Rendrick Taylor might be my favorite player. When healty, he’s fun to watch. He’s a hard hitting utility beast which is always lurking, always being forgotten about on the other side of the ball, then WHAM! He comes through and makes a big play while dragging a few guys along for the ride. I guess we won’t be seeing any of that this year. Rendrick has been redshirted. As more details come available we’ll pass them along to you.

From their GT highlight film, I had to post the Tommy Bowden preseason video.

Now go smile, get goosebumps, scream, jump, yell, punch something….whatever. Just get pumped ’cause we only have 2 weeks left!!!

Last Friday I was pleased to point out that the US Men’s soccer team had won it’s first match by beating Japan 1-0, with the winning goal coming from Clemson product Stuart Holden.

Sunday, I watched the US match against the Netherlands. After a bit of a slow start, the US offense took over and dominated its way to a 2-1 lead. With victory and a pass to the quarterfinals almost certain, and with under a minute of stoppage time remaining, Stuart Holden committed a horrifically stupid foul at the top of the penalty box. Holden got a yellow card. Holland converted the kick to take the tie and to leave the US’s status for the quarterfinals unknown.

Well wouldn’t ya know, the team blew its third game against Nigeria and its chances of advancing. It didn’t help that the team was going into the game with two players, including Freddy Edu, suspended. But it really didn’t help that one of the defenders got ejected just four minutes into the game, leaving the US to play almost 90 minutes with only 10 players.

My hopes weren’t high, but they sure picked up after the game against Japan. My hope was rewarded with quite a debacle (Obama supporters take note). Time to resume ignoring the Olympics.

We all have our favorite sports writers, we also have our hated writers. I suppose I fall into a vast majority of people out there that can probably pick out the hated pontificators faster than the enjoyable read. I have had a grudge against a certain SI writer now for about four years. The guy looks like a nerd and writes nearly every single article with a certain superior, I know more than you with my Northweastern education, gloat. If you have not already guessed whom I direct my rage, I am speaking of Stewart Mandel. I suppose nearly ever single article he writes in regards to Clemson he manages to sneak in a negative jab and a useless quip. I imagine he is just doing his best to let everyone know he hates Clemson sports, the school, and he will soon kick every Clemson fans dog out there when given the chance. Maybe he was pummeled by a schoolyard bully wearing orange one day, who knows. My point, I go to SI.com and read with the grain of salt. I could always rely on ESPN. Well, my friends, there is a new “negative nancy” out there which should be on your radar. He goes by the name of Mark Schlabach, if that’s his real name. His new game is bashing the Tigers. That’s right, how can you hate us? He is a nine year vet of the AJC and all he did was cover UGA football and the SEC. Ohh, so that’s why he hates Clemson. After this article I read on ESPN.com he made to my hit list. Honestly, I think he is just putting these words down on paper for shock value. By the time I posted my own article, there have been 156 responses to Schlaback’s blatherings. For the record though, his “Clemson won’t win the ACC” prediction is dead wrong. I mean, the guy picked UNC for crying out loud! How serious can we take him and his mindless thoughts from now on?

The season has yet to begin and we are in the midst of a second injury report. Tommy Bowden announced Monday that Defensive Tackle, and senior starter, Rashaad Jackson has torn a quad tendon and will require surgery. The recovery will expect to sideline Jackson until midseason. Rashaad will go under the knife this coming Tuesday. Jamie Cumbie will be picking up Jackson’s spot. We gnomes wish him the best and a speedy recovery.

*Story Update* As mentioned above, Jamie Cumbie will be picking up the duties of Jackson. This past Tuesday Jamie Cumbie suffered a broken hand during practice. Cumbie’s current status is unknown. Let the season begin!

Updated Update 8/13/08 “Jamie Cumbie and Brandon Thompson, who both suffered broken hands earlier in the week, went through every drill [on Wednesday].”

Several of the Gnomes have season tickets and the angles will be a little different than the past few seasons. This Gnome, though doing his part donating the past few years, was taking advantage of a set of tickets held by a long time IPTAY member with seats on the guest side around the 20-25 yard line. I believe Walker was doing something similar with new family. This year we both took advantage of the new seating equity plan, or we attempted to. I will be watching from the West End Zone, Section W, Row R. Should be interesting. I have only watched a couple games from down there. Happy to have the Jumbotron for the plays on the other end. Should be really interesting to see how the plays unfold from this position and be pretty close to the action. May even get some face time on PAT’s and FG’s. If anyone has feedback or thoughts on the seats in this area, I would love to hear it. Post game reports should follow on most Sunday’s. SC State will be an exception as I will be heading to Raleigh for other committments and to watch a follow up Pack game.
Alabama and BC, from the game, recaps should also be coming though BC is still a little in the air. Alabama will be from the upper deck but somewhere between the 45 and 50 on what is normally the “visitors” side though I am sure I will be surrounded by Orange, less the little sister who is an undergrad at Bama.
I am looking forward to comparing notes each week to the TV audience, and those in other parts of each stadium.

TigerNet has data you need for knowing which Tigers are competing in what at the Olympics in Beijing.

Bonus: The men’s soccer team already started play and defeated Japan 1-0. The lone goal was scored by Clemson product Stuart Holden.

This year, the Gnomes are joining the club by hosting our own College Pick’em over at Yahoo! Sports. Please join us and see just how bad we are at picking against the spread and how often one or all of us can totally space out and forget to submit picks.

To play, just go to Yahoo! Sports and sign up with the information below.

Group ID#: 3063
Password: 12345

Roland: One.
Dark Helmet: One.
Colonel Sandurz: One.
Roland: Two.
Dark Helmet: Two.
Colonel Sandurz: Two.
Roland: Three.
Dark Helmet: Three.
Colonel Sandurz: Three.
Roland: Four.
Dark Helmet: Four.
Colonel Sandurz: Four.
Roland: Five.
Dark Helmet: Five.
Colonel Sandurz: Five.
Dark Helmet: So the combination is one, two, three, four, five? That’s the stupidest combination I’ve ever heard in my life! The kind of thing an idiot would have on his luggage!