Dabo Swinney meets with the media after his team's spring scrimmage.  We also hear from backup quarterback Tajh Boyd.  

Plus, the Lady Tigers have a new coach in Itoro Umoh Coleman. I think it's a great hire even though she has no previous head coaching experience. Find out why on this week's episode.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Mizzou-ery.  The hoops team once again bows-out in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.   Lawton Swann recaps the season, and where Oliver Purnell and company go from here.  

Also, Clemson continues to look impressive on the diamond, led by by ACC Player of the Week Kyle Parker. This weekend the Tigers take on 2nd ranked Virginia on the road in an ACC measuring stick game.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Tiger basketball once again is in The Big Dance! Lawton Swann breaks-down the game between Clemson and Missouri. Plus, a review of the 13-1 Clemson Tiger baseball team.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

The baseball team gets off to a great start in 2010 as they begin 3-0.  Host Lawton Swann discusses that, and recaps the hoops team positioning themselves for postseason play. Plus we look at the most combined football and basketball wins for the past five seasons. Find out where your Clemson Tigers rank among the other ACC teams.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Jim Weber of www.lostlettermen.com is our special guest. Host Lawton Swann talks to him about former Tiger players and what they are doing now. 

Also, where does Clemson stand in the NCAA tournament talk? Will the Clemson Tigers close out their season in style and secure an NCAA birth?

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

The baseball team gets off to a great start in 2010 as they begin 3-0.  Host Lawton Swann discusses that, and recaps the hoops team positioning themselves for postseason play. Plus we look at the most combined football and basketball wins for the past five seasons. Find out where your Clemson Tigers rank among the other ACC teams.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Trevor Booker scored 18 points and Clemson won back-to-back games for the first time in almost a month with a 74-66 victory over Miami on Saturday.  Lawton Swann and special guest Daniel Alexander recap the impressive streak.   Also, Jack Leggett's baseball team prepares to start the 2010 season this weekend.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Oliver Purnell's team struggles on the road at Virginia Tech.   Lawton Swann has your complete Tiger hoops talk.   "Scott from Boston" calls the Hotline with an array of questions; and Swann reviews Dabo Swinney's 2010 signees.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

The Tigers down the ACC’s top team, the Maryland Terrapins. Lawton Swann has the full recap. Plus, he welcomes in TigerNet Talk regular Daniel Alexander to discuss some of the rules of NCAA basketball. We also have a snapshot of Clemson’s projected football signees.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Guest Greg Wallace talks Clemson basketball and gives an overview of recruiting. Plus, two disappointing hoops losses in ACC play. We also discuss last week's Kevin Steele situation. The end of the show highlights my overall disappointment in the Lady Tiger basketball team.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Gaines Adams dies unexpectedly in his hometown of Greenwood, S.C. Lawton Swann memorializes this Tiger great. Also, Swann discusses the latest in Clemson hoops, and is joined by CRM Sports basketball analyst Jeremy Kennedy.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Oliver Purnell's team moves up to #19 in the latest basketball polls. We have your preview of the upcoming showdown with North Carolina; plus Lawton Swann discusses the Pete Carroll situation, and the crazy notion of Clemson potentially being an SEC member.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

Music City Bowl Champions! On this first show of the new decade, host Lawton Swann recaps the win over Kentucky in Nashville, Tenn. He also chats about what the Tigers need to do to replace key losses when September rolls around.

On this episode we also talk about the Tigers opening loss in ACC basketball play. Can the Tigers find their offense during ACC play.

Thanks for listening, and Go Tigers!!

It almost hurts me to think this will be C.J. Spiller’s last game in a Clemson uniform. It seems like only yesterday he took that Clemson cap and placed it on his head and stated that he would attend Clemson University. Spiller surprised a lot of people that day, but that wouldn’t be the last time he shocked a big crowd.

During his career C.J. has carved out a place among Clemson's greatest players of all-time and one could argue he is one of the greatest collegiate players in history too.

I know there will be detractors, but the numbers don't lie. Spiller's ability to juke and go makes him one of the most elusive backs I have ever seen. That combined with his elite speed makes him a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. Those are only part of the reason he has scored 50 touchdowns in his career.

We already know Spiller's #28 will be retired after this season, it would also appear he will join the Ring of Honor in a few years. Tiger greats like Perry, Davis, Fuller, Dantzler, Tuttle, and the legendary Banks McFadden will all be behind C.J. Spiller when you list the greatest to ever suit up in the orange.

It's going to be tough to sway me on my belief. Sure, I didn't see Banks McFadden play, but with all due respect it was a different game. Take Spiller to the 40's and he is a monster. Bring McFadden to the 2000's and he might make the team. I am sure some will blast me for that, but it's probably true.

I'll also step out on the limb and say that Spiller is one of the greatest collegiate players in history as well. Nationally, Spiller didn't get the recognition he deserved and most of that is Clemson's fault, not his. The Tigers didn't win the games they needed to, in order for people to take notice of C.J. Had he played for a great team, his name would be mentioned among the all time greats.

Unlike the national media, I saw him every week and he was better than anyone I have ever seen. I remember his freshman year when I said, "We have a Reggie Bush style player." I think now I would say, "Southern Cal had a C.J. Spiller style player."

Yep. Spiller surpassed Reggie Bush during his career. He is the fastest I have ever seen to stop and start on a dime. His vision to find the smallest holes in a defense is unreal. But I think his ability in the kick return game probably separates him from many great backs in history. I'm not saying he is the greatest running back ever, I can't argue that point. But he is one of the greatest players ever.

