If Dabo Swinney had a say in scheduling, he’d have Clemson face off against another football school before the regular season kicks off. Unlike some other teams, Clemson is going ahead with a spring game this year, although you won’t catch it on TV next Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Chatting with reporters on Wednesday, Swinney emphasized how crucial live competition is in a spring game, especially for his new players who don’t get such opportunities elsewhere. “If we had two preseason games, do you think we could draw a crowd of over 50,000 to watch the Tigers in August? Absolutely, we could,” Swinney enthused. “And that would be fantastic. But since that’s not an option, this is our one chance.”
Both Colorado and Syracuse tried to organize joint practices and a scrimmage, but the NCAA shot down their request, citing a waiver issue. Although Deion Sanders brought significant attention to the idea, Swinney has been advocating for the same thing every spring for the past decade.
“From Pee Wee League up to high school and all the way to the NFL, we’re the only level where you can’t practice against another team,” Swinney pointed out. “No scrimmaging allowed. That’s something I’ve never quite wrapped my head around.”
Swinney also talked about the downside of an intra-squad scrimmage from a coaching perspective. “During any play, if someone gets hurt, it’s all your players involved. It’d be nice to only be half as worried,” he admitted. “That’s just the way it is, though.”
According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, the FBS oversight committee turned down the joint scrimmage proposal by Colorado and Syracuse due to the short notice. They were concerned it might offer recruitment advantages and disrupt student-athletes’ academic commitments. However, the committee plans to discuss the possibility of allowing joint spring practices in future seasons in their April 10 meeting.
The idea of spring scrimmages or exhibitions against other teams is gaining traction, with more coaches lining up behind it. Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy floated the idea of having a spring scrimmage against Oklahoma this week. “I think it’s a fantastic idea,” Gundy said. “We’re tired of practicing against ourselves.”
