Tuesday December 09, 2008

Dabo or Coach Swinney?

Dabo or Coach Swinney?
Yesterday was a serious one that was filled with two funerals for two incredible people. I was a pallbearer for Mrs. Beth Blackman. Mrs. Blackman is the mother of two great Clemson friends, Sam and Karen Blackman. After a touching service, I was off to the funeral of Dr. Robert Cook Edwards. As I mentioned last week, no one since the 19th century meant more to Clemson.

After a long day of such serious, real world issues, I wanted to make it light with today’s blog.

Yesterday at Dr. Edwards’ funeral, one of the pastors mentioned the ways we referred to Dr. Edwards. He personally called him Dr. Bob. I always used Dr. Edwards. Some called him R.C. I don’t remember anyone calling him President Edwards like we do today with President Barker.

I had a call the other day on my radio show and the caller asked a question about Dabo. Then he followed it up with another about Dabo’s staff and then the direction of the program under Dabo. After the show I realized that Dabo was different and even the way we referred to him was different.

Think about it. What percentage of the time do we all refer to Dabo as “Dabo”? How often do we all use the phrase, “Coach Swinney”? How about “Dabo Swinney”?

It is a light-hearted subject but again I think we have had enough heavy for a while.

Sometimes I hear Clemson people refer to Jack Leggett as “Jack” but mostly I hear “Coach Leggett.”

It is rare to hear anyone call Coach Purnell, “Oliver.” OP is acceptable but hardly ever do you hear anyone refer to him as Oliver.

Going back and trying to remember past Clemson coaches might not be fair because I was younger and times were different but here is how I remember Clemson coaches referred a majority of time:

Frank Howard-This one is easy. Almost every time he is mentioned now or when he was still alive it was “Coach Howard.” Former players and fans seem to never use “Frank” or “Howard” or even “Frank Howard”. I would guess that 95% percent of the time I have heard him referred it was “Coach Howard.”

Hootie Ingram-This is like Dabo. I would guess because of the nickname. Usually I hear “Hootie” when he is referenced.

Charlie Pell-Almost never have I heard anyone refer to him then or now as “Charlie.” It is somewhat rare to hear “Pell.” Maybe it was just me but I seem to remember most using the phrase “Coach Pell.”

Danny Ford-This one is a little different too. He was so young when he got the job that I think many called him “Danny.” His players still refer to him as “Coach Ford.” I also hear “Danny Ford” a lot but you don’t have to use those around here. I would say like Dabo, all you need here is just “Danny.”

Ken Hatfield-It probably is not fair to say what most Clemson people called him during and after his time here.

Tommy West-When he was here some called him “Tommy” but since we have had another Tommy since, now I say most say “Tommy West” and not “Coach West.”

Tommy Bowden-I have heard all four-Tommy, Tommy Bowden, Bowden and Coach Bowden mentioned many times. I still think of Bobby Bowden when I hear “Coach Bowden.”

Dabo Swinney-I have never heard anyone refer to him as “Swinney.” I never hear “Coach Dabo.” I do hear some say “Coach Swinney” but at this point a plain “Dabo” seems to do the trick.

At some point that might change. Maybe at some point we will all start using “Coach Swinney.” My guess is that years from now he will still be “Dabo” the same way Danny is still “Danny” to many.

My personal preferences are: Coach Howard, Hootie, Coach Pell, Coach Ford, Ken Hatfield, Tommy West, Tommy Bowden, Dabo, Coach Purnell, Larry Shyatt, Rick Barnes, Cliff Ellis, Jack and Coach Wilhelm.

It seems to me that Clemson has some success with one-name athletes and coaches. Dabo and Danny have a nice one name deal on the coaching front but players had it as well. It worked for Banks, Homer and Rodney. Nicknames worked for the “Ricochet Rabbit”, “The Fridge” and “The Judge”. Current initials work with OP, JD, and TDP.

Looking back on it, I guess we should be glad that Dabo’s older brother called him “Dat Boy.” Dabo seems to have a much better ring than Coach Chris Swinney or Will Swinney. “Go Dabo Go” and “Yabba Dabo Do” sound better than Willie Swinney.

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