If you asked me what concerned me most about the 2021 Tigers in August, I would have said running back. I felt like quarterback was set, wide receiver was set, tight end was set, and offensive line was mostly in good shape. This was the general consensus after the Tigers said goodbye to the record setting Travis Etienne. While there was the hope of talent in the system, only Lyn-J Dixon had ever really done much of note in his career and most of that damage was prior to his disappointing 2020 campaign. Clemson was also breaking in a new running backs coach, albeit a hall of fame Clemson legend in C.J. Spiller.

The season started with a profound offensive dud against a UGA team bound for the National Championship. The running game was virtually non existent. The struggles continued during the disappointing 2-2 start to the season and some folks on the message boards began questioning if Spiller was qualified to handle the job (among other criticisms levied against the offensive staff as a whole). Things came to a head when Lyn-J Dixon, clearly unhappy with his diminished role, put himself into the transfer portal.

However, instead of things falling apart, the room came together and talented young backs Will Shipley and Kobe Pace essentially took the offense over. Most folks thought D.J. Uiagalelei would be throwing it all over the yard the way he did in 2020, Justyn Ross would rekindle his 2018-19 magic, Joseph Ngata would become the 5 star stud folks had been expecting, and Frank Ladson would be taking the top off of defenses. Instead, the team leaned on the running game and featured the backs more and more in the passing game as the WR corps eroded into a collection of true freshmen and walk-ons. By the time the Cheez-It Bowl came around, the biggest question (at least for me) in August was the only true answer the offense had. New OC Brandon Streeter just built on what Tony Elliott and the staff had been working towards as the Tigers featured 32 rushes and 9 receptions between Shipley, Pace, and freshman Phil Mafah. The Tigers finished 2021 at 10-3 despite some of the lowest rated QB and WR play in the ACC. It might not always have been pretty, but the name of the game is winning and credit should go to the staff and these players for finding ways to do that despite the warts this team possessed.

I said in the fall that a clear RB1 needed to emerge by seasons end. You can argue that Clemson finished with an RB1 and RB1A in Shipley and Pace. The duo combined for 253 carries, 1380 yards, 5.6 yards per carry, and 17 TDs despite both players missing at least 2 games. For comparison, Travis Etienne and backup Lyn-J Dixon combined for 210 carries, 1104 yards, 4.95 yards per carry, and 16 TDs without missing any games (12 total). It really is pretty impressive considering how badly the season started and how much the passing game struggled all season long. The 2020 team at least had teams afraid of Trevor Lawrence, Amari Rodgers, and Cornell Powell who made people pay for loading the box more often than not. This year’s running back group had no such luxury. It also should help you respect the job the offensive line did this season despite serious injuries affecting depth all season long.

Turns out the two most concerning areas of the offense coming in were the strengths of the unit by year’s end.

The best news is that Clemson is set to return its entire three deep at running back. Super senior Darien Rencher moves on and Lyn-J Dixon of course, but Shipley, Pace, and Mafah give the Tigers an impressive group to work with going forward. The staff is looking to add a running back signee to this class, and Travis Etienne’s little brother won’t be it after committing to Florida. We will see if it is a high school guy or perhaps even someone from the portal. The 2022 offensive line is poised to be the best Clemson has seen in quite some time in my opinion. If the QB/WR play can revert back towards the norm for the program in the last decade, 2021 should be that year folks around the league say, “well, that was the time to get Clemson if there ever was one.”

I have to give C.J. Spiller high marks for his job this year, especially being year one. You rate coaching on growth and improvement, which was undeniable for this group. The Dixon move was a classic “addition by subtraction” that helped the chemistry of the unit and allowed the young backs to freely emerge as leaders. Step two for him will be on the recruiting trail. As for the offensive staff as a whole, they really played with one hand tied behind their back most of the season, if not all of it.

Clemson’s offense didn’t light it up in the bowl game but effectively controlled the ball most of the game and did what it needed to win against a good defense. I thought Streeter got the ball to the right guys and didn’t expose DJU to situations where he had routinely made mistakes this season for the most part. His true evaluation should start now heading into the spring where guys are returning from injury, new signees are added to the mix, and a true quarterback competition will be underway.

SUMMERVILLE — In less than a week, the area surrounding the Golf Club at Westcott Plantation in the Ladson area recorded three minor earthquakes.

But experts said it’s not something residents should start sounding an alarm over.

