Bishop Media Sports Network
Jason Bishop Show w Kipp Branch August 11
Frederica Academy Knights Coach’s Show w Brandon Derrick August 9
Flying Higher
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Year one for Clay Helton in Statesboro saw a ton of buzz around the Georgia Southern program before he stepped foot on the field at Allen E. Paulson stadium.
When he did step foot on the field, he and his crew took a huge step forward to get Georgia Southern back to prominence in the Sun Belt Conference.
Because of an incredible number of injuries, last season turned out to be an up and down affair in Statesboro. The Eagles started on a high by winning three of the first four games including upsetting Nebraska in week 2, after a couple of tough losses against UAB, and rival Georgia State, the Eagles knocked off James Madison, who came into Paulson Stadium ranked in the top 25 after winning their first 5 games as a FBS program.
The lull came when the Eagles lost 3 straight and had to win the regular season finale against Appalachian State to become bowl eligible. Georgia Southern did just that against their rivals by pulling out a 51-48 overtime victory.
While the record came out of 2022 reading 6-7 after falling to Buffalo in the Camellia Bowl, the Eagles made huge strides with a completely new system.
When Clay Helton and offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis arrived in Statesboro, the days of option football in the ‘Boro’ were halted but brought a new life to the passing offense for Southern with the help of Buffalo transfer Kyle Van Trease who set most passing records in Georgia Southern history.
In 2023, Van Trease has graduated (now the director of business development for the newly formed Eagle Nation Collective), and now time to pass the reins of the offense again to a new arm.
The transfer portal was the answer again for Helton going and getting Davis Brin from Tulsa, and Beau Allen from Tarleton State (after starting his career at Kentucky).
Brin looks to be QB1 and is impressing those in Statesboro in the first days of fall camp after leading the nation in passing after 3 games last year at Tulsa before going down with injury.
The Eagles will also turn to other weapons on the offensive side, including Jalen White, OJ Arnold, Kaleb Hood, and Derwin Burgess.
White and Arnold will be a huge threat for the Blue and White coming out of the backfield. In years past, White has been overshadowed by older backs in Statesboro, but this year it’s his show to run with (literally).
Kaleb Hood and Derwin Burgess thrived in the new spread offense for GSU. Burgess missed the final 3 games of the year with injury in 2022, but still managed to be the 2nd leading receiver for the Eagles a year ago.
One aspect of the new Eagle offense that gets lost in the shuffle is the offensive line, which proved to be a key to the success.
Last season, the offensive line only allowed seven sacks all season on 611 pass attempts. This unit returns 3 starters and adds transfer Bryson Broadway from Georgia State and should be a key group again.
Defensively the Eagles don’t necessarily return the numbers Clay Helton would hope with just four returning starters, but the depth is more than in years past.
Two of the four starters returning land in the linebacking core. Marques Watson-Trent looks to have a huge 2023 after 114 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss last season. The other familiar name is former North Carolina transfer Khadry Jackson who started 11 games for the blue and white last year.
Georgia Southern looks to build off a terrific first step last year, but the schedule doesn’t want to cooperate. Most of the toughest games for GSU will come away from Statesboro with matchups with Wisconsin, James Madison, Marshall, and App State all on the road.
Look for the Eagles to turn some heads in the Sun Belt Conference this year and be ahead of schedule in year two under Clay Helton.
Rough Winds
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Miami should be better than they have shown- this program has big talent that is worth getting excited about.
With that being said, The Hurricanes took a big step backwards during Mario Cristobal’s first season as head coach. Does this team have what it takes to change their downward trajectory?
On one hand, Cristobal underachieved at Oregon in addition to Miami. I have no confidence in his ability to turn around a program that has managed one double-digit win since 2004.
The Hurricanes bring in new coordinators on both sides of the ball and a flurry of transfers, but is it enough? A lot will hinge on Tyler Van Dyke reverting to 2021 form following his 2022 injury-riddled season but, even then…
Shannon Dawson, unlike Miami’s previous offensive coordinator, doesn’t believe the Hurricanes have a talent problem. Of course, Dawson, a former assistant to Hal Mumme and Dana Holgerson, had more talent to work with than Josh Gattis did. Sounds like Dawson’s speaking from experience.
