Clemson athletic director says he is ready if Alabama wants Dabo Swinney

Nick Saban will have to step aside someday at Alabama, and those who have dared to speculate that far ahead wonder if Clemson’s Dabo Swinney could well end up being the man to replace him when that time comes.

The Tigers hope that day is a long way off, if it does come at all. And if it does, athletic director Dan Radakovich says he’s ready with a plan to try to fend off the Crimson Tide’s interest.

“That’s not something that I think about every night when my head hits the pillow, but certainly whether it’s in football or basketball or baseball or any of our sports, as an AD, you have to be ready for some of those things that may come down the path,” Radakovich said, via Matt Connolly of the State.

Radakovich didn’t offer details, but said he hoped Clemson had done enough to make Swinney loyal.

“I certainly hope that we’ve been able to demonstrate to Dabo that you can get to the highest level right here at Clemson, and he’s been able to do that. So there’s so many positives about the university,” Radakovich said. “We have a great Board of Trustees. We have an incredible president. We have some alignment going there that has allowed us to do our job, and I think that you don’t find that everywhere, but we have it here. I think that’s a big X factor.”

Swinney is less than a year removed from signing a new contract as well.

“We worked last summer to be able to get him into a good place that he was comfortable with and we were comfortable with, so we’re happy, and I hope he’s happy,” Radakovich said. “They just built a new home here, and his son is on the team. I think he’s in a really good place.”

Clemson won’t really be comfortable as long as Saban’s job looms, though. The good news for them is the Alabama coach doesn’t sound like someone who has any plans to step aside anytime soon.