{"id":438512,"date":"2023-10-22T05:12:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-22T05:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/?p=438512"},"modified":"2023-10-22T05:12:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T05:12:27","slug":"clemson-football-coach-dabo-swinney-brought-by-a-kicker-who-was-about-to-quit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/clemson-football-coach-dabo-swinney-brought-by-a-kicker-who-was-about-to-quit\/","title":{"rendered":"Clemson Football Coach Dabo Swinney Brought By A Kicker Who Was About To Quit!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This week, Clemson needed a new kicker, so coach Dabo Swinney phoned a recognizable name who wasn\u2019t even playing football. Despite preparing for a career in the real world, Jonathan Weitz, Clemson\u2019s former backup kicker, returned to the squad this week.<\/p>\n<p>Weitz was a walk-on at Clemson from 2019 to \u201922, but he spent his whole career trailing B.T. Potter, the Tigers\u2019 all-time field goal leader. After last year, both Potter and Weitz left the squad, with Potter going to the NFL and Weitz moving on to the next stage of his life.<\/p>\n<h2>Clemson Football Coach Dabo Swinney Brought By A Kicker Who Was About To Quit!<\/h2>\n<p>After learning that the former kicker was still enrolled at Clemson, the coach reached out to him. While living in Charleston, Weitz was taking online classes through the school to earn his master\u2019s degree. Swinney phoned him after he took a job offer in New York City, asking whether he was still in school. Swinney urged Weitz to rejoin the team after he answered that he was.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Almost became a Hollywood ending. Kicker Jonathan Weitz spent the previous 4 years on the bench. And was out of school, but taking online classes  and getting ready to start a new job as a financial advisor in New York when Coach Dabo Swinney called him last week because Clemson\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nRqrXBbMcm\">pic.twitter.com\/nRqrXBbMcm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Chris| Sports Fanatic (@SportsWinn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsWinn\/status\/1705666718956224548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Despite having a job set up in New York City, Weitz opted to return and started for Clemson against No. 4 Florida State. Weitz, who had previously only made extra points, made his first collegiate field goal in the first quarter, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead.<\/p>\n<p>Over the previous week, Weitz\u2019s LinkedIn profile has been the most popular among Clemson master\u2019s degree hopefuls.<\/p>\n<p>Weitz is a Masters of Data Science and Analytics candidate at Clemson and an investment management intern at Ally Financial, according to his LinkedIn profile. In May, the 22-year-old finished with a bachelor\u2019s degree in financial management after three years of study.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney convinced Jonathan Weitz \u2014 who was due to begin a job in New York City in two weeks \u2014 to come out of retirement.<\/p>\n<p>Weitz made his first kick in his return to Clemson and his parent&#39;s reaction was everything \ud83e\udd7a<\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udfa5 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/accnetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@accnetwork<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XiDHp1d2YI\">pic.twitter.com\/XiDHp1d2YI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Athletic (@TheAthletic) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheAthletic\/status\/1705643062871945529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Swinney admitted that he would most likely use Gunn for long-range kicks, but he needed a more reliable alternative for short kicks and extra-point tries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s either gonna be a great story or it\u2019s gonna be terrible. It\u2019s not gonna be anything in between,\u201d Swinney said about Weitz, via The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheAthletic\/status\/1705667125958828529\">Athletic\u2019s<\/a> Grace Raynor. \u201cI hope [Saturday] doesn\u2019t come down to a kick. I don\u2019t know if my heart can take that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Weitz ended up starting Saturday\u2019s game against No. 4 Florida State, and his performance was mixed. He hit an early field goal to put Clemson up 3-0, then missed a game-tying field goal from 29 yards out with 1:45 remaining. Clemson was defeated 31-24.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Dabo Swinney happy as hell that he found a kicker that can make field goals in Jonathan Weitz. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FSUvsClemson?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FSUvsClemson<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2mlYJFSFRL\">pic.twitter.com\/2mlYJFSFRL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Swapty Sports (@SwaptySports) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SwaptySports\/status\/1705623896697745880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Weitz took over for redshirt sophomore Robert Gunn III, who had a rough first three games of the season. He had two field-goal tries against Duke blocked and a field goal and an extra point missed against Florida Atlantic.<\/p>\n<p>According to Swinney, while Gunn will continue to be the favored choice on longer kicks, Weitz is regarded the likely starting kicker and will likely receive opportunities on at least PATs. Gunn missed an extra point, a 31-yard field goal attempt, and field goals from 41 and 23 yards in the opening defeat against Duke. Swinney said Weitz, a graduating senior, made 7-of-8 tries in practice on Monday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jonathan Weitz was planning to start a new job in New York in a couple of weeks, but got a call from Dabo Swinney on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Five days later, he&#39;s the starting kicker at Clemson hitting his first career FG \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n<p>(via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/accnetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@accnetwork<\/a>)<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OEoJ8BaZ1x\">pic.twitter.com\/OEoJ8BaZ1x<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YahooSports\/status\/1705632816971575532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Weitz\u2019s chance comes in a high-pressure game against Florida State, when the Tigers cannot afford to go 0-2 in the ACC.<\/p>\n<h2>Why did Dabo Swinney bring back Jonathan Weitz?<\/h2>\n<p>Potter, Weitz\u2019s teammate, said they joked about Weitz being summoned back to the squad this year when another kicker entered the transfer portal in May. After watching Clemson\u2019s first three games, the chance increased.