Joining us now is our good friend Will Vandervoord from the Clemson Insider. He
always gives us great perspective on a number of things, including the men's basketball
team, the football program, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Just quickly, let's
get the Steelers stuff out of the way. We're a little surprised about the
Justin Fields acquisition, and how do you feel about it now that I know
that the Steelers did not pick up his fifth year option and that they got
him really, really cheap, I'm okay with it now more than I was.
And also hearing the reports that you know, they've said Russell Wilson's going
to be the starter and Fields is going to come in in the city year
possibly and kind of learn. So I can't hear those kind of things tells
me, you know, you know what the point they got a plan.
And now I just hope Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, whoever it is,
they don't they're not the quarterback that they can handle that. Now I know
Justin Field says he can handle it. My question is that Justin Fields comes
out and beats Russell Wilson for the job, then Russell Wilson handle it.
And that's my concern only concern really with this two quarterbacks they've got because listen,
guys, we all have egos, but quarterbacks have an ego that's even
bigger than any of us. And when you've got two guys that have been
starters their entire lives and starting quarterbacks and successful if they're in their own right
Russell Wilson obviously in college and in the NFL, and then justin fields obviously
at the High of State, you know, you you that ego is pumped
up a little bit more. And you know, sometimes y'all saying is when
you got two starting quarterbacks, you got none, So you know that's what
worries me. But then again, you know that it's about leaving that ego
at the door. It sounds like the Steelers. What made me feel a
little bit better about Russell Wilson was hearing the stories of Cam Newton and and
and and right and uh, I mean Cam Hayward sorry, uh and and
Mika Fitzpatrick, you know, talking and TJ. Watt talking to Brussell and
letting know, hey man, you leave that ego at the door. It's
about that logo. That's what we play for It's about the culture in this
locker room. It's about you know, being you know, playing best as
a standard if you will, and playing for each other and not for individuals.
And so Russell seems to has grasped it, at least, at least
in the press conferences, seemed that way. So we'll see if that stays
the course throughout the year. With that all said, good wide receiver man,
And I think I might be even more happy I see you if I
know they didn't get Mike Williams. That just came out, and this is
setio. Mike Wims signed up with the Jets. But the reason that's the
big deal is because he was supposed to visit Pittsburgh this week and now he's
all of a sudden just signed with the Jets. Tells me the Steelers might
have called him up and told him not to come. Because Jerry Doolac,
who was the beat reporter covering the Steelers better than anybody, reported yesterday.
I know Rich eisen So that Pittsburgh is about to make some more splash and
it's going to come at wide receiver. And he says that it's not necessarily
Mike Williams. So just wait and see what that means. Last news.
And we love Mike Tomlin. And you know what, I'll say this,
there's so many Clemson elements to this because Mike Williams, you know, you
covered him in close Rains. The guy is an absolute baller. He can
get that eighty twenty ball just like t Higgins with the best of them.
And I was tickled to death to see I wasn't there, pro to I
hated it, but Mike Tomlin was down there, and he and dad A
were tight man. They've been around for a while and they know each other
pretty well. Yeah, yeah, you know, I gave him a little
shout out and go Steellers nice as he as he came by and had had
my had my Pirates hat on them. But he recognized who I was,
who I might be rooting for, you know, And so yeah, it
was good. You should have run up with your phone and got him to
read some liners for us. They say, you got a coach read Hey,
this is this is Mike Tomlin came on with John and Trey. We'll
be back after this. Yeah, the Steelers O more than just Tomlin was
there. They had five or six people there overall. Including offensive coordinator Arthur
Smith was there as well as well as Omar Cohn was there as well.
The general looking at rookie or I don't know they they were, they were
well represented. Ask the thing. And I thought it was interesting that that
we saw Arthur Smith there because obviously the best offensive player coming out for this
for Clemson this year is Will Shipley, who, by the way, had
one of the best Pro days in the history of protec. He was amazing,
and not just at Clemson Pro Days. I'm talking about period. He
ranked fifty in the top fifty now all time in the combine error fiftieth all
time of all running backs. His performance was the other day. And that's
seventeen hundred running backs that I participated in the combine since then. So him
and you're in the top fifty of seventy almost eighteen hundred. That's pretty impressive.
And he, uh, I think Will Shipley made himself some money.
