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Clemson Football

Dabo Swinney is '100 percent for ways to modernize' NCAA's collegiate model

October 30, 2019
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Media members and television cameras were on site as Clemson finished up a rainy Wednesday evening practice.

All were on hand to hear head coach Dabo Swinney’s response to the NCAA’s announcement that student-athletes will be able to benefit from the usage of their name, image, and likeness by January 2021.

“I saw the release like everybody else and I didn’t know anything about it until after practice last night,” Swinney said. “Kind of like what I said a couple of weeks ago, hopeful that something positive can come from it. It’s really created great conversation and it gets a group of smart people together to figure out what they need to do to address it, but keep it in the collegiate model. The value of education, all those things… I think it’s a good step. 

“Sounds like we’re serious about trying to get the right people in the room to figure out the parameters and best case to move forward.”

As the news broke, many college football fans took to the internet and found an old quote from Swinney talking to ESPN’s David Hale, saying the two-time national championship head coach “may go to the pros” if college athletics are professionalized.

But Swinney made it clear last night that he is in favor of enhancing the collegiate model. More importantly, he’s not going anywhere.

Swinney’s full response:

“I’ve always said that I am against the professionalization of college athletics and the devaluing of education. That’s what I’ve always said. If we professionalize college, might as well coach the pros. I’m always for the value of education and a collegiate experience. Always have been and nothing has changed. But I’ve always said that I am 100 percent for ways to modernize the collegiate model. Modernize the scholarship.

“Love the fact that we’ve got a stipend. Somebody said one time that I was against a stipend. I’ve never been against a stipend. I think the stipend should’ve been more, as a matter of fact. I’m for all of those things. Like I said, I think it’s a positive that there’s going to be some conversation, but I’m for the collegiate model. I’m 100 percent for the collegiate model and the value of education. That’s never going to change for me. 

“Our country needs that and these kids need that, for sure. I think there is a way to make it all work in a really positive way. Nobody really asked my opinion, but if they ever did, I’d be happy to share it with them. I think there’s lots of ways that you could capitalize and make it better for everyone - keep it equitable in the collegiate model. It’s a very complicated thing, but that’s why you got some smart people that are getting together. I don’t see anything negative about it at all. As it sits right now with no parameters, it’s not good in my opinion. There’s going to be some great discussion and great things that I think will come out of it that will be awesome for the student-athlete. We’ll see what happens. It’s awesome.”

Swinney again reiterated that he wants this type of modernization to tie into graduation of collegiate athletes. He wishes there would be a fund collected, that way when a student-athlete graduate they can collect some sort of payment.

“Again, the emphasis has to be on education,” Swinney continued. “I think that’s a foundation of our country. And I just think if you devalue that, then it’s a mistake. 

“I do think that whatever people come up with, there’s got to be some type of parameters. The thing that I’ve always said is that I’ve wished there was a fund or whatever to where when you graduate then you have an opportunity to get something. What that something it, who knows? Smarter people could figure out what that is. 

“But I just think it’s going to be good. I really do. I think it’s going to be a positive … It’s already great. People that don’t say it’s great, they don’t really understand the changes that have happened over the last five years, nonetheless the last 20 years. It could still be a lot better. There are still so many things that I think could be a lot better. From travel to things for parents to obviously an increase in stipend. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out over the next year or so. When it’s all said and done, I think the collegiate model will be preserved and the student-athlete experience will be enhanced, which will be great.”

The Tigers host in-state opponent Wofford on Saturday at 4 p.m.

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Dabo Swinney is '100 percent for ways to modernize' NCAA's collegiate model

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