I asked Reader if he's having to do any winter conditioning with the football team and he said he's 100-percent baseball at the moment.

"No conditioning with football," he said. "We run enough over here. We definitely get after it a little bit over here."

While I was at the doctor's office, the Panthers signed former Clemson center Thomas Austin-- line depth after injuries to Pollak and Kalil.— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 11, 2012

We've changed, and we practice more live during the week. In fact, we started last week by going live Tuesday and Wednesday. I've never done that. I've always had a period or so, but we've pretty much been a thud team, try to stay on our feet. But we're so young in so many areas, we just kind of bit the bullet and started practicing live Tuesdays and Wednesdays with our defense to try to improve in that area."

Demarcus Harrison (6' 5") guard received a waiver to play for Clemson this year. Great news for our backcourt depth with Coleman gone for the year.

Dabo Swinney also said TE Eric MacLain has begun transitioning to offensive guard. Will play TE short-term, but be OL at some point this yr— Greg Wallace (@aimclemson) September 20, 2012

Meanwhile, in Chapel Hill, N.C., the entire university is complicit in a systemic charade of bogus, no-show classes for athletes; a scheme that—you’re gonna love this part—the NCAA missed while investigating North Carolina over the past two years.

Fortunately, the man with the Big Stick has the Raleigh News & Observer doing the heavy lifting, exposing the real threat to the foundation of intercollegiate athletic sports. Or as my athletic director friend said, "Pandora’s Box."

From 2007-2011, an internal review at UNC revealed 54 no-show classes in the Department of African and Afro American Studies where student-athletes were given grades for fake classes. The university says two department heads were responsible for the academic fraud, but the News & Observer says evidence suggests athletes were steered to classes by academic counselors assigned to the athletic department.

Think about that: the athletic department and a department of academics conspiring to keep students eligible so they can play games. This isn’t high school, everyone. This is one of the most respected academic institutions in the world cheating to keep athletes eligible.

Hearing that Clemson transfer WR Bryce McNeal will enroll at UofL as long as he qualifies. #CSZ— CardinalSportsZone (@CardSportsZone) August 2, 2012

Rank Team (first-place votes) Record Points Final 2011 rank
1. LSU (18) 13-1 1,403 2
2. Alabama (20) 12-1 1,399 1
3. Southern California (19) 10-2 1,388 NR
4. Oklahoma (1)
10-3 1,276 15
5. Oregon 12-2 1,258 4
6. Georgia 10-4 1,061 20
7. Florida State (1)
9-4 1,055 23
8. Michigan 11-2 1,023 9
9. South Carolina 11-2 981 8
10. Arkansas 11-2 948 5
11. West Virginia 10-3 833 18
12. Wisconsin 11-3 743 11
13. Michigan State 11-3 717 10
14. Clemson 10-4 598 22
15. Texas 8-5 549 NR
16. Nebraska 9-4 501 24
17. TCU 11-2 499 13
18. Stanford 11-2 497 7
19. Oklahoma State 12-1 476 3
20. Virginia Tech 11-3 461 17
21. Kansas State 10-3 398 16
22. Boise State 12-1 271 6
23. Florida 7-6 250 NR
24. Notre Dame 8-5 166 NR
25. Auburn 8-5 66 NR

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Others receiving votes (with 2011 records)
Washington (7-6) 64; Louisville (7-6) 46; Georgia Tech (8-5) 35; Cincinnati (10-3) 32; Texas A&M (7-6) 28; Baylor (10-3) 23; Utah (8-5) 22; Mississippi State (7-6) 21; South Florida (5-7) 12; N.C. State (8-5) 11; BYU (10-3) 10; Louisiana Tech (8-5) 10; Virginia (8-5) 9; Houston (13-1) 7; Southern Mississippi (12-2) 6; Central Florida (5-7) 5; Rutgers (9-4) 5; Florida International (8-5) 3; Missouri (8-5) 3; Tennessee (5-7) 3; Northern Illinois (11-3) 2; Texas Tech (5-7) 1.

"I’m not looking for an extension. I am not seeking any extension and I think I just need to leave it at that," Phillips said. "I can’t really add anything."

"I feel very good about the momentum we have," Phillips said. "I feel our total sports program is poised to continue to progress and do well. I’m pleased where we are. We are in good shape financially. ... We are stable with our (football) staff.

"Hopefully we’ve done things that whenever we were to leave they can build on what we have done and take advantage of it. I feel good about the coaches we have in place."

The Will to Lead: A Campaign for Clemson not only reached its goal of $600 million by its June 30, 2012, deadline, it surpassed it by nearly $9 million.

Six years ago, the Will to Lead campaign began with a goal to support students and faculty and to provide an exceptional education. The campaign created 357 new scholarships and fellowships and provided endowed chairs, professorships and support for 95 faculty. The Will to Lead campaign has made it possible for Clemson to renovate and/or build new facilities and support programs that give students a more hands-on, engaged learning experience.

There is so much more to do — so many more needs to be met. Clemson will continue the Will to Lead campaign to $1 billion.