Now, I don't think. I don't think the Steelers are going to draft
him because I don't. I mean, maybe maybe he comes in. I
forgot guy well, I forgot I forgot Date Wiggins is probably high on their
board too. I would think go opposite Porter Junior. Oh, I thought
so until you know they made the trade with the Deontay Johnson for Jackson over
Carolina, putting the Jackson basket. I see it. Okay, Yeah,
well, I mean he's the one. He will see the kind of guy
they wanted corner. He's a tall in the morning to kind of go across
Joey Porter or Senior. I mean they can steal draft. I think I
think they're going the Steelers are going to go offensive tackle in the first round.
I really believe that because that's what they need, that they need a
left tackle. Well, here we go. Look, we're doing our mock
draft right now, so I can tell you this. We're not quite to
the Steelers yet. But what do you think about Jackson powers Johnson like a
center. Are you on board with that at twenty or think it's too soon
for an interior guy. I think it's too soon for an interior guy.
I think if he's around in the second round, I think the Steelers grab
him then and then that they would take him then. But I think what
you're gonna see the Steelers curs. I think they're going to go offensive tackle
in the first round. In the second round, I think you're gonna see
him go defensive tackle. Third round, I think you'll see him go inside
linebacker. And then probably in that fourth round you may see him go wide
receiver. Or with that next second round, they got two third round picks,
right, or the two fourth round picks. Fourth, Yeah, they
got a bunch better there, so you'll see I think you'll see a wide
receiver and a center go in that one. That's what I think you're gonna
For the life of me, I do not understand why people are hyping McCarthy
in the top six. Now. I don't get it. I like the
player. I don't get it, and I like him. Yeah, I
just see so much more. And I'm worried about Pinis with his medicals.
I'm not seeing it from bo Nicks as the top ten guy, but I
think there could be five or for in the first round. Will Vandervoord joined
us Clemson Insider dot com. All right, so the big news today Clemson
officially finding a lawsuit against the ACC You've done some reporting on this as well
as your colleagues out there at the Clemson Insider. I'm gonna let you take
the floor here. I know what's going on, But you could probably explain
it a little better than I can. What do we look at that here?
What what's the what's this short of it? Yeah, So basically Clemson
is basically, you know, kind of want the court to rule on about
not three things I would say, uh, the ACC. Clemson saying the
a SEC does not own their broadcasting rights to its games if it should or
does leave the league, as it is not required to pay the exit fee.
Basically you know, with that saying that the ACC is being kind of
ridiculous with that exit because it doesn't fit the norm of what the standard is
across country. And Clemson used some laws actually in their suit that says this
is ridiculous. You know, nobody else does this. This is against kind
of laws that are in our country. So some good finds there for Clemson.
And then also Clemson owes, no, oh, is the conference nothing
if they should leave because Clemson says that's not in the bylaws. I know,
the a SEC says it's in the bilaws. The Clemson says it's not,
and they I think Clemson knows you know why, because Clinton is the
one who created this conference. I mean, honestly, particularly where it matters
the most, the football side, which is what we're talking about here.
Well, I mean in nineteen fifty three, Clinton and Maryland are the ones
who started the ACC exactly. I mean that Southern Conference before anybody knows the
bylaws, wouldn't it be Clemson? Uh you would think so, yeah,
those are Maybe the bylaws need to continue to evolve. If it's been a
minute, that's back in the uh the Frank Coward days pre Frank gun a
loop basically saying that the bylaws never had you had to you know, you
had to pay a fee if you ever left. And what in the world
I mean it might be the loophole conference needs. Clemson might have found it.
I'm not saying that is a loophole, but I found it interesting that
Clemson, staying the bylaw, said we never had to pay a fee if
we left the conference. So what happens now we happened to Now what happens
next? Will vandervoart from Cleinson Insider. Is there a timeline here? The
court systems can run as they do. I mean, this is probably gonna
drag out a little bit, but what what do you anticipate happening? From
this, Is it immediate? Is it two years down the road? What
are we looking at? No, I think you're gonna see, you know,
I think you know there's gonna be some fallout to this. You ought
to see the a cecs are responded obviously to Clemson, and this as far
as at least in a former press lea if you notice, unlike this Florida
State situation where Florida State let it leaked out so that ACC sued Floria State
before Florida State was able to use them, that didn't happen. In this
case, the definit quiet what was happening, and Clemson got ahead and filed
those papers this morning. So the ACC. Now I'm not saying the ACC
can't counter suit, but the big it's big for Clemson, and and ACC
made count sue far we know. But Clemson did say a couple of things
right. They said they are not leaving. This does not mean they're leaving
the conference. What it means is they want to have the ability to at
least look to leave if they want to leave the conference, and the bank
by just doing so, it's you know, let's make it reasonable so that
that wording is huge in the sense of Florida State said they were leaving.
