Forget the TV coaches—Dabo Swinney is showing the world what it means to be a Tiger, no matter the sport. After today, you could see the pride all over Dabo’s face as he talked about Tanner Tessman, a Clemson man through and through, now making waves on the international soccer scene. Dabo is diving headfirst into the beautiful game just to back his godson and former recruit, because when one of our own is on the world stage, the whole Clemson family is right there with him.
"I am really proud of him," Dabo said of Tessman, who is currently tearing it up in Lyon. Swinney compares Tessman’s versatility to the ultimate football compliment: "He’s like almost like an offensive lineman that can play five spots, you know. So I think he brings a lot of value. He’s a smart player."
Dabo’s commitment runs so deep he’s already circling the World Cup on his calendar. He’s got his sights set on SoFi Stadium, ready to be there on June 12th if Tessman is on the pitch. That’s what it means to support your own—Dabo’s not just talking the talk, he’s ready to travel across the country to cheer on a Tiger in red, white, and blue.
Before the World Cup talk, Dabo couldn’t help but relive the unforgettable All In Ball—a night that was pure Clemson magic. This wasn’t your average fundraiser. Olympic medalist Shante Lowe brought the house down with her story of grit and triumph, and then Dabo raised the stakes by bringing in General Charlie Duke, a real-life moonwalker, to auction off a dinner. Only at Clemson do you get that kind of star power and heart in one room.
From raising over a million dollars for charity to repping the USA for Tessman, Dabo Swinney keeps showing the world what the Clemson brotherhood is all about. Even when March Madness traffic tried to slow him down, the energy in Tigertown just keeps building. Right now, there’s no stopping the Clemson momentum—on the field, on the court, or anywhere our Tigers compete.