Coach Cristobal beefed up the Canes offensive line with two huge transfers and two five-star offensive tackle recruits. He added much needed depth at running back, wide receiver and tight end through the portal and incoming freshman class. I mean, how hard is it to sell Miami to a high school senior?
Dawson said he’ll be on the field to call plays so he can look his quarterback in the eye.
The position belongs to Van Dyke, with Brown set as backup after Jake Garcia transferred to Missouri. Freshman Emory Williams, a former Elite 11 Finalist, looked good in the spring game, but the feeling is Brown and his break neck speed is on pace to replace Van Dyke.
Last year, Miami’s season spiraled when Van Dyke sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder in a home loss to Duke.
Miami’s defense last season finished 10th in the ACC in points allowed per game (26.8), 11th in yards allowed per rush (4.0) and next-to-last in passing efficiency defense, allowing a league-worst 8.3 yards per attempt. The Hurricanes also finished 98th nationally in third-down defense (42 percent). Isn’t there a saying about defense and championships? What’s not clicking on this side of the ball?
Lance Guidry (new defensive coordinator) isn’t the type of coordinator who believes you need to dive deep into your bench for help. His philosophy is to play his best players — a lot.
Let’s face it, this is a program that’s wallowed in disappointment for a while now. Miami has won 10 games once in the last 19 seasons, a once unfathomable statistic for a program that had won 10 or more games in nine of 10 seasons from 1985-94. It feels their teams always have potential, but never enough to break the downward trend.
Then there’s the schedule. Miami’s already been listed by DraftKings as a 6-5-point underdog at home vs. Texas A&M, gives up 10 points at Clemson and is a double-digit underdog at FSU as well, plus the Canes are likely going to be underdogs at North Carolina. It’s not easy being an elite football program without an elite football team.
With those considered probable losses, there also will be matchups against pretty good NC State and Louisville teams. Those could go either way.
Miami was atrocious as a unit on both sides of the ball, especially when you look at their talent. Sure, that talent raises the floor, but last year was such a disaster that it’s hard to project them getting eight wins.
It’s Another Gimme
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In 2022 the Glynn Academy Girls Golf team led by senior Maria Barr, junior Chandley Box and freshmen Elyse Burney and Emma Hill took home Glynn’s first state girls’ golf championship since 2011.
As one of the preeminent golf programs in the state, it had been quite a drought for the girls.
As for the 2023 outfit, you felt Kip Hall’s Lady Terrors would be good, very good. And they didn’t disappoint.
With all that returning firepower the Glynn girls led the GHSA 6A Girls Golf Tournament on Jekyll Island from day one. Starting hot and staying that way, the Red Terrors walked away with a 480 total and another addition to the trophy case.
Second place Alpharetta was a distant 16 strokes back. Glynn lead by 5 after day one and stretched it out even more on day two.
As with their fellow state champion Red Terror Boys team, the girls had to fight through some adversity with injuries. Senior team leader Chanley Box had to deal with strained ligaments in her hand which was injured shortly before the tournament.
She felt the pain everytime she swung the club. And she played through it. The North Georgia signee shot an 86 on the first day but roared back with a 78 on day two to finish with a 164 total and a tie for sixth on the overall score. That’s how you spell TEAM.
Sophomore and rising star Elyse Burney matched Chanley with a 164 of her own. That consistency gave the Red Terror ladies a tremendous advantage over the field with three players placing in the top six overall scores.
That’s because Emma Hill blistered the Jekyll course for a final round 73 and a two day total only 1 shot off being low medalist. This was a VERY good Glynn Academy girls squad.
Senior Charley Podlesney shot a 198 to round out the scoring in the tournament and finished her career with two state titles.
Much like the boys outfit, the girls team was built and molded with effort and character.
Coach Hall spoke on numerous occasions about the work effort of the girls and the extra time and effort they all put in. While he was lavish with his praise for the girls and what they had accomplished, he was quick to point out that they all earned what they got.