Yeah, it was a bit we're not saying we're leaving. We're we're not
saying we're leaving. So I don't know if the a CEC is really going
to do anything to Clemson. That unless Clemson were to actually leave the conference,
and then maybe that's something there. But as far as the people have
asked me, well, we're going to see the a the ACC counter suit
Clemson, I don't know if they can because Clinton was pretty strong in their
wording that they weren't leaving the comfort. So they're not breaking any of the
contractual things they've signed already, and where Florida State is by what they were
doing. So that's what the difference is. I think in this situation we'll
see. It doesn't mean it won't happen. I'm just saying I don't think
it will happen. Does that speed up the court process? I don't know.
You know, I think personally now, nobody's told me this, but
I'm just gonna go by things I've heard and just talking with people and listening.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see another a SEC school now joining this
for a fight. Yeah, and then the question is do we see a
couple more after that join in the fight, because, as you guys know,
strengths and the numbers, and if more guys jump on this lawsuit and
join Clemson and Florida State, the better the chance to get this result pretty
fast. So I think if that happens, then we're gonna see this move
along pretty swiftly and everything should come, you know, come to a head,
maybe even before now. I'm just saying this is speculation on my part.
Now it could come, you know, maybe before we even get into
the fall. We'll see. Now, with that said, a lot of
people will asking me, he says he will. Does this mean Clemson has
already found a place to go. No, it does not mean that Clemson
right now, as they said, they're still a member of the Atlantic Coast
Conference. Clemson is not has not been offered anything or is not going to
be offered anything in the immediate future from any other conference or anything. I
think this is Clemson basically saying they want to have the ability to negotiate if
they want to, and I think that's what this is. You owe that
to yourself, You owe that to yourself to put yourself in the best position
leverage wise, and it certainly gives you options. And I think ultimately they
would like to join the best of the best in what appears to be a
couple of mega conferences in a few years. But at least it gives them
a little more flexibility because right now it's it's just hard as hell to get
it done. Yeah, I don't think Clemson like like, I don't think
Clemson does this unless there's something out There's the opportunities out there, of course,
and then so I think the opportunity might be out there, but obviously
there's no done deal. But I wouldn't be surprised and say somebody out there
said, hey, look, guys, if you can take care of this
granted right stuff, we'll take you. You know, I'm wondering if that
kind of conversation's out there, But right now, officially there's nothing. And
so Clemson though for all the people out there, don't they don't need to
be thinking Clemson's head and leaving and going to this conference of that conference,
what we do and we'll well, we'll blame you if it all goes down
to hill Will Will vanderboards Clemson insider, somebody else does go ahead, John,
That's why we don't because we know you catch enough grief there. Here
we go. It's March madness. So the good thing about it, here's
the silver lining. And we talked about this. Brad Burnell had mentioned this
is this presser and I think you were one asking this question. When you
get sort of the feeling that you're gonna be in the big dance a couple
of weeks ago, you play with a little less uh. I think tightness.
You're a little more loose. He probably wouldn't admit that, but that's
just human nature. And look, they had some good moments there down the
stretch, with the win against Syracuse on Senior Night. Last two games were
not good will, and I'm a little concerned about this team, but I
still think you go against a team in New Mexico that hasn't played in this
tournament over a decade, six eleven games can be quirky. Do you have
some thoughts on the matchup and thoughts on where this team is mentally right now?
