Clemson looks to overpower North Texas in the 2010 football opener. In this episode, we look at the Tigers defense and some expectations for them this year. Plus, the reliable Xbox 360 goes head to head with El Swann as they both give their predictions on the upcoming game.

Season Predictions
El Swann - 0-0
Xbox - 0-0

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TigerNet Talk #86 (25 MB)

To kickoff the 2010 year Lawton takes a look at the overall state of the program, plus his preseason predictions. Tune in each and every week to hear reviews, previews, and discussion about your favorite football program.

Also, this year TigerNet Talk will have sponsors. These sponsors can have a 30 sec spot or a live read during the show. You can chose between 4 week or full season packages.

Your sponsorship will also include links to your company and logo in the show notes and post on TigerNet. Plus, your company will also have a link added on the front page of -LINK- for the duration of your sponsorship.

Those of you who are interested can email -email- for pricing and other questions.

Go Tigers!!

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TigerNet Talk #85 (40 MB)

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.

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Season Predictions: El Swann: 10-3 , Xbox 360: 10-3

Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend’s game and preview and predicts Clemson’s next game. You can listen to both shows at -LINK-

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the latest news about your Clemson Tigers.

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Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #84 (25 MB)

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.

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Season Predictions: El Swann: 10-2 , Xbox 360: 9-3

Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview and predicts Clemson's next game. You can listen to both shows at -LINK-

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the latest news about your Clemson Tigers.

http://twitter.com/clemsonpodcasts

Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #83 (28 MB)

It’s Clemson – Carolina week once again and football fans across South Carolina focus their eyes on the Tigers and the Gamecocks. For the first time ever, Clemson comes into this match-up with the ACC Championship game the following week against Georgia Tech. You will hear people say that Clemson might look past South Carolina with the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship looming, but I beg to differ. While winning the ACC would be a great accomplishment, Dabo Swinney will have his team focused on winning ‘Bragging Rights’.

After looking over the years of statistics, I am convinced you can boil this rivalry down to expectations and hope. After years of suffering loss after loss to the Tigers, it was bound to happen that the Gamecock faithful would eventually expect to lose and hope to win this yearly battle.

It’s my belief that this is what has happened to the South Carolina fan base and their teams over the years. Just looking at the numbers is astounding.

I’m sure there are many similar situations out there, but for the sake of this piece, I will use my own life as an example. I consider myself a young Clemson fan, 32 years old, and in my lifetime we have won this contest twenty-three times. In order for a Gamecock fan say the same, they need to be almost twice my age, or 62 years old.

Yep, you have to go all the way back to 1947 to find a Gamecock who has won twenty-three times against our Clemson Tigers. That stat almost makes me feel bad for some of their older fans…ALMOST.

In 1947 Harry Truman was president, a new house cost roughly $6,600, bread was $0.13, the Frisbee was invented. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

I think about the joy I have experienced during those twenty-three wins. To have those wins occur in such a short period of time as a Tiger fan I can’t help but think about the long years of misery that a 62 year old Gamecock fan has sat through. Season after season, year after year, loss after loss.

Expectations and hope. We expect to win and hope not to lose, they expect to lose and hope to win. Given those two rules of thumb it’s no wonder Clemson wins more often than not. South Carolina hasn’t beaten Clemson in back to back games since 1969 & 1970. Need I say more?

Football is a tough sport, but as tough as it is, in the end it’s also a mental game and we have had South Carolina’s number for years. Let’s be honest the mentality of the fan base leaks down to the program and soon enough the players start to believe. Not even a “New Carolina” can reverse this old trend.

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Season Predictions: El Swann: 10-1 , Xbox 360: 9-2

Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview and predicts Clemson's next game. You can listen to both shows at -LINK-

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the latest news about your Clemson Tigers.

http://twitter.com/clemsonpodcasts

Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #82 (32 MB)

After starting the season 2-3, I don’t think this game could have been scripted any better for the Tigers. Clemson comes in on fire, while Virginia seems to be spinning out of control. Winners of five straight games, the Tigers look to extend their ACC season and play for the conference title on December 5th.

The only thing standing between Clemson and their first birth in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game is a home win against a Virginia team that lost to the College of William & Mary. It’s still hard to believe when you look back. You think Clemson losing Maryland was bad? I guess the Tribe must play some serious chess.

For the fifth straight week, the Tigers are riding high and this team appears to be ready to take the next step towards another preseason goal. After years of being on the verge of great seasons, here we sit hoping once again. Only this time around it feels a lot different.

