Larry Penley says Tigers' path to NCAA finals among toughest in the field

Source: Orange and White

UCLA, Arkansas, Texas A&M make for difficult ticket out of Bowling Green Regional

ACC's spring breakout players

Source: ACC Football Blog

Here's a look at those who made names for themselves, those who fine-tuned some strengths and those who burst onto the scene this spring in the ACC. WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson: Hopkins had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' spring game, including five for 100 in the first quarter. Coach Dabo Swinney called him the team's spring MVP, and he and Sammy Watkins could form the top receiver tandem in the nation. RB Rolandan Finch, Boston College: Finch will have to carry a bigger load with Montel Harris off the team, and he stepped up in the spring game when the three men ahead of him were all banged-up, rushing for 196 yards on 27 carries.

ACC stakes high for Demon Deacons as Clemson wraps up regular season

Source: Orange and White

Wake Forest trails Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech by one game for final tournament spot

M. Golf. Seven Current or Former Tigers Qualify for US Open Sectionals

Source: Clemson Tigers Official Site

Current Clemson golfers McCuen Elmore and Jacob Burger are two of seven golfers with ties to Clemson who have moved on from local qualifying to sectional qualifying for the 2012 United States Open. A third current Tiger, Corbin Mills, is also qualified for the sectional stage by virtue of his victory at the 2011 United States Public Links Championship.

Larry Greenlee receives nation's top strength and conditioning honor

Source: Orange and White

Former Tiger track & field star, 13-year assistant to Joey Batson named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach

Seven Tiger golfers advance through local qualifying for U.S. Open

Source: Orange and White

Current Tigers McCuen Elmore, Jacob Burger joined by David May, Vince Hatfield, Sam Saunders, Brian Duncan, Brent Delahoussaye

Second concussion in five months forces Chad Diehl to give up NFL dream

Source: Orange and White

Former Tiger fullback was released by Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday

Clemson athletic revenues slightly outpace rising expenses; Tigers sixth in ACC in revenue

Source: Post and Courier

CLEMSON Clemson athletic department revenue growth slightly outpaced increasing expenditures from 2005 to 2011, according to the updated USA Today college athletics financial database.

Scott pays a visit to in-state defensive back - Clemson [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

Ultimate ACC road trip: Week 1

Source: ACC Football Blog

This is your ticket -- a free ride to each of the best games in the ACC every week. These are the games that -- if you had the money and the time -- you would want to be at this fall. It’s the ultimate ACC road trip. We’ll start today and go week by week in the ACC schedule looking at the can’t-miss game of the week. In reality, my travel schedule unfolds with the season, and the conference race usually dictates where I wind up.

Clemson finding stride entering regular-season finale at Wake Forest

Source: Orange and White

Tigers have won 20 of last 29, six of last seven weekend series and boast top-20 RPI

Swofford talks about Florida State, BCS

Source: ACC Football Blog

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- ACC commissioner John Swofford weighed in Wednesday on the two hottest topics confronting his league during its annual spring meetings. Florida State and the BCS. Swofford said he has had positive talks with Florida State and reiterated: "It has been and I would anticipate that it will continue to be a very beneficial relationship to both parties, which is what it should be." Whether or not Florida State has a wandering eye toward the Big 12 has dominated recent speculation.

Big-time DT visiting - Clemson [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

M. Golf. Clemson Golf Video: NCAA Regional Preview

Source: Clemson Tigers Official Site

Head Coach Larry Penley previews the 2012 NCAA Regional for ClemsonTigers.com. The Tigers will begin play in the regional on Thursday, May 17 at the Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, KY.

Clemson athletic revenues slightly outpace rising expenses; Tigers sixth in ACC in revenue

Source: Post and Courier

CLEMSON Clemson athletic department revenue growth slightly outpaced increasing expenditures from 2005 to 2011, according to the updated USA Today college athletics financial database.

Corbin Mills hopes to cap busy spring with NCAA success

Source: Orange and White

Wren alum, Easley native will lead Clemson in NCAA golf tournament

Most important game: Boston College

Source: ACC Football Blog

I’m stealing a page from the Pac-12 playbook and taking a look at the single most important game on the schedule this year for each ACC school. Just how meaningful these games are will obviously change as the season unfolds, but in looking at the schedules and knowing what we do right now, these are the games that will reveal the most or have the biggest impact on the 2012 ACC race. We’ll go in alphabetical order, starting today with Boston College: Most important game: Sept.

