Do Erik Kohler vs Jeff Sharon

Interesting Clemson drama.

Terry Kinard posted the following regarding his son, Jaden, who had planned to transfer. He's a walk-on, scout team member.

Terry is more than just a helicopter parent: He is College Football Hall of Famer, a Clemson Ring of Honor member and multi-time All-American who helped lead Clemson to the 1981 national championship.

The post:

Our son Jaden had already decided to transfer from Clemson University to go elsewhere to continue his education and hopefully get other opportunities to play football at the college level. His one last goal at Clemson as part of the football team was to finish out the season, which would culminate with the bowl game.

Coach Dabo Swinney was not having it. He made Jaden’s last two practices the worst experience of the entirety of the time he was there. He purposely belittled Jaden, insulted him and called him names. This two day public onslaught went far beyond anything resembling any kind of appropriate coach to athlete exchange. Coaches can use tough tactics when trying to get the best out of a player. This was definitely not that!

It became obviously personal and it was obviously overkill.

Other teammates that witnessed this tried to encourage Jaden by telling him to keep his head up. Many of them, including Jaden, were puzzled as to why he was receiving this type of attention now. It was more attention that Jaden had received from Swinney the entire time that he had been there. If Sweeney’s desire was for Jaden to go ahead and move on without finishing out with the bowl game, then he should have said so. There were so many non-offensive ways to handle that if you are being on the up and up regarding your true intentions.

A man’s true character is shown and will come out during the times of forced change. The landscape of college football is changing. Unfortunately, it appears as though our son Jaden(a scout team player), who had yet to get any real opportunities to perform on the football field, had to bear the brunt of Swinney’s frustrations with the changes. Frustrations that centered around all of those players that were actually on the depth chart that either entered the transfer portal or left with plans to enter the NFL Draft.

Jaden showed extreme strength of character by not responding directly to Swinney’s barrage of insults. He instead relied on his belief in who and whose he is. God established Jaden, therefore no man has the power to tear him down. The very definition of a coach is to teach, train and build up. This was not the case! There is never, ever under any circumstance where there would be a reason for a coach to handle a player like that. Jaden didn’t deserve that disrespect. No one does.

We are sure that a man and a professed Christian, who has 3 sons of his own( who by all appearances love being a part of football in whatever capacity they can contribute), would not ever want anyone putting them down in the manner in which he treated Jaden.

Yet, because of our faith, we still thank God for the opportunity and for those that were supportive. We thank God for the tearing down, because we know God will use it as a catalyst for the building up that is coming!!! “And we know all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose “ Roman 8:28

……. Yet, because of how Jaden was treated….. The Kinard Family are no longer loyal Clemson Football Fans!!!

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Buddy had a friend bail due to work so, he has an extra game tix (section 236) and an alumni tailgate tix.

$140 for the 2.

So I posted a video of an unwary seagull who got too close to an apex predator (crocodile) and unfortunately “passed away”. My point in posting wasn’t to shock everyone, it was merely to show the trials/tribulations and struggle of mother nature, if you will. Why? Nature fascinates me! I guess that violated rule 12 or something. “Sad, for violating the rules, you’ve been banned for a week” was the PM.*




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MBB vs. Bethune-Cookman 12/29 - Section 115 Row R. Three tickets for sale for $75 total includes parking pass in Garage F.

Club level seats with access to the Black and Gold lounge which includes food (typically have a carving station, starch, veg, fruit, hamburger/hotdog, salad, dessert, etc.), popcorn, private bar and restrooms.

My son just informed me of a few players that are not playing but I don't recall seeing a list. Any updates?

I put this in another thread but thought too important to bury... LOL

Vote for Richardson - we are behind.
Scroll down to 8 from bottom and vote.

Join Eric Lopez and guest host Brian W. Peterson as they debate some of the current topics surrounding UCF Athletics.

In this episode, the guys talk about the current timeline for UCF Football. Recruiting, portal, bowl game... which one is most important, and do we still care about some of these?

Plus: Who is somebody to watch during the bowl game, does college football have too many bowl games, what uniform should UCF wear, and what to get people for Christmas?

Click here to watch from the Sons of UCF.

