Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney yesterday said that he is "not sure recent pledges to provide full cost of attendance" to student-athletes "are the right call," according to Aaron Brenner of the Charleston POST & COURIER. Swinney during an ACC coaches teleconference said, "There’s no question, it’s a nightmare. The intent is good because we’re finally modernizing the scholarship to reflect 2015. But there’s some negative unintended consequences, and there’s no question it’s not a level playing field, and it is going to be the No. 1 topic at all the coaches meetings because it’s not good.” Brenner noted Clemson AD Dan Radakovich has estimated an "annual $925,000 commitment to cover full cost of attendance, based on Clemson’s $3,608 'other expenses' fee for a student to attend school." Swinney said, "For one school to be able to pay $3,000-$4,000 more than another school, then guys are going to make decisions for the wrong reasons. ... There has to be a better solution somewhere down the road, and I think eventually we're going to get there. But it's going to be a factor in recruiting, there's no question" (POSTANDCOURIER.com, 4/22). CBSSPORTS.com's Tom Fornelli wrote it remains to be seen "what kind of impact cost of attendance scholarships will have in recruiting," but to "pretend there won't be any impact at all would be silly." Swinney is "right when he says that there will be some kids making decisions for 'the wrong reasons' and picking one school over another just because he can get more money there, but I happen to think that will be the exception, not the rule" (CBSSPORTS.com, 4/22).
GOOD WILL HUNTING: In South Carolina, Mandrallius Robinson reports Clemson on Tuesday released "The Clemson Will," in which the athletic department "outlined its initiatives to equip athletes 'with the tools to accomplish the department's mission of excellence in academics, athletics, and personal, professional and social development.'" The document also "promoted Clemson's current initiatives regarding comprehensive health care, strength and conditioning facilities and resources, personal nutrition programs" and the $175M facilities campaign (GREENVILLE NEWS, 4/22).
GIVEN TO FLY: In Columbia, Jamie Self reports Clemson's Joint Bond Review Committee yesterday "approved the university’s request to spend" between $3.5M and $6M "to purchase a 2006 or newer jet plane." The school’s booster club "has set aside" $4.5M for the purchase. If the cost is higher, the university "could seek additional booster dollars or use athletic department revenues to make up the difference." Radakovich assured State Sen. Hugh Leatherman students "would not" be impacted by the plane’s purchase through athletic fees because the "cost of the plane would be covered by athletic department revenues and the booster money" (Columbia STATE, 4/23).
