For the longest time, college football programs across the country were in an arms race, and Clemson was one of the schools at the forefront, with Dabo Swinney leading the charge.

Once Swinney took over as the head coach full-time after the 2008 season, he had a vision for what Clemson could be. Over the next decade, the school made massive upgrades to its facilities, including the state-of-the-art Allen N. Reeves complex, which serves as the football operations center.

Those facility upgrades played a crucial role in Swinney elevating the program to national relevance, as he guided the Tigers to six consecutive College Football Playoff appearances and two national titles.

Where those facilities really hit the mark was in recruiting. Despite only ever having two top five recruiting classes, Swinney was able to stack one strong class on top of the other, and without the recruiting advantage those facilities helped give Clemson, the program might not have experienced the level of success it has.

However, the sport has now entered a new era, dominated by NIL, revenue-sharing and the transfer portal. It’s not nearly as common to see players staying at one school for three or four years, although it is not uncommon at Clemson.

With the money aspect playing such a large role in recruiting decisions these days, some feel like the arms races are over, and that facilities don’t matter quite as much as they used to. Swinney would strongly disagree with that sentiment.

“100 percent, absolutely, without question,” Swinney said when asked if facilities were still important. “Everybody’s got money. I mean, some people have more money, but everybody’s got money. Absolutely — the environment they are going to be in, especially for a young kid who is going off to college — the locker room, the environment that they are in, the resources that are there.”

“You see the same thing in the NFL now. You are seeing these NFL teams making a lot of investments in facilities. We have had NFL teams come down here and see our place just for that reason. Free agency. Because sometimes that could be a factor. But definitely for young players, for sure. It is a huge thing.”

A lot of the credit for Clemson being so successful in the arms race goes to former Athletic Director Dan Radakovich. While Swinney had a vision for what he was looking for, it was Radakovich who played a key role in making that vision a reality.

“Dan Radakovich, I give him so much credit,” Swinney said. “That was one of the things he was adamant on when he came in here, and he just kind of challenged me on, okay, let’s talk about five years from now, and I mean, I literally drew this thing out on a napkin.”

Clemson football has now been calling the Allen N. Reeves Complex home for almost a decade. On top of the indoor practice facility adjacent to the building, a few of the things you will find in the football operations center include a players lounge, nap rooms, a barber shop, pool tables, a golf simulator, a bowling alley, along with the well-known slide Swinney comes down each year to kick off fall camp. There is also a full-size indoor basketball court. Outside, you will find a nine-hole miniature golf course and a wiffle ball field. Actually, there’s not a lot you won’t find over there.

NIL and revenue-sharing might be bigger talking points in this era, but facilities still play a role, and Swinney believes Clemson is set up well in that department when it comes to the future. Not just the immediate future either.

“If we had not built this facility when we built it, it would have been a real challenge for Clemson,” Swinney said. “My grandkids’ kids will be coming back to this facility. This is where Clemson football — now they might add another floor on, they ain’t no telling what is going to happen over the next 50 years around here — but they have space here. We are very unique because most of these campuses are landlocked. There is no land. A lot of people have to go up. But this place has room for growth. I mean, they may gut this thing three times over the next 50 years, but this is where Clemson football is going to be… forever.”

Photo courtesy of Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider