Interesting situation that Dabo faced almost 5 years go.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Two days after concluding its first losing season in more than a decade, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney took steps to try to change the Tigers' offensive problems.
The Tigers head coach said Sunday that offensive coordinator Billy Napier and running backs coach Andre Powell won't return to the team next season.
At 31, Napier had been the youngest offensive coordinator in the Football Bowl Subdivision when he was elevated from quarterbacks coach before last season. He spent five seasons with the Tigers.
Powell, hired in 2007, was also in charge of Clemson's special teams.
The Tigers finished 6-7 — their first losing season since 1998 — after a 31-26 loss to South Florida at the Meineke Bowl on Friday. The game was the latest in a series of struggling offensive performances.
"This was a difficult decision, one that was not made hastily," Swinney said in a statement. "But, we must make significant improvement on the offensive side of the ball."
The Tigers were one of the country's highest-scoring attacks in 2009, winning the ACC Atlantic Division as they became the most prolific offense in school history with 436 points.
But three key players from that team — tailback C.J. Spiller, receiver Jacoby Ford (FSY) and tight end Michael Palmer (FSY)— left for the NFL and Clemson struggled to find adequate replacements.
The Tigers came into the bowl 10th in the ACC in total offense and managed just 13 points in the game's first 58 minutes.
Five of Clemson's seven losses this season came by six points or less. Napier, a former quarterback at Furman, became the lightning rod for fan frustration as the Tigers fell from ACC contention.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Two days after concluding its first losing season in more than a decade, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney took steps to try to change the Tigers' offensive problems.
The Tigers head coach said Sunday that offensive coordinator Billy Napier and running backs coach Andre Powell won't return to the team next season.
At 31, Napier had been the youngest offensive coordinator in the Football Bowl Subdivision when he was elevated from quarterbacks coach before last season. He spent five seasons with the Tigers.
Powell, hired in 2007, was also in charge of Clemson's special teams.
The Tigers finished 6-7 — their first losing season since 1998 — after a 31-26 loss to South Florida at the Meineke Bowl on Friday. The game was the latest in a series of struggling offensive performances.
"This was a difficult decision, one that was not made hastily," Swinney said in a statement. "But, we must make significant improvement on the offensive side of the ball."
The Tigers were one of the country's highest-scoring attacks in 2009, winning the ACC Atlantic Division as they became the most prolific offense in school history with 436 points.
But three key players from that team — tailback C.J. Spiller, receiver Jacoby Ford (FSY) and tight end Michael Palmer (FSY)— left for the NFL and Clemson struggled to find adequate replacements.
The Tigers came into the bowl 10th in the ACC in total offense and managed just 13 points in the game's first 58 minutes.
Five of Clemson's seven losses this season came by six points or less. Napier, a former quarterback at Furman, became the lightning rod for fan frustration as the Tigers fell from ACC contention.
