ACC Media Days brought fans some great quotes from Clemson football players as well as head coach Dabo Swinney, but it also brought to light some new conference policies.
One of the newest policies that the ACC is implementing is the fine system for storming the field.
This is a new development and it's going to directly affect the best teams in the conference as well as those near the bottom who could pull off some massive home upsets this season and moving forward. That means that Clemson could be a major beneficiary to this new policy which will make it safer for the Tigers to leave the field if they were (fingers crossed this doesn't happen often) to fall victim to a major upset. But it'll also hurt the Tigers
According to the new policy, presented at ACC Media Days this week, fines will be over a two-year period and first-time offenders will be fined $50,000, second time offenders will be fined $100,000, and three-plus times will cost a school $200,000.
Clemson has a Gathering at the Paw for every home game where fans take the field as the clock runs out so this new rule will directly affect the Tigers. However, Dabo believes that it's still going to be a tradition and the school will make it work within the guidelines of the new policy.
Here's what he said at ACC Media Days:
"We're used to field-storming. Obviously at home every game, and if we lose on the road, we get it there too. We get a lot of experience with it. I didn't really know about (the new policy) until last week. We were having our program meetings and Graham (Neff) kinda went over it. I think they've got a good plan in place where hopefully it can achieve the objectives of being able to get the team off the field, but still be able to gather at the Paw and have the fans come on, and hold the alma mater until we do that."Dabo Swinney on new policy
It likely means that fans will have to wait a little longer to gather at the Paw so opposing teams have time to get off the field safely. That shouldn't be a major issue.
It will help if Clemson loses on the road against a major underdog because they won't be swarmed and in danger of ugly incidents with fans, so there's some give-and-take here.
Overall, it sounds like this is good for Clemson and the Gathering at the Paw will still take place.