Tag: Dabo Swinney

Clemson football Coach Dabo Swinney talks about the early period National Signing Day players coming to Clemson, at the Smart Family Media Center Wednesday, December 4, 2024 in Clemson, South Carolina.

Dabo Swinney: Clemson grew facing SEC competition instead of ‘XYZ University’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Top nonconference opponents are a thing of the past for Clemson if the College Football Playoff committee puts no weight on strength of schedule.

Opening the season as the Tigers did against then-No. 1 Georgia in September, for example, might not be as high on Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s list of priorities if there is no reward in the committee’s evaluation process for teams that take the risk to play other heavyweights.

But Swinney recognizes his team is far more battle-tested because it took on the Southeastern Conference power.

“We could have scheduled XYZ University and everybody would be real happy on the bus ride back. But I think they had good perspective after that game,” Swinney said Friday on the eve of playing No. 8 SMU in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, N.C. “They kept going and have earned the right to be here.”

Swinney said he views SMU as the best in the 17-team conference and would anticipate the Mustangs have the standing resume to earn a spot in the playoff even if they lose to the Tigers on Saturday. No. 18 Clemson, already with three losses, won’t have the same luxury in Swinney’s estimation.

“We have to win the game, for sure, to have an opportunity,” he said. “I think SMU should be in for sure. We’re looking at this game like the first round of the playoffs. That’s how we have to look at it. The season is over. … It’s all about this opportunity. This is what they’ve worked for since January.”

A reflective Swinney said he was encouraged how Clemson matched up physically with Georgia in the 34-3 season-opening loss but lamented penalties that erased big plays. He felt the Tigers were just one play short in a 17-14 loss to South Carolina last week, but also believes the timing was perfect for a reminder.

“We’ve grown. They understand that games like that can be (decided) by two or three plays,” Swinney said. “Hopefully they’ll take that into this game and play their best football in the postseason.”

–Field Level Media

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reacts near defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (11) after the game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia Monday, September 5, 2022. Clemson won 41-10. Ncaa Fb Clemson At Georgia Tech

Dabo Swinney, Clemson to use Ella Bresee’s words to inspire

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Ella Bresee left an indelible mark on Clemson coach Dabo Swinney.

Ella, 15, died last week from brain cancer. Her older brother, Bryan, is a standout Clemson defensive tackle, and Swinney led a contingent of players and coaches to her funeral in Maryland on Tuesday.

Swinney told reporters Wednesday that Ella left behind words of inspiration.

“We all can learn from Ella,” he said, going on to describe a letter she wrote about living with cancer. “She said, ‘You know, I have a choice and I choose to have a great attitude and I’m gonna make the best of each day.’”

Swinney said the bottom line of Ella’s message was that you have to love life and “live it to the fullest. And I think to do that, you have to love and you have to forgive and, as Ella said, don’t hold grudges and, you know, have a true appreciation of today.”

Bryan Bresee was with his family following Ella’s death and missed last Saturday’s win over Louisiana Tech. He is expected to play Saturday when the No. 5 Tigers (3-0) meet No. 21 Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C.

–Field Level Media

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney smiles during his summer football camp in Clemson Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Dabo Swinney Football Camp 2021 Day One

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney inks 10-year, $115M extension

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Clemson and football coach Dabo Swinney agreed Thursday to a 10-year extension through the 2031 season worth a reported $115 million.

Swinney, 52, has compiled a 151-36 record with two national championships since taking over midway through the 2008 season. The fifth-ranked Tigers opened the 2022 season with a 41-10 rout of Georgia Tech on Monday.

The deal, approved by the Clemson Board of Trustees on Thursday morning, makes Swinney the second-highest-paid coach in college football behind Alabama’s Nick Saban, who agreed to an eight-year, $93.6 million extension last month. Swinney will earn an average of $11.5 million per season compared to Saban’s $11.7 million.

“Coach Swinney and his family’s impact on our community and department cannot be understated, and his success and stability nationally is truly uncommon,” athletic director Graham Neff said in a news release. “It is critical that Clemson continue to invest in our football program, and ensure our head coach is at Clemson for a long, long time. The best is yet to come.”

Swinney trails only Frank Howard (165) in career wins at Clemson.

He led the Tigers to FBS national titles in 2016 and 2018 and has guided them to seven ACC championships. He is a three-time Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year (2015, 2016 and 2018).

–Field Level Media

Apr 9, 2022; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney during the first quarter of the 2022 Orange vs White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Brother of Dabo Swinney arrested in South Carolina

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The brother of Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney has been arrested in South Carolina on a charge of sexual exploitation of a minor.

The office of state Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Henry Ervil Swinney III, 53, on Thursday. He was arrested on April 23.

