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Deconstruction of My NBA Fanhood

There are several possible reasons why 2020 viewership has been so low. Two of the six 2020 NBA Finals games competed with the NFL on Sunday, something the NBA Finals generally don’t have to deal with. The clinching game of the NBA finals drew half the audience that NBC Sunday Night football drew (7.4 mil vs. 15.1 mil). The lack of fans in the stands certainly detracted from the product on the court. The political messaging from the league and its players – including messaging on the court and on jerseys – disenfranchised 38% of fans too. Continue reading →

Finding Conversation in a Sound Bite Society: Objections to God

Social media does strange things to us. While it promotes communication, it can stifle meaningful conversation. Folks like to post brief shallow thoughts to virtue signal or leave quick messages of agreement or disagreement in the comments, but seldom is there meaningful conversation that develops understanding or empathy. Recently on Facebook, I read a lengthy … Continue reading →

If the College Football Playoff Ever Expands, Here’s the Conference Realignment That Should Accompany It

In the past, I’ve been adamant about my support for the current four-team playoff system. I still stand by that, not because it is most advantageous to Clemson, which has a wide path to the playoff in the current format, but because it maintains the value of College Football’s Regular season and what shred of … Continue reading →

We Bid Farewell to Clemson Football Alumni

With Clemson’s 44-16 victory over Alabama in the 2019 College Football National Championship game, the Tiger seniors become the winningest senior class in college football history at 55-4. Continue reading →

Assessing the Greatest Clemson Football Coaches of All Time

Clemson’s football program has been around for 116 seasons and played 1,050 games. It all started in 1896 when Coach Walter Riggs, a former Auburn player and native of Orangeburg, SC, led to the program to a 2-1 season. The Tigers have had 24 other coaches since 1896. Some have struggled, and some have excelled, but … Continue reading →

My Journey Touring College Football Stadiums

I’ve long heard stories of folks traveling the country visiting Major League Baseball’s stadiums. As I walked to another new football stadium, I realized I’ve had a similar journey as a student and young alumni of Clemson University. As of this writing, I’ve attended 88 Clemson football games, most in Death Valley, but many in … Continue reading →

Book Review: Coolidge by Amity Shlaes

It was a long read, but well worth it. Coolidge by Amity Shlaes chronicles the life of the 30th President of the United States. He served in the time between World War I and the Great Depression (1923-1929) and thus is often forgotten in the annals of history. Nevertheless, he accomplished a great deal during the … Continue reading →

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Stop Winning Pointless Games, Start Winning Championships

Stop Winning Pointless Games, Start Winning Championships

Professional sports promote parity in their annual drafts by rewarding early picks to bad teams and late picks to good teams. In MLB and the NHL, it can take a while for those early draft picks to start making a major impact on the team, while in the NFL those impacts can often be felt … Continue reading →

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Cancellations Impact on the National Championship Hunt, Heisman Trophy Race

Cancellations Impact on the National Championship Hunt, Heisman Trophy Race

On August 10th, the Big Ten and Pac-12 cancelled their college football seasons citing fears from a European study on a COVID-19 related heart condition called Myocarditis. Since the decision was made, several doctors have come out and called the study deeply flawed. Additionally, a massive player movement dubbed #WeWantToPlay showed that nobody is “asking … Continue reading →

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Finding Unity in Sports is an Important Part of American Culture

Finding Unity in Sports is an Important Part of American Culture

This terrible pandemic has deprived us of sports for far too long. In these months without live sports I’ve contemplated where they fit in society. At times, I’ve wondered if they’re too important. Do we put them too close to the center of our life and derive too much of our self-identity from them? Are … Continue reading →

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Optimism for Fall Football Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Optimism for Fall Football Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nearly every American has been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Sports fans have missed March Madness and at least to-date the NBA and NHL playoffs. MLB’s opening day and the Masters have also suffered lengthy delays. More importantly, over 75,000 Americans have died and over 33,000,000 have become unemployed as a result of lockdowns … Continue reading →

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A Look Back at Some of My Favorite Clemson Football Players (#5 – #1)

A Look Back at Some of My Favorite Clemson Football Players (#5 – #1)

I previously posted my #12 through #6 favorite players. That list included Grady Jarrett, Austin Bryant, Mitch Hyatt, James Davis, CJ Spiller, Hunter Renfrow, and Christian Wilkins. Now we’ll take a look at my five favorite football players in Clemson football over the Dabo-Swinney era. #5 Deshaun Watson (QB 2014-2016) The first three-year player to … Continue reading →

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For Marketing Researchers, Data Cleaning Requires Integrity

For Marketing Researchers, Data Cleaning Requires Integrity

Note: This blog post is for marketing research professionals and those who work with quantitative data regularly. Research is only as good as the data behind it. In the process of drafting a research plan, building a questionnaire, reviewing documents with teammates and clients, programming the survey, analyzing data, and putting together the report, a … Continue reading →

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A Look Back at Some of My Favorite Clemson Football Players (#12 – #6)

A Look Back at Some of My Favorite Clemson Football Players (#12 – #6)

I recently wrote two blog posts (2011-2015; 2016-present) about my favorite Clemson football memories of the Swinney-era. Writing those naturally made me think of the student athletes that made them happen. As such, now I’d like to highlight some of my favorite Clemson players of the Swinney-era. Putting together this list was extremely challenging. Many of … Continue reading →

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Looking for Something to Read in Quarantine? My Book List

Looking for Something to Read in Quarantine? My Book List

At the start of 2019, I made the New Year’s resolution to read at least 12 books over the course of the year. It is probably the only resolution I’ve bothered to make and keep. I don’t bother to make new ones anymore, I just renew this one each year. In doing so, I’ve read … Continue reading →

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