Clyde signs with Methodist University

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 25, 2014 9:40 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

FAYETTEVILLE -- Is there a hidden camera?

James Clyde wasn't too sure when he sat down face-to-face with Methodist University head football coach C.J. Goss during his official recruiting visit.

What happened next threw Clyde off his game.

Goss stared quietly, then proceeded to "dress down" his future player almost as if he had been called to the sidelines after making a critical mistake. Clyde kept his composure during Goss' unexpected speech, but the Wayne School of Engineering senior also knew it served a purpose.

"Man, he just came at me," Clyde laughed as he recalled that day. "Then he asked 'do you know why I said that?' He said 'I can make you a better person on and off the field', which I really liked."

Still, Clyde had his doubts and continued to think about potential offers from East Carolina, Campbell UNC Pembroke, Guilford and The Citadel. While he toured the campus with current players, he asked them if Goss had done the same thing to them. They all said 'yes' and started to laugh. One player said he thought it was either rehearsed or read from a paper on his desk.

A little more at ease, Clyde talked with his parents. They gave him their blessing and he signed an academic grant package to play for the Monarchs next fall.

An undersized corner with a strong work ethic, Clyde flew under the radar during most of his two-year varsity career on the Goldsboro High football team. He relied on his athleticism at first, but soon became a student of the game under the watchful eye of GHS defensive coordinator Mike Harper.

Harper taught the defense players how to watch game film and break down an opponent. Clyde learned how to identify either a team or individual tendency that would give away the play before the ball was snapped. In two seasons, Clyde recorded 71 tackles and picked off a pair of passes.

"We did a lot of repetitious work that not only helped us on the field, but also got us focused on what we needed to do," said Clyde, who plans to roommate with WSE grad Hunter McCoy, who will also play football for the Monarchs.

"Coach Harp doesn't tolerate mistakes because mistakes are mental errors and we shouldn't have mental errors. I like taking (away) somebody's will. They don't know what route you're running because they only know where the ball is going, so the fact that you can take that from them and you can score, too, that's cool to me."

Goldsboro won 10 games and claimed the 2012 Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season championship during Clyde's junior season. The Cougars finished 4-7 this past fall and had their run of six consecutive playoff appearances snapped.

It was a learning experience for player who leaves one winning tradition and heads to another.

Methodist reeled off six consecutive victories and eventually shared the USA South regular-season championship with Maryville (Tenn.) College. It was the Monarchs' first league crown since 2005 when they tied Ferrum (Va.) University for the top spot.

Since its inception in 1989, Methodist has churned out more than 100 all-USA South performers and has produced 14 All-Americans.

While those accolades attracted Clyde, he also marveled at the school's rich academic tradition. He plans to major in sports management and attend law school so, as he succinctly put it, he can bail "athletes out of jail and also negotiate their contracts."