Swinney Comments on ACC trying to Move South Carolina Game

CLEMSON — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said he was asked by athletic director Graham Neff about the ACC’s request to move this year’s South Carolina game to “Black Friday.”

How did Swinney respond?

“I was against it for several reasons,” Swinney said Tuesday as he hosted his annual Media Outing at the Allen Reeves Football Complex. “I am happy to go do it in Columbia if that is what they want to do. I was against it here because I do not think it is what’s best for Clemson.”

In May, the ACC asked Clemson, through a request from ESPN , if they would be interested in moving the Palmetto State’s biggest game to the day after Thanksgiving. Clemson turned down that request. The league was not happy about Clemson’s decision and sent the Tigers a harsh response by email.

“Sometimes we just need to do what is best for Clemson,” Swinney said. “[Playing on Friday] is not what is best for this town. This is not what is best for this community. This is not a big city. People in this town make their hey off of Saturdays.

“I think our students, who are off, are able to come back here on Friday after Thanksgiving with their family and are able to be here and create the type of atmosphere we want. I have been here for 22 years and that is my perspective.”

Clemson will host rival South Carolina, one of the nation’s oldest rivalries in college football, on Nov. 30. Clemson and South Carolina have alternated home games every year since 1960, with the exception of 2020 when the game was canceled due to COVID.

“[Playing on Saturday] is what is best for our students. What is best for this town and what is best for our fans. It is also, what is best for recruiting. Now it is a big official visit weekend. We are trying to get recruits here, and asking them to leave their homes on Thanksgiving, that is hard to do. Some of them are playing on Friday.

“Those are my thoughts on it. That is my opinion.”