The Clemson Dubcast

Marc Whiteman

On May 3, WYFF News 4 Sports Director Marc Whiteman shared this on social media:

Been pretty low key on social media and at work lately, and I’m ready to share some news.

Liam Finn Whiteman was born at just 28 weeks old last weekend at 3 lbs and 12 ounces. Earlier in the week, Mary and I were rushed to the hospital under the threat of preterm labor, and a little less than 72 hours later, Liam was here. We didn’t have his name picked out. We thought we had more time. But as it became apparent that he was coming, sooner than expected, we realized it was always Liam.

 

In Irish, Liam points to a “strong-willed warrior.” In Hebrew, a “determined guardian.” We knew whatever was coming, he’d need to be both of those things. He is already so much more.

 

We’re anxious to get our little guy home from the NICU, and are so confident in the incredible team of doctors, nurses and caregivers at Prisma looking after him. Progress isn’t always linear, but we’re incredibly encouraged by his growth so far. He’s a tough little nugget.

 

Mary and I already love him so much more than we could even fathom, and are so eager to watch him get a little bit bigger, stronger and healthier each and every day.

 

We’re so thankful for the village we have around us. Our family, friends and incredible co-workers have picked us up and looked after us as we grapple with each day. They’ve dropped what they were doing, rearranged their lives, and come to our side. We’re looking forward to repaying that kindness in the future, and showering our baby boy with all the love in the universe when he comes home.

 

After 67 days in the hospital, Liam finally came home in late summer. He is now more than sixth months old.

Marc joins the podcast to share their story.

Patricia Watkins, mother of CJ Spiller

In 2006, Patricia Watkins thought her son was going to play college football for the Florida Gators.

She had never even heard of Clemson when CJ Spiller traveled for a visit there that changed his life, and their lives.

Last week, Watkins was a part of Spiller's entourage on the field at Death Valley when he was inducted into Clemson's Ring of Honor.

It brought tears to her eyes because the first thing she thought of was when CJ tried to join a youth football team as a 6-year-old and was told he was too young (he spent that season as the water boy instead).

CJ bawled his eyes out that day when told he couldn't play. He was crying again last Saturday, but they were tears of joy and gratitude.

Watkins joins The Dubcast to reflect on the journey since Spiller's recruitment when she first heard the name Dabo Swinney.

Swinney, then the receivers coach, was the key figure in convincing Spiller that Clemson was the place for him.

And then a year later, Swinney was again the catalyst in convincing Spiller to remain at Clemson after he'd made up his mind he was going back home and transferring to Florida to join Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin.

The mother of the most important recruit in Clemson football history opens up about her story, and their story.

 

 

David Hale

David Hale of ESPN has a fascinating, tumultuous relationship with Dabo Swinney dating back nine years when Swinney's nuclear response to a Hale question about "Clemsoning" went viral.

Hale joins the podcast to share what that relationship has been like in recent years as he communicates with Swinney both in press conferences and in more informal settings.

In a transformative time for college athletics, Hale has visited with numerous athletics directors to try to get a sense of how they might adjust to the advent of revenue sharing with athletes.

Is it naive to think a more regulated, policed NIL is actually going to work?

And what of the ACC as its profile falls even further behind in the shadow of an expanded SEC and Big Ten?

What's the best move for Clemson and Florida State? Stay in the ACC in exchange for more money and a reduced Grant of Rights agreement?

Or continue fighting like hell to get out because they can't afford falling into obscurity over the next 5-6 seasons?

Lots of questions and few concrete answers.

But Hale possesses a smarter and more informed grasp of the big picture than most anyone out there.

Mickey Plyler

Mickey Plyler, a Clemson-area sports-radio institution, rejoins The Dubcast to talk football ... and the current political-football fiasco taking place in Clemson.

Plyler turns the tables on the interview and asks his own questions about:

-- Seneca Journal publisher Jerry Edwards using shady tactics to try to influence the Clemson mayoral and city-council elections;

-- The publisher joining forces with a current Clemson mayoral candidate (and sitting council member) to fabricate a gender war between the men and women on Clemson's city council, in addition to alleging that the mayor and other council members pocketed money from developers;

-- The idea that growth has been bad for Clemson, and criticisms that said growth has turned Clemson "into another Atlanta, Chicago or Detroit" as some in the anti-development faction have alleged.

In the second half of the interview, we try to wrap our arms around how quickly the perception of Clemson football changed over the past two games after a debilitating loss at Georgia was (incorrectly) said to inflict long-range repercussions.

Plyler also shares some deeply personal and meaningful revelations he experienced recently when he observed his 5-year-old son experiencing the wonder of a Clemson game at Death Valley.

