Though he was joking, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables thinks they might have to have a “Swinney Law” when it comes to football players driving mopeds.

Venables would like to see Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney force his players who drive a motorcycle or moped to wear a helmet. This comes after freshman defensive end Xavier Kelly was involved in an accident last Wednesday night in Clemson while driving his moped.

However, Swinney says he might need some help from the state of South Carolina to enforce such a rule. South Carolina and Florida are the only two states that do not enforce a helmet law when it comes to driving a motorcycle or moped.

“It is the dadgumist thing I have seen my whole life. We allow people to go 80 something miles per hour up on the Interstate with no helmet. We have a seatbelt law, but no helmet (law),” Swinney said. “I have never understood that … South Carolina and Florida.

“Even at Alabama we wear helmets. It just blows my mind. These are not little boys. They are going to ride their mopeds.”

And right now Swinney cannot force them to wear a helmet.

According to the officer’s notes at the Clemson University Police Department a vehicle struck the moped Kelly was on at 11:30 p.m. last Wednesday in Clemson. The person driving the vehicle was at fault, according to the officer’s on the scene notes.

“I guess the guy was texting or something and he just ran into him,” Swinney said.

Kelly suffered minor injuries and received stitches in one of his toes. However, he also cut the back of his head, which would not have happened had he been wearing a helmet.

“He is lucky. He is really lucky. You have guy with a big stature. It probably could have been worse for probably a smaller person or something,” said Swinney. “He is lucky. He got some stitches in his toe, but hopefully he will be back rolling on Monday or Tuesday. He is very, very fortunate.

“Again, (Kelly) was not doing anything (wrong). It was not his fault. He would not have gotten busted in the back of the head had he had a helmet on. He got a cut back there. He is lucky.”

This is the third time a Clemson player has been injured while driving or riding on a moped under Swinney. Former Clemson offensive lineman Chris Hairston, now in the NFL, injured his knee in an accident back when he was playing for the Tigers. Safety Jadar Johnson got banged up last summer when the moped he was on also was involved in an accident.

“I ride mopeds. I ride them all the time. Ya’ll have heard me say that, but I wear a helmet,” the Clemson head coach said. “I have a visor. I have a little sunglass thing that comes down. I just don’t understand (why there is not a helmet law).”