Clemson’s Dabo Swinney fined for comment on penalty vs. Duke

CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney made his feelings of displeasure known about a Clemson pass interference penalty that set up Duke’s game-winning touchdown on Nov. 2.

On Nov. 3, the ACC handed Clemson a $10,000 fine for Swinney’s remarks.

In a statement, the conference said Swinney’s comments — among them, that the penalty was “one of the worst calls I've ever seen in a game, ever, in my entire coaching career” — constituted a “direct violation” of the league’s sportsmanship policy, which says public criticism of officials “is not in the best interest of intercollegiate athletics.”

“Individuals associated with the athletics program are prohibited, therefore, from commenting while acting in an official capacity on officiating other than directly to the Conference office,” the policy states.

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