The never-ending feud between Steve Spurrier and Dabo Swinney was one of the highlights of the bowl season.
The South Carolina and Clemson coaches each took subtle jabs at each other after bowl victories, even though their teams weren't playing each other.
The archrival coaches crossed paths on the recruiting trail this week in Georgia.
Spurrier and Swinney happened to show up on the same day at the same time at North Gwinnett High to check on different prospects.
Did everybody just duck and hide?
If you were expecting some tense moments or a WWE Steel Cage Match to break out, you’d be disappointed. Without TV cameras around to trade barbs and ignite their fan bases, the two got along like perfect gentlemen (But we’ll stick to the fun and folklore, and just say the good behavior was only because impressionable kids were closely watching).
North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire picks up the story:
“Dabo was in here first, and I was telling him how entertaining those two have been with their quotes back and forth, and their banter. You know, the first thing (Swinney) said was ‘I really like him (Spurrier). We’re really good friends.’ I will be darned if that wasn’t the first thing that Spurrier told me when I tried to stir it up. He said, ‘I really like Dabo. We’re really good friends.’
“Anyways, Dabo was leaving out when Spurrier was coming in, and I stopped them and said, ‘Look, I’ve got a fundraising idea. There’s a 1,000 kids over there in the cafeteria right now for lunch. We’re going to go over and wrestle, and I’m going to charge admission.’
“They just smiled and laughed. They talked to each other for a little bit. I told Coach Spurrier that I get a kick out of his little digs, the way he stirs everybody up. I think it’s funny.”
Spurrier has won five straight against Swinney, and hasn’t been shy about letting people know (at least publicly).
Clemson and South Carolina aren’t recruiting head-to-head against each other for any North Gwinnett players. Offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt is one of the nation’s top juniors and is considered a Clemson lean because of his family connections to the ACC school. North Gwinnett senior defensive end Dante Sawyer committed to South Carolina over Missouri last month, but has generated interest from other colleges since registering three sacks in the Army All-American Bowl.
“There were people who would probably like to get back in on Dante but he’s done,” Sphire said. “He’s firm with South Carolina. The Ol’ Ball Coach is really excited about him. He’s losing a few defensive linemen that can play. They’ve kind of had a little run on some guys up front. Dante played great in that all-star game. If we had won that game, he probably would’ve won MVP.”
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