College Hoops: Digital ACC Preview - Team #3 Clemson

I have to admit it... This project has me all fired up about Clemson basketball!!!

We continue our journey through the ACC in search of the best digital program. I hope you're enjoying the run through the conference with me. Thus far our journey has shown us #12 Boston College, #11 Miami, #10 Georgia Tech, #9 Virginia Tech, #8 NC State, #7 Wake Forest, #6 Florida State, #5 Maryland, and #4 North Carolina.

Let's keep moving. This is when it gets really tough.

#3. Clemson

The Digital Scouting Report

Strengths: In a glance, I know what they stand for. Defense, explosiveness, and a balance of academics and athletics. Great use of Twitter. Exciting hoops videos.

Weaknesses: They could make it easier to subscribe to content, videos or updates.

Full Scouting Report:

At first glance, hitting Clemson's official site, here, isn't anything that blows you away. Maybe that fits with the program. Not flashy, but a workhorse. In fact, you look at that site and you may be wondering how they are ranked as high as they are. Patience my friends.

The magic actually comes to life when you click on Basketball (finally!), like any player would do. From here, Clemson makes it pretty easy to follow the program, and it starts with the head guy. First, I came across a link for the Clemson Coaches Show, but what I found when I entered shocked me. Click here and see.


You have to register... but it is worth it. You are hit with powerful messages around four recurring features: Dunks of the Week, Defensive Lockdown, Student Athlete of the Week, and Following the Team (this image follows them into the NCAA tourney). These features have multiple episodes deep. And I love it!!! Why? At a glance, you get it. You know what Clemson is about - they celebrate defense. They celebrate academics. And, of course, they show you the impact and attacking moments on offense.



What else does Clemson serve up? On Twitter, the Clemson athletics department has a pretty active feed here, with over 2,500 followers and 7,000 tweets. But Coach Purnell is one to really drive this, with over 1,100 followers now -- third behind Coaches Greenberg and Williams in our ACC leader boards thus far. But what Clemson does well with Twitter is make it simple, again. Check this image (albeit buried too deep on the home page - you'll really have to scroll down to find it).


Coach Purnell is on Twitter... What's that? You don't have Twitter? Well click here and get his online newsletter (essentially his blog) - image below. And, if that's too much, you can simply type in a question and post it. Super easy.


Other Clemson coaches are twittering as well - links here to Coaches Josh Postorino and Ron Bradley -- this has the makings of a good Twitter program.

Finally, notice the site listed on the right hand side - Coach Purnell.com (or just click here). More magic. When you click in, you get a pretty intense video of Clemson hoops highlights (further amping me up!) Of course, a simple Twitter logo is at the bottom - note how it pops.


Other things I'd highlight on this site are the virtual tours of their facilities - the locker room and the gym. Pretty good -- just have the team (or coaches... or former players) give the tour. Call out what people close to the program think makes this special. But it is this solid foundation that has me thinking big.


I'm a fan, and I will be following Clemson this season!

Stay tuned for more tomorrow... only 2 programs remain...