And they did it with excellence both on the course and in the classroom. This was the narrative for both Kip Hall’s Lady Terrors and Mike Zito’s Terrors.
It was never in doubt where this trophy was heading after Day One. The win gave the Red Terror ladies golf team 9 state titles since the year 2000.
And with the returning talent and effort that coaches Pete Irby and Kip Hall put in, the threepeat is not out of the question.
The Lady Terrors will roll into 2024 as favorites to repeat with the returning 1,2 punch of Burney and Hill. They will probably be the most seasoned juniors in the state next year.
Remember Elyse shot a 77 to lead the Terrors to LAST year’s title, while Emma went low this year. Quite the returning combo. Elyse and Emma will be a Double E Terror as they look to defend and repeat in 2024.
GHSA 2023 AAAAAA Girls Golf State Champions
GLYNN ACADEMY LADY RED TERRORS
Kings Of The ACC?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
2022 Record: 11-3 overall, 9-0 in ACC
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney, 16th year: 161-39
How far Clemson goes in 2023 will depend on the QB position.
Cade Klubnik is now the man. A former 5-star recruit is in the spotlight now. Klubnik does not have to be a superstar he just needs to be productive.
Let us be honest Clemson fans you have become spoiled with the QB position. Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence will not suit up for the Tigers ever again.
Klubnik cannot fold under the pressure of trying to live up to standards in the position that may never be met again at Clemson. He played well in the ACC Championship game last season with 280 yards passing and passed for over three hundred yards in an Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee but had some growing pains in that contest.
Can he lead Clemson back to the College Football playoffs? Clemson has missed the playoffs for the last two seasons. The expectations now at Clemson are playoffs of bust.
Will Shipley is a great all-purpose running back with 1,182 yards and 15 TDs in 2022. He also caught thirty-eight passes.
Clemson always has good WR talent and a solid physical offensive line. Swinney has recruited great over the years.
On defense the secondary must improve. What separates Clemson from the rest of the ACC is what they produce along the defensive line. The combination of Ruke Orhorhoro and Tyler Davis might be the best in the country at defensive tackle.
I am hearing a lot of talk about how FSU has surpassed Clemson in the ACC. Well talent-wise that is not the case. Clemson has talent all over this roster and are the kings of the ACC until someone knocks them off the mountain top.
Schedule and my predictions:
9-4 * at Duke: Conference game opener for the Tigers on the road at Duke. Not important because Clemson will handle Duke 38-13 to go 1-0 on the season.
9-9 Charleston Southern: Home opener and CSU will be nothing more than a sacrificial lamb here. Clemson 49-7. 2-0
9-16 Florida Atlantic: Another beatdown at home for the Tigers. 55-10 and 3-0 on the season.
9-23 * Florida State: Ok FSU here is your chance to be the new kings of the ACC. There will be mega hype surrounding this one.
FSU will claim that they are a 1990’s version of the Seminoles, but at the end of the day you will be standing there watching Clemson touch that rock and run down that hill and the realization will set in that you are not there yet. Clemson wins 24-17. 4-0 on the season. Memorial Stadium will be rocking.
9-30 * at Syracuse: Upset alert for the Tigers. Be careful here. Clemson 24-21. 5-0.
10-7 * Wake Forest: Wake should be a bowl team but that will not matter. Clemson 34-20. 6-0.
10-21 * at Miami (Fla.): Tigers enter the teeth of their schedule. Could they fall here?
The pundits will try to create a narrative by predicting it, but it will not happen. 27-17. 7-0.
10-28 * at NC State: This one has me worried if I am a Clemson fan. 17-14 win. 8-0.
11-4 Notre Dame: After what happened last year in South Bend this one is circled on the Clemson schedule. Clemson wins big 34-17. 9-0
11-11 * Georgia Tech: Jackets are still rebuilding. Clemson 35-13. 10-0.
11-18 * North Carolina: Carolina is horrible on defense. Clemson wins 48-35. 11-0.
11-25 at South Carolina: The Gamecocks now have confidence in this series. I am calling for the upset. South Carolina wins 21-17. Clemson finishes the regular season at 11-1. The loss will not affect Clemson’s playoff chances, as the Tigers win another ACC title the following week.
