Clemson football coach under fire from Freedom From Religion Group (1 Viewer)

[bigbottom]

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney under fire from Freedom From Religion Foundation

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/clemson-coach-accused-violating-separation-church-state-article-1.1760450

A group that has fought against nativity scenes at government buildings and the term “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency, has found a new target: the Clemson University football team.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation, which claims it “works to promote the constitutional principle of separation between church and state” has filed a complaint with the South Carolina school over “serious concerns about how the public university’s football program is entangled with religion.”

The non-profit, which lists former Saturday Night Live castmember Julia Sweeney and Ron Reagan, son of late President Ronald Reagan, as honorary board members, contends that “Christian Worship seems interwoven into Clemson’s football program.

“We are concerned that this commingling of religious and athletic results, not from student initiative, but from the attitudes and unconstituional behavoriors of the coaching staff.”

In the complaint, the group contends:

- Coach Dabo Swinney invited James Trapp to be the team’s chaplain.

- Trapp was given access to the entire team in between drills for bible study.

- Trapp has an office at the atheltic center and displays bible quotes on a whiteboard and organized and led sessions on “being baptized” in the athletic building.

The FFRF also contends that Swinney schedules team devotionals.

In a statement, Clemson’s Chief of Public Affairs Officer, Cathy Sams, said, "We believe the practices of the football staff regarding religion are compliant with the Constitution and appropriately accommodate differing religious views.

“Participation in religious activities is purely voluntary, and there are no repercussions for students who decline to do so. We are not aware of any complaints from current or former student-athletes about feeling pressured or forced to participate in religious activities.

“Clemson takes very seriously its obligation to provide a comprehensive program for the development and welfare of our student-athletes – which encompasses academic, athletic and personal support, including support for their spiritual needs.

“We will evaluate the complaints raised in the letter and will respond directly to the organization, but we believe FFRF is mistaken in its assessment. The Supreme Court has expressly upheld the right of public bodies to employ chaplains and has noted that the use of prayer is not in conflict with the principles of disestablishment and religious freedom.”

This isn’t the first time the group has gone after a college. According to its website, in 2012, FFRF sent a letter to Appalacian State in Boone, N.C., regarding similar violations and the school “agreed that the program’s religious entanglement was coercive and had no legitimate place in the athletic program.”

Religion and football. Seems like a perfect FFA thread topic.

 

[AAABatteries]

I've been to Clemson a few times and it's obvious that God hates Clemson, so IMO Dabo is fighting a losing battle here.

 

[bigbottom]

Another article: Clemson University's Football Accused Of 'Christian Worship' By Atheist Group

Clemson University's football team may be ranked in the top 10 for college teams, but it's on the defensive now from accusations saying it is steeped in "Christian worship."

The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), a Wisconsin-based atheist organization, recently sent a letter to the Senior Associate General Counsel of Clemson University condemning what it calls an "endorsement of religion over nonreligion" in the school's football program.

The group pointed to coach Dabo Swinney's personal invitation in 2011 to bring Minister James Trapp on board as the Clemson Tigers Chaplain. This, the letter says, goes against the school's "Guidelines For Athletic Team Chaplains" which states that students must select their own chaplains and seek approval from the coach.

The organization objected to what it sees as an overt inclusion of religion in the athletic program, allegedly including the reciting of Scriptural passages, distribution of Bibles and coercion to attend church.

In an in-depth article on the religious culture of Clemson's football program, Brad Wolverton from The Chronicle of Higher Education described many of the same practices FFRF outlined.

At Clemson, God is everywhere. The team's chaplain leads a Bible study for coaches every Monday and Thursday. Another three times a week, the staff gathers for devotionals. Nearly every player shows up at a voluntary chapel service the night before each game.The players all know the coach's favorite Bible verse, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25: "Run your race to win, don't just run the race."

Clemson University has a chapter in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) with a website that offers information about campus pastoral care, church services, missionary trips and more.
The university's chief public affairs officer Cathy Sams told The Greenville News she wasn't concerned about the religious nature of the program, however.

"No one is required to participate in any religious activities related to the football program," she said. "It's purely voluntary. Religion and faith is a big part of Coach Swinney's personal beliefs, but it is in no way required. There is no mandatory participation."

Coach Swinney echoed similar sentiments in the Chronicle of Higher Education article. "I've had Muslims, Catholics—I've got two Mormons on this team right now," Swinney told Wolverton. "When we get out on the football field, it's not about if you're a Christian, it's about who's the best player."

FFRF is not convinced, however, and urged the university to ensure that Swinney and Trapp discontinue any practices that may be deemed as proselytizing in any way.

"Coaches should be aware of the tremendous influence they have on their athletes," FFRF said in its letter. "These young men spend a great deal of time in their coach's charge, and the coaches through their own example must be sure that athletes are not only treated fairly but also imbued with a sense of community and camaraderie."

 

[Sand]

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney under fire from Freedom From Religion Foundation

The opposite of whatever these ########s fight for is the correct answer, so Dabo is evidently doing good work.

 

[Thorn]

The "Freedom FROM Religion Foundation." So bold you almost have to respect it.

 

[In The Zone]

Father Dabo, a man with many hats.

Go have another baptism at practice. That'll teach em.

 

[Workhorse]

The players all know the coach's favorite Bible verse, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25: "Run your race to win, don't just run the race."

I can't see why this is an issue. Because of the source? Would this group feel better if that statement had come from Sun Tzu's "Art of War"?

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I doubt very much this will be a good Friday thread. It's better on a Tuesday I think.

 

[bigmarc27]

I'm a Clemson grad so I'm a bit familiar with this situation and Dabo.

Dabo is loud and proud of his faith, but that's about it. The church referred to is a mega church so a large majority of students go there if that is their preferred religion. The claims that Dabo funnels people to the church is a bit ridiculous.

