Now that the interim tag has been lifted from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, he's ready to build his own staff. While defense rarely seemed like much of a problem for the Tigers (not while their more high-profile offensive stars were getting injured and/or benched), it looks like Vic Koenning will be moving on in favor of Maryland assistant Danny Pearman (a former Clemson tight end) and a few Mississippi State guys who share Swinney's ties with the Alabama. From the sound of things, Koenning was the guy who laid out the ultimatum and despite accepting defeat (sorta) when Swinney couldn't commit, he didn't mind clapping back a little on his way out:
"They were being very noncommittal with our future, and we had already been through seven weeks of that," Koenning said. "With what we'd done on defense here, not just this year, but four years in a row, the best they've had over a span in the school's history by a lot. ... Over a four-year period there might be one or two defenses that have been better. For them not to be able to commit ... I just didn't think it was fair."
And keeping with the SEC theme, reports indicate that Swinney has already contacted longtime Tennessee assistant John Chavis. Well, it's not Fulmer, but on the same path.