Last minute trip to Tampa with a friend. Looking for 2 seats together-preferably in Club level.

Listen live:

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Year one in the Big XII had plenty of ups and downs

Now that the regular season has ended and UCF is headed to the Gasparilla bowl for another “Tampa Takeover,” I thought it would be fitting to do a quick look back at the inaugural Big XII season for the Knights. How did the first year in our new “Power” conference play out? Nothing too deep this week; just my thoughts on each of the 12 games that UCF played this year. Let’s take quick look back at how things played out:

Click here to read more from the Sons of UCF.

Year one in the Big XII had plenty of ups and downs

Now that the regular season has ended and UCF is headed to the Gasparilla bowl for another “Tampa Takeover,” I thought it would be fitting to do a quick look back at the inaugural Big XII season for the Knights. How did the first year in our new “Power” conference play out? Nothing too deep this week; just my thoughts on each of the 12 games that UCF played this year. Let’s take quick look back at how things played out:

Click here to read more from the Sons of UCF.

Kia Center. Nice win for the Magic with a solid brand.

Despite EJ Colson reclassifying to the 2024 class, UCF will still pursue an experienced portal quarterback.

I have heard UCF is very interested in Toledo's Dequan Finn, though it remains to be seen if UCF can host him on a visit. He arrived Thursday for his OV to Baylor. The dead period begins Monday, so he could have the late Saturday/Sunday window to visit.

Finn visited Wisconsin last weekend, but the Badgers have since gained a commitment from Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke. I'm not aware of any other confirmed visits or who else is a player for Finn. We'll see what happens with Baylor.

Finn, who has one year of eligibility remaining, was the 2023 MAC MVP. The Rockets' full-time starter since 2021, Finn has accumulated more than 7,000 career passing yards.

One player who I thought UCF could have pivoted to - Ohio's Kurtis Rourke - committed to Indiana today.

Remember, the portal is open for 30 days. There are some QBs playing in bowl games that may enter the portal in the upcoming days and weeks, so the QB pool could expand. That may end up being the more likely scenario.


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I’m about to go to work on StubHub, as we piece this together. That said..if anyone has 4 tickets together they need to move I’m all ears..

Charge On!

TRK

Would you ever do it

My rule is no fiction that hasn’t conclusively ended. Or any living celebrity

Imagine naming your kid Batman and then Batman starts diddling kids in comic books

Or naming your kid Adolf in like 1918

Now this is big time.

Note: Same school got this same gift for their football players earlier this past year.

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The TikTok account "Theme Park Vibes" posted this today. A group of people apparently cut in line at Epcot and got belligerent when confronted. Amid all the profanities, slurs and insults, the primary subject brags that he "plays football at the University of Central Florida" and later says, "You watch me on Saturday. You and your family tailgate outside my stadium."

This person is NOT a UCF football player and never has been.

I think people are going through the UCF roster trying to identify him. I just noticed I got a comment on an old Braeden Marshall media day interview from somebody who thought it was him.

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Looks promising:

Friday, Dec 22nd:

Tailgating: Partly Cloudy, High 71 degrees, 5% chance of rain

6:30 pm Kickoff: Cloudy, 64 degrees, 5% chance of rain

9:41 pm Victory Celebration: 59 degrees with Fireworks!

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The future is bright in Orlando.

UCF's 2024 recruiting class, which ranks No. 31 nationally, officially is the best in school history and is also at the top of the Big 12. The group of 18 signees ranks No. 2 in the conference according to the overall points system, but No. 1 in terms of average commit ranking.

UCF signed seven four-star prospects, which is more than any other Big 12 school. 13 of the 18 signees are also slated to enroll in January which means they will be participating in spring practice.

Head coach Gus Malzahn recapped the record haul during a Wednesday press conference in Tampa where the Knights are in the midst of Gasparilla Bowl preparations.

Malzahn reiterated they're committed to building their roster "the right way" by focusing on high school players to lay the foundation.

Among the 18 signees, 10 are from Florida including several "Hometown Hero" local players. Six are from Georgia and particularly the Atlanta area which is always a big focus. The other signees hail from Texas (RB Frankie Arthur) and South Carolina (DT Marcus Downs).

Malzahn began his address by commenting on each signee.

