Swinney details being kicked out of Augusta National |
Dabo Swinney is one of the most high-profile coaches in college football as he prepares for the upcoming 2016 Clemson season.
However, his fame was not always in such high regard as Swinney recalls being booted from the Augusta National grounds back in May of 1996. "Back then you didn’t have GPS devices or anything like that,” Swinney said via the Augusta Chronicle. "So I’m driving around Augusta and all-the-sudden I look over and, boom, there’s Augusta National. I couldn’t believe it – I literally just stumbled across it. So I called my brother and said, ‘You won’t believe this, but I’m looking at Augusta National!" Swinney decided to check out the famous property and headed towards the iconic clubhouse. "This is how naive I was," said Swinney. "I decide to go check the place out. In my mind, I knew I couldn’t play, but I was going in to take some pictures. So I’m cruising down Magnolia Lane, and then I look in my rearview mirror. "So I stop, and he says, ‘What in the world are you doing?’ I say, ‘I’m just coming to take a few pictures.’ He said, ‘No, no, no, I don’t think so." Swinney has been invited to play Augusta National almost every year since he has become the Tigers coach back in 2009. "I pulled up to that very same guard gate (in 2009), and the man said, ‘Hey there, come on in’" Swinney said. "I thought, Boy, I’ve come a long way since being chased out of here."
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now