CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) New Clemson defensive line coach Todd Bates knew there would be lots of questions to answer about his new position. He just didn’t figure that many of them would come from Tigers star lineman Christian Wilkins.
Before Bates was hired in January, Wilkins put him on the hot seat and grilled him on everything from football to his family.
”Don’t know if I expected that,” Bates said Tuesday. ”But that’s what happens when you’re the new guy.”
Particularly at Clemson, where recently there hasn’t been much turnover in the coaching staff.
Bates and safeties coach Mickey Conn, who are starting their first on-field seasons with the Tigers, are just the third new coaches to join the staff in the last five years.