Leggett going soft? Nah.

Reading Jack Leggett's reflections on the 2010 season, one might wonder whether the man has gone all hippy on us.

Let's see, how many variations of lame hippy catch phrases can we come up with ...

"Give Peace a chance (in the Palmetto State)"

"Make love (with South Carolina), not war."

"Save the Gamecocks (bra)."

OK, maybe a bit of an exaggeration.

But I gotta admit I was a little surprised with the relative Gamecock love fest I heard from Leggett yesterday on his media teleconference (relative to the usual and expected Clemson position of acknowledging their existence only in the most grudging manner possible). And yeah, I was also slightly surprised to hear him rave about the season and how much of a ravishing success it was.

A day later, I'm thinking there's no way 'ole Jack has gone soft on us. I'm thinking what he said yesterday was merely PR-speak in an effort to not publicly denigrate the accomplishment of a rival, and also to give his boys props for not giving up on the season. Or maybe it was an effort to create the impression that the Gamecocks didn't get the best of him and his team.

I'm thinking Leggett's blood is still boiling at the way his team's season ended. I'm thinking he probably was not a happy man when South Carolina beat UCLA to claim a national title that seemed in Clemson's grasp just a few days earlier.

The man is one of the most tightly-wound, driven, and, yes, anal competitors I've ever covered (probably the most, come to think of it). Sorry, but I'm just not putting an abundant amount of stock in the whole peace-and-love thing.

That said, when it comes to Clemson itself and the question of whether 2010 was a success, the man has a point. The end came in a most excruciating way possible -- doubly excruciating given that it was essentially a re-run of 2002 -- but a season that ends with the Tigers one of the last three teams standing cannot be classified as a disappointment. Not as a whole.

I'm not convinced this team overachieved as much as it overcame an gruesome and almost inexplicable stretch of bad play at midseason. During that time, when the Tigers were losing 15 of 23 games after a 17-2 start, it was hard to figure how they were that bad. This was a team that, despite its pitching issues, looked fit for Omaha on paper.

Did the Tigers merely begin playing to their capabilities when they got hot toward the end of the season, and then in the NCAA Tournament? I tend to think so.

Give this team credit for returning the standard to where it should be: Omaha. Over the last two or three years, you were beginning to wonder whether the bar had been lowered to the point where folks were ecstatic merely to reach the Super Regional.

The 12 trips to Omaha without a title is nevertheless becoming bothersome to Clemson fans, particularly in light of how close their team came in 2010 and 2002 (and who was responsible for sending them home). Now that South Carolina has a title, the pressure on Clemson and Leggett to get theirs only becomes greater.

Their are still some legitimate questions facing Leggett's program:

Why do the bats seem to go quiet in Omaha, even against pitchers who aren't dominant (see: Roth, Michael)?

Why so many defensive lapses (100 errors on the season, 32 by SS Brad Miller)?

Is Leggett's snare-drum-tight demeanor detrimental to his team when the pressure is greatest?

Next year's team should be good, and potentially really good. Another trip to the CWS would mark the first back-to-back visits to Omaha since 1995-96, so Leggett is right when he points out that things are more positive than they might seem.

Just not buying the flower-child vibe when it comes to the rival down the road in Columbia.

Here's the story from Pete Iacobelli of the AP.

And more from Greg Wallace of the Independent-Mail.

First Clemson turns down ESPN and the 2011 Chick-fil-A Classic. Now Tennessee says no-thanks to an opportunity to take on Southern Cal (or what's left of it) and its former coach (or what's left of him).

Looks like a mess at SMU, which won't admit some signees who happen to meet NCAA qualifications. Wonder if they have an AARC down there?

Paul Strelow of the Independent-Mail writes about Martavis Bryant and says he didn't qualify because his former school (Calhoun Falls) didn't see fit to maintain the relevant records when it closed its doors.

Ouch.

Georgia Tech OL Antonio Foster, a former blue-chip prospect, has been kicked off the team.

Mark Richt gives his thoughts on the Damon Evans fiasco. Doesn't sound like he's getting his panties in a wad over it.

And by the way, this talk of Richt's power being diminished with Evans' departure is nonsense.

First off, Evans didn't even hire the guy. And second, take a look at Richt's record in Athens.

If the Doggies have another dud this year, we'll start the conversation about his job possibly being in danger. But until then, he's fine.

Auburn lost backup CB D'Antoine Hood, but this writer says the Tigers' secondary is still in good shape.

There are two starting defensive backs, a handful of 2009 backups, the probable return of three injured veteran defensive backs and four rookies in the secondary. There's also swingman Daren Bates, who can play where needed.

A quick count finds 12, maybe 13, defensive backs on the roster.

Speaking of Auburn, missed this item a few weeks ago: They're moving forward on a $16.5 million indoor practice facility.

"This is a huge step forward for our football facilities, and we are pleased that it will also benefit other sports at Auburn as well,'' said football coach Gene Chizik in a statement released by the university. "...Auburn's facilities are in great shape and are only getting better, which is important for our recruits and for our fans."

Back to Athens for a truly bizarre story:

A magistrate's judge upheld the misdemeanor charge against a Georgia football player for obstruction after the player refused to provide his middle name before relenting.


LW

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