Notes From The 2018 ACC Football Kickoff

We spent Wednesday in Charlotte for the 2018 ACC Football Kickoff.  We didn’t stick around to see the Atlantic Division coaches and players Thursday, but I’ve got some thoughts on some various topics from Wednesday.  This isn’t necessarily Virginia Tech related, though I’ve tried to tie in the Hokies as much as I can.

Dabo Swinney and Uniform Tradition

The best thing about big media events like the ACC Kickoff isn’t necessarily being around coaches and players and hearing them talk.  Talking to other media members is probably the best part about it, because they have stories that players and coaches won’t tell.  So here’s a Clemson story that I overheard.

Nike likes to trick teams out in new uniforms these days.  As Virginia Tech fans, we know this all too well.  Personally, I hate all the uniform changes, and I wish somebody in charge would put their foot down and say “no more!”  Apparently that’s what Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney did.

Nike sent Dabo a box full of new jersey and helmet designs, hoping he would go for it and allow the company to rebrand the Tigers.  He said no, that Clemson would keep their traditional uniforms, presumably because that’s what the fans want.  He likes to tell the story, and he still keeps the jerseys in a box in his office to show visitors.

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