Would Dabo Swinney leave Clemson for Alabama one day? Bobby Bowden, Mark Richt weigh in
Nick Saban is going to leave Alabama one day. That day might not come for five more years or longer, but eventually, someone is going to have to succeed Saban.
Dabo Swinney, obviously, is the premier candidate to eventually take over the Tide program, but Swinney is building his own powerhouse at Clemson.
The Swinney to Alabama (eventually) talk has certainly already started, and pundits are weighing in on whether Swinney would leave Clemson.
Recently, The State newspaper caught up with Bobby Bowden and Mark Richt, two former prominent head coaches, and they were asked whether Swinney would make the move eventually.
“Why would you leave Clemson the way things are going right now?” Richt told the paper. “I’d be shocked to see Dabo Swinney anywhere other than Clemson for the rest of his career, to be honest with you.”
That’s the prevailing thought around college football about the subject, too. It’s hard to see Swinney eventually leave Clemson for his alma mater, no matter the love he has for the program.
Alabama native Bobby Bowden echoed Richt’s thoughts, too.
“He’s got that thing going pretty good. And it’ll always be his. It’ll be his,” Bowden said of Swinney. “Not go to Alabama and you’re second to Saban or second to coach Bryant. That’s something Dabo has to decide. It’s natural him being an Alabama graduate, being raised in Alabama, for that kind of talk to come up. It’s strictly conversation.”
Bowden then applied the situation to himself back in his coaching prime.
“I felt like Alabama was Bear Bryant’s and there’s no way Bobby Bowden could overcome that,” Bowden said. “In fact, I wouldn’t even want to overcome it. I felt like I’d always be in his shadow. So anyway, there were a lot of reasons for me not to go back to Alabama.”
Obviously, Saban and Swinney may win multiple national championships between now and when this time comes, but rest assured, Swinney will be forced to give an answer at some point.
Bowden attempted to get hired by Bama…
He did, in 1986. When they wanted to just interview instead, he took his name out of the hat when there was no initial offer. They ended up with Curry. Mistake on the part of Bama. They offered him the job in 1990, but he declined. Too much history at FSU then.
I know but he did want and attempt to get the job… He took his name out when they interviewed instead of just giving it to him.
My point is he can’t act like he didn’t want the job when he clearly did.
Yes, he wanted it at one time. His point is, later there came a time when he was too vested at FSU to take the job. That is what he is saying about Dabo now.
I don’t think it had anything to do with FSU. I still think he was pissed Bama just didn’t offer him the job in the first place without a interview… FSU may have been part of it but I believe his ego was most of it.
He didn’t win a NC till 93 at FSU…
Wow, the 1990’s would have been much different for Bama and FSU had Bowden been hired Bama.
@Bama Time………please don’t talk about coaches with EGO PROBLEMS!!!!! Bowden is humble. Saban is an EGOMANIAC and everyone knows it!!! Dabo is just as much an EGOMANIAC and he won’t even be a big deal in a few years!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!
King Negan
UGA troll number 67913 do you think only one person in the world can have an ego?
Dabo makes Kirby look like Mike price…
I’m just passing on what he said in an article. FSU was a top 5 program then. He knew he was close. He was right.
They each made accurate and valid points that I’ve also made to folks. Outside of things going downhill for an extended period, he’s the man there until he decides to leave. Maybe he makes the same mistake as spurrier and saban though in unsuccessfully trying their hands at the NFL. That’s yet to be determined though.
Or maybe he takes a NFL job and is successful.Jimmy Johnson & Pete Carroll proved you can be a champion in both. Not gonna give Switzer cred for his tho, won with Jimmy’s players!
Hope he stays at Clemson. I have never wanted Swinney at Bama.
Yeah, you’re stupid.Why wouldn’t you want a 2 time NC coach?
There are other choices.
With the iron constitution and high motor of coach Saban the question should be will clemson try to get him when dabo retires.
First FIVE MORE YEARS MY BUTT!!! Saban won’t go more than 2 more years IF THAT LONG!!! My money is HE RETIRES AFTER THIS YEAR!!!!
But people need to get used to the idea. UGA IS HERE TO STAY!!!!
It’s not gonna be Clemson and Alabama splitting the titles for the next few years!!!! I don’t think either of those teams will beat UGA as long as we stay healthy and PLAY 60 MINUTES!!!
UGA should have won 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in the last 2 years!!! We were CHEATED by the REFS in 2017 as well as the COMMITTEE!!! Bama didn’t win the SEC we did!!!
Then injuries at the end of the game cost us last year!!!!
Like it or not. CLEMSON WOULD NOT HAVE BEATEN UGA LAST YEAR!!!!! Alabama was better than Clemson and just fell on their butt!!! CLEMSON does have a CUSHY ACC CAKEWALK but they won’t be the NATIONAL CHAMPION in 2019. Their not as good as people make out!!!!
In my opinion. A healthy UGA was the best team in the country the last 2 seasons!!!
If the COMMITTEE wants to do the right thing. UGA should only need to have an unbeaten regular season to get in the playoffs!!! Regardless to if another team gets lucky and wins the SEC TITLE GAME!!!!! But I think UGA takes that to this year!!!!!
So all this talk about bama vs Clemson is stupid in my book!!!!
UGA 2019 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
King Negan
TN fan
You’re my favorite UGA troll. You’re literally every other UGA troll on this site wrapped up In one..
Let’s recap.. UGA was cheated by the refs. That TDOW and ole Tim.
Clemson wouldn’t have beat UGA and UGA was the best team in the nation the last two years… That’s coarch, TDOW, LeghumperU and UGarmyret….
UGA 2019 national champions… refer to the other preseasonchampsU fans I listed.
Queen…soo by your take I guess Texas would have best Clemson too. I know I know UGA was looking past Texas for their unattainable always next year NC. You have to be the dumbest pile of sh!t to ever land in sds.
gents, first law of accepting an interview, little to gain, a lot to lose, leave it alone