Dabo welcomes Notre Dame to full ACC status, says dropping USC game ‘kind of crazy’
Notre Dame will be a full-time football member in the Atlantic Coast Conference this year, and Dabo Swinney is all for it.
The Clemson coach discussed playing the Fighting Irish, among other topics, Thursday after the Tigers’ first official day of preseason practice.
“It is a win for everyone. Obviously, Notre Dame is an incredible program with a rich history and brand,” Swinney said. “For them to be all in is good for them and for our league. ... It is going to be an exciting and interesting season with new people on our schedule that we didn’t plan for and having to blow the schedule up.”
The Fighting Irish, who are members of the ACC in everything but football, were in a tough spot with Power Five conferences opting to play conference-only schedules because of the coronavirus.
Notre Dame’s schedule calls for them to play five or six ACC football games a season. The move for full-time football status, even though temporary, is a win for both Notre Dame and the conference. The two parities agreed to share TV revenue, which includes Notre Dame’s deal with NBC, among the 15 schools.
Clemson, a preseason No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, will travel to Notre Dame on Nov. 7 as the ACC released its new game schedule on Thursday morning. It is the marquee game for the conference this season and will be the Tigers’ first trip to Notre Dame since 1979.
The two teams are playing for the third time in the last six years. Clemson defeated the Irish 30-3 in the playoffs in 2018. There was speculation the two teams were going to open the 2020 season against each other with the revised schedule.
“I’m not disappointed,” Swinney said of not opening with Notre Dame. “I’m just thankful we got a schedule. My mentality is, spot the ball and we will play anyone.”
Clemson’s schedule is missing a non-conference opponent, which will be the Tigers’ home opener Sept. 19. Swinney said that foe will likely be The Citadel or Akron. Both teams were supposed to be on the Tigers’ original schedule this year.
No Clemson-South Carolina game
One contest gone from the schedule is Clemson’s annual rivalry game with South Carolina. The matchup won’t be played for the first time since 1910 with the Southeastern Conference playing 10 conference-only games this season. Clemson was going for its sixth straight win in the series.
Several leaders around the state, including South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, voiced their displeasure that the game couldn’t be played. A petition has been circulating on the internet to try and get the game played this season.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t get to play South Carolina because I know how it is for both fan bases,” Swinney said. “It is kind of crazy, to be honest with you, that we are going to go all the way to Notre Dame. And they (USC) are going to go to Texas or Mississippi, or wherever to play.
“Heck, we will go meet each other. We will go an hour and 15 minutes and they go an hour and 15 minutes and let’s play a game. ... But those are decisions Will Muschamp and I don’t make. But that is just where we are and nothing I can control.”
New Clemson football 2020 schedule
Sept 12: at Wake Forest
Sept. 19: non-conference home game vs TBA
Sept. 26: Open
Oct. 3: vs. Virginia
Oct. 10: vs. Miami
Oct. 17: at Georgia Tech
Oct. 24: vs. Syracuse
Oct. 31: vs. Boston College
Nov. 7: at Notre Dame
Nov. 14: Open
Nov. 21: at Florida State
Nov. 28: vs. Pitt
Dec. 5: at Virginia Tech
