Dabo Swinney reacts to changes caused by NIL, ongoing lawsuits

The ACC is hosting its annual media days in Charlotte, NC. The event is scheduled to run from Monday, July 22, to Thursday, July 25. One of the most significant topics to be addressed at the event is Clemson and Florida State‘s lawsuit against the ACC. But before taking the trip out to Charlotte, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney shared a few thoughts on the matter.

Earlier in July, during a Tigers press conference, Swinney was asked how he keeps his program focused on the task at hand with so many distractions around it. The Clemson head coach simply explained, “We try to keep the main thing the main thing.”

“Just focus on what matters every day, what we control, and just our daily process that we have,” said Swinney. “I mean, that’s the main thing. There’s always things that are completely outside of your control, but we just try to keep the main thing the main thing. Lawsuits and all that stuff, other people deal with all that. The other changes in college football it’s just integrated into what you do every single day. So, [it’s] no different than any other change that happens from year to year. But it’s not a distraction; it’s just part of what we do.”

Swinney is not focused on the lawsuit because it is something that is out of his control. But what is in his control is how successful Clemson is on the field in 2024. According to their standards, the Tigers are looking to bounce back after a down year in 2023. Clemson not only missed out on the College Football Playoff but also failed to make the ACC championship game. And in order for Clemson, Swinney does not want his players to focus only on anything that has nothing to do with their performance on the field.

ACC commissioner responds to Florida State, Clemson lawsuits

Florida State and Clemson have been the center of the latest conversation regarding possible conference realignment out of the ACC. However, Commissioner Jim Phillips has now clarified his stance on that matter.

Phillips addressed those issues while at the podium at ACC Media Days on Monday. Frankly, he says the Seminoles and Tigers, like every other team in their league, is signed to the agreement. From there, his only focus is on the overall success of the ACC.

“The fact is that every member of this conference willingly signed the Grant of Rights,” Phillips said. “The ACC, and our collective membership, deserves better.”

“We will fight to protect the ACC and our members for as long as it takes,”