Clemsonfootball coach Dabo Swinney and South Carolina coach Shane Beamer may spend every year battling for bragging rights, but the two continue to show there’s a genuine friendship behind the rivalry.
Swinney attended the sold-out George Strait concert at Death Valley on May 2 and decided to give Beamer a glimpse of the scene. According to Beamer, Swinney repeatedly tried to FaceTime him during the event, calling three different times before finally getting a reply.
“I was thinking, ‘What’s wrong?’” Beamer said while laughing about the moment. “Then I finally texted back, ‘Sorry I missed you, I’m busy recruiting. Hope you’re all enjoying George Strait.’”
It’s another example of the lighthearted relationship the two coaches have built despite leading rival programs. Swinney clearly wanted to show off the incredible atmosphere inside Memorial Stadium, and judging by the reaction from fans, there was plenty worth sharing.
The concert turned into a historic night for Clemson as well. It marked the first major event held in Death Valley since Strait’s Country Music Festival back on March 28, 1999, ending a wait of more than 25 years for a massive concert at the stadium.
The turnout was enormous. A crowd of 90,037 fans packed Memorial Stadium, setting a new attendance record for the venue. It also became the largest concert crowd of Strait’s career outside the state of Texas, adding another memorable chapter to the legendary country star’s career.
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— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) May 6, 2026
Nice gesture by Swinney to try and include his rival-turned-friend in the moment, even if Beamer was a little too busy on the recruiting trail to answer the first few calls.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Shame Beamer jokes about Dabo Swinney FaceTiming him while recruiting
