Prowl & Growl

The USC Aiken Convocation Center suddenly turned orange Tuesday evening as Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney and basketball coach Brad Brownell visited the facility for the Aiken County Prowl & Growl, the spring meeting for the Aiken County Clemson club.

Fans from newborns to longtime Tigers in their 90s turned out to dine on barbecue, talk with other Clemson fans, view a football highlight video and listen to comments from athletic director Terry Don Phillips and the coaches of the two biggest sports on campus.

It's no big secret that football is king in Tiger Town, and Swinney, whose team recently completed spring practice, drew much of the attention. Heading into his second full season as the Tiger head coach, Swinney was happy with what his team was able to do during the spring sessions.

"We are going back and building on the foundation we laid last year," said the former assistant, who stepped into the interim job after former head coach Tommy Bowden resigned and eventually earned the full-time gig. "It was much smoother, and we were able to hit the ground running. This time last year, we were learning the system. This year, we were learning how to apply it.

"I thought we accomplished our objective this spring, which was to develop some depth. I really wanted us to become a smarter team, and I think we proved that we are that. We got a lot of things done. We got (backup quarterback) Tajh Boyd a lot of work, and our kicking game was improved. We only had one major injury, so it was a good spring. The big thing now is to sit back and wait to see what happens with Kyle Parker."

Parker, Clemson's starting quarterback, threw for more than 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns last season as a freshman, helping lead the Tigers to an Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division title and a Music City Bowl victory. This baseball season, though, the Jacksonville, Fla., native is hitting .377 with 16 home runs and 45 RBIs, and he is expected to be selected in this year's Major League Baseball Draft.

A high draft pick and the big money that comes with it could convince the multi-sport star to put down the pigskin, but Swinney hopes he will get his signal caller back in the fold.

"We're really fortunate to have a young man like him," said Swinney. "It is a compliment to him that he can be a dominant player in two sports. But until he gets drafted, there's no sense in sitting around and worrying about it. If one of those big money teams drafts him, then we might have something to worry about. But right now I anticipate him being under center for the Tigers.

"He makes us a more explosive team early. He's played 14 games and done a lot of things. He's a confident, seasoned guy. Without him, we'll have to be a little more creative and get some 13-10, 7-6 wins. With Kyle, we're a little more explosive."

One weapon that definitely won't be at Swinney's disposal is running back C.J. Spiller, who was selected in the first round of last month's NFL Draft.

"He's going to be up there with all the icebergs in Buffalo," joked Swinney. "We'll miss him, and its not fair to ask one guy to replace him. But hopefully between Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper, we can find that production."

Even with those two major question marks, Swinney is confident that his team can build on what he called a solid finish during his first full season.

"In this job, you're really never happy unless you win them all," said Swinney, who led his team to a 9-5 record in 2009. "That's the objective. But it's easy for me to see that we got better. We're a closer team and a tougher team. We did some things that we've never done. I think that shows that the process is working."

Brownell is hoping for similar results in his first year in charge. The former Wright State head coach said he has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from Clemson fans so far and what he called, "the power of the paw."

Now, he is just hoping to reward the Tiger faithful with a solid product on the court.

"I haven't been able to work with them as much as I would like, but I like the kids," said Brownell of his first few weeks on the job. "They have responded very well and have been eager to learn. Sometimes change can lead to progress, and our guys see that."

The Tigers went 21-11 last year under former coach Oliver Purnell, falling to Missouri in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Much of that team will return, and Clemson didn't suffer any defections with the new staff. Forward Trevor Booker, though, is out of eligibility, and he will take his 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with him.

"We have a good team coming back, but we lost a lot," said Brownell. "We don't have a Trevor Booker, so we are going to have to get it done by committee. It's going to be based on the players that have been here getting better."