How many of you catch yourself having flashbacks to the late eighties or early nineties when you see Kevin Steele’s defense attacking our opponents. I get chills watching opposing quarterbacks when they look like deer in the headlights as we pressure and blitz from all areas. We have been attacking on both sides of the ball since the Maryland loss and it feels great seeing a confident team wearing the orange and white.

I get the feeling that the masses want to stand and yell, “Clemson’s Back!”, but the fear of falling short once again still keeps many sitting on our hands. Well, get off of your hands and stand up this week. Make enough noise that the folks in Columbia and Atlanta will begin to sense the tidal wave that is approaching. If the Tigers come out flat, you owe it to them to lift them up.

Saturday is a day to give back to a team that has given much to you over the past few weeks. We need to show this team that we appreciate them turning around a season that could have been lost. We need to show them that we expect a victory in Columbia and an ACC Championship. Send this Clemson team off like C.J. Spiller opened his senior year, with a BANG!

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Season Predictions: El Swann: 9-1 , Xbox 360: 9-1

Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview and predicts Clemson's next game. You can listen to both shows atwww.clemsonpodcasts.com.

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the latest news about your Clemson Tigers.

http://twitter.com/clemsonpodcasts

Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #81 (22 MB)

From “We Will Rock You” to DeAndre rocked you, Clemson’s Death Valley was electric last Saturday night. After a slow start, Clemson took Florida State behind the woodshed in the second half and placed themselves in the drivers seat toward the ACC Championship game.

I’m putting an end to the talk, night games in Death Valley = AWESOME! Look at the last few played with the lights on and there is no comparison. Clemson should attempt to schedule at least two each season. Forget the drive, forget how late you might get home, Clemson’s night atmosphere is one of the best in the country.

With the victory the Tigers now have a chance to secure a birth in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game this weekend at N.C. State. A Clemson win, coupled with a Boston College loss and the Tigers will be in Tampa on December 5.

Most if not all Tiger fans would have taken this scenario if it was given to them in August. Win your last conference games against two less than stellar teams in North Carolina State (5-4, 1-4) and Virginia (2-3, 3-6) and you are in the title game.

Unlike seasons past, Clemson controls their route to the title; I dare not say “controls their own destiny”. Put it this way, no one else needs to lose. The Tigers win and they are in. No questions.

Tom O’Brien and the Wolfpack will not roll over and just hand it to Clemson. I think that N.C. State will come out with their backs against the wall. They will give Clemson a good shot early, but Clemson will be playing with a sense of urgency that will push them all night long.

Knowing the title game is in the distance will not intimidate this team, it will inspire them. The coaching staff will not allow them to overlook N.C. State and will keep them focused on their preseason goals. From adjustments as big as those that occurred during the bye week between the Maryland and Wake games, or simply those made during halftimes throughout the year, this coaching staff has proven to me that they are ready to take us to the conference title game.

I fully expect Clemson to attack the Wolfpack on both sides of the ball. This is becoming a confident group. They seem hungry and I wouldn’t want to be in between them and Tampa right now. I equate it to being a quarterback between DeAndre McDaniel and the end zone, get out of the way!

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Season Predictions: El Swann: 8-1 , Xbox 360: 8-1

Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview and predicts Clemson's next game. You can listen to both shows at -LINK-

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the latest news about your Clemson Tigers.

http://twitter.com/clemsonpodcasts

Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #80 (29 MB)

There was a day in the not so distant past when ACC stood for Another Clemson Championship. Since Florida State’s arrival in the league, Clemson has failed to expand on their once-proud conference championship legacy. Seventeen years, zero championships.

In the two games prior to the Seminoles joining the conference these two teams were virtually indistinguishable. Both were ranked in the top five of the 1988 preseason poll, and no one in the country wanted to see either on their schedule.

Flashback with me if you will to September 17, 1988, where a rain soaked crowd of Tiger faithful watched Florida State go “Prime-time” in more ways than one. I have long believed that the contest forever known as The “Puntrooski” Game was the beginning of Clemson’s demise, and the ascension of Florida State’s program as a national power.

On that day, the Seminoles may have broken the #3 ranked Tigers spirit, a Clemson team that was good enough to win the national title. However the next season, Clemson answered in Doak Campbell Stadium winning 34-23, and I doubt many Tiger fans thought these two teams were headed in different directions. The Tigers blistered the Seminoles on both sides of the ball that night and finished 10-2 for the second straight year.

