Props to Dabo

Yellowhammer · 02-07-2010, 09:14 AM

http://blog.al.com/ray-melick/2010/0...ss_to_nat.html

While we wait to see if America's No. 1 prospect, St. Paul, Minn., lineman Seantrell Henderson ,ever signs with Southern Cal (he's reportedly waiting until USC's meeting with the NCAA in late February), it was nice to see Clemson's Dabo Swinney decide against waiting on Anderson, S.C., linebacker Jake Nicolopulos.

Nicolopus committed to Clemson in February, 2009. But this past December, he suffered a stroke that left him unable to talk, walk, or write.

But after massive surgery and two months of therapy, Nicolopus had regained the ability to sign his name - and last Wednesday he did, on a National Letter of Intent that Clemson said it will honor.

"He'll be a part of this family,'' said Swinney, the Pelham native who played and coached at the University of Alabama.

Nicolopulos has started his second stage of rehab - six-to-eight weeks of outpatient physical therapy - in Atlanta. He might need speech therapy after that, his father said, before returning to Anderson, S.C., and a future at Clemson.

"This realized a dream for him that he achieved, that he earned," Swinney said. "God had a little bit of a different plan for him. But I don't have doubt at all Jake Nicolopulos will make an impact at Clemson."

dshocker · 02-07-2010, 09:20 AM

This is a good story.

TigerStripe · 02-07-2010, 03:56 PM

He's a class guy, and he'll prove to be an outstanding coach as well.

YellowJacket · 02-09-2010, 07:43 AM

No one has ever said Dabo wasn't a nice guy. Here's more proof he is. Congrats to Clemson.

fuzzyduck · 02-09-2010, 10:53 AM

decent guy who was once homeless...long range he will be the best we had and certainly a good ambassador for the school

Finnian · 02-09-2010, 07:31 PM

That scholarship is a small price to pay for all the good will and good press it will bring the program as well. Nice call for Dabo, and Clemson. Way to go!

fuzzyduck · 02-10-2010, 05:35 AM

For the record the Greenville News (S.C.) says Clemson will have him in a capacity in the athletic department as well as red shirt Freshman J.K. Jay who have a career ending back injury...we take care of our on in Tigertown...Kay got hurt in fall practice and cannot play again.

02-07-2010, 09:14 AM	#1
Yellowhammer Sophomore Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL/Bowdon, GA Posts: 629 vCash: 25 Yellowhammer's NCAA Teams: Favorite Team: Crimson Tide Hated Team: Rest of SEC My Mood: Rep Power: 772151	Props to Dabo http://blog.al.com/ray-melick/2010/0...ss_to_nat.html While we wait to see if America's No. 1 prospect, St. Paul, Minn., lineman Seantrell Henderson ,ever signs with Southern Cal (he's reportedly waiting until USC's meeting with the NCAA in late February), it was nice to see Clemson's Dabo Swinney decide against waiting on Anderson, S.C., linebacker Jake Nicolopulos. Nicolopus committed to Clemson in February, 2009. But this past December, he suffered a stroke that left him unable to talk, walk, or write. But after massive surgery and two months of therapy, Nicolopus had regained the ability to sign his name - and last Wednesday he did, on a National Letter of Intent that Clemson said it will honor. "He'll be a part of this family,'' said Swinney, the Pelham native who played and coached at the University of Alabama. Nicolopulos has started his second stage of rehab - six-to-eight weeks of outpatient physical therapy - in Atlanta. He might need speech therapy after that, his father said, before returning to Anderson, S.C., and a future at Clemson. "This realized a dream for him that he achieved, that he earned," Swinney said. "God had a little bit of a different plan for him. But I don't have doubt at all Jake Nicolopulos will make an impact at Clemson."

02-07-2010, 09:20 AM	#2
dshocker Freshman Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lexington, SC Age: 35 Posts: 204 vCash: 500 dshocker's NCAA Teams: Favorite Team: USC Gamecocks Hated Team: Clemson My Mood: Rep Power: 352009	This is a good story. __________________ The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. -Thomas Jefferson

02-07-2010, 03:56 PM	#3
TigerStripe Affiliate Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 543 vCash: 500 TigerStripe's NCAA Teams: Favorite Team: CLEMSON Hated Team: All others My Mood: Rep Power: 214134	He's a class guy, and he'll prove to be an outstanding coach as well. __________________ Go CLEMSON Tigers!! www.TheCollegeEndzone.com

02-09-2010, 07:43 AM	#4
YellowJacket Administrator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 2,693 vCash: 75 YellowJacket's NCAA Teams: Favorite Team: Georgia Tech Hated Team: My Mood: Rep Power: 900027	No one has ever said Dabo wasn't a nice guy. Here's more proof he is. Congrats to Clemson. __________________

02-09-2010, 07:31 PM	#6
Finnian Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 5,928 vCash: 500 Finnian's NCAA Teams: Favorite Team: USC Trojans Hated Team: Florida Gators My Mood: Rep Power: 1237085	That scholarship is a small price to pay for all the good will and good press it will bring the program as well. Nice call for Dabo, and Clemson. Way to go! __________________

02-09-2010, 10:53 AM	#5
fuzzyduck Sophomore Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 898 vCash: 500 fuzzyduck's NCAA Teams: Favorite Team: clemson Hated Team: notre dame Rep Power: 553047	decent guy who was once homeless...long range he will be the best we had and certainly a good ambassador for the school

02-10-2010, 05:35 AM	#7
fuzzyduck Sophomore Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 898 vCash: 500 fuzzyduck's NCAA Teams: Favorite Team: clemson Hated Team: notre dame Rep Power: 553047	For the record the Greenville News (S.C.) says Clemson will have him in a capacity in the athletic department as well as red shirt Freshman J.K. Jay who have a career ending back injury...we take care of our on in Tigertown...Kay got hurt in fall practice and cannot play again.

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