The Dabo Swinney Fallout
By: Zachary Wagner
On Tuesday afternoon, Georgia four-star cornerback Jordan Hancock announced his decommitment from the Clemson Tigers Football Program. Hancock, who is rated the sixth best corner in the class of 202, did not give a reason for the decommitment. Many college football and Clemson Tigers fans are now speculating if the video from a 2016 Dabo Swinney press conference may be the reason that Hancock is now predicted to flip to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The said video from Swinney’s press conference is from 2016 during the fallout from the Colin Kaepernick kneeling situation.
Many fans have taken to twitter to express their feelings on the statement made by Swinney.
Hancock becomes the second decommitment from the class of 2021, following Korey Foreman, who announced he was decommitting from the Tigers on April 21st. There have been speculations and rumors flying around the “twitterverse” that Hancocks North Gwinnett teammate and four-star outside linebacker, Barret Carter, could be the next decommitment from the Tigers. Nothing has been announced from Carter or his team as of now though.
Swinney has been in the national spotlight as of late during these times of civil unrest, following a report from former Clemson player D.J. Greenlee that an assistant coach used a racial slur during a practice in 2017. Swinney released a statement on June 8 speaking on the incident and the death of George Floyd.
Swinney was also seen at the Tigers Black Lives Matter rally on June 13th, supporting his players as they marched for change.
Many national media personalities like Shannon Sharp have also attacked Swinney over the last month, stating that Swinney is a “racist” and that African American parents should not send their children to play for someone that has his views. During the Tigers BLM rally, six cars drove downtown Clemson with Confederate flags flying behind their cars, and many blamed that on Coach Swinney.
To that, Clemson fans were baffled. Swinney has led and changed countless players and molded them into great young men, on and off the field.
The video that is getting a lot of attention on Twitter the last couple of days, is taken out of context and is a 45 second clip from a 45 minute press conference. In today’s day and age, the word: racist is thrown around very loosely. If there is one thing Coach Dabo Swinney is not, it is a racist.
Stay tuned to Clemson Sports News for more on this story in the coming week.
Responses
What he says is true it is unbelievable how much progress has been made since the 1960’s. Carpe diem. Just like women minorities made gains with perseverance, hard work, going against the grain. A no one can stop me but me attitude. That is too much effort for a lot of people. They are the whiners, the “Toddler” generation. When did we start honoring this kind of nonsence.
I Believe Coach Swinney is an upright standard man who loves his players. Some things you just can’t fake. If you believe in God which I do then you would know that no matter what God will take care of His people. Coach I’m Trusting and Believing that you will be better than Ever which means Everyone around you will as well. God Bless you and the Entire Clemson Family!!
DABO Swinney shows his love for God and these young men in many ways, mostly, he lives what he says. Racist? NEVER!!!!! Those who decommited will find the truth in his words one day. It is their loss to attend another school.
Word to the wise…. stop apologizing. Coach didn’t say anything wrong so stop acting like you did….. Blacks have made a lot of progress… it’s hard for any white man to relay that story to our community even if what you say is true. It may cost you right now why people seek to bring you down. Continue to do the same things you’ve been doing… Treat people well and do good works for all communities. Sometimes we are persecuted for things that we didn’t do.
The people wo think he is a racist are the same ones who think the Confederate Flag and monuments and statues are racist.
If players are that easily changing their mind, better now than later and I hope they are happy wherever they go . Dabo is not racist in any way shape or form, all players are treater the same according to their actions not their skin color . All in for Clemson and Dabo !
Why do the reporters not talk to former players like Easton, Wilkes, and Hopkins etc. they will tell all these players what a great person Dabo is.