“You’re seeing the result of increased monitoring,” said Steven Jaume, a professor with the College of Charleston’s Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences.

On July 16 at around 11 p.m., a 2 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Dunbury Drive in Summerville. Later on July 22, two more were listed near the same area — 1.3 magnitude temblor near Thornton Drive and a 1.1 minor earthquake near Oak Leaf Road.

The three reports aren’t unusual since the area regularly sees small movements, Jaume said. There was also one that took place on July 21, but experts said it was too small to be recorded.

“Most of them go unreported because they’re too small,” Jaume said.

More survey materials mean recordings of these events will likely increase. Jaume, along with his colleagues at C of C and Georgia Tech, installed four permanent seismometers in the area, one of which streams data live.

Seismometers are used to track the motion of the ground during an earthquake. The additional monitors by Jaume and his colleagues were funded by the U.S. Geological Survey.

A similar program was planned 10 years ago with Virginia Tech. That equipment had to be taken to Virginia following the 5.8-magnitude temblor in that state in 2011.

But the main reason gathering that data is so important dates back to the 1886 quake in the Charleston area that led to the death of 100 people. It was a 7.3-magnitude temblor regarded as the largest earthquake in the Southeast.

Nine of every 10 brick buildings were leveled in Charleston and nine of every 10 in Summerville were damaged.

Experts still aren’t precisely aware where the fault is since the earthquake happened before the use of seismometers. The increased monitoring will help with that.

It will also help builders make better earthquake preparations.

“We don’t have the level of detail we would like to have,” Jaume said.

If residents do feel an earthquake, they’re advised to report it to the U.S. Geological Survey at earthquake.usgs.gov/data/dyfi/ to help with data collection.

Though residents shouldn’t be alarmed by the recent earthquakes, experts said it is a reminder to be prepared for an inevitable larger event. They advise families to add earthquake preparations as part of their emergency preparedness kits.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division lists some helpful preparation tips on its website at scemd.org.

Unlike a hurricane, people can’t see an earthquake coming days in advance, Jaume said. So it’s best to be prepared.

LADSON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Coastal Carolina Fair promises a return to food, fun and thrills when it kicks off at the Ladson fairgrounds in late October.

The fair, which is typically held in the fall each year, was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Organizers last summer announced they made the difficult decision out of “extreme caution for the health and safety of the community, volunteers, and staff members” as cases of the virus were on the rise.

“The Coastal Carolina Fair is a world-class fair. It’s got one of the biggest mobile midways in America and we just could not produce that fair and be safe for the public and the workers, bottom line, that’s what happened,” said Glenn McConnell, President of the Coastal Carolina Fair, in June 2020.

Many of the annual events people across the Lowcountry love are back on this year, and that includes the Coastal Carolina Fair when it returns for its 64^th year beginning October 28^th through November 7^th.

The Exchange Club of Charleston, which hosts the fair, said proceeds from the annual event are given back to the community through service grants. More than $500,000 was donated to over 60 local non-profit organizations and individuals following the 2019 fair.

Guests can enjoy plenty of delicious – and often interesting – food from dozens of vendors, exciting games and rides, and myriad creative arts, music, and animal exhibits.

A number of COVID-19 safety precautions will be implemented for the fair such as plastic shields and barriers, cashless payment options, and increased hand sanitizer stations. They also hope to add more kiosks at the fair which will help you complete online transactions.

You are also recommended to purchase your tickets ahead of time. Tickets will go on sale October 1st; we’re told you can buy them in advance online or at Circle K locations which will save both money and time, especially if you purchase them before the first day of the fair.

Live entertainment has not yet been announced for this year’s fair. Fair organizers say entertainment will not be announced before October 1st – that is the date tickets go on sale.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney raised eyebrows in recruiting circles on signing day of 2016 when he announced little-known safety Nolan Turner of Vestavia Hills, Alabama as part of the class.

Turner was the son of one of Swinney’s former Alabama teammates, and to many it appeared he was just doing the family a favor. Well, Turner returned that favor many times over totaling 192 tackles and seven interceptions in his career.

Swinney has gone back to the Turner family for another off-the-radar addition, this time wide receiver Cole Turner. The younger Turner (6-2, 180) made his official visit with the Tigers over the weekend and announced his commitment on Sunday.

His only other offer was from Buffalo. But he’s athletic and fast, reportedly 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and that attracted strong attention from receivers coach Tyler Grisham.

