Thomas Austin, Part 2

In Part 2 of our lengthy interview with Thomas Austin, the former Clemson offensive line coach reflects on how he has transitioned from the non-stop grind of coaching.

Having become strongly rooted in Clemson, he and his family are hoping to remain. 

"My oldest is 12, and he was on the sidelines when I was the coach. He's still processing it. He's pulling for baseball right now, and he loves Clemson Athletics. But the football side of it is complicated for him. 

"Our other children, we'll sit them down and say: 'We need to talk to you guys.' And they'll be like, 'Oh no, are we about to move?' And we'll say no, we're just going to the lake this weekend."

"They're always worried that the next time we sit down to talk to them is going to be when they're told they have to leave all their friends.

"So that's the human element of it. It's not just about me. It's about my wife and my family too. It affects a lot of people. But that's a part of the business."

Austin also shares a classic story from his recruitment, when a first-year South Carolina coach named Steve Spurrier tried to pursue Austin but was told in no uncertain terms by Austin's mother that her son was going to Clemson.