Coach Swinney Addresses General Assembly at the State House

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)- Coach Swinney addressed legislators from both sides of the aisle Tuesday, using football as a metaphor for coming together for the greater good.

Coach Dabo Swinney stood before members of South Carolina’s House and Senate, telling legislators that their similarities are far greater than their differences.

“We have senators, representatives, Democrats, Republicans, Gamecocks, Tigers, Bulldogs, whatever else, but we’re all here together as South Carolinians and we all have this common bond which is the love of this state,” said Swinney.

“I thought he did a great job of kind of just talking about the athletic program and team at Clemson but just how we can move forward as a state together, shrugging off and shedding some of our differences and focusing on the things that brings us together and it was one of the more inspiring speeches I’ve ever heard in the chamber,” said Calhoun representative and Clemson graduate Russell Ott.

The Clemson Day celebration carried over outside onto the state house steps as the Department of Transportation unveiled new road signs that will welcome drivers into South Carolina and the Clemson area.

“We just appreciate the opportunity to have these signs at very strategic locations as tourists and folks come throughout the state of South Carolina to understand how proud and appreciative we are for Clemson University and for our football team and being the 2016 national champions,” said Clemson alumnus and Oconee senator Thomas Alexander.