RB Frankie Arthur: "Our running backs coach, Kam Martin, did a super job recruiting this guy. He's Adrian Peterson's younger brother. He's a big guy. He can run. He'll have a chance to help us next year. Very excited about him."

LB Qua Birdsong: "A tall, very athletic linebacker, a physical linebacker. He can rush the passer, went to Kobe Hudson's high school, a guy that we're very familiar with, very excited about Qua."

WR Jordyn Bridgewater: "Got a chance to watch him I guess the last two years in 7-on-7. He's very smooth. He can run, really catches the ball. We're very excited about him. Once again, a Hometown Hero, which is very important."

QB EJ Colson: "He fits our system perfect. I got a chance to watch him play in the state championship game I guess a couple of days ago. He was MVP. He is a dynamic thrower, runner, leader. He's got everything. We're very excited about EJ."

DT Marcus Downs: "He's a defensive tackle that is a really big athletic guy, about 6-5. He does a great job as pass rusher. He's a physical guy. I think he's got a chance to be a really, really good player."

OL Waltclaire Flynn: "He's really one of our more prized recruits. A lot of people around the country really wanted this guy. He's either the top center or No. 2 center by all the rankings and all that. He's playing in the Army All-American Bowl. This guy will have a chance to help us early. We're really excited about Waltclaire. He's been a leader of this class."

TE Kylan Fox: "One of the better tight ends in the country. He's playing in the Under Armour All-American Game. He's got receiver skills, but he's a big physical guy at the tight end position. He was really one of our main guys recruiting. He did a super job leading our class also."

RB Stacy Gage: "Another leader. He was really one of the first guys committed in this class that really gave us some momentum. He's a running back. Kam Martin did a super job with him also. He can do it all. Run, catch, he can do everything that a running back needs to do."

DB Jakob Gude: "A defensive back, this guy was offered by just about everybody in the country, chose to come here. Very physical, very athletic, plays with an edge. And he'll have a chance to play early, very excited about Jakob."

DB Jaylen Heyward: "One of the highest-rated recruits that we've ever had in school history. A guy that was committed to another school in the SEC for a long time and chose to come here. Really one of the leaders in this class. He can really run, he got great coverage skills, great ball skills. He'll have a chance to help us early."

DB Chasen Johnson: "He's a guy that's come over to our 7-on-7s from Seminole. We know a lot about him. He can really run too. He's got really good ball skills, some receiver background and really think that he's got a chance to help us also."

OL Chase Malamala: "He's a guy that we circled early on. He's a big athletic guy. We really think the sky is the limit for this guy moving forward. Very excited to have him on our offensive line."

LB DJ McCormick: "A linebacker from Rockledge, AP's (Jaylen Heyward) teammate, he is also one of the leaders in this class. He can really run, he's very athletic and a very physical linebacker."

DB Christian Peterson: "A defensive back. This guy is really good, a receiver too. He's got great ball skills, a great return guy. Also plays with that edge and he's a guy I think will help us early too. I just love his attitude and his approach."

DB Jashad Presley: "He's a guy that came to our 7-on-7, I guess it was two years ago when he really stood out to me. I think that's when we offered him. He's a big guy, can really run. Really think he'll be able to help our defense early."

WR Bredell Richardson: "He's a receiver that has a lot of upside as far as being a big-time player. He's a guy that I really had to circle from a head coach's standpoint. Recruited him personally, really for the last year. Real excited to have him.He will play early on. I think he's the all-time leader at his high school. Got a chance to watch him in 7-on-7. He's a dynamic playmaker."

WR Kason Stokes: "He's a big, fast guy. He was one of the first to commit to us in this class. He's from here in Tampa, which is very, very important to us for recruiting. We're very excited about him."

QB Riley Trujillo: "He is a dual-threat quarterback. He's a big guy that really fits with what we like to do offensively."



Malzahn said UCF's Big 12 affiliation has been the biggest key in elevating recruiting.

Quarterback EJ Colson initially committed to UCF last summer as a member of the 2025 recruiting class. He has accelerated his academic timeline to reclassify to 2024 and will now graduate from high school next May.

