Sports

Dabo Swinney To Florida?

CLEMSON COACH GETTING CONSIDERATION IN GAINESVILLE? By FITSNEWS || Clemson University head football coach Dabo Swinney is among the names being bandied about as a potential successor to ousted Florida head coach Will Muschamp – who was told this weekend he will not return to coach the Gators in 2015. And…

CLEMSON COACH GETTING CONSIDERATION IN GAINESVILLE?

By FITSNEWS || Clemson University head football coach Dabo Swinney is among the names being bandied about as a potential successor to ousted Florida head coach Will Muschamp – who was told this weekend he will not return to coach the Gators in 2015.

And while there’s been plenty of speculation as to where Muschamp might wind up, could Swinney follow him to Gainesville?

In six-and-a-half years at Clemson, Swinney has posted a 58-26 record – including a 2011 ACC championship and back-to-back Top Ten finishes and eleven-win seasons in 2012 and 2013.  Of course he was 19-15 prior to the arrival of offensive coordinator Chad Morris – whose up tempo offense rewrote the school record book thanks to the play of quarterback Tajh Boyd and wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins.

The 44-year-old Birmingham, Alabama native is being eyed by Florida thanks to his prowess on the recruiting trail (which has been aided capably by S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, a Clemson alum).  For six straight years, Swinney’s Clemson classes have ranked among the Top 20 in the nation – including a pair of Top Ten classes in 2011 and 2012.  He’s also guided the Tigers to a pair of Bowl Championship Series (BCS) appearances – including a 2014 Orange Bowl win over No. 7 Ohio State.

The only real blemish on Swinney’s record?  Five straight losses against head coach Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks, Clemson’s in-state arch-rival.

If Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley wants Swinney, though, it’s going to cost him …

Swinney signed an eight-year, $21.1 million deal with Clemson in January raising his base salary from $2.2 to $3.1 million a year (with guaranteed annual raises moving forward).  Not only that, the contract included a $5 million buyout clause – meaning Swinney would have to pay Clemson that tidy sum in the event he took another job during the first three years of his new deal.

Is Florida really going to shell out that kind of cash for Swinney?

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly would probably be Foley’s top choice for the job – but he’s encountering tremendous success in the NFL. The 49-year-old former Oregon head coach is also in the second year of a five-year contract paying him $32.5 million.

Other candidates reportedly being eyed for the Florida job? Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez, Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen (a former Florida offensive coordinator), Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze (another outstanding young recruiter), Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin and Arizona State’s Todd Graham.

In addition to these head coaches, Clemson’s Morris, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman and Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost are also going to be highly sought after during the offseason.

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Pic: Travis Bell Photography

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46 comments

Frank Howard November 17, 2014 at 8:33 am

LOL.

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Hell No November 17, 2014 at 8:45 am

Clemson has had some success in spite of that clown, not because of him. He wised up and hired great assistants. He’s a terrible coach himself.

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Frank Howard November 17, 2014 at 9:10 am

Should he have hired sorry assistants? Would that make him a better coach in your mind?

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Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 11:02 am

You mean like USCe? Does Dabo have any kids that need jobs and nobody but dear ol’ dad will hire them?

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carls jr November 17, 2014 at 12:06 pm

Is Bob Stoops Steve Spurrier Jr.’s father? Wasn’t Jr. the receivers coach for OKU’s undefeated national championship team? We know thinking is not your strong point, but get over your obsession with the Spurrier family. We realize you are an loyal Pickens Tech fan, but know this: Dabo’s name will NEVER, EVER, be discussed in a coaching conversation when it involves Spurrier, unless it as about losing to THE USC…again. Spurrier is a legend. Dabo is a circus clown. You got that, BillyBob?

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Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 12:13 pm

If he’s such a talented coach, why is he here having to work under his dad? Even Skip went out on his own after a couple years. Then let’s talk about little Scotty, the Athletic Department created a new position for him, because he’s about as smart as he is athletic.

you sucked at ball November 17, 2014 at 12:23 pm

But he was still better than you in both accounts.

Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 1:47 pm

So what you’re saying is he’s better at a job that I’ve never tried to do.

you sucked at ball November 17, 2014 at 2:05 pm

no just saying you aren’t as smart or athletic as “little Scotty”

Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 2:46 pm

Now that hurts, or since we’re talking about Scotty a “low blow”.

“Rudy, Rudy, Rudy…”

you sucked at ball November 18, 2014 at 7:18 am

at least Rudy got his chance to play in Division 1. You had to play junior college, and dream of the days you might get to the next level.

Cootlogic November 17, 2014 at 9:36 am

I disagree. Dabo is a great recruiter for players and coaches. You must have forgot he found Chad Morris at Tulsa and brought Venables out of Oklahoma. He sure is a hell of alot better better than Tommy Bowden, Tommy West and Ken Hatfield. And if Dabo is so bad in your mind, who should Clemson have hired instead?

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E Norma Scok November 17, 2014 at 11:28 am

Mike F’ing Ditka, thats who.

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GaryJR November 17, 2014 at 10:21 am

Reminds me of Maryland basketball until Lefty Driesell got there decades ago. They were nothing and now a top basketball school every year. You should be grateful for Swinney.

