(04-27-2019 09:41 PM)Kaplony Wrote: Applications have skyrocketed in the past seven years, and 97% of all scholarship seniors under Swinney have graduated with a degree from Clemson University. Well worth the money.
People who think it's automatic that Dabo is going to leave Clemson for Alabama need to consider one thing....Alabama unceremoniously fired Dabo when he was an assistant and he was out of coaching until Clemson gave him a chance. He's now been at Clemson longer than he was at Alabama. His kids grew up in Clemson, not Tuscaloosa. His family lives in Clemson, not Alabama.
It's not automatic, but it's certainly plausible and the special buyout indicates it's a distinct possibility.
Also, it's not really accurate to say he was unceremoniously fired. That entire staff was let go because Mike Dubose was such an unmitigated disaster. There was the specter of NCAA sanctions and Franchione was given the freedom to pick his staff, as any head coach should have.
But let's consider a couple of things. When Dabo was let go, what did he do? Well, he didn't leave the state and instead went to work for his old strength coach turned businessman Rich Wingo, also an Alabama alumnus. Just as an aside, Wingo is now in the Legislature, but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, point being that Alabama guys tend to take care of each other.
Let's also consider this, who gave Dabo a shot to get back into coaching? Was it Clemson or was it Tommy Bowden? Bowden was Dabo's position coach back at Alabama and knew him well. Bowden is the one who called him up and gave him a shot.
Who was fired by Clemson? Tommy Bowden. Who replaced the guy that gave him a shot? Dabo Swinney. One thing that coaches tend to know is that college football is a very tough business.
While Dabo has certainly coached longer at Clemson, that doesn't mean that's where his roots are. He grew up in Shelby County, walked on at Alabama, won a national title with Stallings, and was a GA and assistant here. He's been back to visit plenty of times and has always been welcomed.
I certainly wouldn't blame Dabo if he stayed at Clemson. He's got a great thing going and I'll always be a fan of his no matter what. With that said, it makes plenty of sense that he would come back to Alabama if the situation was right.