Clemson coach clarifies tampering has nothing to do with Orange & White Game not being televised
CLEMSON — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said it was their decision not to televise its Annual Orange & White Spring Game on April 5 at Memorial Stadium.
“We could have had it on TV, but it was our decision not to put it on TV,” Swinney said after Wednesday’s scrimmage. “It was not like someone did not want to do it. We made the decision to do our own in-house thing.”
Clemson’s head coach also clarified the decision to not televise the game had nothing to do with other coaches watching the game and possibly poaching his players.
“No,” Swinney said shaking his head when asked if tampering was the reason for not televising the game. “I just did not want to deal with all the drama. Hopefully, it means we can can get more people here. But no, I am not worried about any of that stuff.
“I mean, people are going to tamper. If they (the players) do not want to be here, then don’t be here. We will go get somebody. I am not really worried about it. You cannot run from that stuff.”
Swinney continued by saying if another coaching staff wants to tamper with your players, they are going to tamper regardless if the spring game is on television or not.
“If people tamper, they tamper,” he said. “If kids want to leave, they can leave. It is that simple.
“We led the nation two years in a row in retention, but maybe half the team leaves in a couple of weeks. I don’t know. We will see. We will find out.”
Swinney also explained that the Orange & White Game will not be like it has been the last decade or so when the coaches have split the team up and had a true game.
Due to so many players being out from off-season surgery or just getting a nagging injury in practice, the coaches felt it was best to just have a traditional scrimmage and do some good-on-good work.
Clemson will produce a one-hour show that on can be seen on Clemson-Plus, which IPTAY Donors can access as part of the athletic department’s streaming service, which will give a behind-the-scenes look at the Tigers coaches and players.
Some coaches and players will be wired throughout the program, like an NFL Films type piece.
