CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Summer athletics update: Brownell contract, construction and alcohol sales
Radakovich speaks with the media Wednesday afternoon

Summer athletics update: Brownell contract, construction and alcohol sales


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Clemson Athletic Director Dan Radakovich said he and men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell are very close to getting Brownell’s new contract complete.

In football terms, they are on the five-yard line.

The Clemson media met with Radakovich early Wednesday afternoon for the annual state of the program press conference, and Radakovich said that both parties have been trying to reach a deal since the end of basketball season.

“We are very nearly done,” Radakovich said. “I was going to say we are at the five-yard line, but he is a basketball coach. I was searching for a basketball analogy. But, we are very, very close to having that done and then have it prepared to take to the board of trustees for their ratification and approval.”

Clemson made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, but Radakovich said he didn’t feel vindication for keeping Brownell after many in the fan base wanted to find a new coach.

“I don't know that I would put it in the vindication category because I felt so strongly that the bones of the basketball program, led by Coach Brownell, were so strong,” he said. “In my conversations with Coach Brownell, there were a few things we thought we could do to help him become more successful and I think we did those things. Not only the facilities but some key personnel that we added in to create a greater communication and camaraderie.”

*Radakovich said it was a good year for sports at Clemson.

“It was a pretty good year for Clemson athletics all the way around, starting in the fall with our football program, our two soccer programs and our volleyball program is moving into a good spot with Michaela (Franklin). This winter, certainly the run by our basketball team into the Sweet 16 was incredibly important. Into the spring, our tennis programs were vagabonds as we move forward with their facility but the women did make the NCAA Tournament. The golf teams were both just outstanding this spring, the men losing the ACC by one stroke but making it to the NCAA Finals. And the baseball team did an incredible job winning 47 games. All in all, I thought there was a lot of progress with our sports on the field.”

*Radakovich is close to hiring a replacement for longtime football SID Tim Bourret. Bourret retires after 40 years at Clemson on July 1. Head football coach Dabo Swinney has been involved in the hiring process.

“We are at the goal line on that one, and in the next few days we will be able to tie everything up in the HR Process, so it would be premature for me to talk about that today, but you will see something in the coming days associated with that. I do want to say, from a process perspective, that Coach (Dabo) Swinney has been involved and he's been great. This is going to be a day-to-day contact for him and the entire football program.”

*The IPTAY building at the corner of the stadium will be demolished at the end of the season. The new office will be built in the same spot.

*Following the addition of the new softball complex – built in the lot behind the Chapman Grandstands – the motor home lot in Jervey Meadows will remain the motor home lot, but minus about 200 spots.

*All of the construction in front of Sikes Hall and Tillman Hall is expected to be completed by move-in day and the first home football game. “We have been assured many times that it will be operable and game day traffic will be affected in the least way possible.”

*The school is close to a record for football season tickets sold with over 58,000.

*Radakovich said Clemson is not interested in alcohol sales at home sporting events. "That's just something that is not on our radar," Radakovich said.

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