A couple thoughts right now:

1 – To be honest, I’m pretty happy that the team has made it this far. That may change later.

2 – Now in the top of the 4th inning, Clemson is giving OU far too many freebies, kind of like ASU did. And no sooner did I write this than one of those freebies came in to score.

Update 1 – Parker bounced a triple off the top off the centerfield wall a moment ago and lefty Brad Miller popped one to left that was dropped by left fielder, Max White. Here’s a tip to Max White and at least hundreds of other college athletes out there: if you’re using eye black for other than its intended purpose, then you’re just wearing makeup, which makes you look doubly stupid when you drop a routine fly ball.

Update 2 – Now we’re in a lightning delay. Crap.

I was able to watch much of the final game of the Auburn regional while I was stuck in my office last night. As terrible as the previous game was to watch, this one was pretty good aside from the homer announcers from Auburn; they were still terrible. Clemson pulled out to an early lead and countered all the subsequent moves made by Auburn. In particular, Clemson forced Auburn to leave 12 runners stranded on base. Clemson left only 5 on base.

Clemson will host Alabama for their super regional games.

The bad news of the night from the football fan’s perspective is Kyle Parker’s draft position. He was taken as the number 26 pick by Colorado. Everyone expects this to mean buh-bye. If KP does end his college football career at this point, the best thing the Tigers will have going for them will be the low level of expectations for the season.

Talk about choking.

Clemson was up 8-6 in the top of the 7th. Auburn was at bat with runners on 2nd & 3rd with 2 outs. Leggett brings in senior right hander Tomas Cruz. Let’s just say he had trouble finding the plate. He hit the first batter. Then walked the 2nd and gave up a couple runs.

In the bottom half, a nice double to right by Mike Freeman drove in a run.

Not much happened in the top of the 8th.

In the bottom of the 8th, Parker had a nice single. Unfortunately he got caught stealing on the next pitch. Nothing else happened that inning and the attempt looked pretty stupid.

Cruz began the top of the 9th well. He got 2 out then walked the #8 hitter on 4-straight. The #9 hitter went down 0-2 before blooping one into center just off the 2nd-baseman’s glove. With Auburn down the last out, the hometown announcers were praying for a wild pitch, instead they received a 3-run homer to left.

Clemson couldn’t mount a sufficient come back in the bottom of the 9th. Clemson couldn’t hang on. Talk about throwing away opportunities.

This is certainly welcome news:

Tigers climbing baseball polls after six wins in a row

The Tigers, winners of six games in a row, sport a 31-17 overall record and 14-10 ACC mark, good for second place in the Atlantic Division behind Florida State (16-8).

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!