AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — There are several hot items being discussed at Amelia Island this week, as coaches, athletic directors and athletic administrators from the Atlantic Coast Conference gather here at the Ritz Carlton over the next three days, as part of the league’s annual spring meetings.
NCAA President Charlie Baker spoke to the league on Monday, as he addressed the current status of the House Settlement, which is expected to be resolved soon. This the second straight year Baker has addressed the conference.
“That was one of the better things I have been a part of, that is the first time that has ever happened since I have been here,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said to The Clemson Insider, who is at its 13th consecutive ACC Spring Meetings. “It was really good. We will start with that and then we will break into some coaches’ meetings… I really felt like last year was the most beneficial and the most productive (we’ve had), so hopefully, that will be the case this year.
“There is a lot going on, as much as there has been in the history of the game.”
One of the topics football coaches will be discussing this year is the possibility of expanding the spring practice calendar. Currently, the NCAA allows schools to have 15 spring practices between February and mid-April.
What the ACC coaches plan on discussing is adding five days and maybe using those extra five days anytime they want to.
“I am a big component of opening it up from February to July. You get whatever, like twenty days,” Swinney said. “And everybody can use them however you want to because everybody is different, right?”
An example is new Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert.
“They signed forty guys, and there are a bunch of guys they signed in May,” Swinney said. “Well, it would be nice for him to have some spring practice days, if you will. Where at Clemson, when most of your guys are mid-years, and your team is there, I would like to use fifteen of those like I normally do and I keep five to get on the field with them in late-May, early-June and maybe a couple of days in July.
“I just think we can deregulate that process a little bit because it is not a one size fits all. You have quarters, you have semesters, there are a lot of things.”
This time last year, the talk of these spring meetings was Clemson and Florida State’s lawsuits against the conference. This week, the ACC seems more like a united front, where the league is positioning itself to get things accomplished.
“I just think a year later, there is more clarity today than we have had in the last four or five years to be honest with you,” Swinney said. “I think that is a good thing.”