Just look at Stanley’s Clemson Tigers now

Stanley played golf at Clemson from 2006-09 and was named the nation’s best golfer in his final season. Clemson had nowhere near the success of their current run with Stanley in attendance. The school is the defending national champion, a year after being the runner-up in the title game, and is currently ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll.

Stanley, a native of Gig Harbor, Washington, is back in the south and is the first-round leader, at 6-under par, at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

“It’s been fun,” Stanley said of Clemson’s current success. “I mean, I wish they were that good when I was in school. We were like barely getting into bowl games then. It’s been fun watching them the past few years. Living in Washington, it’s a long way to go to catch a game but I try to watch as many as I can on TV.”

Clemson (3-0) hosts Boston College on Saturday. Stanley will be a little busy to watch that one.