Dabo sends message to Clemson fans and SC residents amid coronavirus outbreak
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney released a video Wednesday afternoon that covered a variety of topics, including his message to Tigers fans and South Carolina residents during this time of uncertainty.
The comments were Swinney’s first since Clemson’s program split up for spring break nearly two weeks ago. Staff members and players were unable to return as Clemson’s campus was shut down, and all classes will remain online through the end of the semester.
Swinney encouraged Clemson fans and South Carolina residents to take the coronavirus seriously and do what they can to keep it from continuing to spread.
“Stay clean, wash your hands a lot. Be very mindful of where you are. Hopefully you’re home safe. But if you are out stay out of groups and try to stay away from sick people and those types of things,” Swinney said. “And if you are sick, stay home for sure and we can kick this thing in the tail and get back to our lives here at some point.”
Swinney added that he is “very hopeful” football will be played this fall but also made it clear that there are other things going on in the country that are more important right now.
“Football will take care of itself. Our team’s in a good place,” Swinney said. “We all are missing sports in general and all those things. And hopefully when we do get our lives back on track, hopefully we’ll have even more of an appreciation for the privilege we have of living in this country and all the information and knowledge and the great and wonderful doctors and nurses we have out there. It’s amazing what’s going on right now in our country and all these great people that are serving so many.”
Swinney made it clear that he is not a doctor or a medical expert, but he encouraged people around the state and the country to follow the directions of those who are.
He asked for everyone to “pray for our leadership, pray four our guidance, pray for all the medical people.” Swinney also searched for positives that could come from this tough situation.
“It’s a time we also all have an opportunity to grow. We have an opportunity to maybe reconnect in different areas of our lives. But also keep all these people in your thoughts and prayers that have been very negatively impacted. You think about the waiters and the waitresses and the supply chains and all these things. It’s just a domino effect. People losing jobs and so forth. So let’s just lift them up, keep our focus on the right things,” Swinney said. “God bless all of you. Hope to see everyone real soon. And hopeful we’ll all be back in the Valley celebrating this September another great game day. But until then stay safe, follow the protocols that have been put forth by a lot of smart people out there and let’s do our part. God bless and go Tigers.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 7:43 PM.
