They came into this series playing their best ball of the season and completely shit the bed at Wake, just like we did the last time we went. Either they did not take this series seriously, or Jack did a pisspoor job of preparing them for it. Our hitters could not hit, and our pitchers got their asses kicked. I'll be shocked if this team makes it out of a Regional and would almost welcome the defeat just to get this season over and done.

Wake Forest 5, Clemson 2

The Demon Deacons hit five singles in the third inning to score three runs, then a two-out double by Pat Blair plated another run in the fourth inning, while Blair also came around to score on the play thanks to a McGibbon error on a wild throw to 3rd. That was all they needed because the offense couldnt do shit against Tim Cooney.

The Tigers would hit a ball hard here or there but there was no energy from this team at the plate. Every chance at a rally would quickly fail. It looked like they didn't even care until the 6th inning. Only Richie Shaffer seemed to show up ready to play. If you wait til the game is half done to start playing, you dont have much chance of winning.

In the 6th, a blooper from Stolz fell in LF, but Wilkerson hit a pitch right at Cooney who started the double play. In the 7th, both Pohl and Shaffer singled, but a FC and a popout ended the inning. In the 8th, Stolz reached on a HBP, Wilkerson singled, and Shaffer finally doubled in our first scores of the game.

WF 2, Clemson 1

We continued our pisspoor hitting, but took it to the next level. We didnt do a damn thing until the very end. This game remained 0-0 until the 8th when Brett Armour hit a 2-run shot, and ended up with Daniel Gossett taking the loss (L, 6-3) despite a solid start (7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7Ks).

The Tigers managed only 4 hits off Jack Fischer in 8 innings, and two of those were in the 8th. In the 9th, we started putting up a fight. We loaded the bases with no outs after a single, walk, and HBP....and managed to get just one of them home on a Sac Fly. When McGibbon followed Kieboom's flyout with a long fly ball to the wall in RF, Pohl tagged and scored, but the right fielder threw to second and beat Slaton by a country mile to end the game. A horrible job of baserunning.

WF 7, Clemson 0

This game was horrible to watch. Our guys clearly did not care if they lost. WF jumped out to a big lead, 6 runs all scored with 2 outs in the 5th, and Clemson never woke up from the weekend slumber. Clemson had scored at least one run against Wake Forest in 130 consecutive games. It was the Demon Deacons' first three-game sweep over the Tigers since 1999 as well.

Clemson got just 2 hits off starter Brian Holmes in 6 innings, then got only 2 more off the next 3 Deacons to finish the game.

Kevin Pohle, who is clearly the best starter we've got, lost all focus in the 5th after a couple long battles with 2 strikes on hitters. Pinch-hitter Kevin Jordan fouled off several two-strike pitches to draw a leadoff walk and moved to second on Brett Armour's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later with two outs, leadoff hitter Pat Blair was intentionally walked, a move I did not agree with. After fouling off several two-strike pitches, Conor Keniry blooped a 2-2 pitch to shallow right-center for a single to score Jordan, who became the first player in the game to reach third base. Mac Williamson loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch, then Carlos Lopez laced a single up the middle to score Blair and Keniry. Charlie Morgan kept the inning alive with a triple down the right-field line to score Williamson and Lopez. Mark Rhine followed with a chopper to Wilkerson, who fumbled the ball for his 17th error, allowing Morgan to score.

The lone bright spot was the return of Kevin Brady in relief, he struck out 2 batters in his only inning of work.

Clemson finished in a tie for fifth place with Miami (FL) in the ACC overall standings with a 16-14 league mark. Since the Tigers won the season series against the Hurricanes, Clemson will be the #5 seed in the ACC Tournament at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, NC. The Tigers will play at least three games in the ACC Tournament, which starts on Wednesday. Clemson's tourney schedule will be announced on Sunday.

I'd be surprised if we won 2 games in the tournament.