And here's something a lot of people that talk about New Mexico is just
like n C State. They went on a five day run ye. Yeah,
they went on a five day run, and so you got to wonder
where their legs at and then to get think about this way, they got
to travel traveling, they're doing where they went after they wanted, they got
to travel back home. Then they got to go back home, get their
stuff together, and travel again. Right. Ye, So you got a
couple of travel days in there since they've won the tournament now and they have
to wait an extra couple of days, which when you are a team that's
hot and you've played and you've won five games in five days, rest is
the worst thing ever, and we've seen that a lot in the tournament,
so it is. I think I think the playing I think in Clemson's hands.
And that doesn't mean a hill of beans is all about how you play
that game gets there. But I think that's an advantage to Clemson. I
think I think Clemson being the underdog in this game is an advantage. I
remember, I don't know people don't remember this. Remember Clemson was the five
seed back in twenty eighteen. They were they were the underdog to New Mexico
State in the first rount and at the five seed against the twelfth team,
they were the underdog and they beat them, and then they went on as
the underdog and beat Auburn by like forty right, so like it went to
sweet sixteen. Now I'm not saying they're gonna go and get to the sweet
sixteen. I don't know. So you know, that's all. You know,
we'll figure out. We'll see all that when it happens in person.
But I like I like Clemson's matchup in a lot of ways. In this
way, this is says is Leonardi setting the lines? Now, how is
New Mexico favorite over Clemson? I'm sorry it was it was Vegas. Vegas
had it. I know that Lonardi hates I just figured he might have stuck.
He probably did have something to do with it. But you know,
when when I look at this New Mexico team, you know they're they're very
you know, they got some great players. You know they got Jamal Mashburn
junior averaging fourteen points a game. You know you got Jalen Howise, who's
really outstanding, averaging sixteen points a game. Uh, they got some good
guard play, and they're they're gonna be difficult to handle. However, I
like Clemson's matchup inside, and I think it's Clemson with Ian Sheplin and PJ
Hall. If they can get those guys going early, get them involved early
down in the post. You know, I don't want to see Clemson do
it and try to do against Boston College. We saw some against Wake Forest.
Don't get so happy with the three pointer. It's got to stop.
It's not their bread. Chase Hunter was what eight and that that game against
UH ten. And that's what Rich and I talked about here on the English
count tip Off show. Coming up of course this week with this big game,
we'll be sure to reach out to you for that as well. And
we talked about a little time. Rich bangs like a drum. You know,
he used to coach in this league, and he's like, hey,
here's the thing, just enough of the three point attempts. You got to
make sure that you're taking enough attempts you give us off a chance. But
does he be like an efficient ratio there? When Clemson gets a little loose
and they go twenty seven to twenty eight thirty attempts, doesn't end well when
they're you know, twenty one eighteen attempts. That's a bredon water. They
got to play Defenseive Jack Clark's been great, and obviously PJ is a centerpiece.
Shefflin too, He's been a little bit off last couple of days.
Uh, but certainly on Senior Night he showed up with sixteen and sixteen uh.
And then the rest of the bracket here obviously, if they win that
game, you face the Baylor Colgate winner. I mean, it's doable.
I mean, look, Clinton's got to get some wins. How big is
it for Brad Brunell? I mean, how hot is the seat if he
goes one and done? Here are we looking around? Or we just give
him another year and we keep going. I like Brad. I'm not advocating
for his firing. I'm not one of those talks your hosts that once people
fired. But there's a lot of chatter there has been for a while,
right yeah. I mean if you say, you know, I don't know
it, I wouldn't want to be Graham nef Okay, if it needs this
game, how about that? That's the best way to say it. Because
you did reach the NCAA tournament. Never fired a basketball coach when they went
to the NCAA tournament, So you know, I don't you know, I'm
not saying that's gonna happen or not. Basically, I don't know, to
be honest with you, is what I'm saying. I don't know because I
don't think Graham those I think he kind of wait for the situation to see
what happens. How they play. Clinton had a very good year this year.
Now it didn't end the last couple of games the way they would have
hold, losing three out of four. And that's why I think this game
is important because if they win it, then you know, you kind of
put all that to bed and you know, they they they won a game
and advanced in the tournament, and you know that's definitely a positive and you
move forward. And then but but here's something that fans don't look at.
Fans get so caught up in wins and losses, right, And that's what
we do is fans, yep. But I want them to look at it.