The sixth star, go Green at running back & final thoughts on Bellamy

Source: Tiger Tracks by travis_sawchik

CLEMSON -  One of the paramount issues with recruiting rankings, I think, is the lack of emphasis on character and #want.

(#Want which includes work ethic, desire and attention to detail. Search #want on Twitter.).

When a five-star prospect does not pan out more than likely it is because of #want and character, or injury.

This is what we saw with Mike Bellamy who left the Clemson football program after being declared academically ineligible Tuesday. Bellamy was a five-star physical talent without the matching maturity and drive.  The end of his Clemson career should not be surprising but it is unfortunate for the player and for the program.  They both needed each other.

I would recommend star-ratings be increased to add a sixth star taking into account these character traits, because it is these all important traits that determine whether
or not players reach their ceiling.


(The sixth star looms larger than physical traits)

Sammy Watkins, Tajh Boyd, Stephone Anthony all have that sixth star. And you can argue it is the most important.  After all what good is a ceiling if a prospect does not have the tools to reach it?


NOW WHAT? RE: THE RUNNING BACK SITUATION

Clemson now needs to turn its lemon-like situation at RB into quality lemonade.

With Andre Ellington a senior, with no proven productive reserve backs, the Clemson staff needs to make an all-out sales pitch to the nation's top remaining RBs in the 2013 class.

Here's the pitch: "If you sign you have a pretty good shot at significant playing time on an offense that includes Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd."

That's a pretty attractive offer.

Clemson is interested in ESPNU's No. 4 RB prospect Ryan Green, the top uncommitted back in the ESPNU150.

Ryan Green is undersized but speedy.

Clemson is also interested in Rivals.com's No. 6 RB prospect Derrick Green.

Derrick Green has an ideal size (6-0, 213) and speed combo (4.37 40-yard dash)

Clemson needs talent at RB to coincide with Watkins' junior year (2013) and Boyd's senior year (2013).

FINAL THOUGHTS ON BELLAMY

I never really got to know Bellamy. He was made available to the media only twice his freshman year.

It's true Bellamy was often a distraction last season. He was sent home hours before the ACC title game for a violation of team rules. He was not always a good teammate. There were selfish episodes in practice, there were times he demanded the ball more even though he struggled to grasp the playbook and cure his fumble problem.

He clearly was not emotionally ready to handle Division I football like other high-profile signings like Sammy Watkins and Stephone Anthony. Bellamy lacked maturity, attention to detail and focus in 2011. But one also must consider Bellamy's parents were not a major part of life and he was raised in difficult surroundings. It's hard to know what it would be to walk in his cleats.

He was different this spring. He appeared to be turning his on-the-field performance around this spring in returning from an indefinite suspension. I ranked him as the No. 9 Clemson football asset. But he apparently did not turn the corner in the classroom.

Running back depth was a problem last year for Clemson and now Clemson loses a young reserve back who had star potential while Bellamy wasted a golden opportunity to play in a prolific offense and have a major role going forward.

Let's hope for the kid's sake he gets on track at a junior college and can return one day to Division I football.

But right now the Mike Bellamy story is a sad one, a story of unfufilled promise.

Clemson offers future four-star wideout - Clemson [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

VIDEO: Why Kendall Fuller Could Be No. 1 (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

Long ago, he proved himself worthy of a five-star ranking. But Rivals.com analyst Mike Farell breaks down why five-star CB Kendall Fuller could be the best overall in 2013.

Clemson-Auburn kickoff set for 7 p.m. in Chick-fil-A opener at Georgia Dome

Source: Orange and White

Paired with N.C. State-Tennessee game, back-to-back format is a first for college football

ACC's lunchtime links

Source: ACC Football Blog

How many more days 'til kickoff?? Florida State and Miami only have themselves to blame for the ACC's image problem. Georgia Tech lured a running back into its 2013 recruiting class. One ESPN executive provided some background on the ACC's latest TV contract. You can expect ACC commish John Swofford to try to portray the deal in a better light today. Former Miami coach Jimmy Johnson has earned his place in the Hall of Fame. Mike Bellamy's career at Clemson has come to a close.

