Tajh Boyd weighs in on Dabo Swinney’s comments

Dabo Swinney’s comment on the George Floyd protest hasn’t been received well by some college football fans.

Dabo Swinney, like most college football coaches, felt compelled to speak on the George Floyd protests around the country this week. While his comment has been deemed sincere by former players, some pundits believe it missed the point.

Nonetheless, Swinney can always rely on his former players to help keep things in perspective. Swinney has stated that he’d rather not “react” to Floyd’s murder, but listen and take care of his own house. This is what Swinney is known for at Clemson, and it’s the same mentality — to each his own — that makes the Tigers such an attractive destination in the modern college football landscape.

Tajh Boyd discussed Dabo Swinney’s comment on George Floyd.

Swinney’s comment, paired with the accusation that he failed to address a racial epithet by assistant coach Danny Pearman several seasons ago, had some questioning his leadership capabilities. Tajh Boyd put such talk to rest in an interview with Golic and Wingo earlier this week.

“What he said I believe is sincere. Coach Swinney loves at such a deep level, it’s hard for him to sometimes see what everything looks like. But the most important thing is he takes heed to what’s being said and he listens. If you look at his surrounding cast, some of his most wise council are African-American men. There are coaches within his circle and people on his staff that can help him understand the conversation being had right now. People are fighting and screaming for acknowledgement.”

Boyd was a first-team All-American in 2012, and an eventual draft pick by the New York Jets in the infancy of Clemson’s college football dynasty.

Swinney’s locker room is full of African-American players who respect his ability as a leader of men. While his methods may make some uncomfortable, his win-loss record and postseason accolades suggest he’s doing something right.