Investigators followed up on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in arresting Henry Swinney, who lives in Clemson. In a news release, Wilson’s office said Swinney, who goes by Tripp, distributed material depicting child sexual abuse.

If convicted of the second-degree felony, Tripp Swinney faces up to 10 years in prison. He is out of jail on a $5,000 surety bond.

In 2016, Tripp Swinney was arrested in Florida on a stalking charge.

“There’s consequences for your actions. If you don’t do the right things, you suffer the consequences,” Dabo Swinney said then. “I’m no different from anybody else, my family’s no different than anybody else. I think the only sad thing is, it’s a story because he’s my brother. You know, if I was Joe Schmoe then you’re not asking me that question.”

He added: “Unfortunately, he’s had a long history of not doing the right things. But I love him, he’s my brother. There’s nothing I can do about it and I done everything I can to be a good brother and help him but that’s his life and those are decisions that he’s made.”

Dabo Swinney, 52, has been head coach at Clemson since 2008 and led the Tigers to two national championships.

–Field Level Media

Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross(8) stretches near head coach Dabo Swinney during Spring practice in Clemson Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Clemson Football Spring Practice

Clemson WR Justyn Ross (spine) cleared to play

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Clemson receiver Justyn Ross has gotten the OK from doctors to return to the Tigers after missing the 2020 season due to spinal surgery.

Ross, from Alabama, will be a valuable asset for first-year starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who is tasked with replacing Heisman Trophy winner Trevor Lawrence.

As a freshman in 2018, Ross led Clemson in receiving yards with 1,000, and the following season led the Tigers with 66 receptions. He caught 17 touchdown passes in two seasons.

“Man, he’s so happy. He’s ecstatic,” coach Dabo Swinney said as he announced Ross’ return.

The receiver must go through COVID-19 protocols before he can take part in practice.

Ross was diagnosed with a congenital spine condition and a bulging disk as he was checked out following a collision with a linebacker in spring practice in 2020. He had the condition since birth but was unaware.

Dr. David Okonkwo, a top neurosurgeon based in Pittsburgh, performed the surgery in June 2020.

“A year ago I didn’t think I would put on pads again,” Ross said on March 31, per The State in South Carolina. “So I’m grateful. I’m taking advantage of every rep I get. … I realize how quick the game could be taken away from me. Like my grandma told me, I put everything in God’s hands and went and did everything the doctors and coaches told me to do. … I will be ready to play any time they tell me.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates with the trophy after winning the ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson coach Swinney voted Ohio State No. 11 in coaches’ poll

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On his final ballot of the regular season, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney ranked 10 teams more deserving of one of the College Football Playoff spots than his Sugar Bowl opponent, Ohio State.

Swinney voted the Buckeyes 11th in a ballot for the Amway Coaches’ Poll that consisted of this top four: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

The 6-0 Buckeyes drew criticism from coaches around the country because of their incomplete schedule, which required a rules change by the Big Ten to permit Ohio State to play in the conference championship game on Saturday.

Swinney also made his feelings evident in an interview with the Rich Eisen Show.

“I think any time you step in between the lines, the game of football, there’s a lot that can happen. A lot,” Swinney said. “I mean, heck, in 2017, we lost to a three-win or four-win Syracuse team and still went to the playoffs. So anything can happen. Guys can get hurt. There’s a lot. So I think the fact that we’re going to have 11 games as well as the SEC teams — I mean, you look at Florida and Texas A&M and Alabama. I mean, these teams are going to have 11 games this year.”

“It’s incredible and I think the Big Ten had the same opportunity and they chose not to play, and I think the only reason they ended up playing is because of the leadership of the SEC and the ACC and the Big 12, and have demonstrated that we can do it and do it in a safe way. So it’s been an unbelievably challenging season, that’s for sure. But I think that the committee’s going to have some tough, tough, tough questions to answer.”

He continued: “Obviously, as coaches, we don’t control any of that stuff. So I do think that our team has played incredibly well. We had a double-overtime loss at the No. 2 team in the country now in Notre Dame, who’s a great team and an unbelievable game. Again, no matter what happens for Notre Dame or Clemson, nothing changes in my mind, as far as both of these teams being in the top four.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban argued Sunday that, while Ohio State is talented, the psychological toll of the elongated season and the physical challenges of playing a full SEC schedule made for an uneven playing field.

The chorus of challenges was echoed by A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, whose 8-1 team had one loss — much like No. 4 Notre Dame — but wound up in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2 against No. 13 North Carolina.

CFP selection committee chair Gary Barta contended Sunday during the bowl pairings announcement that there was “no dissension” among committee members about placing Ohio State at No. 3. The Buckeyes will play Clemson Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl.