Baseball. Clemson Baseball Team to Face Wake Forest in Winston-Salem Thursday-Saturday

Source: Clemson Tigers Official Site

Clemson (32-21, 16-11 ACC) will travel to Winston-Salem, NC to close the regular season against Wake Forest (29-22, 10-17 ACC) in a three-game series at Wake Forest Baseball Park starting Thursday. Game times are 6:00 PM (Thursday), 6:00 PM (Friday), and 1:00 PM (Saturday). All three games will be broadcast live on the radio by Clemson Tiger Sports Network. Live stats will also be available at ClemsonTigers.com for all three games.

ACC Football: Dabo Swinney's Comments Illustrate Why Conference Is Bottom-Tier

Source: Bleacher Report NCAAF

In the last week there has been plenty of discussion about the ACC. It started with the league getting their new television contract. Then the talk proceeded to the deal not really being that great, in the grand scheme of college football. Next came the Florida State to the Big 12 hullabaloo as the Noles have decided they need to openly explore other avenues to grow their cash.

A lot of the ACC's woes have been blamed on their preferential treatment of North Carolina and Duke. The conference's willingness to defer to basketball and not play the same, football-first game that the rest of the big boys of college football play. There is most certainly something to that, given the league's decision to not punish North Carolina after their NCAA sanctions and the conference's basketball-centric roots. 

However, the biggest reason for the lack of cash has been the league itself. The lack of success has been crippling to the league's bottom lines. Not just Florida State. Not just Clemson. The league as a whole has themselves to blame for the lack of big money being thrown at the rights to their football games. The league's BCS Bowl record, big non-conference losses and inability to get a team into the Top 10 to end the season all work as reasons. But, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney makes it a little more clear with his assessment of the ACC rising to prominence

Dabo Swinney on ACC football: "At some point (the ACC) will produce a national champion"

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyCBS) May 15, 2012

"At some point" huh? That's a lot of wiggle room that Dabo Swinney has left himself and his conference. "Sooner or later" would have worked. Perhaps, if he wanted to be more professional he could have gone with "at a later date" or "time yet to be determined."

This is far from a ringing endorsement of the league's football prowess. This does not even qualify as a firm endorsement of the league's push for a national champion. Dabo's statement instills about as much confidence in the conference as the girl at the bar who says she'll call but does not ever bother to write your number down. This is the "eh," the "maybe," or the "broken clock is right twice a day" of endorsements.

The league needs a national champion, at least contender, bad. No one on the outside believes it will happen. Media members openly scoff at the idea. Fans from within the league and from the outside don't buy it. Obviously the television money does not believe that the league is poised to yield a power. Not an easy road to travel if you are the ACC.

But hey, at some point things will get better, right? That is, of course, unless they get worse.

Read more Clemson Football news on BleacherReport.com

Help wanted: running back

Source: TigerNet.com

Clemson could be thin at a very crucial position with the announcement that running back Mike Bellamy won't be with the team next season.

Dabo Swinney defends ACC football

Source: ACC Football Blog

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- The topic of what the ACC has to do to improve its football image has been rehashed over and over, particularly after its BCS bowl losses. But that did not stop Clemson coach Dabo Swinney from weighing in on the topic during the ACC spring meetings. Swinney came to his league's defense after a reporter wondered how he dealt with the perception that the ACC was not a football conference. Then he gave his own twist on what the future looks like in this league, predicting that a national champion would eventually emerge.

Find the fairway, hit the jackpot for Tigers in NCAA Bowling Green Regional

Source: Orange and White

Larry Penley: 'Our focus once we get there is to come up with a very good ball-striking plan'

Expectations high at Virginia

Source: ACC Football Blog

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Nothing ratchets up expectations like winning. So it goes that much more is expected out of Virginia coming off a surprising 8-5 season and appearance in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Coaches always say it is more difficult maintaining success than rebuilding from the bottom up, so this upcoming season will be a huge test for coach Mike London. "Expectations are always at a point where you want to do well," London said at the ACC spring meetings.

Sad story - Clemson [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

Clemson RB Mike Bellamy ineligible

Source: ACC Football Blog

Three strikes and Clemson running back Mike Bellamy is out. After a short career that was spent mainly in coach Dabo Swinney's doghouse, Bellamy has been ruled academically ineligible and won't return this fall. This is yet another off-field blow for the Tigers, who recently learned that star receiver Sammy Watkins was arrested earlier this month for possession of marijuana and a controlled substance. So far, Swinney hasn't announced any punishment for Watkins, but he has said there will be one.