* – ACC regular-season game.
A 12-1 Clemson gets in the College Football Playoff as the ACC champion along with Georgia, Michigan, and Texas or USC.
Jason Bishop Show w Kipp Branch August 4
Killer Cocks
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC East has an odds-on favorite to take the crown for the third straight year in the Georgia Bulldogs, but one team that looks to rival the Dawgs comes up third in the SEC preseason media poll in the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Head Coach Shane Beamer begins year three at the helm in Columbia looking to build on the 8-5 record a year ago.
After the Gamecocks totaled 6 wins in 2019 & 2020 combined to end Will Muschamp’s tenure, “Beamer-ball” has brought in a seven win and an eight-win campaign.
The 2022 season embodied the old adage “Play your best ball at the end of the season”. The Gamecocks round out the year winning three of their last four games including demolishing #5 Tennessee 63-38 (albeit a Vols team without QB Hendon Hooker) and knocking off the in-state rival and then #7 Clemson 31-30.
A huge reason for the resurgence of the Gamecocks squad in the back half of 2022 was transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma. Rattler finished the season with 438 yards and 6 passing scores against Tennessee and threw for 360 yards against Clemson.
The offense for South Carolina seems to have picked up where it left off to finish last season with Rattler along with 5 other starters back on the offensive side of the ball that helped South Carolina average 44 points per game in their last 3 regular season games (all against top 25 opponents).
Defense has been a struggle for Beamer’s club the past few years and gave up an average of over 400 yards per game last year. The rush defense is going to have to step up after opponents netted almost five yards per rush in 2022.
The schedule is not favorable for Beamer’s bunch with Phil Steele rating the Gamecock’s 2023 schedule as the 2nd toughest schedule in FBS football (only behind Florida).
The season gets kicked off with the battle of the Carolinas on September 2nd in Charlotte against the Tar Heels.
After a week 2 matchup with the FCS Furman Paladins, the Gamecocks hit the meat of the schedule in week three when they head between the hedges in Athens, Ga.
The first month of the season is no joke with that week three matchup at Georgia, then after a home game against Mississippi State, the Tennessee Volunteers will welcome South Carolina into Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
After the trip to Knoxville, South Carolina will get a much-needed bye week to start October. Then it’s a homecoming matchup with Florida at Williams-Brice Stadium, before back-to-back weeks on the road at Missouri and Texas A&M.
The saving grace of the schedule for South Carolina comes in November where the final four regular season games are in Columbia starting with the first ever Gamecocks vs Gamecocks meeting with Jacksonville State coming to Williams-Brice.
Meetings with Vandy and Kentucky will sandwich the four-game home stretch before finishing off the regular season against Dabo Swinney and Clemson.
If South Carolina is going to have a successful 2023 season they will have to go about it a different way than 2022.
Last season began 5-2 and the national polls had the Gamecocks ranked for the first time since 2018, but I don’t see that happening in 2023.
I do expect Rattler to have a huge year leading the Gamecock offense, and to give Georgia more of a run than the 48-7 routing that the Dawgs handed the Gamecocks last year, but the schedule is brutal.
This team can take a huge step forward on the field and still end up with less wins than the 8-win 2022, but South Carolina will be in that 7-9 win range. The difference between the 7 and 9 depends solely on the defense.
ACC All Gone?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC and Big Ten (right now) don’t want to expand and steal someone from the ACC or Pac-12, both commissioners Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti have stated that publicly.
The potential implosion of the ACC or Pac-12 might change that. If the Pac-12 collapses or big names like North Carolina, Florida State, Clemson and the like find a way out of the ACC Grant of Rights, the Big Ten and SEC would be concerned about the other scooping up another big market name, and that changes the dynamic.
Sankey has maintained that the SEC only added Texas/Oklahoma because the schools approached the conference and SEC would have been foolish to pass. (And yes, Notre Dame is the only obvious TV additive right now if you’re the SEC or Big Ten, sorry).
