Clemson football: Loud and Clear – Tigers not a catch and release program

It’s interesting how things are interpreted sometimes, especially when Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney speaks.

At one point he could say no wrong. Beat Alabama a couple of times and he can say nothing right.

The latest was Dabo’s proclamation that Clemson is not a “catch and release” type program,  which just a couple years ago would have been hailed as a testament to caring about the young men under his leadership.

Not now.  Now it’s seen as “not embracing” the transfer portal, despite saying that it’s the best thing for some players to move on.

"“It’s the right thing for some guys to move on, whether they are a graduate or just want more opportunity to play or whatever. If we do a good job of loving our players, serving our players, making sure they have a good experience … they’re going to stay.”"

Despite the fact that it’s been fairly well documented that the transfer portal is hurting high schoolers chances of getting a scholarship, it’s seems to be implied that his “prep-first” mentality is out of touch.

It’s also alleged in the article that the only exception to Dabo’s “portal plan” was Hunter Johnson, despite later saying that  “one of Clemson’s (offensive line) targets” signed with Florida.

From where I sit, Hunter Johnson was not part of the plan, it just happened, but offensive line help was part of the plan and they swung and missed.

Semantics I guess, but this is about more than that to me.

Clemson football has always recruited differently under Dabo Swinney and the media can’t stand it

Dabo has always been different, from BYOG to Pizza Parties to graduating players.  Remember when graduating players was a thing?  It still is at Clemson.

Could Dabo’s policies cost Clemson a game or championship? Sure.

And I’m OK with that.

Listen to a college football podcast now and it’s all about Lear Jets and Lamborghinis (not against either) and who can get what.  More power to the players and I’m good with it, but what’s wrong with doing things differently?

Coaches used to be castigated for using players and throwing them away.

In the current environment that kind of thing is praised as “embracing the transfer portal”.

Clemson is not for everyone.  I get that and you probably do, too.

I’ve given up hope that the media ever will.