Latest news with #KenRuinard
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Clemson Turns Heads With $346,000 Offseason Move
Clemson may have hosted the Savannah Bananas for fun, but it walked away with something far more valuable: a massive payday. The family-friendly baseball event on April 26 marked a financial turning point for Clemson athletics — not just for ticket sales, but for what fans were drinking in the stands. In just three weeks of alcohol sales across campus venues, Clemson has raked in nearly half a million dollars in gross revenue — and a staggering 74 percent of that came from one wild night of Banana Ball. Advertisement The sold-out crowd at Memorial Stadium bought 27,181 drinks, generating $346,684 in sales during the Bananas' only appearance. That's $4.28 per person in a crowd filled with children. Before April, Clemson was one of the last holdouts in major college athletics without in-venue alcohol sales. Now, the university has embraced the revenue stream and it's paying off immediately. With new partnerships and expanded offerings across football, basketball, and Olympic sports, alcohol is quietly becoming one of Clemson's fastest-growing income sources. The Bananas' appearance at Death Valley outsold 13 combined Clemson softball and baseball games in April — by more than three times. Even Clemson's spring football game, which drew a fraction of Memorial Stadium's capacity, tallied 3,394 drinks sold. Clemson football Head Coach Dabo Swinney surprises the crowd, running down the hill ahead of the Savannah Bananas before a game before 81,000 fans with the Party Animals at Memorial Stadium © Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images These early figures suggest that alcohol sales during Clemson's seven home football games this fall could easily top $1.2 million in net revenue — after the school's cut is split with its distributor, Aramark. Add in basketball and other venues, and Clemson is suddenly looking at millions in new annual income from a tap that was previously dry. Advertisement That's money Clemson can't afford to leave on the table. With a potential $20.5 million price tag looming for revenue-sharing with athletes starting in July, the university is in full-on revenue-hunting mode. A $7.5 million student fee has already been added. Now, alcohol is becoming another major piece of the puzzle. Clemson is also preparing to cash in further. Clemson Ventures, the university's new in-house revenue engine, is actively seeking a beverage sponsor — a move that could further commercialize and monetize the Tigers' alcohol program. Party Animals infielder Dustin Baber (9) toasts the crowd with a mug of beer before batting during the game with the Savannah Bananas at Memorial Stadium© Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images So far, the rollout has gone smoothly. No major incidents. No policy changes needed. Fans can still exit and re-enter venues freely — a system that helps control halftime congestion and hasn't been disrupted by the presence of alcohol. Advertisement 'It's gone incredibly well,' athletic director Graham Neff said. 'There's revenue components there we'll be rolling out later this summer.' In short, Banana Ball was just the beginning. Clemson isn't just selling beer — it's pouring new life into its financial future, one drink at a time. Related: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik Makes Embarrassing Slip-Up With Savannah Bananas at Death Valley Related: Dabo Swinney Steals the Spotlight at Sold-Out Savannah Bananas Game in Death Valley Related: Former Clemson Star's 56-Yard Bomb Has Fans Asking Why He's Not in the NFL
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ACC Spotlight: Notable pipelines to high school football talent factories
© Ken Ruinard / staff, The Greenville News via Imagn Content Services, LLC A major part of recruiting is coaching staffs getting their foot in the door at high school programs that annually produce multiple high-level, Power Four players. And once a coaching staff can create a pipeline at these high school football factories, it can be one of the biggest built-in recruiting advantages every year. Advertisement This week, we are taking a look at which Power Four programs have an established pipeline at certain high school football factories. Next up is the ACC. RELATED: Notable SEC pipelines to high school football talent factories CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker CENTRAL (S.C.) DW DANIEL - CLEMSON A local program to Clemson's campus, Daniel has produced a long line of Tigers relative to football on Saturdays and well beyond. The alumni list is as strong as any at the top, with a pair of first-round NFL Draft picks in a three-year span. DeAndre Hopkins may still represent the most famous former Lions player to don the local orange at the next level. Just two years later, defensive end Shaq Lawson also saw his name called in the first round after his CU days were done. Advertisement More notable names in the Daniel-to-Clemson pipeline include longtime NFL player Jarvis Jenkins and a pair of well-known athletes in the current era in brothers Jake and Tyler Venables, of course the sons of longtime defensive coordinator Brent Venables. The current Clemson roster sports several Lions, as one may expect, including defensive line contributor Jaheim Lawson among a handful of others. