wallace speculates that Butch Davis and David Cutcliffe will be considered candidates for the now-vacant Tennessee head coaching gig. Cutcliffe’s ties to UT make it natural that his name would come up, but it will be hard for him to overcome his mediocre tenure at Ole Miss.
• Khalil Green has signed on with the Texas Rangers as a utility infielder. It’s a 1-year contract worth a reported $750k.
• Speaking of baseball, the college season is quickly approaching. Clemson’s first game is scheduled for February 19th against Miami University.

Update: Vegas Insider puts the consensus line at Clemson -4.5.

Update 2: With 7:12 in the game, I just realized that Roy Williams is wearing one of the ugliest ties in recorded history and that Clemson has lost sight of the need to play to win the game.

Update 3: My fears have gone unrealized and Clemson prevailed easily. Trevor Booker is a joy to watch. The on-court, post-game interview with Booker was a bust because the noise made it impossible to communicate.

• Clemson hosts 10-1 Western Carolina tonight at 7:30 PM. The CBS Sports preview notes that Clemson is 9-0 all time against the Catamounts. It should be a good game.
• Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released its preseason Top40. Clemson checks in at #16. Other notables include Virginia (#3), Georgia Tech (#6), Florida State (#7), Miami (#12) and North Carolina (#13). Such is life in the ACC baseball world: being a top-20 team means being a mediocre conference team.
• Kyle Parker’s future as a football player remains up in the air. As I’ve said before, I’d take the money and run if I were him. Fortunately for Clemson football fans, I’m sure most college athletes don’t think like me.

Outside the lines…

• Clemson is escalating it’s war on the squirrels. I’m not exactly sure what university the squirrels belong to, or even what sport they play, but I support this just war.

  Honestly though, they’re talking about trapping and euthanizing about 200 squirrels, and I’m wondering why they’re going to let anyone eat the goddamn things?

• Clemson’s Mayor Abernathy trots out his standard defense for everything he proposes, “If we only save one life, we’ve done our job.” No you haven’t, you dumb fuck! You’re job is not to intrude in everyone’s life to immeasurable levels to “save one life.” You don’t understand how much I hate this guy. I’d rather the mayorship be run by Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier.

  In this case the mayor is defending a proposed text messaging ban. Frankly, the fines for these things tend to be so miniscule, and the chances of being caught so small, that the bans are pretty much symbolic. But let me be very clear about one thing: STAY OFF YOUR GODDAMN PHONE IN ALL CAPACITIES WHEN YOU’RE DRIVING YOU FUCKING DIPSHITS!

  And stay off my lawn, too!

I think the headline says it all: #20 Tigers Explode for 12-2 Win at South Carolina.

It’s gonna be a good day, Tater.

Woe is the baseball team the last few weeks. I’m hardly even keeping up with the results and they’re almost too much to bear.

Western Carolina hit two homers on its way to a 6-2 win over Clemson on Tuesday night in front of 3,674 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Catamounts improved to 17-18, while the Tigers dropped to 18-18.

That would be the 10th loss in a row. So much for my thought earlier in the week that, “well at least we’re playing a nobody on Tuesday and we can end the skid.”

No, seriously. CHECK IT OUT. Imagine the luck!!! If he makes the dough off the land and plays for the big leagues he will be living a dream for sure. I think Clemson stands a good chance of landing some of that change as well. WEZ anyone? Or maybe Kingsmore upgrades to get us better chances at regionals in a few years!!!

• Barry Richardson has been named a first-team All-American by Lindy’s. That’s good to hear. Hopefully Lindy can declare us official pre-season national champions so that I don’t have to have 13 hear-attacks this fall.
• Golfer Kyle Stanley is now the #1 ranked amateur in the country, not bad for someone who just finished his freshman year.
• Cliff Hammonds is joining Athletes in Action to play for the Jones cup in Taipei, Taiwan.
• In a case of, “what the fuck?” Instructor Bryant Smith is teaching a hip hop & leadership class which, “attempts to provide students with the basic historical framework of hip hop as a culture. It uses past and present icons in hip hop culture to demonstrate youth leadership, and empowerment.” Of course when I think of hip hop and youth leadership — actually I rarely put those two thing together, I think of what’s-his-name? and his “vote or die” campaign.
  
  Vote or die. A campaign of America’s leaders, for America’s leaders.
• Finally, let me end on a non-Clemson note. Unfortunately I was unable to attend any Clemson baseball games this season. I was, however, able to see Oregon State twice when they played at Georgia and twice more in the Charlottesville regional. And I saw both their Super Regional games and all their CWS games. They may have faltered in conference play, but at the end of the season they were awesome. The Beavers took care of business and played very good, fundamental baseball that was a joy to watch. And I must say, it was enjoyable to see them easily put away opponent after opponent, particularly the implosive UNC Tar Heels.