When you do this job for enough years, you meet a large swath of coaches. You also learn where you can, and more importantly, should not go with questions. Any reporter prefers to talk to coaches who don’t shy away from challenging questions. After all, it is part of their job to deal with the media in all of its forms. But big-picture issues can be a challenge.
Topic Selective
Some coaches would rather talk about a sprained ankle on their third-string center than share their thoughts on the latest NCAA proposed changes.
There was famously a coach at a Power Five school who would habitually roll his eyes at the onset of a lofty topic question. “We’re just here trying to have a great Tuesday, and you guys want to ask big-picture questions,” he would say to the two specific reporters who couldn’t help but do their jobs.
And then there are the few and far between on the other side. Some are glib and have a quick hit social media post. Others have thought about it and formed real answers. Former Stanford coach David Shaw was always a favorite of the media. No topic was too big or too small. Sit with him for 15 minutes and he was just as likely to quote a 2012 Princeton study on the sleep that athletes need, as he was on the latest football rankings.
Clawson
That brings us to Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson. He is not one to shrink away from topics. In two-and-a-half years of this outlet covering Demon Deacons football, we have talked to him about ranging from athletes’ rights, pay scale, NCAA enforcement, or lack thereof, of rules; the economics of college sports, and more. He was at the forefront on the topic of college football pulling away from the NCAA. He was even prepared years ago to go into details as to the how and why.
Of course, we discuss his roster, the depth chart, the pain of going 4-8 after a seven-year run of bowl appearances, assistant coaches, and every upcoming opponent. But Clawson will take on the big picture topics. He may give a bit of a wince at first but give him about 30 seconds and he will dig deep into the topic trenches with you. And never in that time has he responded with the coach speak of, “That’s above my pay grade.”
Big Picture, Big Future
So, it came naturally to us to bring a big-picture question to Clawson this week at ACC Kickoff. In recent weeks, a highly regarded athletic director in the ACC told us in an off-the-record conversation that there was a group of administrators who consider Clawson to be, “One of the smartest guys in college sports.” The AD went on to say that Clawson could do pretty much any job in college sports when he decided he was done coaching.
We proposed that to Clawson this week. Would he have any interest in such a big-picture undertaking?
“Right now, I’m just trying to have a winning season in order to make sure they allow me to continue to do the job I’m doing,” he said with laughter. “At some point, way down the road, I’d love to stay involved in the game in a different role, in adding value to college football.”
For him, Clawson said it is a way of giving back. “I owe a lot to this sport.” He did add that any move to the “next level” would for him hopefully be years off because he feels he has a lot of coaching left in him.
He already serves on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), as a representative of the ACC.
Earning the Right to Be Heard
Many coaches tend to speak out in the much later years of their careers. They feel they have earned the platform at that point. Clawson is entering his 11th year at Wake. He has 25 years under his belt as a head coach in college football. The photo of him that the athletic department uses for promotional items and events belies his experience. There is very little gray hair in the photo. It bears little current resemblance. It’s not true to life after his years of answering those pesky big-picture questions from the media. But at least he answers them. There are quite possibly big steps for Clawson to take when he is done coaching.
