As schools increasingly choose to forgo their spring games due to concerns over tampering and other issues, Clemson’s own Dabo Swinney has decided to chart a different course.
In a bold move, Swinney plans to proceed with Clemson’s traditional spring exhibition, dismissing the reasons other programs, like Nebraska led by Matt Rhule, have for their cancelations as largely trivial.
“We’re definitely going to have a spring game, and I’d love to include a fan day as well,” Swinney stated. “We’ll see how it plays out. Honestly, whether or not you have a spring game, tampering will still happen.”
Swinney further elaborated, arguing that a spring game doesn’t provide the kind of valuable insights some might think. “Nobody’s going to watch a spring game and think, ‘That’s the key!’” he quipped. “They’ve got PFF for that. Everything about every player is already known. Canceling the spring game won’t prevent tampering. We need a lot more robust solutions for that, and hopefully, those will come in time.”
Swinney also emphasized that although Clemson’s spring game will go on, they will exercise caution where necessary.
“When evaluating, you consider the number of career snaps, offensive and defensive,” Swinney explained. “Take Blake Miller, for instance. He’s at the top of that list. Do I really need to see him in live action this spring? Not really. He requires some work, which he’ll certainly get, but the live-action will be limited. But there are plenty of others who do need that live experience.”
Clemson’s spring showdown, the Orange vs. White Game, is set for April 5 at 1 PM ET. The Tigers will kick off their season at Memorial Stadium against LSU on August 30.
In related news, Alabama fans have showcased remarkable support following Hugh Freeze’s cancer diagnosis.
