CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Swinney on Deon Cain:
Swinney says Cain has done everything asked of him

Swinney on Deon Cain: "he ain't back yet"


by - Staff Writer -

SUNSET, SC – Deon Cain is well on his way to rejoining the Clemson football team, but “he ain’t back yet.”

The sophomore wide receiver was suspended last December for Clemson’s College Football Playoff Game against Oklahoma and for the National Championship Game against Alabama after violating team rules.

In addition to the suspension, Cain missed all of spring practice and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney laid out certain criteria the Tampa (FL) receiver had to meet before being able to return to the team.

Swinney met with the media Tuesday evening at The Reserve at Lake Keowee for his annual media golf outing and told the media that to this point Cain has completed all of his requirements, but he still has two more weeks to go.

“Obviously, I was very disappointed with Deon back during the playoff and all of that. We could've played him,” Swinney said of the decision to suspend Cain. “I didn't have to sit him, but I felt like he's a guy that didn't really understand or appreciate his opportunity. I don't think he really understood the magnitude of the bad decision that he made and how that affects lots of things. All you can do is respond a certain way. He's done a nice job. I kind of laid out a lot of things that were going to be required of him throughout the spring and so far he's done a good job, but he's still got two weeks to go. That's what I tell him all of the time. He ain't back yet, but hopefully, he'll continue to make the right decisions.”

Even though Cain should be cleared to make his return, Swinney said he still had a long way to go to earn back the trust of his coaches and teammates.

“He's a guy that's got to earn some trust back. He doesn't have any money in the bank,” Swinney said. “He's got to make some deposits and you do that through consistency and being committed. It's been a quiet summer from that standpoint. He's done what he needs to do in the weight room. I anticipate that he'll be good to go and hopefully he has learned and grown from this overall experience.”

As a freshman, Cain had 34 receptions for 582 yards and three touchdowns and led the team in yards per reception.

Swinney said he doesn’t doubt that Cain can be successful on the gridiron, but he wants to see him be successful in every aspect of life.

“As I said back in the spring, football is the least of my concerns with Deon. He's a very gifted football player, but I want him to be more than a good football player,” he said. “I want him to be a great man. I want him to be a great citizen, great husband, great father one day. I want him to appreciate the gift that God has given him and not throw it away. We've got enough examples of that. All you can do is try to pave a good path for him, but he's got to go do it. I'm hopeful that he's grown up and he's learned and we don't have any more issues from him and that he'll go on to do great things here. If he's here, he's going to do great things, but he's got to continue to stay on the right path.”

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Subject (Replies: 42) Author
spacer New Story: Swinney on Deon Cain: "he ain't back yet"
TigerNet News®
spacer Hang tough coach.
ClemsonTiger1988®
spacer Re: Hang tough coach.
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Has a chance to be a Tiger Legend - just sittin there.***
terrier2®
spacer He could've been the piece in the puzzle
lfatboy
spacer Re: He could've been the piece in the puzzle
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Re: He could've been the piece in the puzzle
lhaselden
spacer Cain was simply being a selfish young man...
cut75
spacer Re: Cain was simply being a selfish young man...
CLEMPZENtygurs
spacer Disagree. We didn't lose because of offense. It was D & ST***
CUEngGrad93
spacer Deon Cain: just WHAT did he do?
Uncle Bill®
spacer Re: Deon Cain: just WHAT did he do?
ChucktownTigertown
spacer Re: Deon Cain: just WHAT did he do?
Uncle Bill®
spacer Re: Deon Cain: just WHAT did he do?
ChucktownTigertown
spacer Re: Deon Cain: just WHAT did he do?
lhaselden
spacer Re: Deon Cain: just WHAT did he do?
89ChemEAlum
spacer Re: Deon Cain: just WHAT did he do?
ranroe
spacer Take notes malzahn...***
Dtae1017
spacer You mean Saban?***
PenthouseTiger
spacer this is why dabo is the man!
lowspark84
spacer And this is why you want your son playing for Dabo
tigerfan28173
spacer Re: And this is why you want your son playing for Dabo
TennesseeLadyTiger
spacer Re: Nothing I'm going to say, I haven't said before.....
TS_Tiger
spacer Am curious though is he just saying ita
lovingit®
spacer Re: Am curious though is he just saying ita
lhaselden
spacer Re: New Story: Swinney on Deon Cain: "he ain't back yet"
jbwhiteside84
spacer Weed is not legal in any state***
GeeVille Tiger®
spacer ???
Mighty Zep®
spacer The federal government has not legalized weed .
GeeVille Tiger®
spacer Re: The federal government has not legalized weed .
lhaselden
spacer That is called doing it the right way.
TigerzzRoar®
spacer Re: New Story: Swinney on Deon Cain: "he ain't back yet"
CLEMPZENtygurs
spacer What did Dabo mean by we could have played him? I thought
CM Shack®
spacer Re: What did Dabo mean by we could have played him? I thought
David78®
spacer Didn't Beer Bryant swear that wasn't the case?***
CM Shack®
spacer Re: What did Dabo mean by we could have played him? I thought
tigerinaiken®
spacer It was an NCAA drug test, all teams competing for a NCAA
CM Shack®
spacer Re: New Story: Swinney on Deon Cain: "he ain't back yet"
Danimal
spacer Re: New Story: Swinney on Deon Cain: "he ain't back yet"
lhaselden
spacer This is what it's all about
tdterry2
spacer MAN!!!! He must'be effed up big to hear "he ain't back yet"......
GSCtiger®
spacer Re: MAN!!!! He must'be effed up big to hear "he ain't back yet"......
tigerinaiken®
spacer Dabo does such an excellent job of talking to the media
Completely Solid Orange