If I’m the ACC, increasing my value is top priority, therefore I wouldn’t fall far behind the Big Ten and the SEC, and keep it that way until at least the end of the decade. Smart conferences will already find new revenue streams in a new and ever-evolving market.
Would a smart conference stay in contact with the Pac-12? Would some sort of scheduling alliance or partnership be available? An eye on the Pac-12; if anyone follows Colorado out the door, it could lead to total collapse.
Already, Florida State, Clemson and others have made it clear that they believe they deserve more (money). Do they see themselves splitting the pie by another four slices? Is it evenly shared? Probably not. Could you do a tiered revenue split and add a western wing? I know things are never as simple as they sound on paper, but I’d explore any option to preserve the brightest future for the program.
Of course, there is always the possibility that someone challenges the ACC’s grant of rights and tries to exit the league. Florida State has a virtual board of trustees meeting soon.
The Seminoles would have to give notice of their withdrawal from the ACC by Aug. 15 in order to compete in a new league by fall 2024 (where would they go? How much is the exit fee?).
If the ACC breaks open, we’ll have a different conversation. The ACC could keep its current membership and become an aggressor in the media profit landscape if 1) they want a fight; and 2) they don’t open up an escape for FSU or Clemson or anyone to get out of the grant of rights.
The ACC corner of realignment is the most intriguing off-field action. The more I watch, the more questions surface. The result of this conflict will set the tone and trajectory for the future of a historically competitive conference.
Who? KSU!
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s hard to believe Kennesaw State started playing football in 2015.
During that time, they have made four playoff appearances. The Owls have a record of 68 – 24 (.739).
KSU won the Big South Conference and went 11 – 2 in 2021. They were ranked No. 8 in the 2022 preseason poll. The season did not go as planned and they were 5 – 6, which was their first losing season in program history.
Kennesaw State is making the transition from FCS to FBS. This is the final season in FCS before they join Conference USA in 2024.
“This is a great day for all of Owl Nation as our ascent into Conference USA will help the Owls soar to new landmarks. I am most excited for our student-athletes, coaches, and staffs that have worked so hard to represent KSU. Our student-athletes will have an opportunity to showcase their talent on a larger stage. President Schwaig’s leadership played a pivotal role in this opportunity, and I am grateful for her and all those that made this possible. I look forward to new opportunities and achievements for KSU within a conference that has a history of growing the brands of its members,” KSU Director of Athletics Milton Overton said.
FBS-transitioning Kennesaw State’s 2023 schedule features five FCS opponents, three non-D1 teams, and one FBS opponent at Sam Houston.
The leading returning rusher is graduate student quarterback Jonathan Murphy. He rushed for 468 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. He became the seventh player in KSU history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards.
Wide receiver Isaac Foster is also a returning starter and grad student. In 2022 he rushed for 450 yards and 4 scores. He was also the leading receiver with 27 catches, 314 yards and 2 TD’s.
Junior running back Preston Daniels rushed for 423 yards, 4 touchdowns and he averaged 5 yards per carry.
Grad student defensive back Markeith Montgomery led the team in solo tackles last season. In 2022 he had 37 tackles, 5 interceptions, 7 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. He is a leader on defense and he should have another great season in 2023.
The season kicks off on Thursday, August 31 against Tusculum. The Pioneers are a Division II team so this will be an easy win.
Week 2 is at Tennessee-Chattanooga. The Mocs were 7 – 4 last season so they are a good team. I think UTC will win this game.
The next game is home against Furman. The Paladins were 10 – 3 last year. Furman should win this game.
Week 4 is at Tennessee Tech. KSU is a better team than the Golden Eagles.
The second consecutive road game is at Charleston Southern. They played last season and Kennesaw State won, 30 – 20. I expect a similar result this year.
Week 6 they return home to face Tennessee State. The Tigers are coached by former Tennessee Titan great, Eddie George. This will be an easy win for the Owls.
Surprisingly, KSU has a two-week layoff before the play Division II Lincoln. This is another W.
KSU travels to Sam Houston State next and this is a loss.
The season finale is home against Division II Virginia-Lynchburg. Pencil this in as a victory.
Kennesaw State should win six of their nine games this season.
