Dabo Swinney 'disappointed' to see allegations against Deshaun Watson, loves him 'like a son'
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney isn’t caught up with all of the specifics regarding the sexual misconduct allegations surrounding his former quarterback Deshaun Watson, and he isn’t happy about them.
Swinney is, though, standing by him.
“Certainly, I'm disappointed to see his name in the news and all that’s going on,” Swinney said Monday night, via the Greenville News. “But, look, I love Deshaun Watson. He’s like a son to me. That’s how I love him.”
Swinney: Watson has ‘been nothing but exemplary in every area’
Sixteen different lawsuits have been filed against Watson in recent days alleging that the Houston Texans quarterback either committed acts of sexual misconduct or assault against various massage therapists. Among other things, Watson allegedly “coerced” a woman into performing oral sex and even wrapped his legs around a woman’s head in an attempt to force oral sex before masturbating in front of her.
Watson — who has been caught up in a feud with the Texans organization and demanded a trade — has denied the allegations on multiple occasions.
Though Swinney, who coached Watson from 2014-16 and won a national title with him, wouldn’t comment on the troubling allegations against Watson specifically, he did credit Watson’s “exemplary” character.
Throughout his time with Watson at Clemson, there was only one minor incident he could recall.
“All I can tell you is that I’ve known Deshaun since he was in the ninth grade and he’s been nothing but exemplary in every area,” Swinney said, via the Greenville News. “In three years here as a player, I think I had a chance to yell at him one time. He was five minutes late for a team meeting that he overslept for. And that’s it. That’s the Deshaun I know.
“I can only base my thoughts on my experience with him, and they've been wonderful. Again, I love him like a son. We'll just have to see where everything goes from here.”
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