But in 1992 Florida State joined in ACC, and in their second conference game the Seminoles, led by Charlie Ward's late game heroics beat the Tigers 24-20 and took the Atlantic Coast Conference from Clemson. FSU finished 11-1, 8-0 in conference play. The Tigers, a dismal 5-6, 3-5 and a seventh place finish. This was Clemson’s worst finish in more than fifteen seasons.

Seventeen years of frustration. Seventeen years of someone else winning what was at one time our conference. We have been through three coaches, hundreds of players, multiple stadium renovations, and 87 losses or roughly five per season. In the seventeen years prior to Florida State joining the league we only lost 52 games.

In a prime-time Saturday evening game, Clemson takes control of the Atlantic Division. By beating the Seminoles, Clemson places themselves in position to make their first ever appearance in the ACC Championship Game.

Tune in this week to see if the Xbox can move to 9-0 while El Swann looks to go 8-1 on the season with his Tiger predictions.

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Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview and predicts Clemson's next game. You can listen to both shows at -LINK-.

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the latest news about your Clemson Tigers. -LINK-
Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #79 (29 MB)

Believe it or not the Clemson Tigers traveled to South Florida and pulled off a major win for the program, defeating the #8 Miami Hurricanes 40-37. The Tigers have won against the Hurricanes in back to back road trips to Florida, which should bring a welcomed booster shot to recruiting. Beating the Canes is no simple task, and Clemson looked like the more athletic team throughout the game. It still early, but this victory could be the first of many special wins for Coach Dabo Swinney.

If you watched the game, it was pretty obvious that Clemson did everything they could to give the game away at times. However, I never felt at anytime Miami controlled the game. From the start, Clemson seemed to set the pace on both sides of the ball. Sure, there was poor player execution, questionable coaching decisions, and at times just pure bad luck. Even so, Clemson found a way to claw out their biggest victory of the season. A victory which could mark the turning point in the season, and become a statement win for Dabo Swinney.

Much of the night it was Clemson's Heisman candidate C.J. Spiller lighting up the Miami skyline with play after play. Spiller's 90 yard kick return late in the second quarter showcased his elite speed for the country. Totaling a Clemson record 310 all purpose yards, Spiller made a strong statement for being considered the top player in the country. People laughed a few weeks ago when I wrote that he was the best player in the country and that I wouldn't trade him for anybody. I guess those folks hadn't seen him play enough. It's sad that a grass roots movement is going to have to push Spiller into the Heisman conversation. He deserves to be in New York for the ceremony if he can keep this up.

In the end, Spiller's heroics were overshadowed by a laser thrown from Kyle Parker to Jacoby Ford that ended the back and forth affair. On 3rd and 11 in the 1st overtime, Parker sent a strike to Jacoby, and a dagger to the Miami faithful. "Vol Alert" was the call, and it was a thing of beauty. One foot to the right and the pass is knocked down, one foot to the left and it might be picked, in a game of inches this 26 yard strike will be remembered for some time. With one bullet pass, Clemson now sits in the driver seat to represent the Atlantic division in the ACC Championship game and controls their own destiny.

The offense was brilliant at times, but it was the defense that made the stops when Clemson needed them the most. After a late interception, when Clemson had the tying field goal in their pocket, Clemson's defense forced Miami to go three and out and gave the offense a chance to get back on the field. Then in the overtime period, a opening 19 yard run by the Hurricanes turned into only a field goal after the Tigers defense held on three plays forcing the Canes to settle for three. The offense and special teams kept the Tigers in the game, but the defense won this game.

With huge implications riding on every ACC game remaining, I expect the Tigers to put it on cruise control versus Coastal Carolina. All-Time All-Purpose Yards and the Heisman Trophy, take a back seat to what is best for this team. Sure, Spiller could rack up the yardage this week, but he puts the team first. In order to reach the ACC Championship, C.J. Spiller has to be healthy and you just can't afford to lose him now. I expect C.J. to get his early, and often. You better be in your seats at kickoff, because I doubt you see Spiller once 4 minutes remain in the second quarter. It should be that kind of day for the Tigers.

Tune in this week to see if the Xbox can move to 8-0 while El Swann looks to go 7-1 on the season with his Tiger predictions.
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Follow the Tigers throughout the season on TigerNet Talk and Clemson Hotline. Each week, Lawton Swann will review the previous weekend's game and preview and predicts Clemson's next game. You can listen to both shows at -LINK-.

Follow our Twitter feed to get all the lastest news about your Clemson Tigers. -LINK-
Go Tigers!

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TigerNet Talk #78 (25 MB)

El Swann takes a look at the upcoming game vs. Miami.

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TigerNet Talk #77 (29 MB)