THE ROAR: Portal Plots, First Pitch, ACC G.O.T.Y

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PORTAL PLOTS: There has been plenty of criticism from pundits and fans about Dabo Swinney’s lack of use of the transfer portal. Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash put together a chart showing the teams who have utilized the portal the most-- and those who have lost players as well-- by the number of snaps.

It’s an interesting look at the portal so far.

One thing seems certain, unless Swinney shifts gears soon, that Clemson Paw will soon own the bottom spot in the portal game.

FIRST PITCH: The No. 5 seeded Clemson Softball team opens ACC Tournament play this afternoon against No. 4 seed Notre Dame.

The Tigers, ranked No. 15 take a 37-11 overall record and 14-10 ACC record into the quarterfinals of the 2022 ACC Softball Championships. Clemson has outscored opponents 246-119 in games this season, including run-ruling 11 opponents. John Rittman's squad has 356 hits through 51 games, including posting 60 doubles and 58 home runs.

The Tigers’ pitching staff is posting a 1.77 ERA through 335.1 innings of work and struck out a combined 316 batters.

The Tigers have a 2-1 overall record at the ACC Championship after defeating Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech in Louisville last season before dropping the championship game to Duke, 1-0.

ACC GOTY. Jacob Bridgeman (Inman, S.C./Chapman) has been named the ACC Golfer of the Year. The announcement was made Wednesday by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Bridgeman is the fifth Clemson golfer to be named the league’s top golfer. He joins Richard Couglan (1996-97), D.J. Trahan (2001-02), Kyle Stanley (2006-07) and Bryson Nimmer (2018-19). Each of the previous four selections have played on the PGA Tour.

Bridgeman has had a remarkable season with a 70.37 stroke average, 14 rounds in the 60s, 18 rounds under-par and six top 10 finishes in nine events. He has finished in the top four in each of his last five tournaments, the longest such streak by a Clemson golfer since D.J Trahan had six-straight top four finishes in 2001-02, the year he was also named ACC Golfer of the Year.

Included in the streak have been two wins for Bridgeman. He won the Linger Longer Invitational in March at Great Waters Course in Eatonton, Ga., then won the ACC Tournament at Shark’s Tooth in Panama City, Fla. in April. He won the Linger Longer by a six-shot margin, tied for the largest margin of victory in Clemson history, then won the ACC Tournament in a playoff that lasted two holes against defending champion Peter Fountain of North Carolina.

Entering the NCAA Regional Tournament, Bridgeman is ranked second nationally in the PGA University Rankings. The top five in that ranking at the end of the NCAA Tournament will receive status on the Korn Ferry Tour this summer. Bridgeman is currently ranked ninth in the latest Golfweek rankings and is 14th by Golfstat. He is the highest rated ACC player in both computer rankings.

Bridgeman was also named to the All-ACC team for the third time in his career. The only year he was not on the All-ACC team in his four years at Clemson was 2020 when no team was chosen due to the COVID-19 cancelled season. Last year he was named the ACC Golf Student-Athlete of the Year for his performance on the course and in the classroom.

The native of Inman, S.C. is ranked second in Clemson history in career stroke average at 70.73 and is first in rounds in the 60s with 49. He has five individual victories, tied for the Clemson career record with Trahan and Chris Patton.

Clemson Golfers Named ACC Golfer of the Year

1996-97:            Richard Coughlan

2001-02:            D.J. Trahan

2006-07:            Kyle Stanley

2018-19:            Bryson Nimmer

2021-22:            Jacob Bridgeman

SONG OF THE DAY. It’s been beautiful around here lately. The weather has been almost perfect-- I’ve been able to leave the air conditioning off for a few days-- some might compare that too heaven! 

 - "Just Like Heaven" - The Cure

OFF THE PATH. It’s the end of an era at Apple as the iPod line comes to an end. I still have the first iPod I ever owned, and to be honest, that device was as impressive compared to its contemporaries as the iPhone when it launched. 

The feeling of that click-wheel was magical. I wonder if my old one still works?

The Wall Street Journal had this to say about the device going belly up:

On Tuesday, Apple announced it was officially over the iPod. After more than 20 years of click wheels, play buttons and enough color options to fill a Sherwin-Williams store, the company said the current iPod Touch, first introduced nearly three years ago, is only “available while supplies last.”

At this point you likely have one of two reactions:

• “They still make iPods? I remember my first one. The one with the wheel. I took a 50-page book of CDs and fit them all in there.”

• “Why, why, why? I love my iPod. It’s so much better than the iPhone, Spotify and all that dumb streaming stuff. UGH!”

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