Dabo Swinney Press Conference vs. Furman: News, Notes, Analysis

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney held his weekly press conference for the Furman game Tuesday morning. Here’s some news, notes and analysis.

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney held the first of 12 regular-season press conferences Tuesday morning. This one to preview the Furman Paladins.

Clemson opens up the season against Furman this Saturday in Death Valley beginning at 12:20 p.m.

With the Tigers being a preseason favorite to make the College Football Playoff, it’s clear that the media would have plenty of questions for the head ball coach, especially the day right after Clemson released its depth chart for the game against the Paladins.

Here’s our news, notes and analysis from Dabo Swinney’s weekly press conference:

• New Metal Detectors

First, a housekeeping update. If you are going to the Clemson football game this Saturday, make sure you arrive a little earlier than what you normally would. Select gates will have metal detectors, so just make sure you arrive early.

• QB Competition

During the press conference, Swinney said that last year’s quarterback competition wasn’t close. This year, though, it’s been a lot more competitive. He said that Kelly Bryant earned the right to start and had a really good fall camp. He also said that Trevor Lawrence has earned the right to play and that we’ll see both of these guys against Furman.

He also implored Clemson fans not to “boo” either QB and to remember that they’re all Clemson Tigers. Look, if you boo a quarterback- no matter who they are- you don’t deserve to be at the game.

Overall, I’m really excited to see both quarterbacks play. I think Kelly Bryant has gotten better and will prove that on Saturday. Lawrence is a natural and will make passing the football look easy.

• BT Potter is like Sammy Watkins

One area that no one will really spend a lot of time talking about is the “kickoff specialist” role. BT Potter beat out Alex Spence for kickoffs and it apparently wasn’t even close. As a Rubbing the Rock commenter pointed out, Greg Huegel was limited in kickoffs due to a previous injury.

He said, via Clemson Sports, that Potter was like Sammy Watkins as a freshman, but a kicker of course.

Overall, it was great to see Dabo Swinney back in the press conference chair ready for the season to open. We’re inching closer and closer to kickoff.