Kenny Chesney, Dabo Swinney pitch concert at Death Valley

Country music star Kenny Chesney was in Upstate, South Carolina at Greenville earlier in 2023. Chesney could return to the Upstate in the not-too-distant future, this time to play at Death Valley in Clemson.

Tigers AD Graham Neff recently joined Eric Mac Lain and Kelly Gramlich on the Gramlich and Mac Lain podcast and revealed that Chesney and Dabo Swinney have pitched Chesney performing at Memorial Stadium.

The two made their pitch when Chesney played at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in April.

Swinney, Neff, USC head coach Lincoln Riley and Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley all attended the concert.

“We were down there with coach and the Rileys and some folks and met Kenny. That was a special deal. That was a lot of fun. This was like a ‘holy cow, welcome to my job’ moment. We were down post concert, kind of backstage,” Neff explained. “[Kenny’s saying] he loves college football and concerts and Swinney’s like, ‘Hey, you need to come play in the Valley.’ And Kenny’s like, ‘That’s awesome! I’d do that.’ And then they both look at me. So I’ve got Kenny Chesney and Dabo Swinney looking at me.”

Graham Neff didn’t give the two a direct answer at the time, but he did at least say that he would look into it. It remains to be seen if Kenny Chesney will play at Death Valley, but it has been discussed.

“Garrett Riley and Lincoln Riley are kind of like chuckling. And they’re looking at me like, ‘Hey, Neff, make this happen,'” Neff said. “I’ve got Chesney and Swinney leaning on me. I was like, ‘Alright, let me work on some things.’ So no promises for the Valley, but that was a discussion that recently ensued and who knows.”

Garrett Riley believes Clemson is ‘just different’ after experiencing it for himself

Garrett Riley had heard plenty of positive things about Clemson before agreeing to leave TCU and become the Tigers offensive coordinator.

After five-plus months on the job, it’s safe to say Riley is pleased with his decision.

Clemson Athletics Director Graham Neff recently joined Eric Mac Lain and Kelly Gramlich on the Gramlich and Mac Lain podcast. Neff shared that he recently had dinner with Riley and his wife. Riley couldn’t say enough about his time at Clemson thus far.

“[We] were just coming off of June official visits and a heavy recruiting month. And Garrett’s been here now six months, less than that. So we were just having a portion of our conversation. He was remarking, ‘Gah, it’s just different here,’” Neff recalled. “He hasn’t been at Clemson before… and just how, even recruiting or officials visits work, certainly how coach Swinney leads the program and the culture of the program, of the locker room.”