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The #1 recruit is staying in state and headed to Visor U. The kid is an absolute beast. I just hope he can qualify academically.

Top recruit Clowney picks Gamecocks live on ESPN
Top recruit Jadeveon Clowney ends suspense on ESPN as defensive end picks South Carolina


Pete Iacobelli, AP Sports Writer, On Monday February 14, 2011, 12:57 pm
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) -- Top football recruit Jadeveon Clowney picked South Carolina over Clemson and Alabama on Monday, ending an extra 12 days of suspense.

The defensive end from South Pointe High School is considered the country's top prospect and was sought by schools from coast to coast. But the 6-foot-6, 250-pound senior took a different path than other recruits, delaying his decision from national signing day on Feb. 2 until Monday, his 18th birthday.

Things took even a bit longer as Clowney waited for ESPN, which carried his announcement live, to return from a break. Then a relieved Clowney ended the speculation.

"I'm going to the University of ..." he began, then reached for the South Carolina cap among the three finalists' hats on a nearby table.

"I'm happy," he said. "I wish I had done it on the 2nd."

"I'm just glad it's over," said his mother, Josenna Clowney. "Now, maybe we can get some rest."

Recruiting analysts thought Clowney had long favored the Gamecocks. Former teammates Stephon Gilmore and DeVonte Holloman start in the secondary, and South Pointe linemate Gerald G. Dixon signed earlier this month.

Clowney made it official at his school Monday with his family, dozens of reporters and ESPN cameras on hand to watch.

South Carolina confirmed it had received Clowney's letter of intent, making him the Gamecocks' 32nd signee. Coach Steve Spurrier planned to discuss the new addition Monday afternoon.

Clowney's announcement made a quick impact on the Gamecocks' rankings among recruiting services. They improved from 24th to 15th on ESPN.com, 20th to 18th on Rivals.com and 13th to 11th on Scout.com.

Clowney said he needed the extra time to ponder a decision among the three finalists. He visited each one last month and said his trip to Clemson the final weekend in January gave him something to think about.

Clowney is expected to make a quick impact on South Carolina's front line, which lost starting defensive end Cliff Matthews.

"I plan to make plays, lots of them," Clowney said.

His South Pointe coach, Bobby Carroll, has called Clowney unblockable, blessed with a quick first step and an unceasing motor that allows him to chase down players other ends give up on.

"There's no doubt that he's going to succeed," said Carroll, who recently left South Pointe for a similar job at York High.

Clowney won South Carolina's "Mr. Football" award given the state's top senior. He had 162 tackles and 29 1/2 sacks, caused 11 fumbles and scored five defensive touchdowns this season. The Stallions also put him in the backfield and he had 20 carries for 274 yards and nine TDs.

South Pointe went 38-6 during Clowney's three varsity seasons, winning one state title in Class 4A Division II in 2008.

ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

32 kids in a class. LOL.

LMAO at the fact that according to the board censors the kid picked [deleted] live on ESPN

can't talk about the south carolina mascot, alcoholic drinks, a certain type of small bird or rooster fighting apparently? such bizarre filters.

In early December, Saban made his home visit with Clowney. The town was abuzz, with vehicles slowly streaming by Clowney’s mother’s house in hopes of catching a glimpse of the legendary coach. Inside, Clowney wasn’t that impressed.

"I don’t see no big deal like everybody else," he said later. "They’d say, ‘He’s the king of all of football.’ The guy ain’t nothing but 5-5. He’s a short guy. Everybody’s going crazy on Nick Saban."

During the visit, Saban touted Alabama’s graduation rate, its success in sending players to the NFL and playing Clowney at both defensive end and outside linebacker. Clowney and his family could hardly get a word in.

"Nick Saban’s going to take over and talk," Clowney said. "He talked the whole time he was there..... I was dozing off... He can talk. A lot. He talked for a whole straight hour."

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootbal ... ook-021411

SMU2007 wrote:can't talk about the south carolina mascot, alcoholic drinks, a certain type of small bird or rooster fighting apparently? such bizarre filters.

makes it hard for me to promote drink specials

If there is anyone who has not seen this kid's highlights yet, DO IT. Clowney is unreal, maybe the best defensive prospect I have ever seen on film. It is just silly the way he manhandles offensive lineman, chases down runningbacks, etc.

He will be an absolute menace once he hits the field for South Carolina.

SMUfiji43 wrote:If there is anyone who has not seen this kid's highlights yet, DO IT. Clowney is unreal, maybe the best defensive prospect I have ever seen on film. It is just silly the way he manhandles offensive lineman, chases down runningbacks, etc.

He will be an absolute menace once he hits the field for South Carolina.

He looks like a tiger amongst a bunch of chickens

Please see below and edit to properly designate the correct University...

Would a reasonable person confuse a USC logo on a garnet-and-black ball cap in Columbia, S.C., with the same letters on cardinal-and-gold sportswear worn by a Trojans fan at the Coliseum?

Apparently so, a federal appeals court has decided in rejecting a petition from the Palmetto State to use the letters on baseball team clothing for the University of South Carolina Fighting Gamec0cks.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Tuesday upheld a decision last year by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office review board to recognize the University of Southern California's century-old claim to the logo letters.

Neil C. Jones, the Greenville, S.C., lawyer representing the University of South Carolina, said school authorities hadn't yet decided whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Scott Edelman, an attorney representing the Los Angeles university, hailed the ruling as protection of the school's "primary athletic mark" used on team clothing and equipment that brings in significant revenue.

Sports logo registrations are not limited to use in team colors, so there was potential for South Carolina merchandise to be mistaken for that of USC, Edelman said.

He also suggested that the letters were more deservedly linked to the Trojans' warrior image than to "a goofy little chicken."

"I think they wanted to move away from the gamecock logo," Edelman said of the school in the South. "Something that is totally understandable."

Jones said his "Southern manners" restrained him from responding to his courtroom competitor's comment.

please change title to South Carolina. Not "THE USC"

SMU2007 wrote:can't talk about the south carolina mascot, alcoholic drinks, a certain type of small bird or rooster fighting apparently? such bizarre filters.

I'm drawing a blank on the small bird......you can add a tree to your list

SMU89 wrote:

SMU2007 wrote:can't talk about the south carolina mascot, alcoholic drinks, a certain type of small bird or rooster fighting apparently? such bizarre filters.

I'm drawing a blank on the small bird......you can add a tree to your list

Tough to have a good Declaration of Independence discussion also.