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slim shady November 17, 2014 at 8:51 am

You can never win with a coach named Dabo.

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Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 11:02 am

Don’t know, Florida did pretty well with a guy named Urban.

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Florida booster November 17, 2014 at 9:25 am

Swinney’s success is laudable but is mostly the result of Morris’ efforts. Therefore the relatively inexpensive solution would be to hire Morris. However, Florida is going to insist on having a proven head coach this go ’round. Dabo stays put for #7.

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Gale W November 17, 2014 at 9:26 am

Sikh priest gives his sword to Nikki Haley’s husband, stirs row – The Times of India on Mobile
http://m.timesofindia.com/nri/us-canada-news/Sikh-priest-gives-his-sword-to-Nikki-Haleys-husband-stirs-row/articleshow/45163269.cms

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Earl November 17, 2014 at 9:27 am

So proud of the voters in this state…..idiots

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Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 12:17 pm

So you’re saying they should have voted Sheheen and Sellers into office?

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CorruptionInColumbia November 17, 2014 at 9:32 am

Four out of five of the most recent headline stories are sports stuff. Is Will going to change this site from “Fits News” to “Fits Sports”?

Reply
E Norma Scok November 17, 2014 at 11:27 am

Its a hell of a lot more interesting than the the Daily Nikki and T-Rav times.

Reply
Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 12:18 pm

Or the Fashion and Restaurant Review Gazette.

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Squishy is a bore November 17, 2014 at 12:30 pm

Liz has brought a new dimension to this site. You’re just pissed because you can’t bully her away. She’s far more entertaining that your dull comments and complaints.

Reply
Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 1:48 pm

It’s much easier when you use the same name to post instead of switching, but your writing style stays the same so it’s not like we don’t know who you are.

Squishy is my bitch November 18, 2014 at 3:57 pm

Im pretty sure you thought that was me, but nope. IP address would prove that. You’re still my bitch.

Cootlogic November 17, 2014 at 9:33 am

This is some serious college football click bait, Dabo is staying in Clemson. Of the names listed in this article the most likely is Tom Herman or Todd Graham. However I would be surprised if current UGA defensive coordinator, former Alabama and Florida State Defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt, is not on the short list.

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E Norma Scok November 17, 2014 at 11:27 am

Or Spurrier.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein November 17, 2014 at 12:04 pm

Or Spurrier.

This [upcoming] cold weather has got to be Hell on the HBC’s bones.

Florida.
Sunny warm Florida.
Golf courses.

If the “Fun & Gun” no longer works , the HBC can introduce the “Sun & Run” @ UF and the “Son and Run” at Sakerlina……

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E Norma Scok November 17, 2014 at 2:35 pm

I see what you did there

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carls jr November 17, 2014 at 12:09 pm

You can only hope. If so, at least #6 will be in the bag before he leaves. Then it will be next man up for 7th Heaven. But don’t count on him leaving.

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Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 12:21 pm

If Spurrier went back to Florida, ER’s across the state would be put on standby for the influx of stroke victims coming in.

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I know you November 17, 2014 at 12:33 pm

You hate to see people have fun and enjoy life. Slither back to your swamp tin can and bang on that pipe some more.

Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 1:47 pm

You kids get off my lawn!!!

TontoBubbaGoldstein November 17, 2014 at 9:43 am

The last time a Clemson coach bolted for Florida, Clemson wound up with…

*Heavenly chime*

…Danny Ford.

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E Norma Scok November 17, 2014 at 11:25 am

This guy knows his history.

Maybe we CAN repeat it.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein November 19, 2014 at 6:54 am

tl/dr

Has nothing to do with the narrative that TBG is pushing.

Hater.

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G.O.B. November 17, 2014 at 10:16 am

Wonderful. Spurrier can still beat that ass year in and year out!

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E Norma Scok November 17, 2014 at 11:24 am

Funny..I heard Spurrier back to Florida for a year or two then retire.

Gotta love rumors.

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Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 12:20 pm

What would that do to the Spurrier worshipers in this state? Dale Earnhardt Jr. going from the 8 to the 88 was enough to kill some in this state.

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Squishy123 November 17, 2014 at 12:22 pm

I wonder if he’d take Whammy with him?

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Joe November 17, 2014 at 12:40 pm

https://www.maxcdn.com/

You’re welcome. This site performs terribly.

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GrandTango November 17, 2014 at 1:54 pm

Unless this is a joke…this may be FITS at his most ignorant, and worst. And that’s saying a lot. But the funny thing, the liberal Dumb@$$#$ who hang on this idiot’s every word, will not even know it. LMAO…
I guess Jonathan Gruber was right about a certain segment (FITS-level) of American.

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uh oh November 17, 2014 at 9:56 pm

Check yo facts dude. Swinney is from Pelham, Alabama.

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Barnee Baxter November 18, 2014 at 4:04 am

Sounds very familiar to Chad Morris to Ohio State as OC. When asked last year about it, Urban Meyer denied a job offer, much less OC job, was even discussed.

Looks like Clemson “spin machine” is in high drive on this one.

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