So, picture this: Dabo Swinney recently took to the podium, not just to address some spicy gossip about Ole Miss eyeing one of his former players, Luke Ferrelli, but also to drop some wisdom about a sticky situation in college football. Yep, you guessed it—the calendar!
According to Swinney, we’ve got a major hiccup in college football, and it all boils down to how we’ve laid out the year for these young athletes. He kicked off his thoughts at the Smart Media Center, saying that the current state of affairs pushed him to put pen to paper, or at least fingers to keyboard, to brainstorm some changes.
For about half an hour, Swinney shared insights about what’s going wrong in college football and how we can flip the script. “It’s downright depressing to see where we are right now,” he lamented. “There are three big issues, all stemming from one huge problem.” And what’s that problem? You guessed it: a “stupid” calendar!
Here’s the Deal
Swinney highlighted how the calendar chaos is leading to athletic directors firing coaches mid-season, players bolting from their teams, and guys opting out of bowl games left and right. Swinney is all about giving these players, many of whom are still figuring out adulting, the time they need to make informed life choices.
“So let’s tackle this head-on,” Swinney urged. If we are going to fix any of this madness, the first step is simple: prioritize the players’ needs. This means ensuring they can focus on their studies and weigh their options without feeling rushed. “Completing that next semester should be the goal,” he noted, stressing the importance of education.
Having recently dove into the wild world of the transfer portal, Swinney likened the experience to a whirlwind romance: “It was like hooking up with someone at a bar and then, boom, getting married by Elvis eight hours later! Total madness.”
As he wrapped up his passionate catering to college football’s future, Swinney emphasized a key point: “We have a duty to equip, educate, and ensure that the vast majority of college football players (those not headed to the NFL) are set up for life.”
So there you have it—Dabo Swinney’s recipe for a brighter future in college football. Let’s hope someone takes a good look at that calendar and shakes things up for the better!