Dabo Swinney addresses concerns about setup of JMA Wireless Dome for players

Clemson doesn’t play many games in domes, save for various bowls and an every-other-year trip to the far northern reaches of the ACC: Syracuse. And each time Dabo Swinney takes his team to the Salt City, he makes sure to take them around the JMA Wireless — previously Carrier — Dome.

Swinney does this, and will this weekend as Clemson travels to play Syracuse, because the building is not like many other domes. He joked that the JMA Wireless Dome, which was first opened in 1980 and recently renovated, is not like other domes Clemson might play in from time to time.

“It’s different. That’s why when we go up there, we always go by the Dome because it’s not like going into the Mercedes-Benz. It’s different. It’s a little different feel and you just kinda gotta get to used to it a little bit. So it’s a great place to play a game. Really cool venue. It’s unique. It’s very unique,” Swinney said.

Swinney said he doesn’t always take his teams to the away venue the day prior, but does if it’s somewhere unusual or that he feels players need to get adjusted to in some way.

That’s particularly the case with a sophomore quarterback who has never made the trip to Syracuse before in Cade Klubnik.

“So we don’t always stop by and see where we’re going, but that’s one of those places that I do think it’s good for like, Cade’s never been there. Obviously the punt returners and the kickers and all those guys just to be able to have a chance to walk around a little bit. Put their eyes on it and be able to visualize it for the game,” Swinney said. 

Clemson has kicker issues to sort out on Saturday and beyond

Coming off an overtime loss to Florida State, Swinney is sticking with the kicker he recently re-recruited to join the team during the middle of the season: Jonathan Weitz.

Weitz made his debut last weekend against Florida State, going 1-for-2 on his field goal attempts. Still, Swinney is confident in him.

“I would let Weitz kick from probably 50,” Swinney said. “Feel comfortable. He made a 51 or so yarder last week. But he still gives us our best chance right now from just a confidence standpoint.”

Weitz was on the team from 2019-2022 before leaving the team following last season’s campaign. He was about to start a job in New York until he got a call from Swinney urging him to consider rejoining the team using his free year of eligibility granted due to COVID-19.

He took the Clemson head coach up on it.

For now, Weitz’ grasp on the job is tenuous, despite Swinney’s confidence out to the 50-yard range with him. Witz missed a kick from 29 yards out late in the fourth quarter that would have given Clemson a lead on Florida State.

He also made a field goal from 30 yards.

“Check back with me next week,” Swinney said, seeming to indicate the impermanence of the starting job. “I’ll be here, every week, so check back with me. That could change.”

The Clemson head coach did joke that his new kicker was supposed to start his job this week.

“I think he was supposed to start this week, I think his start date was Monday this week,” Swinney said. “So he can moonlight when we go up there to Syracuse this week.”