Clemson BOT chairman ends Big 12 talk

David Hood by Senior Writer -

The Clemson Board of Trustees met Wednesday afternoon, not only to discuss tuition increases, but to let two of Clemson’s head coaches give their opinions on a potential move to the Big 12.

Head football coach Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney

Head Coach

View Full Profile and head basketball coach Brad Brownell Brad Brownell

Head Coach

View Full Profile joined the meeting via teleconference to give their opinions on a potential move, according to Board of Trustees Chairman David Wilkins.

“Obviously, it makes sense to include the entire Clemson family on this, and we asked the coaches to share their opinion with us,” Wilkins told TigerNet Wednesday evening. “Coach Brownell and Coach Swinney were nice enough to spend a few minutes with us. We asked them for their opinion, and they shared their thoughts. They were on the call for a short period of time.”

Swinney, in speaking to reporters Tuesday at his high school camp, gave his opinion on the move.

“In my opinion, going to the Big 12 would be the worst thing we could do as a football program,” Swinney said. “It makes zero sense. We are the ACC. This is a program that has just won the championship and we’ve won it more than any other team in the conference. We can fulfill any goal and dream we have right here in this conference. We have a tremendous footprint to recruit in, to play in.”

Wilkins backed up Swinney’s comments.

“We are 1000 percent in the ACC,” Wilkins told TigerNet. “There are no offers, no discussions and we are concentrating on being the best we can be in the ACC. We are in the ACC, and we need to work together on making the ACC better.”

Wilkins said the school needs to concentrate on making Clemson a force in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“What we need to do is have the premier sports program in the league we are now in,” Wilkins said. “And that is the ACC. That is where all of our effort and focus needs to be.”