ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill loves Dabo Swinney calling out Ole Miss

Nearly two weeks after Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney publicly accused Ole Miss of tampering with linebacker Luke Ferrelli, the situation remains unresolved, and the silence from college football’s governing body has only intensified the spotlight.

The NCAA has acknowledged the Tigers’ complaint and stated it is reviewing the allegations, but no further details or timelines have been shared. Ole Miss has not issued any public response, which has left many around the sport frustrated but unsurprised.

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On ESPN’s College Football Live, analysts Tom Luginbill and Sam Acho both pointed to tampering as the real problem in today’s college football landscape, not NIL or the existence of the transfer portal.

“The reality of the situation is, something has to put a stop to this. Because this is the problem. It’s not name, image and likeness. It’s not the transfer portal. It’s tampering,” Luginbill said.

Luginbill explained that coaches, including Swinney, are asking for rules that actually matter and punishments that are strong enough to change behavior.

“What the coaches are asking for, with Dabo Swinney in particular here, is for that to matter, and there to be accountability if there are rules in place against this, to be levied against the coach, the assistant coach, the university, and for there to be distinct penalties, and penalties so severe that you wouldn’t think to step over it.”

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Acho agreed that consequences should focus on coaches rather than players, while also questioning whether many in the profession will be willing to speak out.

“I think it’s a very slight chance that more coaches calling out coaches happens,” Acho said. “Coaching is somewhat of a fraternity. But my point is that the penalty should not be levied on the player. The penalty for some of the tampering should be levied on the coaches who are the ones who are texting and calling the players.”