CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Clemson coach Dabo Swinney kept getting calls and texts from friends and colleagues asking how he was doing the past two weeks.
Swinney and his championship football program underwent a shakeup unlike anything he had faced in 13-plus seasons as Tigers coach. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables left to become head coach at Oklahoma. Offensive leader Tony Elliott is now the Virginia head coach and athletic director Dan Radakovich left Clemson to take the same job at Miami.
All trusted confidants, all significant contributors to Clemson’s success the past decade.
“Trust me,” Swinney said. “We’re going to be just fine.”
That remains to be seen.