Swinney back in Clemson coaching, just like his dad would have wanted

Returning to the practice field Wednesday was cathartic for Dabo Swinney, a return to the grind of summer practice under a bright sun in Death Valley was food for the soul.

And while his father’s death Saturday and burial Tuesday took an emotional toll, Swinney knew his dad would be after him to return to work. Life with Ervil Swinney wasn’t always pleasant as his battle with personal demons spilled into the family, but he’d become a fan of Clemson football because of his youngest son.

“You go through these things and you get mentally exhausted,” Swinney said after the first of two practices, “but my dad, he would have been yelling at me, literally, as soon as they put him in the grave. ‘All right, that’s enough. Get your butt back to work. We’ve got some football games to win.’

“That was big Erv.”

His death at age 70 followed a lengthy bout with cancer.

“We all will lose our loved ones, and you’re never ready for that,” Swinney said. “I was so thankful that I had the time that I had with my dad. He lived with us since May and we spent a lot of quality, precious time together.

“He died peacefully and happy,” he said. “I know he’s with our Lord. I take great peace and comfort with that.”

Swinney noted the number of calls and messages he received, including some from his rivals at South Carolina.

“The Clemson Family is alive and well,” he said. “That means a lot.”