“He kind of told me he sees me playing anywhere on the field,” Turner said earlier this month after getting his offer from Clemson. “Playing at multiple different places. He can move me around a little bit. I am more of a speed receiver and a deep threat. I can do anything and be whatever they need to be.”

Of course, Turner is very familiar with Clemson the program and Clemson the school. It didn’t take much to convince him this was the route he needed to run.

“It’s a great place,” he said. “The big thing for me is that it is a place that feels like home, and Clemson has that feel to it.”

During the 2021 season, Turner had 42 catches for 581 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He also recorded a punt return for a touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown, and had two passing touchdowns (on double passes).

He’s the third receiver in the Tigers’ 2022 class. The Tigers loss veteran Justyn Ross to the NFL Draft and other wideouts Ajou Ajou and Frank Ladson to the transfer portal.

Cornerback Myles Oliver (6-1, 170) of Douglasville, Georgia had a big weekend at Clemson.

He arrived on Friday for his official visit without an offer. He got that offer on Saturday. And on Sunday, before departing, he committed to head coach Dabo Swinney.

He gives the Tigers three in the 2022 class at cornerback, a position of need with both starters leaving for the NFL.

Unlike Andrew Booth and Mario Goodrich, Oliver was not highly listed on the board of top cornerbacks nationally. His other offers were from Georgia Tech, Charleston Southern and Bethune-Cookman. But that didn’t deter Clemson corners coach Mike Reed from going all-in for him.

“He’s been saying that he likes my speed, size and athleticism,” Oliver said. “It’s a good, winning program. That’s what I like about Clemson. I like how their defense sets up, and how coach Reed coaches the corners. He’s had a whole bunch of corners who have gone to the NFL.”

This season Oliver had 75 tackles with 5 interceptions on defense, and on offense, he had 552 all-purpose yards. He also scored four touchdowns.

This story was originally published January 16, 2022 2:21 PM.

LADSON, S.C. (WCIV) — Lots of rain and no solutions.

Homeowners in the Berkeley County neighborhood of College Parks Estates are looking for answers from county leaders.

“The people in College Park that live on this canal hasn't seen any relief from this,” said resident Marshall Harrison.

His neighbor, Ben Ramsey, said his home has fought a losing battle with heavy rain and flooding for more than 10 years.

“We've been flooded 10 times since 2008,” Ramsey said. “Some, just a little bit of water; some, up to 3-and-a-half-foot of water in the downstairs. Our downstairs is useless.”

Monday’s floodwaters turned the College Park Canal into a raging river.

On Tuesday, Berkeley County crews could be seen dealing with the aftermath left behind on neighborhood bridges, removing trash and debris to allow water to flow downstream.

“They put in these barriers that are supposed to catch all this debris,” Harrison said. “But problem with that is there’s nowhere for the water to flow at that time, and it backs it up farther.”

The WaterGoat was installed by the county to act as a trash-trap, collecting debris at an isolated location and preventing it to flow into harder to reach areas.

But when it comes to clearing out the apparatus, county councilman Tommy Newell said it should be a community effort.

“The volunteer fire department can assist; the county can assist but it has to be a community-type thing,” Newell said.

Newell said he is well-aware of the flooding issues within the neighborhood and said it’s an ongoing issue every time there is a thunderstorm.

He said the county has not sat idly by.

“The county can only do so much,” Newell said. “We have been doing stuff. I’ve asked administration to come up with a history of what we’ve done so we can give that to the public to show we are spending your tax money properly to fix this issue.”

He said the real issue at hand sits outside the county’s jurisdiction.

The Army Corps of Engineers has control over any wetlands dredging.

Currently, a study is underway to investigate current conditions in the neighborhood.

“Box culverts and pipes and other roads and stuff that need to be switched out because they’re 50 years old,” Newell said.

Until changes are made, Newell wants community members— especially those in College Park Estates— to know he is right there with them.

“I’m out there driving the flooded area, making sure people aren’t stranded, stuff like that; that’s what I was doing,” he said. “People say we’re not doing anything and that’s just not true.”

Newell says the results of the study are expected to be available within the coming month.

He encourages community members to volunteer to clear out the WaterGoat.

Volunteers can sign up by contacting Stormwater Program Manager Thurman Simmons at Thurman.simmons@berkeleycountysc.gov or call (843) 719-2691.

They can also contact Sarah McCarthy-Smith at sarah.smith@berkeleycountysc.gov or call (843) 719-2383.