"EJ decided to reclassify, I guess it was a month or so ago," Malzhan said. "He had told us he was thinking about it, and we're all for it. He's a dynamic player. Obviously, the MVP of the state championship game. He actually led (his team) to the state championship game the two years before, too. He's just a winner and can do a lot of things that help teams win."

Malzahn added that Colson will bolster state of Georgia recruiting for 2025 and beyond.

"He's got a great name around Atlanta, and a lot of guys want to play with him," Malzahn said.

Recruiting Florida is always the first focus.

"It starts in this state," Malzahn said. "I guess in the first press conference I had when I got the job, I said we're gonna start here in Florida. We've been committed to that and building this thing the right way with high school guys. I think that's the way to go. (Some schools are) portal heavy, that's what they choose to do. But we're gonna build this thing from the foundation. Our foundation is going to be with Florida high school players."

Georgia is very important too.

"We have a lot of connections (in Georgia) with our staff, from South Georgia all the way up to Atlanta," Malzahn said. "You see how well we're doing in Atlanta. I think that will continue."

Recruiting local Central Florida players, "Hometown Heroes," remains a priority. UCF signed five local players, including three from the Orlando area (WR Jordyn Bridgewater, DB Chasen Johnson and DB Jashad Presley) and two from the Space Coast (DB Jaylen Heyward and LB DJ McCormick).

"It was our plan from day one," Malzahn said. "I've recruited this area for a long time even at my previous school. When I first got here, I said if we can keep our top players home and make it popular for them to stay home and be successful, and we've chipped away. Every year it's been a little bit better and you see the guys having success on the field like John Walker, a Freshman All-American. Everything is trending in the right direction. We'll continue to full-court press the top players at home."

Malzahn sees these players as "Big 12 ready."

"They can help us win a Big 12 championship," Malzahn said. "The great thing about this group is they're outstanding young men and they'll fit into our program, our culture. We don't just take anyone. We do our homework on not just their athletic ability but the type of person they are, the character they have and then the fit within our program."



Malzahn expanded further on wide receiver Bredell Richardson, whom he said he "personally" recruited.

"I'm expecting him to be on the field early," Malzahn said. "There's no doubt about that. I recruited him since day one and that was really our conversation. Certain guys have it at a young age and have something really special about them. He's got that. He's got that it factor. He's got a great personality. Just watching him play and watching him play 7-on-7, I'm real excited that he's gonna be a part of our program."

Transfer Portal is obviously a big part of recruiting nowadays. Malzahn said they still look at high school players to build the foundation and then will evaluate the portal for immediate needs.

Malzahn also thanked his current players for helping during the recruiting process.

"A lot of these guys we've been recruiting a long time and they've got great relationships with our players," Malzahn said. "Our players have done an unbelievable job helping us recruit. And I think that says a lot about our players. It's hard for me to single out one (player). There's numerous guys that have developed a relationship with these guys when they come on campus. And it all works together."

The majority of UCF's Georgia recruits committed in early July. One pair were high school teammates (Waltclaire Flynn and Kylan Fox at Grayson) but all were familiar with one another.

"The group knows each other well," Malzahn said. "And their families know each other well. We're recruiting very hard for the 25 and 26 class around that area too. I think you will see that continue even more than it was this year."

As far as adding a transfer portal quarterback, Malzahn says it remains a possibility. They've been linked to several names.

"If the right person comes available, we'll at least listen," Malzahn said. "We're just looking for the right fit. My job is to make our team the best it possibly can be. It doesn't matter what position that is. And so we'll see what happens."

The 13 early enrollees will be the most since Malzahn arrived at UCF.

"It gives you a complete head start," Malzahn said. "Not just weight program, but just understanding how college football works, how college life works, and then you can get prepared to help during the fall."

Malzahn also commented further on running back Stacy Gage, who was one of the first four-star prospects to commit.

"He's a guy that has influence," Malzahn said. "He's not just a good player in his own right, but he has influence and great players want to play with great players. So when he committed to us early, that was a great shot in the arm for this class. He helped recruit the class and hold the class together. And there's a handful of others that I said were leaders in this class. It was probably about six or seven. And so that is a really, really good deal."

Sec 239, Row K, Seat 20
$60
Email JLB3MAIL@gmail.com if interested.

DG.*