The National Anthem and football players is now a hot-button issue in American society, though a moot point in college football. In most cases there is no statement to be made by players who would like to make one, since teams typically remain in the locker room during the Anthem.

Still, that didn’t stop someone from asking Dabo Swinney his thoughts on the issue. And it certainly didn’t stop him from answering. The Clemson head coach said he wouldn’t punish any player who kneeled during a hypothetical Anthem, but he in no uncertain teams didn’t agree with their hypothetical stance.

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“I think everybody has the right to express himself in that regard. But I don’t think it’s good to be a distraction to your team. I don’t think it’s good to use the team as a platform. I totally disagree with that. Not his protest. But I just think there’s a right way to do things. I don’t think two wrongs make a right. Never have, never will. I think it just creates more divisiveness, more division.

“I think there’s a better way. How about call a press conference? Express your feelings. Everybody will show up, talk about it. Go and be a part of things, and protest them. That’s great. I think everybody has that right. I certainly respect that. But I just think that this just creates more division. That’s what I hate to see.

“I hate to see what’s going on in our country. I really do. I think this is a good world. I think this is a great country. It’s just that things get painted with a broad brush in this world these days.

“There’s more good than bad in this world. With Martin Luther King. I don’t know that there’s ever been a better man or better leader. To me, he changed the world. He changed the world through love in the face of hate. He changed the world through peace in the face of violence. He changed the world through education in the face of ignorance. And he changed the world through Jesus. Boy, that’s politically incorrect. That’s what he did. It’s amazing when we don’t learn from our past how you can repeat your mistakes.

“(The Bible) says, Love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul. The second one is, love your neighbor as you’d love yourself. It doesn’t say love your neighbor from the same religion. It doesn’t say love your neighbor if they’re the same color as you. It doesn’t say love your neighbor if they pull for the same team as you. It doesn’t say love your neighbor if they’re the same gender as you, or whatever. (It doesn’t say) love your neighbor if they have the same sexuality as you. It just says, love your neighbor as you’d love yourself. If we all lived by that in this country, we wouldn’t have near the problems we have.

 

 

 

Dabo Swinney: "It’s so easy to say we have a race problem, but we got a sin problem." - FootballScoop

100 % agree with him.

Good stuff from Dabo.

Watching the video it seems like a non-rehearsed, off the cuff response which makes it even more impressive.

 

Spot on in my opinion.

I appreciated the biblical references in his answer.

Hard not to like the guy.

From what I have read and heard, Dabo evidently is a very well liked, stand up guy. And he's right on.

 

With that said...why in the world is this in the controversial forum? Is what he said controversial? I sure don't think so.

Really like Dabo.

From what I have read and heard, Dabo evidently is a very well liked, stand up guy. And he's right on.

 

With that said...why in the world is this in the controversial forum? Is what he said controversial? I sure don't think so.

 

 

I debated on whether to post it in the college football forum, but I felt that it could possibly lead to controversial discussion like most things do.

I do chuckle at these folks who say "Do it like Martin Luther King, Jr did." Yeah. How did he do it? Peaceful protest. What did CK do? Peaceful protest.

Hard not to like the guy.

 

I like Dabo a lot. Seems like a coach I'd want to play for.

I like Dabo a lot. Seems like a coach I'd want to play for.

 

And I coach I could send a son to play for (if I has one of course).

I do chuckle at these folks who say "Do it like Martin Luther King, Jr did." Yeah. How did he do it? Peaceful protest. What did CK do? Peaceful protest.

 

What some of them really want to say is "Don't do it at all," but they don't have the stones.

I do chuckle at these folks who say "Do it like Martin Luther King, Jr did." Yeah. How did he do it? Peaceful protest. What did CK do? Peaceful protest.

 

Did MLK ever disgrace the flag.

Did MLK ever disgrace the flag.

 

Was CK's protest peaceful? Yes or no?

Isn't Dabo saying what CK is saying?