Dabo Swinney said Wednesday that he's committed to focusing on his team's upcoming Gator Bowl preparations, but rumors continued to swirl about potential coaching staff changes.
One day after defensive coordinator Vic Koenning resigned after Swinney failed to make any promises about Koenning's future with the Clemson program until after the bowl game, Swinney said that linebackers coaches David Blackwell and Ron West would coordinate the defense in the Gator Bowl.
"They're very well-schooled in what we're doing,"
Swinney said. "David's a great coach and Ron West has been a coordinator. They'll do a great job."
"My biggest thing, as I said yesterday, is giving the kids an opportunity to go and win this game. I don't foresee any other major changes before then (Jan. 1), but if something comes up we'll address it at that time."
Former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis, who found himself out of a job when Lane Kiffin took over the Volunteers' head post on Monday, reportedly is being courted by a pair of Tigers - LSU and Clemson.
Charlie Harbison, who coached defensive backs at Clemson from 1996-97 and most recently coached at Mississippi State, also has been mentioned as a candidate to join Swinney's staff.
"There's a lot of reports out there,"
Swinney said. "I would just say that there's a lot of great candidates who'd love to work at Clemson. I've been overwhelmed, really, by the great candidates who would be interested in having a job here."
"I'm having great discussions with some people - some very well-written-about people - and I can't make any comments or announcements. There's a process that has to take place from a hiring standpoint."
Swinney said that he has met with each member of the current staff.
"This is a business and everybody understands that I have to put my stamp on it and my personality - my hand, so to speak,"
Swinney said. "There will be a lot of questions answered as we go through and after the game."
When asked if he expected to go into the bowl game with a short staff, he indicated that a defensive coordinator may be aboard sooner rather than later.
"Right now we are (down one coach), but my anticipation is to have someone in place...we should have somebody here by the time we start practicing to get us back to full allotment,"
Swinney said.
The Tigers are expected to begin bowl practices late next week.
• Swinney said quarterback Willy Korn, who underwent successful shoulder surgery on Sunday, could be ready by the Gator Bowl.
"It went really well,"
Swinney said. "They got it all cleaned up, so hopefully that's really going to help him get back to 100-percent health. I think it's a strong possibility he'll be back and ready to go."
• Seniors Michael Hamlin, James Davis, Tyler Grisham, Cullen Harper and Jock McKissic have all been named permanent co-captains of the 2008 team. The announcement was made after a team vote earlier this week.
It is the second consecutive year Hamlin and Harper have been named co-captains. They are the first two-time captains for the program since linebacker Chad Carson was named a co-captain in 2000 and 2001. All five players are seniors on this year's team and had much to do with Clemson's strong finish to the season.
Hamlin and McKissic were named co-captains of the defense, while Davis and Harper were named co-captains of the office. Grisham represented the special teams.
• Clemson's C.J. Spiller tied for third in balloting for the ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Spiller received six votes from the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, matching Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina.
Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer won the honor with 42 votes while N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson was second with 11 votes.
Spiller, a junior, led the ACC in all-purpose running and needs just 114 all-purpose yards to become Clemson's all-time leader. He also had 430 yards receiving this season, a Clemson record for a running back.