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT FT. LAUDERDALE (FLA.) ST. THOMAS AQUINAS - MIAMI © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Arguably the top football program in fertile South Florida, there have been scores of St. Thomas Aquinas prospects to end up at Miami dating back to Michael Irvin in the 1980s. Of course the pipeline hasn't slowed down into the current era, as former Raiders to see the brightest of lights after time at Miami include first-round NFLers Phillip Dorsett and other pros such as Brandon Linder, Leonard Hankerson, Tavares Gooden and Anthony Reddick. Miami's all-time receiving leader Xavier Restrepo also had a stint at the school before his college days. Advertisement The recent rosters at UM have seen a jolt of local talent line up to play close to home and that means more Raiders became Hurricanes in the process. Freshman defensive back OJ Frederique, breakout running back prospect Jordan Lyle and second-year wide receiver Chance Robinson headline the current contingent on campus. It may not soon slow down, as current Raiders recruits Miami is trying to reel in include Justice Fitzpatrick, Daniel Norman, Julius Jones, Mark Matthews and Zayden Gamble. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT MIAMI (FLA.) CENTRAL - MIAMI John Garcia, Jr. Some of the biggest names to come through the program may have starred against the hometown Miami Hurricanes, like a Dalvin Cook at Florida State for example, but there have been some UM greats coming from the school since the turn of the century such as Willis McGahee and Najeh Davenport. The backfield part of the pipeline would continue with blue-chippers Joseph Yearby in addition to big names Trevor Darling, Navaughn Donaldson and the late Bryan Pata going from a Rocket to a Cane. Advertisement There was a small lull in the pipeline about a decade ago, but it has since turned around in a large way under Mario Cristobal. In fact, five Central Rockets are on the current Hurricane roster including former five-star pass rusher Armondo Blount and 2023 freshman All-American Rueben Bain Jr. On the trail, UM hopes the pipeline continues with blue-chip targets at Central such as linebacker Karon Maycock in the 2026 class and wide receiver Sean Thompson in 2027. DALLAS (TEXAS) SOUTH OAK CLIFF - SMU © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The newest members of the ACC have plenty of pipelines to their own name, too, and the current roster at SMU leans on a new one in Lone Star State power South Oak Cliff. The Bears are represented by five different players on the Mustang roster, including captain and returning All-ACC quarterback Kevin Jennings, Texas pass rush transfer Billy Walton III and others. Advertisement The SOC-to-SMU pipeline may just be hitting its stride as Rhett Lashelee and company should splash following an ACC runner-up campaign in 2024. Looking ahead to the 2027 class, a pair of coveted prospects are high on the program early on in No. 9 offensive tackle Brian Swanson and defensive line recruit Jaderian Jones. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH SMU FANS AT
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Anderson Independent-Mail photographer wins SC Press Association Photojournalist of Year
Anderson Independent Mail photographer Ken Ruinard received one of the highest honors at the South Carolina Press Association's annual meeting in Columbia on Friday. Ruinard was named South Carolina Photojournalist of the Year for 2024. "He's no stranger to this award, having won it several times," said Jen Madden, co-executive director of the SCPA, from the stage during Friday's ceremony. The judges said, "This category was filled with excellent photos" and the "most consistent entries of great photos under the most difficult circumstances. "The sports photos were caught at exactly the right moment. The flood coverage was moving. The variety of shots of expressions, devastation, relief efforts. Everything told the whole story. No words needed." USA Today Network journalists in South Carolina received eight other awards from the press association. The Greenville News (two awards), Spartanburg Herald-Journal (one award), Anderson Independent Mail (three awards), and the Lowcountry weekly publication The Jasper County Sun Times (two awards) were all honored. "Congratulations to Ken Ruinard and all of our winners. It is an honor that our journalism is recognized among the best in South Carolina. These awards are a testament to our unwavering commitment to local, service-focused journalism," said Leisa Richardson, South Carolina editor for the USA Today Network and executive editor of the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, and Anderson Independent-Mail. "I am proud of our amazing team." Ruinard also won first place for a Sports Feature Photo for photographs at a Gaffney/Boiling Springs football game. The photo was titled 'Agony of Missing the Feet.' Reporter Shellie Murdaugh won first place for a Feature Photo for the Jasper County Sun Times. In the photo, Worth Congleton, 4, dressed in a replica of his great-grandfather's U.S. Army uniform, saluted after placing a wreath on a veteran's grave on Dec. 16, 2023, as a part of the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Ridgeland Cemetery. Herald-Journal photographer Alex Hicks, Jr., won a second-place award in the Sports Feature Photo category for his photo at a Landrum Cardinals game. Ruinard also won a second-place award in the photo series or photo story category for his work 'Helene devastates Carolinas' and another second-place photo in the Sports Action Photo category for his photo of Westside High Senior Jaylen Telley making a diving catch against Pendleton High during the top of the third inning at the Spring Break Tournament at BHP High in Honea Path. Greenville News reporter A.J. Jackson won a third-place award in the Arts and Entertainment Category for his story "Art supporters hope to encourage Black artists to create films and theatre in Greenville." Jackson covers business, food & dining, and downtown culture. Former Greenville News business, growth & development reporter Sarah Swetlik won a third-place award in the Profile Feature Writing or Story category for "How Ma-ta Crawford's love of gardening led her to community leadership." Murdaugh also won a third-place award in the series of articles category on Fentanyl. Click here to see a list of all of the winners. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Ken Ruinard wins SC Press Association Photojournalist of Year honor
