Dabo Swinney comments on players boycotting & voicing demands
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney met with the media for the first time earlier this week and there was no shortage of news following the meeting.
Swinney touched on a number of subjects, including the health of his players, the depth chart, protocols, and much more.
One of the interesting notes was when Dabo Swinney was asked about the player boycotts and demands happening around the nation. Both the Big Ten and Pac-12 have had groups of players release a document of demands for them to play the 2020 season.
Here’s what Swinney had to say:
"“Our players have had a voice,” Swinney said via The Clemson Insider. “That’s probably the first thing I did, was give our players a voice and empower them to help be a huge part of our program. We’ve done that from the first time I became coach.“But as far as specific things that were out there, I saw a little bit of it. What I did see, most of it, to me, was pretty common sense and some reasonable things. Even like the six-year guarantee — those are things we’ve been doing around here for forever. I’ve had 50-year-olds come back to Clemson and graduate. We’re way more committed to six years to our guys getting their degrees, and have been for a long time. So, there’s some great things. Talking about some of the revenue stuff, I’ve always been for these guys getting some type of lump sum — I’ve just always wanted to tie it to graduation. So, always good when you have good conversation. But as far as my guys, man, they always have had a voice.”"
Dabo Swinney reiterates what his program has always been about
Swinney has had to endure massive amounts of criticism over the course of this offseason on a number of issues and much of that has even carried over to the start of this season.
There are media members, and of course opposing fans, who are hungrily looking to devour anything and everything that Swinney says in an attempt to discredit him.
But actions speak much louder than words.
Since the time Swinney took over the Clemson football program, he has worked to provide the best culture for his athletes and his staff. There aren’t many programs across the nation that honor a scholarship even when athletes elect to leave to pursue the NFL. The things Swinney has been able to implement with programs like Clemson Life and Paw Journey are spectacular.
And that’s what he took time to reiterate earlier this week: He listens to his players and cares about them. But don’t ask us, go ask his players and they’ll tell you the same thing.