I think that we are one curb stomping

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Idk, they always have womens basketball to fall back upon...

Nov 17, 2017, 11:35 AM

The 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports: Dawn Staley, Dabo Swinney top list...

By Gene Sapakoff gsapakoff@postandcourier.com Jun 24, 2017 (14)

National champions, famous entertainers, star athletes.

Movers.

Shakers.

Choosing and ranking the 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports isn’t easy any year, certainly not one in which fresh national title signs have gone up as interstate welcome mats.

Criteria: Impact and influence, now and beyond. Candidates must also spend most of the year in South Carolina, thus disqualifying for these purposes Jadeveon Clowney, Matt Wieters, Khris Middleton and the many prominent professional athletes with Palmetto State ties.

Judges: Post and Courier staff, after lots of consultation.

Last four out: Clemson head basketball coach Brad Brownell, College of Charleston head basketball coach Earl Grant, foundation director and high school football coach Marcus Lattimore and NCAA basketball referee Teddy Valentine.

The top 25:

1. Dawn Staley

Head coach of the national champion South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team, and that counts plenty. But Staley’s reach is global; she will coach Team USA in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. At 47, she eventually is a possible heir to Geno Auriemma’s role as unofficial women’s basketball spokesperson. And Staley’s graceful handling of Confederate flag issues transcends basketball in this state and nationally.

2. Dabo Swinney

There are only three other active major college football coaches with national championships and Swinney trumped that trio – Jimbo Fisher, Urban Meyer and Nick Saban – on the way to Clemson’s College Football Playoff crown won in January. Few people doubt more ultimate glory is in store for a 47-year-old coach. He also shares Staley’s ability to articulate on social issues.