ACC Fines Clemson After Dabo Swinney Criticizes Officials
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has imposed a fine of $10,000 on Clemson University due to comments made by head coach Dabo Swinney following their recent game against Duke. Clemson’s defeat on Saturday, which ended with a score of 46-45, prompted Swinney to criticize the officiating during a postgame interview.
Key Incident in the Game
During a pivotal moment in the fourth quarter, Duke was trailing 42-35 and had advanced to Clemson’s 18-yard line with only 49 seconds remaining. A pass interference penalty was called against Clemson defensive back Avieon Terrell, which allowed Duke to continue their drive.
Details of the Controversial Call
- Duke’s quarterback Darian Mensah attempted a pass to Que’Sean Brown.
- The penalty against Terrell resulted in a first-and-goal situation for Duke.
- On the next play, Duke scored via a 3-yard run by Nate Sheppard.
- Duke also successfully executed a two-point conversion.
Following this sequence, Swinney expressed his frustration, stating that he believed the play should have been called for offensive pass interference instead. He remarked, “Some critical penalties. It shouldn’t come down to that.” He added that the penalty was one of the worst calls he had ever witnessed throughout his coaching career.
ACC Response and Policy Violation
The ACC released a statement addressing Swinney’s remarks. They reiterated that his comments were in violation of the ACC Sportsmanship Policy. This policy prohibits public criticism of officials, asserting that such comments do not align with the best interests of college athletics.
Impact on Clemson’s Season
The loss to Duke marked a challenging point for Clemson, dropping their record to 3-5 for the season. The combination of disappointing game outcomes and Swinney’s comments has led to increased scrutiny on the program.
