1930s Spring Games | The Last Word
Head Coach Dabo Swinney has often expressed support for the NCAA allowing teams to play an exhibition game in the spring. Such games would be against opponents not scheduled for the fall season.
The idea appears in the Duke football gameday program, where several coaches have suggested hosting a Spring Game as a fundraiser, similar to some Division I basketball teams conducting preseason exhibition games. Swinney supports a Clemson vs. Furman Spring Game in Death Valley to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, a cause central to Dabo’s All In Team Foundation. This event could potentially raise over $1 million in a single day for the cause close to him and his wife, Kathleen.
Historical Precedent
Surprisingly, Clemson and Duke have a history of spring matchups. The two schools met each March in 1937, 1938, and 1939. These games were initiated collaboratively by Duke Head Coach Wallace Wade and Clemson Head Coach Jess Neely.
Significance of the Spring Games
A spring game between Clemson and Duke during that era was significant, as both teams were led by Hall of Fame coaches and featured All-American players. Although both schools belonged to the Southern Conference, they did not face each other during the regular seasons of those years.
“Do you think ACC Network would love to see exhibition Spring Games between conference schools, giving them significant inventory in March, April and May?”
Such exhibition games could offer additional content for networks during months typically outside the regular football season.
Would you like the tone to be more formal or conversational?