Swinney: "I had several opportunities to leave Clemson" |
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spoke to the media on Monday morning to preview the upcoming 2016 Playstation Fiesta Bowl between Clemson and Ohio State.
Swinney was asked about him having stability during his coaching profession being only at Alabama and Clemson. "I appreciate the heck out of that," Swinney said. "I've been blessed just to spend 13 years in Tuscaloosa- five years as a player and eight as a coach and this is my fourteenth year at Clemson - 27 years of college football. To only have been at two places is incredible. It's just been a blessing because I have been fortunate to have been around a lot of good people. Swinney said that he learned from several great coaches at Alabama and Clemson. "At Alabama to play under Homer Smith and Mal Moore and then to be Homer's GA and Mal's GA. Then to work full time with guys like Woody McCorvey, Bruce Arians and it just goes on and on," Swinney said. "And then come to Clemson and to be exposed a whole different mindset and philosophies and things like that. I've been around a lot of good people. It's been great because I didn't have to move around to get that." Swinney shared that he has had opportunities to leave Clemson but knows it is a special place. "I didn't have to stay here," Swinney said. "I had several opportunities to leave Clemson. A bunch. It's not something that I run out there and publicize but I've had a bunch of opportunities to leave Clemson. I had opportunities to leave Alabama when I was there, but I like my job. I like where I am at. I learned that a long time ago. Grass isn't always greener. I've always tried to just bloom where I am planted and I have always been close to my guys. If I had left Clemson I'm probably not sitting here."
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