With the academic ineligibility of Mike Bellamy we get a chance to talk RB recruiting. We now have an additional scholarship with this class and will take two RB's with the possibility for a third RB or hybrid player (although the staff generally wants five RB's on scholarship). Our current stable of RB's includes:

Andre Ellington Redshirt SR

D.J Howard Redshirt SO

Zac Brooks FR

Rod McDowell Redshirt JR

Before the untimely exit of Bellamy, Morris was looking for a bigger back that fits the mold for his style of running game. He wants a guy who can move the chains and help mask some of the deficiencies in our offensive line. We now have room for a speed guy as well, but for this year look for 'The Chad' to be his inventive self and get production from WR's like Sammy and perhaps incoming freshman Germone Hopper (depending on how fast he can pick up the offense) will now avoid a redshirt for sure. Sammy was third on the team with 231 yards rushing before his shoulder injury (we will see if the coaching staff elects to reduce his role here to preserve his health). Hopper is an accomplished all-purpose player with over 4,000 yards and 50 TD's in his high school career, so he could take over that orbit role in the future. A renewed commitment to the running QB might also lead to a Chad Kelly running package and avoidance of a redshirt as well with Bellamy gone. Zac Books, obviously, becomes more important especially in Dwayne Allen's role in formations. Pay attention to who is excelling in pass catching in the fall, something Morris wants improvement on from last season. But enough speculation--I'm here for recruiting. Lets evaluate Clemson's top RB's on the board.

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I had a good feeling coming into this series, even with FSU ranked so highly and playing so well. They've pretty much dominated their schedule aside from Kevin O, but they've done that well before and gotten spanked in Clemson. This weekend the Tigers came in playing our best ball of the season and we put a licking on #1 FSU. If we had had more pitching depth we might have swept the series outright.

Game 1 - Clemson 7 FSU 2

Brad Felder, Shaffer and Spencer Kieboom all homered and Clemson battered touted frosh Brandon Leibrandt for 4 runs in 5 2/3 Friday night. This was Clemson's first victory over a #1-ranked team since 2010 vs Arizona State.

The Seminoles held a 2-0 lead until Felder's solo homer in the fifth inning. Then in the 6th, Shaffer lined a solo shot to tie it before Kieboom untied the score with a two-out, three-run homer. Pohl later added on a 2-run 2B in the 7th. Pohl led the offense by going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Stolz added two hits and a run, while Kieboom had a game-high three RBIs on his three-run homer.

Leone got the start and did well enough, giving up 2 runs in 5 innings before being yanked too quickly. Daniel Gossett came in and finished the contest, getting his 6th W with 4 IP and no runs allowed. Both pitchers stifled FSU's lineup with runners on base, and FSU stranded 14 in the game. Only 2 of 19 total baserunners scored.

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Bellamy is gone, and if you can't pass any classes because you've been skipping them, as I know he has been doing for some time, you don't get any sympathy from me. Below is from the Clemson release:

The freshman from Nocatee, Fla. has been ruled academically ineligible for the fall semester and plans to enter a junior college this summer.

"I am proud of the improvements Mike Bellamy made in the spring semester in a number of areas," said Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney. "We gave him the opportunity to return to school in January and to grow as a player and a person and by all accounts from his teammates and coaches, he was doing well.

"But, in the end, he came up short academically. We wish him well and hope he can get back on track in the classroom and continue his football career at a junior college this fall."

Bellamy rushed 57 times for 343 yards in 2011 as a true freshman. His 6.0 average was best on the team and his 343 total rushing yards ranked second behind Andre Ellington. He also had four kickoff returns for 64 yards. He had a 75-yard touchdown run the first time he touched the ball for the Tigers in last year's season opener against Troy.

Bellamy's biggest contribution might have come in the win over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. when he scored on a 31-yard touchdown run that clinched the Clemson victory over the nation's 10th ranked team.

A Parade All-American and USA Today All-American out of high school, Bellamy played in 12 of the 14 games last year. He was suspended for the ACC Championship game and the Orange Bowl for a violation of team rules.

Such a waste of great talent. Hopefully he can get his head right in the future.

Good thing you didnt go after Mike Blakely when he wanted to transfer out of Florida Dabo, or that we took Demont Buice instead of James White, who wanted to commit two years ago.

Expect Clemson to offer another scatback speedster soon for the next class.

The matchups for the ACC / B1G Challenge were announced yesterday. The matchup that we all care about pits a rebuilding Purdue team against a rebuilding Clemson team. Purdue, coming off a 22-13 (10-8 B1G) season in which they lost a very close game in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament, must replace its top 2 scorers in Robbie Hummel and Lewis Jackson. Purdue's 4th best scorer, sharpshooter Ryne Smith is also gone.

