Associated Press
The college football notebook …
CLEMSON, S.C. ó At every turn in his first practice, Clemson freshman running back Mike Bellamy was implored to do it differently ó how he carried the ball, held a blocking bag, where he ran.
Yet one would have been hard-pressed to find an observer who wasnít impressed by the raw agility and speed of the lithe 178-pounder.
The same sentiment could be repeated for a handful of other newcomers making their debut Friday evening as Clemson opened practice in preparation for its season opener against Troy.
Clemson is the beneficiary of a top-10 recruiting class from which more than a dozen freshmen could play this season.
ěWeíve got some really good veterans around here, and we want to make sure we recognize that,î coach Dabo Swinney said. ěBut itís obvious when you look at this freshmen class that theyíre exactly what we thought theyíd be. Thereís a lot of athleticism. They have great size, and a lot of them are really strong coming here. So weíve got a great starting point ó probably a better starting point than with some of these guys in years past.
ěThey have a lot to prove, a lot to do. But the one thing that just jumps out at you is the speed and athleticism on both sides of the ball.î
As far back as November, Swinney suggested that help would be on the way after Clemson posted a 6-7 record, its first losing season since 1998.
FLORIDA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. ó The Will Muschamp era at Florida began Saturday with little fanfare but a lot of uncertainty.
Florida opened pre-season practice with uneventful separate morning and evening workouts for the veterans and freshmen. It was little more than a get-your-feet-wet session, so Muschamp still has a long list of questions he has to answer in the 28 days before the season opener against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 3 at Florida Field.
ěIt went okay,î Muschamp said.