CLEMSON — Several big-name college football programs have canceled their spring game, citing it as an opportunity for opposing programs to scout players and steal them away in the transfer portal.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney isn’t so worried.
“Whether you have a spring game or not, there’s gonna be tampering,” Swinney said. “Ain’t nobody gonna go look at the spring game and go ‘Oh, yeah’ (about a player).
“They got PFF (Pro Football Focus statistics). They got everything on everybody already. Canceling a spring game isn’t going to stop tampering.”![100+] Clemson Tigers Football Wallpapers | Wallpapers.com](https://wallpapers.com/images/hd/clemson-tigers-football-s1125d1ha2m594gy.jpg)
Swinney said there were no discussions about canceling Clemson’s April 5 spring game in Memorial Stadium. He did indicate, however, there might not be a traditional live broadcast of the public scrimmage.
Ohio State, Texas, Nebraska, Southern Cal, and N.C. State have all confirmed they won’t host spring games in 2025. Missouri and Florida State are also not having a public scrimmage because of construction at their home venues.
“You don’t get better at football if you don’t play football,” Swinney said. “If you told me that we could have two or three preseason games in the fall, I’d probably have a different approach to the spring. But we don’t get that, right?”
Swinney has long appreciated spring games because they provide a game-like atmosphere ahead of an actual season, especially for younger players and midyear enrollees.
He’s less worried about opposing coaches stealing his players.
“I need to create pressure on (backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina) … Our quarterback doesn’t get hit anyway,” Swinney said. “CV needs pressure on him. Well, when do we get that, if we don’t ever create any type of competitive environment?