It's football in the south, there's going to be religion around it. It's not any different than what happens at UGA, FSU, Auburn, etc... though. Mark Richt was in a religion-financed movie about faith and nobody seems to have a problem there. It's just rabble rousing considering I've never read a report of players or families having any issue.

 

[Slapdash]

I've been to Clemson a few times and it's obvious that God hates Clemson, so IMO Dabo is fighting a losing battle here.

 

[joffer]

His name is really Dabo Swinney?

 

[bigmarc27]

His name is really Dabo Swinney?

Dabo is a nickname. His younger brother called him that as a toddler and it stuck. Real name is William Christopher or Christopher William (something like that).

 

[Hang 10]

I will wait to hear the position of the Offended by Everything group before I comment.

 

[bigbottom]

Initially heard the story this morning on sports radio. This is the south where I live, so I was surprised to hear both of the hosts express concern about Dabo stepping over the line. Bussing the team to church for a "church day" was one of the issues they raised, along with organizing Baptist Bible studies for players (they noted it's one thing for the players themselves to hold bible studies, but apparently the Clemson coaching staff organizes them). Not sure to what extent the allegations are true, as Clemson has not responded with particularity at this point.

You spend anytime around the 44-year-old and you are going to hear about Jesus, Scripture, and the power of it all. It isn't necessarily, or at least not always, done to proselytize. It's part of how he talks, how he lives. Faith, Family, Football – that's about it with him.There is no delineation.

For the people at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a non-profit out of Madison, Wis., there needs to be or he shouldn't have his job.

In what is, if nothing else, an absolutely fascinating subject, the FFRF sent a letter of complaint to Clemson this week about "several serious constitutional concerns" over how "Christian worship seems interwoven into the Clemson football program."

Responding to what it says was a complaint sent to it by a member of the public, the FFRF had one of its five staff attorneys investigate the program via open records requests over the constitutionally protected separation between church and state.

It uncovered a host of issues, from Swinney directly hiring the team chaplain (even Clemson policy says the players should choose), to coaches participating in testimonials and bible studies, to buses being organized to transport the entire team to "Church Day" at a local Baptist Church.

The letter, in great detail, cites various university policies and case law that are violated by these actions. It's a thorough letter. And it goes after Swinney, who it claims as a public employee is barred from participating in any official capacity in the religious activities of his players or underlings.

 

[3C's]

It's "people" like them that ruin it for everyone.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I'm a Clemson grad so I'm a bit familiar with this situation and Dabo.

Dabo is loud and proud of his faith, but that's about it. The church referred to is a mega church so a large majority of students go there if that is their preferred religion. The claims that Dabo funnels people to the church is a bit ridiculous.

It's football in the south, there's going to be religion around it. It's not any different than what happens at UGA, FSU, Auburn, etc... though. Mark Richt was in a religion-financed movie about faith and nobody seems to have a problem there. It's just rabble rousing considering I've never read a report of players or families having any issue.

That hypocritical donkey is even nicknamed Reverend Richt

 

[timschochet]

Sammy Watkins doesn't strike me, from what I've read about him, as especially devout.

 

[SWC]

i always root for sconny so i hope these whack jobs crush clemson take that to the bank brohans

 

[Sand]

Sammy Watkins doesn't strike me, from what I've read about him, as especially devout.

Shush you. He's an angel.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I'm a Clemson grad so I'm a bit familiar with this situation and Dabo.

Dabo is loud and proud of his faith, but that's about it. The church referred to is a mega church so a large majority of students go there if that is their preferred religion. The claims that Dabo funnels people to the church is a bit ridiculous.

It's football in the south, there's going to be religion around it. It's not any different than what happens at UGA, FSU, Auburn, etc... though. Mark Richt was in a religion-financed movie about faith and nobody seems to have a problem there. It's just rabble rousing considering I've never read a report of players or families having any issue.

And yet none of this means it's OK to "entangle" a publicly funded university program with religion.

 

[EYLive]

Typical BLOUSES

 

[bigmarc27]

I'm a Clemson grad so I'm a bit familiar with this situation and Dabo.

Dabo is loud and proud of his faith, but that's about it. The church referred to is a mega church so a large majority of students go there if that is their preferred religion. The claims that Dabo funnels people to the church is a bit ridiculous.

It's football in the south, there's going to be religion around it. It's not any different than what happens at UGA, FSU, Auburn, etc... though. Mark Richt was in a religion-financed movie about faith and nobody seems to have a problem there. It's just rabble rousing considering I've never read a report of players or families having any issue.

And yet none of this means it's OK to "entangle" a publicly funded university program with religion.

I never said it did. I'm saying the claims are a bit ridiculous and obviously a headline grab.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I doubt very much this will be a good Friday thread. It's better on a Tuesday I think.

look at this guy

 

[Rick James]

This isn't separation of church and state issue. People are way too liberal with that phrase. Did congress pass a law instituting a national religion? No. Is Clemson forbidding players from practicing their own religions? No.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

This isn't separation of church and state issue. People are way too liberal with that phrase. Did congress pass a law instituting a national religion? No. Is Clemson forbidding players from practicing their own religions? No.

Dude was bussing the team to church. Pretty effed up IMO.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

When I played in high school, my coach would routinely walk up to players like me and say "Scooby, when was the last time you prayed to God?" So first, I'd make a joke of it. "Right before my last biology test, coach!" But eventually I had to make something up. I also got in the prayer circle before the game and mumbled the Lord's Prayer like everyone else. And I'm not sure it was harmful or anything (although there were players who were devout but not that talented who I felt got more playing time than they deserved), but I always wondered how everyone would feel if my coach was a Wiccan or a Muslim or something and did the same stuff.