Ten years ago, I hopped on an elevator at the ACC Kickoff when they still held it at the Grandover in Greensboro, N.C. Heading up to my hotel room after a long day of golf, player interviews, and a pretty awesome cocktail hour, I heard the type of footsteps that are reserved only for people rushing to catch an elevator they know they likely won’t catch.
Feeling generous, I stuck my foot in front of the door, and was greeted by Dabo Swinney and his wife, Kathleen. At 21 years old and at my first media event, a few whiskeys and some brash naivete encouraged me to talk Dabo’s ear off about how great it was that he had earned the full-time position at Clemson after being an interim coach, and that I hoped the best for him because “the ACC needed it.