Purdue is will be undergoing the same type of turnover that our Tigers will be facing next year without Andre Young and Tanner Smith. Unfortunately for Clemson, Purdue is rebuilding from a better place, as they've been a consistent tournament team, while the Tigers are coming off a postseason-less season.

With the game at LittleJohn, the Tigers will have an opportunity to pick up a resume building out of conference victory. I'm not sure at this point who will be favored, but I'd think it'd be close to a pick 'em. As we've stated numerous times, the hopeful development of veterans Devin Booker and Milton Jennings, along with the continued progression of sophomores-to-be KJ McDaniels and Devin Coleman is the key to this team.

Booker and Jennings need to have their heads on straight on show up on a consistent basis night in and night out. This team doesn't have the depth to pick them up when they don't feel like putting in the effort.

McDaniels and Coleman have shown flashes of being big time talents, but their roles and playing time were limited. How will they respond when they are called on to be the go to guys?

Here's the rest of schedule followed by my quick thoughts.

Tue, Nov 27

North Carolina at Indiana

NC State at Michigan

Minnesota at Florida State

Maryland at Northwestern

Iowa at Virginia Tech

Nebraska at Wake Forest

Wed, Nov 28

Ohio State at Duke

Virginia at Wisconsin

Michigan State at Miami

Purdue at Clemson

Georgia Tech at Illinois

Boston College at Penn State

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We previously discussed general "Pistol" formation information and identified specific Pistol formations that fit nicely with Clemson's offense. Today we will look at other formations that more closely resemble "conventional" looks. Clemson features a spread attack that uses the tight End as more of an H-back than a conventional TE. That being said, these formations likely won't be featured significantly. We are showing them to better educate folks on the fact that the Pistol is simply a formation and it is a dynamic formation. Chad Morris has these options at his fingertips should he think that one of these alignments provides a strategic advantage. As always, realize that different coaches use different terminology for their formations. Thus, you may see some of these items given different name sets in other locations and with other offensive staffs.

First we'll discuss Pistol I-Right (Left).

This formation features a tight end on the LOS and an H-back/wingback opposite the TE. The Right/Left nomenclature identifies the formation's strong side which is the TE side. This formation very much resembles the Pistol Ace formation (shown below). The Ace formation takes replaces the wing with a slot receiver-denoted "A" below.

The Ace formation spreads the field and is frequently used to drive defenses to make formation and coverage call adjustments.

Similarly, a team may wish to keep the wing in the game and either flex the TE or substitute for him. In this case, the "Slot" position is used. This position features effectively two split ends and a slot receiver opposite the formation of the wing. Again, this spreads the defense while maintaining an extra blocker inside the box similar to Ace.

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Shout out to all the moms--enjoy your day as you've earned it. On to my babbling

Another Saturday in May...this means more lacrosse on ESPN prior to the golf then the race. As stated last week, I don't know jack about lacrosse but the more I watch it the more I respect/like it. First off, it is the sport that the Ivy Leaguers still roll, so it must be either (A) extremely strategical or (B) so out of the main stream it's not pursued by the masses. The thing that I dislike is all the damn games on AstroTurf. Nothing is more annoying than the fake grass combined with the field being lined up for every conceivable sporting event. Dude has the ball in the endzone which is really lined off for the soccer goalie which shows 3-4 out of bounds lines for each. I understand the need for multipurpose facilities but it is flat out confusing.

Committed to the ACC...that is the word out of both Clemson and FSU's athletics departments. We'll see how the chips fall. As you saw earlier this week, the Big 12 did a much better job than Swofford at negotiating a television contract. More money to keep up with the facility upgrade wars is a necessity. One thing is for sure, the ACC doesn't give a shit about football or the schools that care about the sport. Will Barker/TDP will grow some stones or simply be bullied as they have to this point? These decisions will shape CU athletics for some time to come.

Clemson news is slowing down. We have the top ranked ‘Noles in town this weekend. Clemson needs a good performance here for seeding purposes instead of the usual war for the ACC. It has been a confusing year for Leggett and crew and we are not sure this won't become the norm. Clemson lost a ton of great talent from its coaching staff and doesn't appear to have backfilled/doesn't commit necessary resources as well to date. We identified this issue a while back and aren't really shocked. I hope we get hot and carry it into the postseason but each time you think this baseball team has it pulled together they take a step back. Picking up the win last night was a good start to the series and, hopefully, the start of a good run moving forward.

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