CLEMSON — The Swinney brothers have been the holder on field goals and extra points for the last seven years at Clemson. Starting with the oldest, Will, then Drew and now Clay, who touched on growing up at Memorial Stadium and now playing for the Tigers.

Clay Swinney grew up in a very competitive household. The Swinney family plays just about anything. With basketball being one of their favorite sports, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney even takes part in pickup games. Clay mentioned one of his dad’s life goals was to not lose to one of his sons before he turns 50.

Clay ended that dream when he beat his dad at 49-years-old.

“He was not happy about it. I really started to develop physically in my junior year of high school. Age and time caught up with him a little bit,” the younger Swinney said with a smile. “If we played now, I think it would be a beatdown for sure. We’ve had some battles since, and I don’t think he wants to play me right now.”

Being the head coaches’ son comes with expectation, yet Clay said he is just one of the guys and the standard set for each of his teammates is also set for him.

Clay Swinney (middle) hangs out with his dad, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, following the Tigers’ 42-13 win at Wake Forest in 2012. The younger Swinney, a redshirt freshman, now plays for his dad and the Clemson Tigers. (file photo)

“Obviously, I’m his son and that’s my dad, but he has a program to run, so many people need him, and things he has to be in charge of,” he said. “He just expects me to put my best foot forward in everything that I do just like with every other player, and to just go out there and compete to the best of my abilities.”

Dabo first came to Clemson in 2003 as Tommy Bowden’s wide receivers coach, while his wife, Kathleen, was pregnant with Clay. Raised in Clemson, he witnessed or participated in eight ACC Championships and two National Championships during his dad’s 20 years in Tigertown so far.

When asked about following in his older brothers’ footsteps as a holder, and the potential of playing football at Clemson for his dad, Clay Swinney said, “I was always a big basketball guy, and I thought I could go play basketball, but I’m not 6-foot-5, so I figured football might be my thing. It’s a great way to find a way on the field and contribute to the team.”

Clay earned the holder’s role this season. Also playing as a wide receiver, he recorded his first career reception against Charleston Southern on Sept. 9, in the form of a 24-yard pass from reserve quarterback Paul Tyson. Clay described the feeling of playing at Death Valley and running down the hill.

“It is insane. Every time I go out there it’s a dream come true,” he said. “Just growing up, the amount of times I’ve played football at the practice fields or in the stadium just dreaming of doing it in front of fans, and actually running down the hill.

“Going out there, being one of the eleven on the field, it is something special and something I’ll never take for granted. I know not many people get to do it and I’ve been extremely blessed to have the opportunity. Every time I run out there, I’m just like, ‘Wow, this is real. I’m living out my dream.’”

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