Tuff-est place to play college football

Here is another take on the toughest places to play in college football by PrepTicket. We always see these lists but I disagree that S. Carolina was left out; as Willy-B does deserve to be in the Top 25 (take out ark-kansas and insert SC in the list below)!

Link: Link

Do you agree with their list?

Worst Sports Injury of 08

In MLB news - The Diamondbacks placed Catcher Chris Snyder on the DL Tuesday with what we here at LOHD are calling the worst sports injury of 2008.

"Snyder suffered what was diagnosed as a left testicular fracture after he was struck by a foul ball off the bat of Corey Hart".....he broke one of his balls!

Good god...I don't even want to think about this!

(h/t: The Nasty Boys Sports Blog)

Klempson News Thread

Here are some clemson news stories that may be of interest to ya - it is a slow month for sports blogging. Anywho -

-McDaniel update - I agree with our pal at the Garnet and Black that is is bullsh*t and something is not right about the possiblity of allowing this kid a chance to play in 08...wait they allowed that LB the chance to play in the bowl game despite a DUI charge so this is not too surprising...what is that this crap is allowed to happen by Clemson officals, fans and the media.
-Clemson’s Harper a dark-horse Heisman candidate
-With McDaniel, Bowden’s right to exercise patience - I totally disagree and it seems that Clemson is being held at a different standard in the media...if this was Spurrier they would eat it up.

Oh, here is a good read that basically puts it out there for Clemson fans - time to put up or shut up in 08

UPDATE - The State paper is reporting - here - that the decision on whether Clemson sophomore DeAndre McDaniel can play pending a criminal charge now appears in coach Tommy Bowden’s hands. McDaniel was neither expelled nor suspended from school Wednesday following a hearing with the university’s judiciary review board, according to a source with knowledge of the proceeding.

USC ranked 48th

The final standings for the year for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics were announced this past week.

We came in at 48, our lowest rank ever. They have been ranking the 279 athletic departments since 1993.This is our lowest rank since 1993, but in such a down year for Gamecock athletics, to still be in the top 50 is not as bad as some would make it out to be.

Here is a analysis of Clemson vs USC to get an idea of how the two programs stack up:

SC vs CU

1993 - USC 40 CU 16
1994 - USC 44 CU 51
1995 - USC 42 CU 27
1996 - USC 33 CU 51
1997 - USC 33 CU 25
1998 - USC 27 CU 28
1999 - USC 32 CU38
2000 - USC 25 CU34
2001 - USC 11 CU26
2002 - USC 18 CU26
2003 - USC 34 CU42
2004 - USC 34 CU52
2005 - USC43 CU39
2006 -USC 32 CU36
2007 -USC 48 CU43
Our average finish is 33rd and Clemson's is 36th.

Gamecock Weekend News Thread

Just in case you missed some worthy news articles or other interesting reads over the last few days here is a re-cap - -

• Gamecock athletes excel in the classroom
• USC's Richardson simply put is fast
• EX-Gamecock Summers stampedes into CFL
• Linebacker Brent Singleton (6-1 204) of Plantation, Fla., committed to USC Thursday, becoming the fifth pledge for the Gamecocks' 2009 class

Our pal at Garnet and Black Attack has put toghether 2 blog 'must reads' -

• gamecocks 2008: The Season Ahead
• Expectations: How Great?

P.S - 61 days until Gamecock Football Kicks Off!

Witnesses aid charged Clemson player

Three witnesses have come forward in the aid of Clemson defensive back DeAndre McDaniel who was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. But the catch in this story - here - is these witnesses have yet to go to the Central PD who are charging the player to share their story.

You may remember what McDaniel is being charged with -

According to a Central police incident report, McDaniel’s girlfriend told officers that she and McDaniel engaged in a heated argument in which she pushed his head while lying in bed. She said McDaniel then placed a comforter over her head and began choking her while jerking her head up and down. She said McDaniel then struck her with a closed fist to her face and head area.The victim said McDaniel continued cursing at her, threatening to break her neck. Eventually, she said he shoved her down a flight of stairs and punched her in the chest as she fled from the apartment toward her car.

Something is fishy with this whole situation as the article states -

In documents obtained by the Daily Journal/Daily Messenger from a source close to the investigation, the witness, McDaniel’s neighbor said, “I was woken up by someone beeping the horn outside, Saturday morning, June 21, 2008, around 7 a.m. “I got up to see who it was and saw (the victim) walking to her car (Camry), which was parked outside my window. I saw her laughing as she stated, ‘I’m just going to leave; I know the law, my mom or relative has been working with that stuff for about 20-30 yrs, so I know I’m not going to be the one going to jail.’ I saw her continue to giggle as she got in her car and then she drove away.”
This statement directly disputes the victim’s statement in the Central police incident report.

Should prove interesting how this plays out with McDaniel and his legal team as they decide how to handle this.....where is Matlock?

Mays goes undrafted

We here at LOHD almost forgot to report about Clemson's thug...sorry I meant basketball player James Mays. You know the same guy that a year ago thought about leaving Klempson early....

In the Upstate of SC, there was a slight buzz brewing that Mays could become first Clemson baller drafted in seven years but don't worry the NBA knew better. We all, or at least Carolina fans, know that Mays sucks....get him outside 10 feet and he is horrible. Heck put him on the FT line and he makes Shaq look like the best FT shooter every.

Anyway...he was not drafted but could sign a FA contract in the coming weeks.

bUSCher on fire lately...

Has anyone noticed the tear that Brian Buscher has been on recently? Brain played at Carolina and helped lead the team to a CWS visit. He was selected in round 3 of the 2003 draft by the Giants.

The Minnesota Twins, his current team, recalled Brian from Triple-A Rochester where he was batting .328 (58 for 177) with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 27 RBI in 51 games for the Red Wings. In his first stint with the Twins this season April 20-May 1, Buscher appeared in three games and batted .250 (2 for 8) with one double and one RBI.

Currently playing 3rd base for the Twins {since June 14th}, he is batting .351 with 12 RBIs and 6 runs batting out of the 8th spot. He has been a much needed spark for the Twins and he hope he continues to find success.

Clemson football player arrested, accused of assault

A Clemson University football player has been arrested and faces an assault charge after a woman reported she was assaulted at his off-campus apartment, according to police information.

DeAndre Maurice McDaniel, 20, is charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, according to a warrant. One of the top high school prospects in the nation out of Godby High in Tallahassee, Fla., McDaniel played extensively as a backup last season appearing in all 13 games and being name to the Atlantic Coast Conference all-freshman team.

According to a report filed at the Central Police Department, a 19-year-old woman, whose name was not released, said she was choked and hit in the face with a fist, threatened and punched in the chest.The victim was treated for injuries at Oconee Memorial Hospital, according to the report. According to the warrant, the victim suffered serious injuries including chest and facial contusions and neck sprain.
The victim was treated for injuries at Oconee Memorial Hospital, according to the report. According to the warrant, the victim suffered serious injuries including chest and facial contusions and neck sprain.

HT to JR, our fearless reader....More on this story and the spin - HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Oh and still no mention of "Ray Ray" Gate, which the latest on this is he is leaving for Howard....come on mainstream media...

Now the question is - What will Tommy Bowden do??? Will the media dig and analyze like they would if this was a USC issue? Or will the media issue a "pass" on this as they normally do when Clemson does wrong or sucks???? Only time will tell......