BECOME A SUBSCRIBER AT TIGERILLUSTRATED.com!

David Pollack spent more than a decade carving a stellar reputation as a no-nonsense, entertaining presence with ESPN's college football coverage.

And then he received a call this past offseason that he couldn't believe:

He was laid off with a large group of other prominent personalities as Disney and The Worldwide Leader continue to grapple with the effects of cord-cutting and over-leveraging with TV contracts that were signed during more prosperous times.

ALSO SEE: LATE-WEEK CLEMSON RECRUITING INSIDER | Thursday Insider Recruiting Notes | Wednesday Clemson Football Nuggets | Midweek Clemson Football Insider

Pollack joins The Clemson Dubcast at Tigerillustrated.com to reflect on how he quickly pivoted to appreciating the good that came from his termination -- it allowed him to spend more time at his home in the Athens area with his wife and children ages 15 and 13. It allowed him to sit around on Saturdays and watch college football as a fan.

Pollack is an assistant coach at North Oconee High School and a mentor to Clemson freshman Khalil Barnes. The two talk almost every day, and their connection is rooted more in their Christianity than what takes place on the football field.

Pollack said there's no mystery at all as to why Barnes ended up at Clemson.

In addition, Pollack said Dabo Swinney is one of the few coaches with whom he has a meaningful relationship. He said Swinney was one of the people who called to offer him support after he was laid off.

Though Pollack thinks highly of Swinney as a man, leader and coach, he does point out that he was one of the first analysts to say years ago that Swinney and Clemson were risking falling behind by not making more use of the transfer portal. What does he believe now?

JUST RELEASED: The new Clemson Nike Zoom Pegasus 40 Running Shoes now in stock at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!