Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney references decades-long debate about the origins of “Death Valley” in snarky answer to taking over as head coach at LSU.
When LSU and head coach Ed Orgeron agreed to part ways this past week, rumors immediately swirled as to who might replace him.
It only makes sense that successful Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney would top that list. According to Swinney, he’s certain of where he wants to be next year, and it’s not in Baton Rouge.
Dabo on LSU coaching rumors: “This is the only Death Valley I’m worried about."
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) October 19, 2021
Swinney is referring to “Death Valley“, a longstanding nickname for Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Funny enough, it’s also been the nickname of LSU’s Tiger Stadium since the 1950s.
Both teams are the Tigers, both teams play in Death Valley, and both teams faced each other in the 2019 National Championship. LSU and Orgeron came out with the win in that one, but when it comes to longevity, it looks like Clemson takes the win after all.
Despite claims to ownership from both fanbases, history shows that Clemson is the original ‘Death Valley’ in the South. Rival coach Lonnie McMillan likened the sweltering Memorial Stadium environment to that of the Mojave Desert, and the name stuck in Georgia. When LSU defeated Clemson in the 1959 Sugar Bowl, Billy Cannon and the LSU Tigers felt they earned the right to steal the nickname from Clemson.
Why would Dabo Swinney consider LSU?
Although Orgeron faces public humiliation for the facts emerging from his short time at LSU, the university has still agreed to buy out his contract and let him finish out the season.
But the reason Swinney is on LSU’s radar is because of his winning reputation: he’s won two National Championships in the past five years.
According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, LSU athletic director Scott Woodward likes to “swing for the fences” with big-name coaches.
“That’s totally his (Woodward’s) M.O.— he’s gonna make him say no,” a source told Feldman. With a current buyout of $3 million, acquiring Swinney would be feasible for the powerhouse SEC program.
Even if LSU enjoys the idea of stealing away from the original ‘Death Valley’ once again, it’s unlikely to happen. As Swinney said, there’s only one Death Valley he’s concerned with, and it’s the one he’s played in for 14 years.
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