Notre Dame lost only to Clemson in the ACC championship game. Texas A&M lost to Alabama.

No. 1 Alabama faces No. 4 Notre Dame in the other CFP semifinal on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl, which will be played at Arlington, Texas, because of COVID-19 issues.

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney signals to his players in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Swinney disputes claim that ACC protecting Tigers, Irish

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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney dismissed comments from Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey that criticized the Atlantic Coast Conference for not making Swinney’s Tigers and Notre Dame play makeup games on Saturday, an open date for each team.

The Fighting Irish (10-0) sit second and the Tigers (9-1) are third in the College Football Playoff poll, so the open date makes sure neither team sustains a loss that could damage their ranking, as they head into the ACC championship game on Dec. 19.

“If the ACC was trying to really protect Clemson and Notre Dame, why would we even play a game this week? I mean, if six wins can get you in the playoff, shouldn’t nine get you there? Shouldn’t 10 get you there?”

The reference to six wins appears aimed at Ohio State, which is 5-0 and needed a waiver from its conference to be allowed to play in the Big Ten title game because it had not played six games, which was mandated before the start of the season.

The SEC, meanwhile, is on track to have 69 of its 70 conference games played, a pace not matched by other conferences.

“Playing games matters. The Playoff selection committee has said that,” Sankey said Saturday, adding that his teams “are ready to play and have these opportunities. I think playing games matters. Candidly, you take the Texas A&M-Florida game. We added that to our schedule when we went from eight conference games to 10. You take that game away and Florida is undefeated and Texas A&M only has the loss at Alabama and it’s a different world. So the question is – are we going to be rewarded for playing games or rewarded for not playing games?”

Clemson had a game postponed on Nov. 21 at Florida State, when the Tigers were already in Tallahassee and getting ready to play when it was announced that a backup defensive lineman for Clemson had tested positive for COVID-19 and traveled with the team.

Swinney and others accused Florida State of using the announcement as a reason not to play the game.

Notre Dame had a postponement on Sept. 19 at Wake Forest.

“I would’ve loved to play this past weekend,” Swinney said. “I had no problem with that. I didn’t make the decision. We wanted to play when we were down in Tallahassee and were about to get on a bus and go play. Things happen.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney reacts to a call during the fourth quarter against the LSU Tigers in the College Football Playoff national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson’s Swinney on Texans’ job: ‘Next question’

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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney dismissed the notion that he is headed to the NFL to rejoin former Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson with the Houston Texans.

During a conference call with reporters prior to No. 1 Clemson’s encounter with No. 7 Miami, Swinney was asked if he had heard from Watson following the firing of Bill O’Brien as the Texans’ head coach and general manager.

“I have not heard from Deshaun and that is not even anything that I want to even have to think about,” Swinney said on Tuesday. “… You don’t want to ask anything about Miami? Next question.”

Watson, 25, played at Clemson and led the team to a College Football Playoff championship game in 2015 and a national title win the following year. He was selected by the Texans with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Watson and the winless Texans (0-4) find themselves without a head coach after O’Brien was dismissed on Monday.

Romeo Crennel, 73, will serve as Houston’s interim head coach for the remainder of the 2020 season.

Clemson gave Swinney a 10-year contract worth $93 million, the richest contract ever for a college football coach, in April 2019.

Swinney, 50, is in his 13th season as the Tigers coach and has a 133-31 record and two national championships.

–Field Level Media

Jan 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney on the sidelines during the game against the LSU Tigers in the College Football Playoff national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Clemson’s Swinney agrees to $1.25M pay reduction

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Dabo Swinney and Clemson agreed to a $1.25 million reduction in pay to assist the university as it faces significant financial losses because of the coronavirus pandemic, USA Today reported.

Swinney will give up $1 million he was scheduled to earn as a retention payment on Jan. 1, as well as a $250,000 raise that was scheduled to kick in the same day, per the report. A pay reduction previously had been disclosed, but USA Today reviewed the agreement between the school and Swinney after an open-records request.

Clemson assistant coaches who make $400,000 or more will have their pay cut by 10 percent. Swinney’s cut is about 13 percent.

The highest-paid coach in college football, Swinney was set to make $9.375 million during the 2021 fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Clemson gave Swinney a 10-year contract worth $93 million, the richest contract ever for a college football coach, in April 2019.

Football coaches around the country have taken pay cuts as cash-strapped athletic departments look for ways to slash spending amid revenue losses caused by the ongoing pandemic.

Many Division I athletic departments also have laid off or furloughed staff and cut sports that don’t generate revenues.

Swinney, 50, is in his 13th season as the Tigers coach and has a 131-31 record and two national championships.

–Field Level Media