USC66
02-25-2005, 05:13 AM
February 23, 2005
Ted Felder: Tanner has turned up the heat on CU
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Ted Felder
GamecockCentral.com Columnist
Commentary by Ted Felder
When Jack Leggett arrived at Clemson in 1994, South Carolina's baseball team was a long way in either direction from its glory days. The Gamecocks, who went to nine NCAA tournaments and five College World Series in the 11 years from 1975-1985, had spent the following decade mired in mediocrity.
Some Gamecock fans like to pretend that when June Raines left, he handed his successor a program rich with success and on the verge of greatness, which is nonsense. Raines had been well past his prime, and whatever bounce Carolina got from his 1977-1985 run had been depleted. Only five NCAA bids came USC's way from 1986-1999, while the rival Tigers had been building an impressive diamond program.
Predictably, Leggett's teams humbled the Gamecocks through his first six seasons. From 1994-1999, Clemson owned a 12-6 record against Carolina. More importantly, "Clock-tower Jack" had gotten the early lead on USC's new skipper Ray Tanner during his initial years at Carolina from 1997-1999. Tanner's 2-5 mark against the Tigers had some fans at the Sarge grumbling, but signs of what was to come had been littered throughout those early campaigns.
Since that time, Tanner has ratcheted up the pressure on Clemson in more ways than one. Consider that over the last five seasons, Tanner holds an 11-9 lead on Clemson head-to-head. In those five years, Carolina won the season series twice -- 2000 and 2001. Clemson won outright just once -- 2003. The two schools tied twice -- 2002 and 2004. Clemson claims 2002 but that would conveniently leave out USC's two Omaha wins in the CWS.
If you're not impressed, think about the fact that Clemson had a 39-19 streak from 1986-1999. In that time period of 14 seasons, South Carolina outright won the season series only one time, in 1994. Clemson carried the season 11 times, and there were two years, 1991 and 1997, where the series split 3-3 and 2-2 respectively. (All of these stats come from a thumbnail sketch of the USC Baseball Media Guide.)
If the head-to-head shift just isn't enough evidence, think about the postseason successes of USC and Clemson before and after Tanner. From 1991-1999, Clemson went to three CWS and from 1987-1999 they made the NCAAs every year. Hardly a team on the decline in the late '90s, Clemson had enjoyed a remarkable run in the ACC as well, winning four ACC tournament titles in the same period. To say the least, Carolina fell well short of this record in the Metro and SEC during the same time period.
Not to imply that Clemson has faltered recently. Nope, one can't say that it was "Clemson's failures" that have led to USC's renaissance. Quite the contrary, in the new millennium Clemson has not dropped at all. From 2000-2004, they went back to Omaha twice in 2000 and 2002, and they came very close in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
They have been simply outplayed by the Gamecocks, which is something not often said in a major men's sport. Since 2000, Carolina has been to Omaha three times (2002-2004) and has appeared in five straight super regionals. They have finished the last three seasons No. 2, No. 6 and No. 3, respectively, and are currently ranked No. 5 in all the major polls. More importantly, three seniors lead off an extremely deep pitching staff in Columbia this spring, along with a gaggle of young talent. In the Upstate, the Tigers are currently 1-2 and unranked, and have a VERY young team facing a brutal schedule.
So does this mean it's all over? Can USC just rest on its laurels when it comes to its orange brethren? You're crazy if you think so. Tiger fans are quick to point out that they actually have a slim 5-3 advantage over the last two years over the Birds, and that their tougher early schedule in 2005 may actually pay dividends down the road against the Gamecocks.
Regardless, at this point, the worm has turned on the Carolina/Clemson baseball diamonds since Tanner arrived. Maybe it was his ACC roots from his N.C. State days. Maybe it was the fact that he realized early the quickest way to the Gamecock family's heart was to beat their rival and not try to come up with excuses why it would be okay to lose to them.
Or maybe it's the fact that Jack Leggett has started to mold into Michael Douglas from "Falling Down."
Whatever the reason, USC fans are loving the fact that the fingernail biting and nervous urgency in 2005 rests in Pickens County.
