TheState.com: Sports

Nearly sunk, Dye swims up receiver depth chart

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:58 EST

CLEMSON - Since the dust has settled from the "craziest" week of his life, Clemson receiver Xavier Dye said he has been seeing things a lot clearer.

Dye admitted that before the demotion that led him to briefly quit the team this season, he hadn't shown the consistent work ethic necessary of a starting player. And while he got a quicker hook than others who had made comparable mistakes, his only worry should have been himself.

In hindsight, the one thing Dye cannot rectify is why, upon his return to the team, coach Dabo Swinney commented that he figured Dye already was off surfing in California.

"You might find me out on the lake tubing, but I don't like ocean water," Dye said. "I don't know where that came from."

The 6-foot-5 junior from Greenwood likewise has surfaced from the depths to emerge as a pass-catching threat, riding a wave of momentum that crested during Saturday's 40-24 triumph over Florida State.

Former Clemson coach fires back after firing

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:58 EST

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis fired coach Tommy West on Monday, saying the school wants to go in a different direction after the season.

Athletics Director R.C. Johnson said at a news conference that he met with West on Monday morning and told the coach of the university's decision. He also asked the former Clemson coach to stay through the end of the season.

When the coach had his turn at the microphone he said the university needs to put more money in the football program or shut it down. West didn't hesitate to share his feelings about the program's outdated facilities. He said there was only one answer if fans didn't demand improvements or for the university to make necessary changes.

"I couldn't say (this) as a coach, but it's too painful," West said. "It's too painful for coaches, for players, for people, for fans. Put something in it or do away with it, one or the other."

West's firing comes after the Tigers started the season 2-7 and less than 48 hours after a 56-28 loss to instate rival Tennessee.

McDaniel says injury to Ponder was accidental

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:58 EST

CLEMSON - Junior safety DeAndre McDaniel clarified Monday that he didn't intend to injure Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder after his fourth-quarter interception.

In pointing at Ponder before the two collided along the sideline, McDaniel said he was sending a playful warning that the two were about to collide.

Both lowered their shoulder, and while Ponder successfully steered McDaniel out of bounds, he took the worst of the hit - suffering a separated right shoulder that FSU confirmed Monday will end their standout quarterback's season with three games to go.

"I hope he gets better - get well soon," McDaniel said. "I didn't try to hurt him, but I did try to make him feel it.

"There were some linemen coming, and the last time I got caught up in some linemen, at Miami, it didn't feel too good. So why not go at the quarterback instead of the linemen?"

Run-first, run-last Panthers can't find balance

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:58 EST

The past two weeks have proved that the Carolina Panthers can stay competitive with the NFL's best teams when get their running game going.

But if they need to pass, one of two things happen: The Panthers run the ball anyway, or throw without success.

A day after Carolina let a 17-3 lead slip away in a road loss to unbeaten New Orleans, coach John Fox on Monday defended a game plan he's used the last two weeks.

It involves seemingly running on almost every down, a way to limit Jake Delhomme's mistakes.

"That defense had caused a lot of turnovers, particularly in the passing game," Fox said of the Saints. "That was one of the reasons why we played the way we did. We didn't throw an interception."

N.C. State looks for another strong November

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:21 EST

Tom O'Brien told his North Carolina State players two months ago after they beat Pittsburgh that they weren't a good football team.

The Wolfpack promptly spent a winless month proving him right.

But after following their 0-for-October by beating Maryland, they're starting to appreciate winning again - and it doesn't matter how good or bad they looked doing it.

"It was a breath of fresh air," offensive lineman Jeraill McCuller said Monday. "I think it kind of lifted guys' spirits and gave guys hope around here that there's still a bright future for this program and this season."

It also has given the Wolfpack (4-5, 1-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) the belief that they can turn their season around with another strong finish.

Busch and Tryson continue to race hard

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:53 EST

Kurt Busch and Pat Tryson had every reason to coast through the season's final 10 races in a long farewell before the crew chief bolts to a new team next year.

Only they promised not to go through the motions, and Busch's win at Texas Motor Speedway showed they kept their word. The victory Sunday moved Busch to fourth in the standings and gave him a solid shot at celebrating a top-five finish when NASCAR's season-ending awards ceremony makes its debut in Busch's hometown of Las Vegas.

Not too shabby considering Tryson is only allowed inside Penske Racing once a week, for the Tuesday team meeting. He's been banned from the shop the rest of the time as Penske officials prepare for 2010 without him.

Tryson decided in late August to move to Michael Waltrip Racing next season to crew chief Martin Truex Jr., news that broke just a week before the start of the championship race. Busch wasn't pleased with the timing, or Tryson's decision, and everyone assumed the knee-jerk reaction would cost Busch any shot at the title.

Instead, they raced hard and overcame any limitations placed on Tryson's preparation and planning. They also proved everyone wrong who predicted that Tryson's lame duck status would keep Busch out of Victory Lane.

Notes: Tigers will open competition at kicker

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:25 EST

Jackson apologizes for misses; Clemson will face N.C. State at noon Saturday

CLEMSON - Junior kicker Richard Jackson addressed Clemson teammates in the locker room Saturday night, apologizing for four missed kicks against Florida State.

Whether Jackson will have the chance to atone for his miscues Saturday at North Carolina State remains to be seen.

Dabo Swinney said Sunday an open competition will be held this week between Jackson and redshirt freshman Spencer Benton.

"We'll try to make it competitive this week, see who can be most consistent, and that's who'll start the game," Swinney said. "We have to get back on track."

Panthers LB Davis out for season with torn ACL

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:21 EST

The Carolina Panthers lost perhaps their most productive defensive player Monday when tests showed weakside linebacker Thomas Davis has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Davis' season-ending injury came without getting hit in Sunday's loss to New Orleans. He was backpedaling when stopped to plant and his knee buckled. He crumpled to the turf as Drew Brees threw a 17-yard pass to Pierre Thomas in the fourth quarter.

A serious injury was immediately feared, and it derails the speedy Davis' most successful season in another blow for injury-plagued Carolina (3-5).

"He's played very well. I feel bad for the young man because he's put a lot into it," coach John Fox said before the team revealed the extent of the injury. "He was playing at a high level. It's unfortunate, and I feel bad for him and his family."

Davis, a 2005 first-round pick from Georgia in his fourth season with the Panthers, ranks second on the team behind fellow linebacker Jon Beason with 69 tackles. He also had two sacks and an interception and his teammates had begun talking about him as a Pro Bowl selection.

Commentary: Tigers show new-found swagger

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:25 EST

A GRIN CAME OVER JUNIOR safety DeAndre McDaniel's face, just like the smile he flashed after intercepting Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder in the waning minutes of Saturday's 40-24 victory.

In explaining what happened next, McDaniel could have taken the safe route and claimed to have pointed at Ponder the way ball-carriers do when they're showing nearby teammates whom to block.

Uh-uh.

The swashbuckling McDaniel, a lifelong fan of his hometown Seminoles, acknowledged that he playfully called his shot - as Ponder represented the last line of defense between McDaniel and the end zone.

Both lowered their shoulders, and McDaniel plowed Ponder into the ground at the FSU 5, setting up C.J. Spiller's game-capping touchdown with 3:29 remaining.

Live Clemson Q&A: 3 p.m. Wednesday

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:17 EST

Join us at 3 p.m. Wednesday for a live and interactive question-and-answer session with The State's Paul Strelow as Clemson prepares to take on N.C. State on Saturday.

Clemson football with Paul Strelow