C.J. Spiller was the #1 all-purpose back in the country coming out of high school and with 349 yards in his final game he would become the all time leader in all-purpose yards in college football history. Spiller's career high is 312, but I wouldn't say he can't do it. Spiller still has a shot at the record.

Had teams not completely avoided kicking and punting to him the entire year he would have shredded the all time mark.

In the end, think of Spiller's last game as your final Christmas present of 2009. Whether Clemson wins or loses be thankful for the years #28 suited up. I'm sure he will speak to the team about being fired up for the game, even if you are not. A bowl win is one thing that C.J. doesn't have in his career and I know he wants one.

For numerous defenders it was hard to see Spiller on the field when had the ball, but it will be harder for Clemson fans next season, not seeing him on the field.

For the past few seasons Clemson fans heard about how close their team was to playing in the ACC Championship game. This year Clemson achieved that goal, but still fell short of their first ever BCS bowl birth. A year that brought so much excitement appears to be ending on a sour note for many Clemson fans. Losses to South Carolina and Georgia Tech brought the most confident among us crashing to the ground. This season reminds me of 2006 in more ways than one. High mid-season hopes, late season losses, Music City Bowl against Kentucky, ugh.

However unlike 2006, this Tiger squad can still close this season with a win, but it will not be easy. Kentucky is probably a better team than most people would like to believe. While (7-5, 3-5) isn’t impressive, two of their losses were to Florida and Alabama. The others three were close conference losses and had they beaten Tennessee in the season finale (which went to overtime) Kentucky would have finished second in the SEC East. I agree with you, the SEC East is down, but still. KENTUCKY almost finished above Tennessee and Georgia this year!

Coming into that 2006 Music City Bowl, Kentucky hadn’t won a bowl game in 22 years. Obviously that didn’t stop the Wildcats from pounding Clemson early and then holding on for a 28-20 victory. It was a loss that Clemson fans didn’t expect and there were plenty of reasons to feel that way. To this day many of the Tiger faithful still scratch their heads about that bowl game.

If you will recall that 2006 Clemson team scored 50+ points four times that season, at one time they were 8-1. And that loss was by a single point in double overtime. 2006 was the year of the night game against Georgia Tech when C.J. Spiller electrified the country and Clemson appeared to be back. 2006 started off with a blast, but the Tigers closed the regular season losing three of their final four games, landing them in Nashville, facing the Kentucky Wildcats.

Sound a little familiar?

After the loss in 2006, many fans felt like Clemson was flat and unmotivated. It looked like many of Clemson’s players felt they had better things to do then play in the Music City Bowl. Let’s hope there is a different ending to the season.

Being fired up about this game should not be an issue for Clemson. First and foremost this team kicked your tail the last time you played in this same game. Secondly, these seniors have never won a bowl game, NEVER. If I were Dabo Swinney, I would have Spiller speak to the group about how much a bowl win during his time at Clemson would mean to him. If that doesn’t make those guys want to run through a wall, nothing will.

Personally, I haven’t decided how I will predict this one just yet. I think we are in for an exciting game though. This should be a good matchup and I don’t expect either team to run away with it.

It’s funny how quickly momentum can change in a season. Both Clemson and Georgia Tech came into last weekend’s rivalry games riding high. The two teams had a combined 14 game winning streak, both teams having not lost in over a month. But, rivalry games are never a given and both were upset last weekend by their in-state rival.

At this point, most Clemson fans probably still feel good about the direction of our football program. To represent the Atlantic Division for the first time is a huge accomplishment for Coach Dabo Swinney. Losing to South Carolina isn’t acceptable, but getting to the ACC Championship, something that Tommy Bowden failed to do in ten seasons, helps ease the pain.

Swinney’s 8-4 overall record in his first full season isn’t outstanding, but most fans are pacified with the opportunity to get to ten wins this year. However, if the Tigers close with three straight losses and an 8-6 record, the positive vibe around the program during this season’s six game winning streak will be long forgotten.

After being hit with their worst loss to South Carolina since 1994, losing to Georgia Tech could be a crushing defeat for this team. Somehow, I just don’t see a loss coming. They say teams take on the personality of their head coach and I tend to believe that to be true. I think Coach Swinney will have this team focused and prepared for the biggest Clemson football game in over twenty years.

In a little over one year, Dabo Swinney gets his third shot at Paul Johnson and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Something tells me the schooling Johnson put on Dabo Swinney in Atlanta early this season will fuel the Tigers’ preparation. Yes, Johnson is one of the top coaches in America. His record over thirteen years says it all. With one more win (127) he will tie Tom Osborne’s record for most wins to start to a career, but Dabo Swinney has something to prove.

It’s my belief that the loss in Atlanta was the moment Dabo Swinney grew up as a head coach. The valuable lessons he learned in the first quarter in Atlanta helped advance our program this season. Sure, there have been other bumps in the road this season and there will be more in the future, but I’m confident we have the right guy steering the ship.

Tiger great Kevin Youngblood gives us his take on the tough loss in Columbia, and an update of what he's doing now in Washington, D.C. Also, Greg Wallace of the Anderson Independent-Mail checks back in with the Hotline, as Clemson prepares to face Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game in Tampa, Florida.

TigerNet Talk November 26, 2009 Show: #82 Host: Lawton Swann TigerNet Talk #82

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