Ted Felder: Tanner has turned up the heat on CU
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ted Felder
GamecockCentral.com Columnist
Commentary by Ted Felder
When Jack Leggett arrived at Clemson in 1994, South Carolina's baseball team was a long way in either direction from its glory days. The Gamecocks, who went to nine NCAA tournaments and five College World Series in the 11 years from 1975-1985, had spent the following decade mired in mediocrity.
Some Gamecock fans like to pretend that when June Raines left, he handed his successor a program rich with success and on the verge of greatness, which is nonsense. Raines had been well past his prime, and whatever bounce Carolina got from his 1977-1985 run had been depleted. Only five NCAA bids came USC's way from 1986-1999, while the rival Tigers had been building an impressive diamond program.
Predictably, Leggett's teams humbled the Gamecocks through his first six seasons. From 1994-1999, Clemson owned a 12-6 record against Carolina. More importantly, "Clock-tower Jack" had gotten the early lead on USC's new skipper Ray Tanner during his initial years at Carolina from 1997-1999. Tanner's 2-5 mark against the Tigers had some fans at the Sarge grumbling, but signs of what was to come had been littered throughout those early campaigns.
Since that time, Tanner has ratcheted up the pressure on Clemson in more ways than one. Consider that over the last five seasons, Tanner holds an 11-9 lead on Clemson head-to-head. In those five years, Carolina won the season series twice -- 2000 and 2001. Clemson won outright just once -- 2003. The two schools tied twice -- 2002 and 2004. Clemson claims 2002 but that would conveniently leave out USC's two Omaha wins in the CWS.
If you're not impressed, think about the fact that Clemson had a 39-19 streak from 1986-1999. In that time period of 14 seasons, South Carolina outright won the season series only one time, in 1994. Clemson carried the season 11 times, and there were two years, 1991 and 1997, where the series split 3-3 and 2-2 respectively. (All of these stats come from a thumbnail sketch of the USC Baseball Media Guide.)
If the head-to-head shift just isn't enough evidence, think about the postseason successes of USC and Clemson before and after Tanner. From 1991-1999, Clemson went to three CWS and from 1987-1999 they made the NCAAs every year. Hardly a team on the decline in the late '90s, Clemson had enjoyed a remarkable run in the ACC as well, winning four ACC tournament titles in the same period. To say the least, Carolina fell well short of this record in the Metro and SEC during the same time period.
Not to imply that Clemson has faltered recently. Nope, one can't say that it was "Clemson's failures" that have led to USC's renaissance. Quite the contrary, in the new millennium Clemson has not dropped at all. From 2000-2004, they went back to Omaha twice in 2000 and 2002, and they came very close in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
They have been simply outplayed by the Gamecocks, which is something not often said in a major men's sport. Since 2000, Carolina has been to Omaha three times (2002-2004) and has appeared in five straight super regionals. They have finished the last three seasons No. 2, No. 6 and No. 3, respectively, and are currently ranked No. 5 in all the major polls. More importantly, three seniors lead off an extremely deep pitching staff in Columbia this spring, along with a gaggle of young talent. In the Upstate, the Tigers are currently 1-2 and unranked, and have a VERY young team facing a brutal schedule.
So does this mean it's all over? Can USC just rest on its laurels when it comes to its orange brethren? You're crazy if you think so. Tiger fans are quick to point out that they actually have a slim 5-3 advantage over the last two years over the Birds, and that their tougher early schedule in 2005 may actually pay dividends down the road against the Gamecocks.
Regardless, at this point, the worm has turned on the Carolina/Clemson baseball diamonds since Tanner arrived. Maybe it was his ACC roots from his N.C. State days. Maybe it was the fact that he realized early the quickest way to the Gamecock family's heart was to beat their rival and not try to come up with excuses why it would be okay to lose to them.
Or maybe it's the fact that Jack Leggett has started to mold into Michael Douglas from "Falling Down."
Whatever the reason, USC fans are loving the fact that the fingernail biting and nervous urgency in 2005 rests in Pickens County.