CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Dabo says Steward's year not wasted

Dabo says Steward's year not wasted


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – One of the most coming questions I receive from people – in person and via email and via text – concerns Clemson linebacker Tony Steward Tony Steward
So. Linebacker
#7 6-1, 235
Hastings, FL

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and whether the Clemson coaches made a mistake by not red-shirting Steward this past season.

We got a chance to ask Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
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about Steward during his Friday wrap-up session with the media last week, and Swinney said that Steward needed to get on the field and get some snaps under his belt.

Steward is the former 5-star signee out of Pedro Menendez High School in Hastings, FL, who suffered a torn ACL during his senior season of high school, but still managed to work his way onto special teams in 2011. However, he tore the ACL in his other knee during a Tuesday practice, and because he played in five of the first seven games he was denied a medical redshirt. He had five tackles and a pass deflection in just 36 snaps for the Tigers.

Steward once again rehabbed his way into playing shape, but many thought that Clemson’s coaches would redshirt Steward in 2012 because of Clemson’s depth at linebacker and because he really hadn’t seen game action in almost a year.

Steward played 73 snaps from scrimmage during the fall, leading many to wonder if it was a wasted season for Steward, but Swinney said he didn’t think that Steward could really afford to sit out another season after missing parts of the last two seasons.

"This was really Tony's first year," Swinney said last week. “He didn’t really have a senior year, and then he comes in as a freshman and is trying to play his way into being ready, and then he's out. He just barely missed being able to redshirt. So he came into this year having not played a lot. This was a big year for him, because he was just happy to be back playing the game. It was a transition year for him, and he needed to be able to go out and do what he did."

Swinney then said that the play of senior linebacker Tig Willard – who plays at the same WILL spot as Steward – had a lot to do with Steward’s limited snaps.

"Tig Willard was hard to get off the field," Swinney said. "He's a fifth-year senior, and then Corico (Wright) was another guy who has been very productive for us - another senior. So Tony had to learn a little bit of patience."

Swinney said that Steward has practiced like he was going to start each week.

"The thing I love about Tony is that he took his situation and made the best of it," he said. "When you go into our meetings, Tony is asking questions, writing notes, and he's engaged. When we come in here for our team meetings, he's engaged and into it. Then he comes to practice and he works. He's on all our special teams, and he wanted to do all that. So I wasn't surprised at all that he ended up leading us in the special teams tackles."

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Subject (Replies: 42) Author
spacer Front Page Story: Dabo says Steward's year not wasted
TigerNet News®
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Dabo says Steward's year not wasted
lhaselden
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Dabo says Steward's year not wasted
dgcannon39
spacer Amazing control of the English language, bravo!***
Battery505
spacer I have employees ask me about some of my decisions
BentZero
spacer Thats right!
Prime T. Tiger
spacer Just remember that it's infinitely easier to criticize
BentZero
spacer Re: Thats right!
dgcannon39
spacer I'd hate to work for you***
PenthouseTiger
spacer Really? I'm quite reasonable.
BentZero
spacer Re: I'd hate to work for you***
dgcannon39
spacer Re: I have employees ask me about some of my decisions
Bryanttiger®
spacer Ha. You haven't heard the opinions
BentZero
spacer Re: I have employees ask me about some of my decisions
dgcannon39
spacer Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
AllTimeClemson
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
reneg1986
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
dgcannon39
spacer I'm sorry, but your football intellect is lacking.
WillPhil
spacer Exactly. Who knew who Mantai Te'o was until this year
ALL IN Tiger 888
spacer You don't watch much football if you didn't know who Te'o
CM Shack®
spacer Wow! Hadn't heard of Manti Te'o & still can't spell his name***
Razzmatazz
spacer Could not disagree more!
sbrooks®
spacer I'm sorry bud, but you can disagree as adamantly as you like
WillPhil
spacer Re: I'm sorry bud, but you can disagree as adamantly as you like
dgcannon39
spacer Re: Could not disagree more!
dgcannon39
spacer Agree. Not a smart decision.***
CharlestonTom®
spacer Re: Agree. Not a smart decision.***
deroberts
spacer Yeah uttles would love it if Dabo came out and said the
Bryanttiger®
spacer Re: Agree. Not a smart decision.***
dgcannon39
spacer You have no idea what you're talking about. Apparently you
WillPhil
spacer Re: You have no idea what you're talking about. Apparently you
dgcannon39
spacer This is hilarious!
WillPhil
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
footballmanager
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
dgcannon39
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
Litefoot
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
dgcannon39
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
Bryanttiger®
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
dgcannon39
spacer Re: Dabo's idea of a wasted year is different from mine
dgcannon39
spacer The guy definitely needed some live game experience. You
TigersAndCubs
spacer Like he would come out and say he squandered a year...***
CM Shack®
spacer Wasted yr. Illogical excuse. But maybe Dabo had good reason
Razzmatazz