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI did not say anything to Jon. I did not want to bring it up to him,\u201d Potter said to The Clemson Insider. \u201cBut I talked to some of the other guys I used to play with, and I said, \u2018We have to keep an eye on it. Something might happen.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">OK, this is WILD: Former backup kicker Jonathan Weitz, who graduated Clemson last year and was done with football, is back with the team. He was taking online graduate courses from his home in Charleston. Dabo called him Sunday. Here&#39;s the story:<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rsXDFQ5Avm\">https:\/\/t.co\/rsXDFQ5Avm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Larry Williams (@LarryWilliamsTI) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LarryWilliamsTI\/status\/1703871718329053438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 18, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Swinney looked to Weitz for his maturity despite being a backup throughout his four seasons at Clemson when other kickers at practice failed to respond to the opportunity to become starters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s either going to be a great story, or it\u2019s going to be terrible. It\u2019s not going to be anything in between,\u201d Swinney said on this weekend\u2019s game against Florida State.Because of his low-trajectory kicks, Gunn will be used for longer field goal attempts while Weitz will come in for the close \u201clayups.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Clemson kicker puts financial career, NYC move on hold after Dabo Swinney calls him out of retirement.<\/p>\n<p>Jonathan Weitz started for the Tigers today, after a wild week. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/y9Teuo0afg\">https:\/\/t.co\/y9Teuo0afg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; OutKick (@Outkick) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Outkick\/status\/1705635660504154375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Jonathan Weitz College Record<\/h2>\n<p>According to his profile on the football team\u2019s website, Weitz kicked in mop-up duty for the Tigers from 2019 to 2022. Weitz redshirted in 2019 after handling five kickoffs in three games, then kicked his first career extra point against The Citadel the following season. Weitz handled several kickoffs against SC State and made another PAT against UConn in 2021 before kicking what was expected to be his last extra-point attempt against Miami (Fla.) on Senior Day in Death Valley.<\/p>\n<p>Weitz has completed all three of his PATs but has yet to try a field goal in a collegiate game.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jonathan Weitz in 41 &#8211; called in off the beach to kick for the Tigers today. Dabo Swinney says Robert Gunn III will continue to handle kickoffs. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Xkhl6tzMEb\">pic.twitter.com\/Xkhl6tzMEb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Beth Hoole (@bethhooleVNL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bethhooleVNL\/status\/1705604560708837651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Given that players from the 2020 season get an extra year of eligibility, Weitz could conceivably return as a sixth-year graduate senior in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, Florida State defeated Clemson in overtime for the first time since 2014. The No. 3 Seminoles defeated the No. 23 Tigers 31-24 at Memorial Stadium, their first victory there since 2013.<\/p>\n<p>Weitz hit his first career 30-yard field goal in the first quarter and went 3-for-3 on extra points. Late in the fourth quarter, he attempted a 29-yard field goal that would have given Clemson a 3-point lead, but he missed to the left.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Dabo Swinney called longtime backup kicker Jonathan Weitz to come out of retirement this week and utilize his last year of eligibility to play against FSU <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/S5gzM3Bbmf\">https:\/\/t.co\/S5gzM3Bbmf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sports Illustrated (@SInow) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SInow\/status\/1705657713965834273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 23, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Clemson defence made a key stop at the conclusion of the game to keep Florida State from scoring and forcing overtime, but it couldn\u2019t score one more after regulation.<\/p>\n<p>Clemson failed to score when it received the ball in overtime. Cade Klubnik\u2019s first-down pass was incomplete, but Will Shipley picked up 9 yards on second down.<\/p>\n<p>It everything went awry on third-and-1.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Former \u2014 and now current \u2014 kicker Jonathan Weitz is back at Clemson! \ud83c\udfc8<\/p>\n<p>Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney has convinced him out of retirement, three weeks into the college football season and two weeks before Weitz, a grad student, was about to start a new job in NYC \ud83d\ude05 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/t3heIDol9Y\">pic.twitter.com\/t3heIDol9Y<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The GIST USA (@thegistusa) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thegistusa\/status\/1705225030374756511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 22, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>With the loss, Clemson fell to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the ACC, basically ruining its College Football Playoff prospects. No club with two losses has ever made the playoffs. Florida State is now 4-0.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE-\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Take A Look At Highest Scoring Teams In NFL History\" href=\"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/take-a-look-at-highest-scoring-teams-in-nfl-history\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Take A Look At Highest Scoring Teams In NFL History<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week, Clemson needed a new kicker, so coach Dabo Swinney phoned a recognizable name who wasn\u2019t even playing football. Despite preparing for a career in the real world, Jonathan Weitz, Clemson\u2019s former backup kicker, returned to the squad this week. Weitz was a walk-on at Clemson from 2019 to \u201922, but he spent his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":438513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[258],"tags":[15671,17629,17630,15669,17631],"class_list":["post-438512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nccaf","tag-clemson-football","tag-dabo-swinney","tag-dabo-swinney-jonathan-weitz","tag-jonathan-weitz","tag-jonathan-weitz-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/438513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}