We’re about to whoop the ‘Noles! In lieu of the Monday night football game this coming week, the traditional “First Friday” parade has been moved to Sunday. Also note that there will be a bevy of soccer games this weekend with one occurring soon after the Sunday parade. The teams should get some good home turnouts in the stands as Clemson will be packed with rabid fans who would be willing to cheer on drying paint so make as weekend of it and watch some football and some futbol.

While some gnomes were in Clemson taking in the rout that was the La Tech game, I was in Charlottesville watching the #2 ranked men’s soccer team get completely outplayed by #5 Virginia.  The game was not nearly as close as the 1-0 score.

UVa attracted a 7,000+ crowd for the game because of the high rankings of the teams and the unveiling of HooVision or some “Jumbotron” thing that made most of the action look smaller while not providing any replays — money well spent.  From my POV, 1000 of those in attendance were little kids running wild.
Clemson was sharp for about 5 minutes until they knocked one into the goal and started celebrating… only to realize that none of the officials had noticed the ball that was still resting over the line.

After that the team didn’t show very much potential.  Three quarters of the way through the game UVa was attacking without very little counterattack from a Clemson team that seemed intent to hunker down on defense and force a 0-0 tie.  Obviously that didn’t work and as my buddy wisely noted that “getting lucky isn’t a strategy.”

When the final whistle blew, we hightailed it to the pub to watch the remainder of the football game.

I would like to offer a congratulatory “FUCK YOU” to the guy sitting behind me at the game who through high advanced education has learned only how to say “You know what’s stupid?  Clemson.”  And “cheaters.”   I kid you not.  He spent all game calling us cheaters.  This is why the world would be a better place without assault and battery laws.

Yes, we are a bunch of football junkies at Gnome HQ, we admit it. After the big win, in Tally, at night, on ESPN (I thought this was the perfect storm brewing against us based on recent trends) but it’s time to give some of the other sports their respected attention.

When I say attention, I really mean hellacious props. The Mens Soccer team is off to an 8-0 start, their best since 1978 (yes better than those two National Champion teams of the ‘80’s) and look to continue to roll against the Wolfpack in conference play this Sunday in Raleigh. The team’s number 1 overall ranking in the Soccer Coaches Poll is the 30^th such ranking for the team but the first since 1998. The Tigers are ranked second in the Soccer America poll. The win over #5 UNC helped launch the team to their current ranking, after beating a highly touted Maryland team two weeks ago.

The golf team opened the year at #4 and didn’t disappoint in their first outing. Playing in the Carpet Classic in Dalton GA this past weekend, the Tiger Golf team took a second place finish in a field featuring 8 of the top 17 teams in the nation. The team took a 4 stroke lead into Sunday’s play before finishing 6 back of Alabama for the title. The team was anchored by two freshmen, Ben Martin and Kyle Stanley who took 3^rd and 11^th respectively on an individual level. Martin’s 64 on Saturday was a team freshmen record. They will back in action the first week in October in Williamsburg Va.

The women’s soccer team is off to a decent start as well at 4-2 with a heartbreaking loss to USuCk in Columbia last Friday night, 1-0. They took the Carolina’s Cup played in Greenville SC earlier this month. Other participants in the tourney were Charlotte and Furman. On the road the week prior, the team took losses to Colorado and Denver at the Colorado Invitational on a quick Rocky Mountain swing. The Lady Tiger’s crank up ACC play this week with Maryland on the road as they start a brutal conference schedule with about half the games away from the friendly confines of Riggs field.

Tiger volleyball is back on track. A home tourney always helps. After having some struggles in Indiana, the Tigers have been hot since returning home, with their only loss in the last four matches being to USuCk. They hit the road this weekend with matches at Duke and Wake while the football crowd takes over campus. Unofficial gnomette Jeanette Abbott has continued to lead the team in kills. Good luck ladies. These gnomes enjoy watching…seriously, we do!

The rowing team kicked off the fall season with a 4 and 8 person boat sweeps of the Tail of the Tiger. The event was more of a warm-up as they were competing against the Clemson and UGA club squads. Watch for the on the lake Sunday as they hold the annual class day regatta on Lake Hartwell.

The Clemson Mens Soccer team continued their romp through the ACC and the nation with their WIN over 5th ranked UNC this past Friday.  Danny Poe scored the winning goal for the second game in a row and once again, the gnomes seemingly favorite Tiger, Dane Richards, was in on the play with an assist.  It must also be noted that the Tigers fanbase is increasing by the game.  If they keep this up, they will have fans in both stands and in the parking lot.  As noted, the Tigers stay undefeated and may be repeating history heading towards an 11 win start.

Go Tigers!  Keep up the good work!

As mentioned previously, the Tigers have been moving toward the head of the class in men’s soccer. After beating the #1 ranked Maryland team last Friday, the Tigers walloped Wofford 6-0 at Historic Riggs field on Tuesday night. Tonight brings another home game against another top-5 team, North Carolina.

And here’s more about that Maryland game from ESPNSoccerNet:

No. 2 Clemson (6-0-0), off to its best start in 23 years, could just as easily be No. 1. Last weekend, the Tigers beat top-ranked, defending national champs Maryland in both teams’ ACC opener (in front of an overflow Historic Riggs Field crowd of 6,821, the largest since Clemson won the 1987 national championship on its home turf). What’s more is they did it playing with 10 men for most of the second half.

Now if someone can get the memo to the football team, this could shape up to be a pretty good fall.

CLEMSON, SC– ­Danny Poe scored with 16:02 left in the match in leading fourth-ranked Clemson to a 2-1 win over number-one ranked Maryland at Clemson’s Historic Riggs Field Friday night.

That’s a quality win there. But the season is going to be a tough one. I don’t have time to look it up right now, but I’m fairly certain that 7 of the top 8 men’s soccer teams in the country were from the ACC.

August 28th: Get named ACC Men’s Soccer Player of the Week for a 2 goal performance which lead to a 4-3 victory over #24 USCe a few days earlier.

August 29th: Score two more goals but this time in an offensive explosion against Georgia State en route to an 8-1 victory.

Clemson and Dane Richards, you are having one helluva good start to the season.

Georgia State, on the other hand, you got just got a paddlin’. And yes you may have another.

The men’s soccer team got off to a good start beating USuCk in Columbia, 4-3 on Friday night. The womens team got off to a good start as well, going 2-0 in the opening weekend. The women look to keep their momentum going Friday @ Colorado while the men take on Ga State in Clemson tomorrow night. Tiger volleyballers hit the road for the Mortar Board Invitational, going 1-2 and taking third place out of 5. One of the losses came to a top 20 Purdue squad on their home floor. They look to get back on track against USuCk Thursday night in Tiger Town as part of the Big Orange Bash which will also include games against Western Carolina and Tn State Friday and Charlotte on Saturday.

Speaking of Saturday, things look to be ready to roll in Death Valley. The West End Zone is ready and campus, much less the stadium looks to be in it’s best shape in quite sometime as many construction and renovation projects look to have wrapped up, at least on the west side and around the Hendrix Center. Here’s looking forward to a successful week in kicking off Tiger Sports this fall.