PINEHURST, N.C. — Get ready Clemson fans, a trip to Ireland to play a college football game could happen in the future, if head coach Dabo Swinney has something to say about it. And by the way, he does.
On Monday the ACC announced, before the start of the 2015 Football Kickoff at the Pinehurst Resort, Georgia Tech and Boston College will kick off the 2016 season in Ireland. The game was scheduled to be played in Boston, but Boston College asked Georgia Tech if it would be interested in playing the game in Ireland, and with the help of the ACC, it came to fruition.
Swinney said on Tuesday if the Tigers are asked to play a road game in Ireland, and the schedule permits the opportunity, then they will be calling up their travel agents.
“I talk to (basketball coach) Brad Brownell about that all the time. He gets to go to Acapulco, Turks and Caicos and all of those great places, Hawaii, and I get trips to … you know name it ACC, I better not say a town.”
Actually, the Clemson basketball program has not been to Acapulco or Turks and Caicos, though it has played in Hawaii in 2011, St. Thomas in 2010 and 2014, and Italy for 10 days in 2013.
“I would love that. What a great experience and opportunity for your team,” Swinney said. “Shoot, I take my guys up to Lake Keowee every fall camp and that is like a huge experience. Some of these guys have never seen the mountains, the lake and things like that. I can only imagine what it would be like to take your team to Ireland or wherever, or some other great place.”
The Clemson football program has only played out of the Continental U.S. two times in its history. In 1982, the Tigers went to Japan and beat Wake Forest, 21-17, and then made a return trip there in 1991 when they beat Duke, 33-21.
Swinney did express he has no interest in visiting Japan right now.
“I would like to do Europe first,” he said, “I have never been over there.”
Lakip knows his fate. Swinney says he has already made a decision on what the fate of kicker Ammon Lakip will be if he returns to the team on Aug. 19. The Clemson coach said he isn’t ready to share that information at this time with the media, but the kicker will miss multiple games.
“I have already made a decision, but I have not shared that to the full extent other than with Ammon,” he said. “He will have a chance to rejoin us when school starts on Aug. 19. That will be the first opportunity he will have a chance to come back. The ball is kind of in his court at this point and he will definitely miss some time.”
Because he will be suspended for multiple games, Swinney did not want Lakip in camp because he wants Alex Spence and Christian Groomes to be able to compete for the starting job.
“If he does everything that he is required to do, he will get another opportunity to rejoin our team, but he is going to have to start over and go earn it,” Swinney said. “We will see where that is. I have no idea. You can’t predict the future, but I will say this, obviously it is very disappointing when you have a player that has embarrassed himself and embarrasses the program. And just more importantly, does something stupid. That’s disappointing, but Ammon is a good young man. I have never had a problem with him and that is the biggest reason why he is getting an opportunity to learn and grow from this. Hopefully, we will see and time will tell if that actually happens.”
Is this a special year in Death Valley? Clemson will host Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Florida State in Death Valley this year, making it one of the most anticipate home seasons in Death Valley history. All three of those teams will more than likely be top 20 picks when the Associated Press poll is released in a few weeks.
“I definitely think it is a special year,” Swinney said.
In 2010, the Tigers hosted ranked teams from Miami, NC State and South Carolina, while in 2007 they hosted ranked foes Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boston College. However, the best home slate came in 2005 when a 17th-ranked Texas A&M squad came to Death Valley along with a 13th-ranked Miami team, 25th-ranked Boston College and 17th-ranked Florida State.
Notre Dame’s first trip to Death Valley since 1977, perhaps, lifts the 2015 schedule over the top.
“You have Notre Dame coming for the first time since 1977,” Swinney said. “I was like eight or nine, or whatever. Tim (Bourret) has been reminding of that since the day that schedule came out of how special that is.”
Clemson has won nine straight in Death Valley and 26 of its last 28 games there.
“It is a great home venue. Our fan base will be excited about (the schedule),” Swinney said. “They are much more exciting when we play well. That’s ultimately what determines whether or not it is a special year or not, is how you perform in those games.”