CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Swinney Reaches Out to Danny Ford
Danny Ford was just 30 years old when he took over the Clemson program.

Swinney Reaches Out to Danny Ford


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON -- The similarities between Clemson interim head coach Dabo Swinney and former head coach Danny Ford are numerous, so it’s no surprise that Swinney recently reached out to Ford in an attempt to better understand the situation he finds himself in.

Ford has not coached a football game at Clemson since 1989, but many Clemson fans hold the former head coach in such high esteem that every coaching vacancy, real or wished-for, includes the mention of Ford’s name as the replacement, and Swinney’s speaking with Ford shows he understands the relationship Ford still has with the university.

“I have spoken with coach Ford, and that’s (what they spoke about) something that I would definitely keep between me and coach Ford,” Swinney said on Wednesday. “I have a lot of respect for him, and we come from the same background, know a lot of the same people.

“If you’ve got a guy like that, that has been in the same situation I am, you use him. He understands Clemson and the people and the dynamic, and he lives right down the road, so it was pretty much a no-brainer for me to speak with him.”

Ford took over for Charley Pell, who left Clemson to become the head coach at Florida, with one game left in the 1978 season, coaching the Tigers to a 17-15 Gator Bowl win over Ohio State, while Swinney has been given the remaining games of the 2008 season to audition for the role as head coach beyond this year.

Ford was just 30 years old when he took over at while Swinney is just 38 years old, and both were born in Alabama, attended the University of Alabama, and played varsity football there (all three things also happen to be held in common with legendary Clemson coach Frank Howard).

“I just wanted to get his input and kick things around a little bit,” Swinney said. “We talked about different things, and it was a good meeting for me. I got a lot out of it. I know I feel comfortable speaking with him. He is an insightful, colorful man, and I enjoyed my visit with coach Ford.”

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Subject (Replies: 32) Author
spacer Swinney Reaches Out to Danny Ford
B-Meist®
spacer danny ford is A MAN!!!!***
jward81
spacer signed Woody Hayes***
dwb222
spacer HE IS 40 YEARS OLD ! ! ! !***
kktigers
spacer you got that right! DF is the man!!
deleted
spacer That shows me right there......
1983Grad
spacer TB would have pissed himself if Danny looked at him***
DeathValley1981
spacer that is funny as hail!***
jward81
spacer Little do you know. Danny has been to practice a number of
tigerpreacherman
spacer to spit backer at him.***
jward81
spacer Re: Little do you know. Danny has been to practice a number of
jrford
spacer You sir, are a moran!***
attheesso®
spacer Re: You sir, are a moran!***
deroberts
spacer moran????? is that similiar to a moron?????***
tigerjim®
spacer that does not show me he's ready for a big job
Tigerfansince1972®
spacer Yah he shoulda went to see Saban.***
NightTrain
spacer It doesn't show that he is NOT ready either
Watcher®
spacer How the hell can you say that? TB not only talked to the man
colberttiger®
spacer Dabo is doing what Dabo does. He's pushing all the...
tillman923
spacer Man.......wouldn't be a poetic ending for Dabo to succeed!!!
TS_Tiger
spacer TB reached out toe Saban***
deleted
spacer Ouch!!***
Watcher®
spacer man. i hope dabo turns out to be the next Danny
championsof81
spacer Re: Swinney Reaches Out to Danny Ford
u1721982
spacer Billy Mays. Bwahahaha.
Twon2012
spacer Billy Mays...Isn't he the infomercial guy? Oxyclean?***
saiken79®
spacer enough with the freakin billy mays. its stupid***
chrisCUfan
spacer Re: Swinney Reaches Out to Danny Ford
rheddy
spacer Re: Swinney Reaches Out to Danny Ford
JamesP
spacer Dabo came back with silver hair and two stone tablets.***
Razzmatazz
spacer That's a gas! Point for the Moses referance!***
MoJoPaw
spacer Re: Dabo came back with silver hair and two stone tablets.***
Calhoun St
spacer I'm not sure Dannt Ford would have taken a call from Tommy B
IRONCOCK