 

Brad Brownell, Part 2

Earlier this summer we sat down with Brad Brownell for an interview that lasted more than two hours.

The full Q&A was published at Tigerillustrated.com in June.

Last week was Part 1, and now we present Part 2 of a conversation that touched on a number of topics including Clemson's stirring run to the Elite Eight in last season's NCAA Tournament.

Brad Brownell

Earlier this summer we sat down with Brad Brownell for an interview that lasted more than two hours.

The full Q&A was published at Tigerillustrated.com in June.

We now present the full audio of that conversation that touched on a number of topics including Clemson's stirring run to the Elite Eight in last season's NCAA Tournament.

Part 2 of the interview will be published next week.

Jon Blau of The Post and Courier

Three years ago, Jon Blau left Bloomington, Ind., and found himself in a strange new world of big-time college football after he took over as the Clemson beat writer for The Post and Courier of Charleston.

Jon has fashioned a reputation as an excellent storyteller during his stint, uncovering angles and depth that others don't see.

He joins the podcast to reflect on his job and how he does it, including the balance between spending too much and too little time on social media.

With Clemson opening the 2024 season against Georgia, Jon says this game and this season is a critical juncture for Dabo Swinney's program as it tries to get back to breathing elite air after a three-year absence.

 

Brad Scott and Jeff Scott

Brad Scott has retired from football and is now back in Clemson enjoying the grandad and golf life.

Jeff Scott is fully immersed in his custom homebuilding business and out of football for a second consecutive season.

In other words, father and son have time to sit back and tell stories from their decades in college football that included epic runs at Clemson and Florida State.

Brad remembers going out to dinner with Dabo Swinney in Clemson when Swinney was interviewing with Tommy Bowden for a job coaching receivers in the spring of 2003.

When Swinney landed a blockbuster recruiting class in 2011 after a 6-7 season, Brad was the major figure in the signings of Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant and Mike Bellamy.

He remembers the NCAA coming to campus to ask him questions after people wondered how Clemson could sign so many high-profile players after a disappointing season.

Brad also shares a story from 1986 when he was on Bobby Bowden's staff at FSU and Bowden called.

"Brad, I'm going to Alabama and taking you with me," Bobby told him over the phone.

Bowden ended up backing out of the job after accepting it.

Jeff shares a recollection from 1998, three days after South Carolina fired his father as head coach. Tommy Bowden had taken over at Clemson and offered Brad a spot as tight ends coach. Brad took the job, and soon thereafter Jeff was wearing a Clemson cap when he ran into former Gamecock quarterback Steve Taneyhill.

Taneyhill thought Jeff was just bitter and wearing the hat out of spite.

"Steve," Jeff told him. "We're really going to Clemson. My dad just got a job coaching tight ends."

 

Gary Stokan and Cade Klubnik

Under Gary Stokan's leadership and vision, Peach Bowl Inc. events have generated an economic impact of $1.27 billion and $76.74 million in direct government tax revenue for the city of Atlanta and state of Georgia since 199.

Stokan was also a key driver of relocating the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta.

Once upon a time in the early 1980s, Stokan was a late-20s sneaker rep for Adidas and thought he had Michael Jordan locked up for a shoe deal.

Nike swooshed in and gave MJ a deal he couldn't refuse, and Stokan still views it as the biggest disappointment of his business career even though he managed to lock up Herschel Walker and Mike Krzyzewski during the same time period.

Stokan joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming matchup between Clemson and Georgia in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta.

Sixteen years ago, Clemson played in the inaugural game when it faced second-year Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Stokan says both the Bulldogs and Tigers have sold out their ticket allotments, and he anticipates a crowd split of close to 50/50 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 31.

We also share Cade Klubnik's Aug. 12 press conference where he shared his insight into the progress shown by Clemson's offense thus far during camp.

Dayne Young of UGASports.com

With Kirby Smart and his program facing repeated off-field-incidents, the latest the arrest of receiver RaRa Thomas and his subsequent dismissal from the team, what's the common view of Smart and his culture from typical Georgia fans?

Is it fair to say he and his program have a character problem? 

What of Dabo Swinney, and the view of him from Bulldogs people?

Is there a belief in Athens that Clemson is a legitimate threat to beat Georgia in the Aug. 31 opener?

Young, who has three different jobs -- one at the UGA Rivals site, the other teaching at UGA's college of journalism, and the other in public relations -- is well positioned to give an answer to those questions and many others.

Young is also a weekly guest on Mickey Plyler's morning radio show at WCCP-FM.