The Clemson Dubcast

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Kyle Richardson and Mickey Conn

In our final installment of the full, uncut media sit-downs recently conducted by Clemson's assistant football coaches, we present Kyle Richardson and Mickey Conn.

Richardson is in his third season coaching the Tigers' tight ends, and he has a potential star in Jake Briningstool.

Conn, who is in his eighth year coaching safeties while also holding the co-defensive coordinator title for a third season, reflects on the depth he has on the back end with RJ Mickens, Khalil Barnes and Tyler Venables ahead of a cluster of young players who should push for playing time.

The Tigers began August camp Thursday. They open the 2024 season Aug. 31 against Georgia in Atlanta.

Tyler Grisham and Mike Reed

We continue with the uncut audio from the recent sit-downs with Clemson's football assistants.

Tyler Grisham prepares for his fifth season in charge of Clemson's receivers after taking over for Jeff Scott in 2020. He sees big things out of this group if the receivers can stay healthy, something that's been a major obstacle in recent years. 

Mike Reed discusses replacing Nate Wiggins after a spectacular 2023 season from the cornerback. Avieon Terrell is expected to be an elite presence sooner rather than later as he enters his sophomore season. Jeadyn Lukus and Shelton Lewis could be in a fierce competition for the starting spot on the other side. And newcomers Tavoy Feagin and Corian Gipson are considered fast risers also.

Reed has been at Clemson for 11 seasons. This past offseason he was in the mix to become head coach at his alma mater, Boston College, but the Eagles ended up hiring Bill O'Brien from Ohio State.

Clemson begins August camp Thursday and opens the season Aug. 31 against Georgia in Atlanta.

C.J. Spiller and Nick Eason

We continue presenting the full, uncut audio from the recent interviews conducted of Clemson's assistant football coaches.

Today C.J. Spiller reflects on his upcoming induction into Clemson's prestigious Ring of Honor, and also his assessment of the Tigers' situation at running back behind starter Phil Mafah.

Nick Eason, back for his third season as defensive tackles coach, holds court and shares his thoughts on what should be a highly disruptive interior. He also gives his opinions on the current state of college football with the transfer portal and NIL.

Clemson begins August camp a week from today. 

The Tigers open the season Aug. 31 against Georgia in Atlanta.