Bates, Conn look to blend with Clemson’s staff
New Clemson defensive line coach Todd Bates knew there would be lots of questions to answer about his new position. He just didn’t figure that many of them would come from Tigers star lineman Christian Wilkins.
Before Bates was hired in January, Wilkins put him on the hot seat and grilled him on everything from football to his family.
“Don’t know if I expected that,” Bates said Tuesday. “But that’s what happens when you’re the new guy.”
Particularly at Clemson, where recently there hasn’t been much turnover in the coaching staff.
Bates and safeties coach Mickey Conn, who are starting their first on-field seasons with the Tigers, are just the third new coaches to join the staff in the last five years. Former Tigers offensive coordinator Chad Morris left to become SMU’s head coach after the 2014 season.
So it was a strange beginning this year to spring ball preparations, offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell said.
“You’ve got to gel. We’re in a room, morning until night, every day. If you can’t get along, whoo, it’s rough,” Caldwell said.
Bates and Conn have fit in seamlessly so far, defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “They’ve done well since January,” he said, smiling. “Now, we’ll see during the season.”
USF the favorites in American
South Florida is the overwhelming choice to win the American Athletic Conference in a media vote, with Memphis favored to win the West Division.
The Bulls went 11-2 and finished last season ranked 19th in the nation. But Temple won the East and the conference by beating Navy in the title game. New USF coach Charlie Strong, who replaces Willie Taggart, brings back many of last season’s key players, including star quarterback Quinton Flowers.
USF received all 30 first-place votes to win the East and 26 to win the conference.
UCF was picked second, followed by Temple, Cincinnati, East Carolina and Connecticut. Memphis got 22 first-place votes in the West. Houston was picked second, with six first-place votes, followed by Navy, Tulsa, SMU and Tulane.
Wofford picked to win SoCon
Wofford is the preseason pick to win the Southern Conference by both league coaches and media.
The polls were announced Tuesday at the league’s annual media day.
The Terriers went 10-4 and reached the Football Conference Subdivision playoffs last year while leading the conference in defense.
Two-time defending league champion Citadel was second, Samford third, Chattanooga fourth and Mercer fifth by both groups. The coaches picked Western Carolina sixth, then Furman, East Tennessee and VMI. Media selected Furman sixth, followed by Western Carolina, East Tennessee and VMI.
The coaches selected Samford quarterback Delvin Hodges as preseason offensive player of the year. Citadel defensive back Kailik Williams was chosen as the preseason defensive player of the year.