Dabo Swinney and Clemson Spent Absurd Amount of Money on One Recruiting Weekend Last Season

Sustaining success in college football requires some stellar recruiting, and there's no doubt that Clemson's ability to bring in talented players is a major factor in their recent dominance of the ACC. However, a new report shows that the juggernaut program has apparently been dishing out some serious cash to cater to their recruits. No, not like that.

On one visiting weekend in 2019, Dabo Swinney and company shelled out a whopping $85,000 on lodging and amenities for his prospective proteges. For the sake of only eleven high schoolers, the university went all out in preparing lavish rooms and meals involving expensive seafood and steaks.

The over-the top wining, or rather grape juicing for the sub-21 recruits, and dining payed off for the Tigers in a big way. Ten of the eleven have committed to the program. Nine of the ten enrolled in the university early. Apparently, it pays to pay a lot.

Official visits are typically a more clandestine affair, and media is barred from interfering or reporting on too much. It's rare to get such a candid look at the way teams operate, and the revelation that $85,000 was spent on a hotel stay and a pseudo-party is just crazy. It seems to be working for Clemson, though.

What's perhaps most shocking is that it's only a sliver of their $2 million dollar recruitment budget. Deep pockets make it a whole lot easier to wow some young players. High-end seafood helps too.