Mike Ayers

The Korn has been covering high school football recruiting for longer than most of the staff has been alive.  So obviously National Signing Day is a big day for all of us here at SportsTalk.  Naturally the next thing on the list is to get some feedback from the coaches who are responsible for building their respective recruiting classes. 

Tonight we welcomed into the program Head Coach of the Wofford Terriers, Mike Ayers, to the show to provide us some insight on his 2012 signing class that will make their way to Spartanburg in August.

AUDIO: Mike Ayers

Wofford is in the post season for the fourth time in five years and for the fifth time since 2003.  The Terriers reached the quarterfinals last season defeating Jacksonville State before losing to Georgia Southern. 

Wofford is the only team from the state to make the playoffs.  Appalachian State and Georgia Southern also are in the playoffs from the Southern Conference.   Big South champions Stony Brook is the only representative from that league. 

FCS playoff bracket

AUDIO: Mike Ayers

AUDIO: Mike Ayers

In addition to Coastal Carolina, Hauser has spent time on the bench at Louisiana Monroe, New Mexico State, and Louisville. He is making a return to the Southern Conference, having been a student-athlete at Furman University.

Hauser helped Coastal enjoy a breakout season in 2009-10 and helped the Chanticleers to the Big South regular season championship and an appearance in the Big South Tournament championship game. The Chants finished the season with a record of 28-7 and a 15-3 mark inside the league to set new schools records for both overall victories and conference wins in a season. Coastal capped its season with a berth in the NIT to reach the postseason for the first time since 1993.

Coastal Carolina continued to enjoy success with Hauser on the sidelines in 2010-11, as Hauser helped Coastal Carolina to its second straight trip to the NIT after earning an automatic bid by winning the Big South regular season title with a school-record 16-2 mark inside the conference. The Chanticleers opened league play with 15 straight victories and went on to set an all-time Big South record for conference wins in a season.

Prior to arriving in Conway, Hauser spent seven seasons in the coaching profession under some of the biggest names and programs in college basketball. Most recently, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where he was responsible for team defense, scouting, scheduling, recruiting, operational aspects and other duties as assigned. Hauser helped the Warhawks to their first in-season tournament championship in 15 years and an upset of Iowa in 2007-08.

Hauser had a successful two-year run at New Mexico State, coaching on Reggie Theus’ staff. In his two years in Las Cruces, Hauser helped the Aggies to a Western Athletic Conference Championship, NCAA Tournament berth and more than 40 wins. NMSU posted a 25-9 record in Hauser’s final season with the team, claimed the Western Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and faced Texas in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. He also helped New Mexico State to a 16-14 record in his first year.

Hauser spent two seasons working for legendary head coach Rick Pitino as a graduate assistant at Louisville prior to his time at New Mexico State. While there, he helped the Cardinals advance to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. His assistance in recruiting and opponent scouting helped the Cardinals claim the 2005 Conference USA regular season and tournament championships. Louisville’s 2005 appearance in the Final Four marked its return to the National Semifinals for the first time since 1986, a span covering almost 20 years.

Before joining Pitino at Louisville, Hauser spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach at Transylvania University.

Hauser was a point guard at Furman, lettering three-years and being named to the All-Southern Conference Academic Team and the Furman University Dean’s List. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in religious philosophy in 2000. Hauser also earned letters in football at Furman.

Hauser is married to the former Amy Presley of Nashville, Tenn. His father, Patrick Hauser, was a wide receiver at East Tennessee State before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins of the NFL in 1970.

Clemson vs WoffordTajh Boyd was solid Saturday

By Rixon Lane:

Clemson starts the quarter with a 17 yard scoring strike from Boyd to Hopkins, stretching their lead to 35-27 with 14:35 left in the game.

After playing a steller game, Mitch Allen finally makes a mistake, throwing deep into coverage. The pass is picked off by Kantrell Brown and returned to the Terrier 17.

Wofford’s defense forces the Tigers to attempt a field goal. Clemson goes for a fake, but a fumble gives Wofford the ball back.

The two teams trade punts and Wofford takes over at their own 22 yard line with just over five minutes remaining. On 4th down, the Clemson defense holds firm and the Tigers take over and run the clock out to preserve a 35-27 victory over the Terriers.

Boyd finishes 18-29 for261 yards and three touchdowns

Clemson vs Wofford

By Rixon Lane:

Wofford came out strong to start the half, with a 61 yard connection from Allen to Bersin. The Tiger defense stiffens and the Terriers settle for a field goal to make it 24-21 Wofford with 11:46 left in the quarter.

The Tigers drive down the field and take their first lead of the game on a 5 yard scramble by Boyd. Clemson leads 28-24 with 7:54 remaining.

Wofford drives to midfield, where a personal foul puts the Terriers inside the Tiger 30. Clemson’s defense is up to the challenge again, and Wofford kicks a 38-yard field goal to make it 28-27 Tigers.

The quarter finished with Clemson driving at the Wofford 29 yard line.

Clemson vs Wofford

By Rixon Lane:

Wofford’s drive stalls and momentum seems to be swinging to the Tigers’ side, as the defense begins to slow the Terriers’ triple-option attack.

Clemson drives down the field on the back of Andre Ellington, but a personal foul penalty sets the Tigers back and a 43-yard field goal attempt sails wide right with 9:57 left in the half.  

Wofford appears to be stopped near midfield, but Mike Ayers rolls the dice and Terrier punter Kasey Redfern scampers 28 yards on a fake punt. A personal foul sends Wofford to the Tiger 13-yard line. Wofford punches it in with a one yard touchdown run by Eric Breitenstein, to put the Terriers ahead with 4:01 left before halftime.

The Tigers answer with a 38-yard touchdown strike to Sammy Watkins. Clemson ties the game with a Boyd pass to DeAndre Hopkins on the ensuing two-point conversion, making the score 21-21 with 2:03 remaining in the 2^nd quarter.

Clemson’s defense forces a punt and give the Tigers great field position at the Terrier 46. Boyd is sacked on two straight plays and Clemson is forced to punt to end the half, with the score tied at 21.

Boyd is 11-for-18 for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Wofford’s defense forces three sacks in the quarter .

Clemson vs Wofford

By Rixon Lane:

The Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched to midfield before being stopped on a 4^th and one at the Wofford 49. The Terriers drove the field in five plays, capping the drive with a 27-yard quarterback keeper by Mitch Allen.

Clemson scores on a 42-yard pass from Tahj Boyd to Martavis Bryant with 5:32 left in the quarter, but the snap on the extra point is low and Wofford holds on to a one-point lead.

The Terriers drive 79 yards in two plays, scoring on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Brenton Bersin to stretch the lead to 14-6.

Following the kickoff, Andre Ellington streaks 74 yards on the Tigers’ first play to trim the lead to 14-13.

The quarter ends with Wofford facing first down at their own 30.

Ellington finishes the first quarter with 91 yards on six carries. Boyd is 5/9 for 86 yards and a touchdown.

AUDIO: Mike Ayers

Saturday will bring a tougher test for Ayers and the gang, as they head up to Memorial Stadium to take on the Clemson Tigers.  Coach Ayers evoked memories of his squads’ last trip to Columbia, when they put up a hell of a fight against the Gamecocks, and cited it as reason to believe his Terriers can compete in Clemson.