THE HEAD COACH of the Clemson Tigers — former home to NFL players such as CJ Spiller, Sammy Watkins and Byron Maxwell — has said it would be a “great experience” to bring his team to Ireland and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Notre Dame and Penn State.
Dabo Swinney’s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rivals Georgia Tech and Boston College will face off in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 3 September 2016 and the Clemson coach — whose side are favourites to win the ACC title this season — was asked on Wendesday if he would accept an invitation to play on this side of the Atlantic.
“Shoot yeah, man,” he said.
“What a great experience and opportunity for your team.
“Some of these guys have never seen the mountains or the lake and things like that. I can only imagine what it’d be like to take your team to a place like Ireland.”
The news is no surprise to Padraic O’Kane who was in North Carolina representing Irish American Events, the company putting on next year’s Aviva game.
“Clemson is definitely a team we’re looking at,” he told The42 today.
“The ACC conference is looking at pushing their events globally, not just in football but in other sports too, and you can see the scope of their ambition with two teams from the same conference playing abroad next year for the first time.
“We also got to chat with the athletic directors of teams like Florida State and Virginia Tech. It was a very soft sell for them because they are looking at opportunities moving forward.
“We have the environment with Irish American Events to really promote Ireland as a destination and getting a window with athletic directors and the ACC commissioner John Swofford affords us the opportunity to plan ahead.”
O’Kane — who also took the opportunity to unveil the Waterford Crystal trophy, shaped like an American football helmet, that will go to the winners of next year’s game – says that, while he welcomes the fact Notre Dame have expressed interest in a future game, the goal is to move away from just teams with a link to Ireland and onto the heavy hitters in the sport.
“There’s a certain amount of discussion going on [with Notre Dame]. We will talk to them and they’ve said clearly they want to come back so you never know.
“But we want to reach outside of the likes of Boston College and Notre Dame and we really want the big teams to start thinking about this and I think they are.”
Which teams would you like to see play in Ireland? Let us know in the comment section below.
Serious atmosphere here in Cavan. This is exactly where you want to be playing the All Ireland Champions. Whatever the result these games against the top 4 will stand to us in the summer months
It’s exactly the gate the county board needed as well
Mind blowing that people would actually travel to watch that rubbish sport.
@Ordinary lad: the much “hyped” Irish Rugby team lost yesterday. How much money do those lads earn?
Mind blowing that someone would take the time to open an article about a sport they consider to be ‘rubbish’ and then take the time to comment on it.
How can a team that receives €120k in funding compete against a team that receives €1.4million
Hahaha give over Al . Deep down you love the gaa
@Alan b..: Sure all the money we’ll be spending here we’ll double that funding for you pal ;)
a decent workout so far get rid of the Jamaican rum and redstripe against another nordie team who’s sole intention is to pull drag and hit off the ball.
Don’t know what game your watching. The hits off the ball have been 50:50.
Eh cavan is in the south of Ireland Einstein
fergal reilly should count himself lucky to share a pitch with these wonderful dublin footballers instead of going around like a drunk at a wedding looking for a fight.
That was stared by the Dublin man on the ground. You’re incredibly anti ulster football
And then mdma was the first man to get involved.
And who look for a figth at a wedding
ah lorcan stop it now.
fergal reilly would.
it’s north of me ya tit
@Alan b..: that explains why the dubs were late they looked at a map and headed north. When did this geographical transplant take place.
don’t be a tit like alan cavan play in ulster which is up north so they are nordies.
Cavan is not in Northern Ireland you don’t cross the border or use sterling
I didn’t say it was in Northern Ireland .
What do you mean by nordie then?if you are calling them that cos they’re north of you does that mean someone from cork would class Dublin as a nordie team
if they wanted to yes beacuse they would be northern to a Cork person now cavan is in ulster and part of the Republic of Ireland beacuse the brits didn’t want the kip so yes you are nordies which we where stuck with.
Stop you’re just embarrassing yourself
What part of Dublin are you from?
what difference does it make?
cavan play in the ulster champions with the other 8 nordie counties it’s no big deal just accept it is the way it is don’t be embarrassed alan.
All the complaints about dublins fans. Have any other county brought a few thousand fans with them today ?
@Gavin Byrne: In comparison Dublin have a fan base of about 10 times what other counties have. So of course they will bring large numbers with them.
Fair play today they really brought a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of money to Cavan town today
That a few time in the last three years the cavan has been delayed because of the fans.
If the dubs can’t make it to croke park on time how do you expect them to make it to cavan on time
@Lorcán Coyle: Should know by now that nothing in Cavan ever starts on time, nearest fifteen minutes, sure that’ll do.!!!
Ref jersey looks too like Dubs
We’ll save that excuse for later
Massive achievement if Roscommon can some how stay up in Division 1.
Lorcan are u watching the match