The Clemson Dubcast

Bob Gillespie, who spent more than three decades at The State newspaper, joins The Dubcast to talk old war stories covering Clemson and South Carolina. He also gives his thoughts on the dramatic decline in the staffing and influence of newspapers in the Palmetto State and elsewhere.

Mark Packer, host of two shows on Sirius/XM and former host of "PrimeTime with the Packman" on WFNZ in Charlotte, joins The Dubcast to talk Clemson's football dominance, the notion of Alabama fatigue, what his daily routine is like with two shows to prepare for, and much more.

Eric George, chief financial officer for Clemson's athletics department, joins The Dubcast to explore the costs of doing business when you're making yearly trips to the College Football Playoff -- and paying for a traveling party of 1,000 people to go to Santa Clara for the national championship. 

Paul Strelow, esteemed recruiting writer for Tigerillustrated.com, joins The Dubcast to talk about how he does his job. He also shares some of the backstory of Justyn Ross' surprise signing with Clemson a year ago, and why the staffs at Clemson and South Carolina don't seem to like each other very much.

What's the fallout been like in Tuscaloosa after Clemson's dismantling of the Crimson Tide, and then yet another exodus of Nick Saban assistants? We consult with two authorities on Saban and Alabama.

Andy Staples joins The Dubcast to discuss what goes into writing a Sports Illustrated cover story on the team that just won the national title. Staples also gives his thoughts on how so many of us got the championship game so wrong, the new Dabo Dynasty, where Nick Saban goes from here, and much more.

Tom Rinaldi, master storyteller for ESPN, joins The Dubcast to talk Dabo Swinney, the 10-year anniversary of Swinney taking over as interim coach, similarities and differences between Clemson and Alabama, and why the fourth matchup between these two powers is just as compelling as the first.

Ralph Russo, national college football writer for The Associated Press, joins The Dubcast to explain how one manages to cover 130 college football teams. He also shares his insight into Dabo Swinney and Clemson's program, which he began covering more closely three years ago when the Tigers began their current run of four consecutive CFP trips. Finally, Russo gives his take on Saturday's Cotton Bowl semifinal showdown between Clemson and Notre Dame.

Harold Coleman spent parts of his childhood living in homeless shelters in inner-city Washington D.C., as his late mother battled drug addiction. Coleman, who came to Clemson in 1991 and walked on to the Tigers' football team, visits with The Dubcast to reflect on how his upbringing shaped the man, husband and father he has become. Over the years Coleman has been a mentor to athletes who come from similarly difficult backgrounds, including Ray-Ray McElrathbey. Coleman also spent years as a sports radio talk-show personality on WCCP-FM.

James Davis, the Thunder to C.J. Spiller's Lightning, joins The Dubcast to reminisce about his time at Clemson. Davis, who lives in his hometown of Atlanta, says Dabo Swinney has been urging him to return to the Upstate to join the football staff and finish his degree.