Clemson’s Dabo Swinney: Coronavirus was Florida State’s ‘excuse to cancel game’

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said his team met the medical standard to play against Florida State on Saturday and believes the Seminoles called off the game because of reasons other than the coronavirus.

“This game was not canceled because of (the coronavirus). (The coronavirus) was just an excuse to cancel the game,” an angry Swinney said Sunday night.

The fourth-ranked Tigers had arrived in Tallahassee on Friday when they learned that a reserve offensive lineman had tested positive in the team’s latest testing. Clemson quickly isolated the player, who hasn’t been identified, and sent him back to campus.

Swinney said players had eaten breakfast under a large “Ringling Brothers” circus type-tent in their hotel parking lot for final preparations Saturday morning when they learned they would not play.

“We listened to our medical folks and their assessment of the risk, and we decided it wasn’t safe to play today,” Florida State athletic director David Coburn told the Associated Press.

Clemson administrators offered additional testing to satisfy Florida State’s hesitation and to play later Saturday or Sunday or Monday. All suggestions were turned down, and the ACC announced that medical personnel from both sides could not agree the game would be safe to play.

“To me, the Florida State administration forfeited the game, and if they want to play Clemson, in my opinion, they need to come to Clemson or they need to pay for all expenses,” Swinney said. “Other than that, there’s no reason for us to play them.”

The Tigers (7-1, 6-1 ACC) were nearly five-touchdown favorites against the Seminoles (2-6, 1-6).

The trip cost the Clemson athletic department about $300,000, athletic director Dan Radakovich said.

Radakovich said he and Clemson would work with the ACC about rescheduling the contest. The Tigers are scheduled to face Pittsburgh on Saturday in their final home game before heading to Virginia Tech on Dec. 5 for what was expected to be their last game of the regular season.

Clemson is off Dec. 12. The ACC Championship Game is set for Dec. 19.

Radakovich said he was comfortable that his school did everything possible to keep its players and staff members, and those of the other team safe from the coronavirus.

“We have followed protocol,” he said.

Swinney said he’s attending medical meetings at which procedures for a late positive test are discussed and debated. Travel rosters were expanded for such reasons, he said.

If a late positive test can get a game called off, why play the season at all, Swinney said.

This isn’t the first time Clemson has been affected by the coronavirus.

Heisman Trophy contending quarterback Trevor Lawrence tested positive the Thursday before the Tigers played Boston College on Oct. 31. Lawrence also missed Clemson’s game at No. 2 Notre Dame — the Tigers’ lone loss this season and first regular-season defeat since 2017 — a week later as he followed guidelines for his return.

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That was supposed to happen against the Seminoles.

“Man, we were ready to play,” Lawrence said on Twitter soon after the postponement.

Swinney aid he had not talked with Florida State coach Mike Norvell and did not blame Florida State coaches or players for not playing.

“I feel bad for their players, too. There ain’t no way anybody can convince me their kids didn’t want to play,” Swinney said.

If Clemson’s game against Pittsburgh is played, the Tigers will have gone three weeks between games as they contend for a sixth straight ACC title and fifth national championship game appearance since 2015.

“It is what it is,” Swinney said. “We feel great. We’re healthy. We’re ready to go. We were in a good place, ready for kickoff. We’ll just pick up where we left off.”

— By PETE IACOBELLI

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