Mama called, but Dabo Swinney chose not to answer.
Per insider reports across the college football landscape, Alabama has found their guy, and it is not Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. Per reports, the Crimson Tide are in the final stages of negotiations with Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer to become their next head coach. The information has been confirmed with postings from the Associated Press (AP).
That does not mean Alabama did not contact Swinney. According to several accounts, Swinney’s alma mater did place a call to gauge his interest in becoming the next Alabama head man. Swinney, by all accounts, told them no. This morning the odds at several sportsbook sites placed Swinney as the betting favorite to take over the Tide. Whatever drove those flurries of wagers may remain unknown, though they now look to be entirely inaccurate.
The fact remains, that had the Tigers not fallen out of play-off contention the past three seasons, the Alabama coaching search may have ended quite differently. Thankfully, Clemson will not be looking for a new coach, too, and hopefully not for a long time to come.
If reports are true, and it certainly now appears that they are, then DeBoer is inheriting one of the biggest brands in college football, and a program whose lofty championship expectation will afford a shorter grace period among fans and boosters than most destinations.
This is still a developing story, but it would appear that Clemson fans can breathe a sigh of relief tonight.
