Will Dabo Swinney depart Clemson for Alabama?
The sports world changed dramatically on Wednesday when Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, putting a kink in the future of college football coaching. His resignation instantly sparked conjecture that Dabo Swinney might leave Clemson to return to his alma mater to fill Saban’s vacancy.
Swinney, who played football at Alabama from 1990 to 1992 and coached there from 1993 to 2000, has the second-best odds to become Alabama’s next head coach, trailing only Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, as of Wednesday evening, according to SportsBetting. Lanning, on the other hand, indicated Thursday morning that he will remain in Oregon rather than travel to Alabama.
While Swinney has been at Clemson since 2003 and recently completed his 15th full season as head coach, the Alabama position is one of, if not the finest, in the country and has not been open since Saban took over the programme in 2007.
Swinney’s contract with Clemson, which extends through 2031, has a “Alabama Clause” that requires him to pay Clemson $7.5 million if he accepts the Alabama position this year. If Swinney moved for another coaching position, his buyout would be merely $5 million.
In 2017, after he guided Clemson to its first national title since 1981, Swinney was asked about maybe leaving Clemson for the Alabama position on the Herbstreit and Fitzsimmons podcast and had nothing but positive things to say.
“I’m humbled by that and certainly appreciate that anybody would even think that way, that they would want me to be a candidate for a job like Alabama,” said Swinney. “I always say, ‘You never say never,’ because you never know what the dynamics will be. Ten years from now, Alabama may call and ask me to come to Alabama, and the Clemson community may despise me at that point. I do not know.”
“I always smile,” Swinney explained. “I get it. This is the kind of world we live in. I live in the here and now. I stay focused on where I am. I’m very satisfied here at Clemson. I enjoy where I am. This marks my 16th year at Clemson. It’s not like I haven’t established roots here.”
Clemson University President Jim Clements visited the South Carolina State House in Columbia on Thursday and spoke briefly with The State about the open post in Alabama. Clements was asked if he was concerned about Swinney leaving for Alabama, and he did not provide a firm answer.
“Love Dabo Swinney,” Clements remarked. “Dabo has done an excellent job.” Dabo loves Clemson. Clemson adores Dabo. Dabo is our guy. Dabo has done an excellent job. He’s an exceptional leader who has established an excellent programme with a strong culture and delivered national titles. “Dabo is our guy.”
According to another 247Sports story, when Saban met with the Alabama team on Wednesday, players were assured that they will have a new head coach within 72 hours.
In a statement Wednesday, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne cautioned against believing rumours before an official announcement.
“As with any coaching search, our goal is to be thorough, but expedient,” Byrne stated. “Our ideal candidate will excel in recruiting and connection building, player development, Xs and Os, and overall leadership of this historic programme. There will be a lot of rumours spread during this procedure. The next time I speak publicly will be to reveal our new coach. Do not believe anything unless you hear it from me. “Roll, Tide!”
A few Alabama supporters appeared to have no interest in Swinney as their next head coach, as they congregated in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium Wednesday night, screaming “Anyone but Dabo.”
Only time will tell who the next Alabama football coach will be, but whoever he is, he will have big shoes to fill. Saban concluded his coaching career with seven national championships, six of them at Alabama, and a 206-29 record as the Tide’s head coach.
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