Dabo Swinney shares why last week has been most rewarding in coaching career
Head coach Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers have experienced major changes to the program at the end of the regular season. Both defensive coordinator Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott have left the program for head coaching opportunities. And while some surrounding the program are singing the blues, on Tuesday, Swinney was singing a completely different tune.
“This past week, in particular, has probably been one of the best weeks of my life honestly,” said Swinney. “It’s been it’s been a great experience it’s been a blessing.”
CJ Spiller is now a HOFer
Former Clemson running back turned running backs coach CJ Spiller was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in early December. And the former Tigers running back shared that moment with his family and his head coach in Las Vegas. And in the press conference, Swinney gleefully talked about the experience and Spiller.
“So CJ Spiller was my first five-star recruit. One of the first people to believe in me and then he comes back to be on my first team in ’09. So, my first five-star recruit, my first first-rounder, my first top-ten pick, my first Pro-Bowler… and now my first college football Hall of Famer. And there’ll be more to come, but to be able to be in Las Vegas with him in that moment where the whole college football world was convened last Tuesday night and be a part of that with his mom and his daughter and Daisha his wife. I mean that’s one of the greatest coolest moments of my life.
Swinney on Brent Venables leaving
For just the third time since 1999, the Oklahoma Sooners officially have a new head football coach. Their official Twitter account welcomed Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables to Norman on Dec. 5th. Venables joined Bob Stoops’ staff in 1999 as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He won the national championship with the Sooners in 2000 and appeared in another two in 2003 and 2008. Oklahoma decided to move on from Venables in 2011, letting him go to Clemson to be with Dabo Swinney. Another two national championships are now under his belt (2016 and 2018). Swinney touched on his relationship with the new Sooners head coach.
“And then working with Brent for the last week or so. He and we traveled together, we spent a lot of time together the last week and really talking through some things… Man, I’m so happy for him and Julie and the family. There’s nothing sad about it at all it’s a blessing… I take a lot of pride in developing our players, I want to develop our staff and I love seeing people get an opportunity… And for Brent, you know ’cause he’s turned down a lot of opportunities… He’s had a lot of opportunities and … this was the right opportunity for him.”
Tony Elliott, the man who lead the Tigers offense
The Clemson head coach addressed the departure of his longtime offensive coordinator Tony Elliott to close. Elliott became the second key piece of Dabo Swinney’s Clemson coaching staff to leave in a weeklong span, as the offensive coordinator left to become the head coach at Virginia.
“For Tony I mean I’ve been with Tony for 19 years… I got a chance to meet him and just instantly knew there was an instant connection with Tony Elliot. We have a lot of similarities … he never coached to running back a day in his life and I’m like I’m not worried about that. That’s easy I’m hiring you because of who you are as a person. And then moving him to offensive coordinator never called a play a day in his life. Tony has been calling every play for seven years, and what an amazing job. All he did was, a guy who’s never called a play took us to six straight playoffs and three national championships against Alabama average 40 points a game and 500 something yards of offense so not bad.”