Clemson football: New ACC Commissioner isn’t playing games

New ACC commissioner James Phillips is not willing to play any of the games that Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney likes to play when it comes to who he brings to the ACC media days.

Of course, this isn’t going to be popular among the Clemson football fans that believe Coach Swinney can do no wrong, however, he has been wrong on who he brings to the ACC media kickoff for years and it has done more harm than good for the ACC’s reputation over the years.

By no means am I blaming Coach Swinney for the ACC’s reputation but his refusal to bring the program’s star players to the ACC kickoff simply because they were not seniors has always been the wrong decision.

Always.

That is not a knock on anyone that has ever been brought. Every player has always been an amazing representation of the program; however, media and fans want to see the program’s biggest names and at Clemson, that has been quarterbacks for most of the last 10 years.

Never bringing Deshaun Watson or Trevor Lawrence was always the wrong decision and one that Coach Swinney will never be allowed to make moving forward.

Clemson football is bringing starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to the 2021 ACC football kickoff

The ACC announced who each program was bringing to the annual ACC football kickoff and among those will be Clemson football starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Matter of fact, the only program not bringing its starting quarterback will be Syracuse.

Phillips understands that for the league to be recognized among the best that they have to start marketing their start players and in football that will almost always mean quarterbacks – especially at Clemson.

Not only will most of the programs be bringing their starting quarterbacks, but teams will also bring three players with them as well.

In addition to DJ, Clemson football will be represented by sixth-year senior James Skalski as well as fifth-year senior Matt Bockhorst. The three of them will provide a well-rounded look at the Tigers for 2021.

Some may hate these changes, but it is the right call and Clemson football should want to bring its biggest stars. Using this as a reward for seniors is not how you grow in recognition and never will be.