Friday was termed a successful and rewarding day for the Clemson football team in the eyes of Head Coach Dabo Swinney. The Tigers spent the morning meeting with children at the Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida, then had a “very good” practice in the afternoon at the Thunder Field facility adjacent to the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium.

Clemson returns home for its final game before Christmas break. The Tigers face Oakland at 7:05 p.m. Monday in the first meeting between the two programs.

Former Clemson football and track athlete Doug Thomas died of a heart attack on Friday at a hospital in Charlotte, N.C. A high school football coach in the Charlotte area, Thomas was 45-years-old.

Junior outfielder Steven Duggar (Moore, S.C.) was named a preseason third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball on Friday. Duggar, who was recently rated the No. 27 college prospect for the 2015 draft by Perfect Game, is a career .297 hitter with 21 doubles, 66 RBIs, 40 steals and 14 outfield assists in 123 games over two seasons.

The Tigers held their final on-campus, full-pads practice Thursday afternoon. Clemson is preparing for the Russell Athletic Bowl against No. 24 Oklahoma on December 29. The Tigers have their final practice, in shoulder pads and helmets, Friday afternoon. It will be similar to a Thursday, game-week practice.

South Carolina hosts Clemson on Friday in the 165th meeting all-time between the two rivals. The matchup will be broadcast on the SEC Network with Mike Morgan and Will Perdue on the call. Clemson has won two-straight games in the series entering Friday's matchup.

Head Coach Dabo Swinney completed his post-practice comments to the team Wednesday by asking his graduates to the front. Twenty-two active players joined him. “It is not an accident that this senior class is the winningest in Clemson history,” said Swinney. “Tomorrow is graduation day, and 17 of our players (including three injured) are going to become Clemson graduates. It is an indication of the work ethic this group has. It is part of our culture to stay the course and get the job done in everything that we do. That is why we have so many graduating tomorrow, some in just three-and-a-half years. I am proud of all of you.”

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley was named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association on Wednesday. This is the third of the five major All-America teams to be released and Beasley has been a first-team selection by all three so far. Earlier Beasley was a first-team selection by the Walter Camp Foundation and the Associated Press.

Much of the talk after Clemson’s fourth bowl practice on Tuesday concerned players old and young. Head Coach Dabo Swinney announced his permanent captains for the 2014 season, and had his first day of “extra” practice for his younger players.

The Clemson men’s soccer team was ranked 11th in the final poll released by the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) on Tuesday afternoon. It is the Tigers’ highest ranking in the final national poll since 2005, when the team was ranked in a tie for third after reaching the NCAA Final Four.

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press on Tuesday. This is the second of the five major All-America teams to be released. Earlier Beasley was a first-team selection by the Walter Camp Foundation.

Clemson freshman receiver Artavis Scott has been named a first-team Freshman All-American by ESPN.com and 247 Sports.

Damarcus Harrison and Rod Hall combined for 39 points in a 72-61 win over Auburn on Sunday in front of 7,140 fans in Littlejohn Coliseum.

Albert Huggins, a four-star defensive tackle, committed to the Clemson Tigers Friday.

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley has been named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation.

Clemson defensive players Vic Beasley, Grady Jarrett, Garry Peters and Stephone Anthony all were named first-team All-ACC by the ACC Football Coaches on Wednesday.

Down six with less than a minute to play, Clemson scored the game’s final six points to force overtime and eventually pulled away for a 68-65 win over No. 18 ranked Arkansas on Sunday. The win improved the Tigers to 5-3 on the season, while dropping the Razorbacks to 6-2 overall.

The Clemson Tigers will face the Oklahoma Sooners in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 29.

Clemson looks to rebound off a 69-64 loss to Rutgers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Sunday against Arkansas, who won last season over the Tigers 74-68 in Fayetteville.

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley has been named one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award.

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley has been named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney announced today that Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott will serve as co-Offensive Coordinators on his staff starting immediately. Chad Morris, Clemson’s offensive coordinator the last four seasons, was announced Monday as the head coach at SMU.

Woody McCorvey, a widely recognized assistant coach, is this year’s recipient of the AFCA Outstanding Achievement Award. The AFCA Board of Trustees created the Outstanding Achievement Award in order to recognize AFCA members, past and present, who have achieved outstanding success while coaching football.