Dabo Swinney: Clemson Spring Game an "Opportunity"

Hugh Freeze's idea for in-state scrimmages has gotten some positive feedback, but, for now, spring games are as close as college football gets to a preseason game.

Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney is excited about where his team is at following their second of three scrimmages this spring. "Probably, honestly, our best day as a team all spring," said Swinney. "Really competitive. Not a lot of crap… It was a very clean scrimmage. Very competitive on both sides and really a good way to kind of go into this Easter break this weekend."

Following the aforementioned break for Easter, Clemson will return for their final week of spring practice, leading up to the Orange and White Spring Game on April 15th in Death Valley. Swinney is asking the Clemson faithful to pack out the stadium for the game.

“I’d love to see us fill this thing up. It’s a big day. We moved it. Obviously, it could’ve been this weekend, but we moved it for Easter. We need a great crowd here. We need some energy and excitement. We have a ton of recruits coming in. Hopefully Tiger Nation - it’s free - will show up and let’s have a great day in the Valley. I think later at home that day, they’re going to retire Jack Leggett’s jersey in baseball. What a cool day to come spend here in Clemson.”

Clemson will host its Spring Game at 1:00 p.m. on April 15th. (David Platt/Clemson Athletics)

Clemson will indeed be retiring former baseball coach Jack Leggett's No. 7 on the 15th prior to the baseball team's game against Notre Dame. Aside from being a great opportunity for fans to get an up-close look at their Tigers, the spring game is a chance for Clemson to get a look at their team in as close to a game atmosphere as they can get prior to the season.

"Don’t let the spring game create too much excitement or too much disappointment," said Swinney. "It’s an intra-squad type scrimmage. Your team is split up and all that stuff, but man, what an opportunity for guys to grow and you’ve got some guys getting some bigger roles. That’s why it’s important that we fill this place up as much as we can. That’s what everybody needs to understand: it’s not just recruiting, [college football] doesn’t get preseason games, right?... It’s not the NFL where you get to go play 3 preseason games… The spring game, it’s like a game. When we show up and [the full stadium] just creates another level of preparation. The opportunity to get some preparation that you don’t get in a normal scrimmage or a normal practice."

More Clemson News:

• Garrett Riley Named Top Offensive Coordinator in College Football by PFF
• Will Shipley Looking to "Add Whole New Dimension" to Offense
• Clemson to Receive First Official Visit for 5-Star Linebacker This Summer

Follow Christian Goeckel for more Clemson Football coverage: @goeckelsports