(Editor's note: Clemson sophomore linebacker Chad Carson will periodically check in with ESPN.com as he and the Tigers continue to prepare for the Peach Bowl. For more information on Clemson, visit the Tigers' official athletic site.)

Dec. 28, 1999

Today's schedule began bright and early with a 6:45 wake-up call. All the players and coaches then met for the Peach Bowl FCA Breakfast.

The breakfast was a very large event, and several big-name stars spoke to the audience. The stars included Anthony Munoz, John Smoltz and Jeff Foxworthy. The speakers were all great, but Jeff Foxworthy especially had everyone laughing out loud. I also talked briefly to the founder of Chick-fil-A, Truett Cathy, who is a wonderful person as well as a successful businessman.

After the breakfast we went immediately to the Georgia Dome for our first indoor practice. I have lived in the Atlanta area since before the Georgia Dome was even built, so I have been to numerous games and events in the building. I almost played in the dome during high school, but my high school, Woodward Academy, lost in the third round of the playoffs and did not make it to the semifinals, which were held in the dome.

Even after watching so many games in the building, nothing could compare to walking out on the field and looking around the enormous stadium.

We did special-teams drills for the first 50 minutes of practice, and then we finished up with 50 minutes of work against the scout teams. The team didn't wear any pads, so most of the practice was mental polish-up work.

During the second part of practice loud crowd noise was played over the loudspeakers, and you literally could not hear someone next to you even if they screamed. The coaches are planning on the game-day crowd being extremely loud inside the closed structure of the dome.

The rest of the day will be time for the players to rest and lay around the hotel. I'll probably read a book or nap for a couple of hours, and then I have some interviews with ESPN and possibly a few more reporters.

At 7:30 the two Peach Bowl teams will have an awards banquet. We will all dress in coat and tie and, knowing the Peach Bowl, I'm sure there will be another great meal.