Largest Clemson contingent ever to play in BMW Charity Pro-Am this weekend

Source: Orange and White

Group of 10 includes Nationwide Tour regulars Charles Warren, Ben Martin, Kevin Johnson, Sam Saunders, Matt Hendrix, plus 5 others

Board chairman says Clemson committed to ACC and has had no contact with the Big 12; Auburn gametime announced

Source: Post and Courier

CLEMSON Clemson Board of Trustees chairman David Wilkins said Tuesday that Clemson has not been in contact with the Big 12 regarding interest in changing conference affiliation. Wilkins said Clemson is committed to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Clemson takes Weekend Series from FSU

Source: Shakin The Southland

Clemson takes Weekend Series from FSU

Haselden Pitches Tigers to 9-2 Win Over Paladins

Source: TigerNet.com

Senior righty David Haselden makes his last regular-season outing at Doug Kingsmore Stadium a memorable one.

Bellamy will not return to Clemson this season

Source: TigerNet.com

Mike Bellamy, the second leading rusher on Clemson's 2011 ACC Championship team, will not return to Clemson for the 2012 season.

Baseball. Haselden Pitches Tigers to 9-2 Win Over Paladins Tuesday

Source: Clemson Tigers Official Site

Pitching in his last regular-season game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, senior righthander David Haselden pitched a career-long 7.2 innings and gave up just two runs to lead Clemson to a 9-2 win over Furman on Tuesday night. The Tigers, who won the season series 2-0, improved to 32-21, while the Paladins dropped to 23-29. Clemson had beaten Furman 12-5 at Fluor Field in Greenville, SC on April 10.

Clemson RB Bellamy won't play for Tigers

Source: TheState.com by AP Sports Writer (PETE IACOBELLI)

Clemson freshman running back Mike Bellamy was ruled academically ineligible and won't return to school next fall.

Click to Continue »

David Haselden carries Tigers to 9-2 win over Furman

Source: Orange and White

Clemson senior throws career-high 7.2 innings in Tiger staff's longest outing of 2012

Clemson RB Bellamy won't play for Tigers (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson freshman running back Mile Bellamy was ruled academically ineligible and won't return to school next fall.

Clemson RB Bellamy ruled ineligible, leaving the program

Source: Post and Courier

CLEMSON - Clemson running back Mike Bellamy has been ruled academically ineligible for fall semester and is leaving the school, Clemson announced Tuesday evening.

Mike Bellamy Dismissed from Clemson

Source: Shakin The Southland

Mike Bellamy Dismissed from Clemson

Mike Bellamy academically ineligible, will not return to Clemson

Source: Orange and White

Former five-star recruit expected to enroll at a junior college this fall

Bellamy leaving Clemson

Source: TigerNet.com

Mike Bellamy, the second leading rusher on Clemson's 2011 ACC Championship team, will not return to Clemson for the 2012 season.

Football. Freshman Mike Bellamy Will Not Return to Clemson for 2012 Season

Source: Clemson Tigers Official Site

Mike Bellamy, the second leading rusher on Clemson's 2011 ACC Championship team, will not return to Clemson for the 2012 season. The freshman from Nocatee, FL has been ruled academically ineligible for the fall semester and plans to enter a junior college this summer.

Here are 10 soon-to-be-head-coaches to know heading into the 2012 season (Yahoo! Sports)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

ADs often turn to coordinators when seeking new coaches, and these 10 guys should be on every "to call" list for an AD who is looking for a new head man.

ESPN says backloaded college TV deals common

Source: Orange and White

TV deal raised Florida State's ire despite $3.6 billion overall payout; Clemson BOT chairman says no overtures from Big 12

Pitt, Syracuse take places at ACC meetings

Source: ACC Football Blog

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Pitt and Syracuse are caught in a bit of no man's land right now. With one foot out of the Big East door and one foot in the ACC door, the two schools had their representatives at the ACC spring meetings this week. It may seem strange or awkward, but the programs are persona non grata at the Big East, after announcing their defections last September. They will not be at the Big East spring meetings next week, and are trying to move forward with their eyes to the ACC future.