Clemson Football head coach Dabo Swinney has announced that former linebacker Ben Boulware has joined the coaching staff as an intern.
Boulware played for the Tigers from 2013-2016. He finished his career with 258 career tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and 5 interceptions.
He was named the Defensive Player of the Game in the National Championship game in 2016 against Alabama.
Boulware spent time in training camps and on practice squads with the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers. He then went into business owning and managing The Junkyard Gym in Clemson, located in part of the building that used to house the Apollo Theater.
Boulware has been critical of the team at times over the past few seasons. He made the following comments after last year’s loss to Florida State.
"I thought the play-calling was weird. The kicking game started solid and then ultimately pissed me off. The third-and-1 (pass in overtime), that doesn’t make sense. I get that we make mistakes, but that doesn’t make sense. … A bunch of question marks. Very weird. I don’t get it. So I don’t know. We suck right now. I get that like… ‘Yea, we should be 4-0 if it wasn’t for five plays.’ Well, you’re not 4-0. So I don’t know. I’m pissed. I’m in a bad mood."Ben Boulware
Swinney said the following yesterday when announcing Boulware’s addition.
Dabo Swinney told us former LB Ben Boulware is joining the #Clemson staff.
— Grayson Mann (@gray_mann21) August 1, 2024
"I'm glad he's joining because he's been a crappy fan. It is good to have him in the building."
This gave me a chuckle. I believe Boulware will be a valuable asset. There will be a learning curve for him to be an effective coach, but he can bring one thing I believe the team has been lacking: that dog.
I have expressed from time to time that one of the big differences between the team during their six-game CFP streak and now has been their attitude. Boulware is a fantastic example of that. There have been plenty of NFL-caliber players who have come through Clemson in the past few seasons, but few of them possessed the fire and spirit that Boulware brought to the field.
Whatever the reasons why that has been missing with Clemson Football, bringing Boulware back is a step towards re-introducing that energy to the team.