Dabo Swinney has not dropped out for Clemson despite not missing out on College Football playoffs

ORLANDO, Fla. – Dabo Swinney knows full well what everyone outside of Clemson has to say about his program, and really, they can talk about what they want to see if the end is near now that the Tigers have missed out on the College Football playoffs for the first time in seven years.

Here’s what Swinney is telling you. On October 1, he walked to a team meeting with the list. His team record was 2-2. No player looking at him had ever started his Clemson career with two losses in September.

Swinney had more than 30 teams on his list, all with two losses. He told his players, “We’re going to find out a lot about who we are in the next two months.”

Only two teams on this list finished the regular season with nine wins: Clemson and Utah. So yes, it wasn’t the season Clemson was used to. But no, Swinney isn’t disappointed with his players, and he’s not ready to admit that his program has taken a step back.

Because when the Cheez-It Bowl starts Wednesday night (5:45 p.m. ET, ESPN and the ESPN app), when Clemson (9-3) faces the state of Iowa (7-5), the Tigers will run 11th in a row. 10 winning season. Only two teams have ever achieved double-digit victories in 11 consecutive seasons: Florida State (14 in 1987-2000) and Alabama (14 in 2008-2021).

“You’ll be sitting there September 2-2, a lot of disappointment, a lot of negativity, a lot of noise,” Swinney told ESPN. “And you really saw that the foundation of our program shines and won the day. I’m just really proud of how it has come together and how these guys have stayed together and improved.”

Still, contempters say Swinney is just trying to get a spin for a season that started in the 3rd preseason rankings but ends without a championship for the first time since 2014. The offense clearly looked like non-Clemson for long periods, started by quarterback DJ Uiagalele, who at times struggled to find rhythm and threw just nine touchdown passes this season with nine abductions.

But part of it can be due to serious injuries in running and receiving. Clemson was without seven scholarship recipients in the final week of the season.

“Every young player I’ve ever had, from Deshaun [Watson], Trevor [Lawrence], they all make mistakes, but we were much better with them and it kind of covered those things, “Swinney said.” We weren’t nearly as good as we needed to be with the DJ early, so it made his mistakes bigger. . But it has accelerated all the other things I believe will really pay him as he continues his career. “

The attack was not the only part of the team that was cut this season. Swinney received criticism for not using the transfer portal to help several areas that lacked depth, starting from the line of attack.

“I wouldn’t do anything differently,” Swinney said when asked about the transfers in October. “[To add a transfer] means I wouldn’t have taken any of the kids we have here. You can only get so many players. “

More criticism followed after both offensive coordinator Tony Elliott (Virginia) and defensive coordinator Brent Venables (Oklahoma) left for head coaching opportunities in recent weeks. Instead of a change in wholesale philosophy, Swinney promoted from within. Offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter and defense coordinators Wes Goodwin and Mickey Conn will debut in their new roles on Wednesday.

Swinney has put a lot of effort into defending his program and the way he does things, and firmly believes that the adversity his players will face this season will benefit them in the long run.

“I think some things have been reset with these guys,” Swinney said. “You can do so much that sometimes you don’t really appreciate it.

“Seniors in particular, what kind of adversity have they had? of the challenges we had, especially early on, and then seeing the right things. We say, “It will either shine or hone you.”

As for questions about whether this is a turning point for Clemson’s dominance, Swinney shrugs and uses Alabama as an example. Clemson won Alabama at the 2018 National Championship, and in 2019, Crimson Tide did not make the playoffs, but played against Michigan in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl.

“I remember when it happened,” Swinney said. “They all said, ‘They’re ready.’ No no. It’s just a new challenge every year. They will be back next year and win the national championship because they are a good program. That’s what we are. We are a good program. We have never won the ACC championship every year we have been here. We have won it in the last seven of 11 years. I could say we won 11, but those years we didn’t win, we got back to work. We will continue to be one of the teams that are hunting because we have a great program that is well rooted and well established. “

As proof, Swinney can refer to her seniors and her drafted eligible players. While no one made it to the playoffs, no one left to participate in the bowl. Swinney mentions tight-lipped Davis Allen, who recently lost his grandfather but insisted on returning to Orlando to play the game.

“I think it’s the culture of this team,” sixth-year linebacker James Skalski said at a news conference before the bowl. “We’ve been in the playoffs and bigger stages, but we think we get to go play the game again. We all just love playing ball. We love being together, so it wasn’t even an opt-out like what? It’s not a thing.”

Neither missed the playoffs. Clemson hopes to avoid making it a “thing” for years to come.