And and I'm gonna give credit to somebody who put this on our message
board the other day. You got to look at the whole picture and it's
not all about wins and losses. Yes, Brad Brownell won twenty games for
the fifth time in the last seven years. That's a big deal. All
right, that's a big deal. That's not bad, right, Yes,
Brad Brownell has taken Clenson down to the NCAA tournament for the third time in
six years, should be four and six years? And what typically it's been
known as a football school. And it's fair to say, right that to
be the best six year stretching Clenson history, by the way. And and
then you know, Brad has uh has elevated Cleinson to where the I think
number five now in the ACC the last six years in terms of victories,
you know, only behind you know, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia and
Florida State, all three teams, all four teams that have been to at
least the Elite eight in the NCAA tournament. So so all those things aside,
I think when you look at Brad and what he's done is you look
at PJ. Hall. PJ Hall as a freshman, guy's averaged three points
and three rebounds a game. He's now first team All ACC. You look
at a guy like Chase Hunter, who was you know, averaged maybe two
points and two assists and turned the ball over five times a game as a
freshman. Now he's you know, He's averaging fourteen points a game, He's
averaging about three assists a game and like one turnover. You know, you
look at things like that. You look at Ian Shefflin, who was the
most improved player of the Year this year. If you're not a good coach,
Cheflin is the most approved player in acc You know what I'm saying.
That's those are the things that Graham nef has to look at. He doesn't
look at just the wins and losses, because the winds and losses are there
and they kind of favor Brad. Understand that just gave you, you know,
and I know Clemson fans don't want to hear that. Clemson fans who
hate, you know, don't like Brad for whatever reason, I don't know
why they don't. Is there that are favorable when you look at since Clemson
May since Clemson had redid Little John and they opened it up in twenty sixteen,
Clinton has had the most success in basketball than they've had ever in a
period of history of its program. Remember this is only the fourteenth time Clinton's
gone to the NCAA basketball term the fourteen ten times so so Brad's going to
be the fourth, which would make him more than any coach. And everybody
says, well, well, he's been there the longest. Yeah, but
I just told you this will be four times. This will be his fourth
time or his third time in the last six years, and it should be
four in the last six years. And I'm using that that date is when
little John. They redid Little John, and they gave him some tools to
recruit with. And let's got a job. He's done the transfer portal and
transfer players that help. And then look how he brings in guys that stay
for two years. He doesn't just go get a one and done guy.
He's gonna get a guy that comes for a couple of years also, so
but he's done good with the one year guys, with the graduate guys too,
And so like, these are things that if you're grand meth, you
have to look at. So don't listen to that other guy on some other
station over there who doesn't really have the facts or understand from some basketball All
our friends listen to listen to what we're saying and what we're telling you.
And I think if your grand theft, that's why it's a difficult. These
are nuanced decisions and no screamer on sports talk radio, including the two idiots
in this studio are going to make a difference. But we try to do
is just understand the reality of it that Brad has had a good run here.
Maybe not a type of blue blood, blue blood run. There's a
big one for you. Then you're going to see a duke of North Carolina,
but it's not a blue blood basketball program. And what I would like
to see unless you don't want to keep her now and fans will be like
this, you know, is if he starts streaming the other one or two
wins and then they tank out in the sweet sixteen. Oh, he did
enough to keep his job. But uh, I think just enjoy the moment.
It's a great team. Celebrate the seniors. You're in the big dance.
You're in the dance. Yeah, I think last year, how bad
it was in the years ago. And guys, listen, remember John and
this will be more you than me than anybody else. But remember those years
when Clinton fans to say, man, if they just beat North Carolina and
Chapel Hill, we'll put a statue of that coach up. Well, you
know what graduating on the stat where's my damn statue and he Oh and by
the way, he went and won in Chapel Hill against the North Carolina team
that is a number one seed. Yes, region, Yeah, he did,
he did, and that's obviously something that that we can all talk about.
But really it's crunch time. The same for the game Cocks too.
Good luck to them because Lamont Paris has done a hell of a job there.
Succeed will We got a run, man, it's been fun. Enjoy
the rest of the week. Are your brackets fit out? You got a
final four four US here yet? No when princes in the tournament, I
don't do a bracket, man, because I like you. You know what's
made a difficult situation. That's good. It's herbs. It's the Herbstreet rule.
I'm not picking them. I'm in the game. That's you will,
you're the best. But