Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney held his Sunday teleconference where he looked back at Thursday’s win over Wake Forest and ahead to the game against Duke.
Opening Statement
It was a very, very sound game. It was a complete game in all phases. There were a lot of very positive improvements. The defensive play in particular just continued to get better. We were very active up front with five sacks. We are playing a lot of guys so we continue to develop our team from that standpoint.
Offensively we didn’t start fast the first two series but really got it going. We took advantage of a lot of opportunities.
I thought Tajh played outstanding. It was probably his best game in a while. It was good to see Sammy break out with a big game. I knew that was coming. Again the biggest thing offensively is we spread the ball around to a lot of guys. That is really when we are at our best.
It was a very sound win. It was good to have a little break. That is going to be big for our guys. For them to be able to have a Friday, Saturday and Sunday to heal their bodies up. Especially coming off that short week.
Hopefully we can get ready for a good stretch run these last four weeks. I am excited about going up to Duke. It has been a while since I have been up there. So I look forward to going up there. Hopefully we can continue to get better and play our best football at the most important time of the year. That is the stretch run of November. That is what we have talked about all year long. We need to keep finding a way to win and give ourselves a chance in November to have a strong finish.
Injuries
I think we are in pretty good shape. From the game the other night there was really nothing there that should keep anybody out of a game or anything like that. Garry Peters could have come back. But he is hurt on his side. We will find out more on him in the morning. I think he is okay.
I will know a little bit more tomorrow as well on Breeland. Hopefully he will be back with us in practice tomorrow but I can’t confirm that right now.
Players of the Game
Offense – Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins
Defense – Tig Willard and Vic Beasley
Special Teams – Bradley Pinion
Question – Do you gain some experience from not having a strong finish last year?
Dabo – No, no the biggest thing is lets don’t turn it over 16 times in six games. That is the biggest thing. It is just a matter of staying focused. I think our guys the one thing is they do remember last year. I think they gained some experience so certainly they understand that you have to stay committed to doing things the right way. It doesn’t come easy and you have to finish the race. You can’t just look up and say ole boy and get all fat and happy. Every single day is a challenge and you have to try to just win that day and keep getting better.
Our mentality has been all year long the season starts tomorrow. They have embraced that and if they continue to do that I don’t see any reason why we can’t have a strong finish. The reasons we were 8-0 last year are the same reasons we are 7-1 right now. We have done a great job of taking care of the ball. We have improved as a team. Last year down the stretch we became a turnover machine. That was really the number one critical factor in not having a great finish.
Now having said that we still finished with ten wins and won the ACC and did some great things. We have a lot of guys that were on that team and I know they are just focused on having the best finish they can.
We don’t control our conference but if we do keep controlling what we do control then we will be available to take advantage of opportunity. Again there is a lot of opportunity out there for this team both in the conference and outside the conference.
Question – Any reaction to Marcus Lattimore’s serious knee injury?
Dabo – Oh man it just absolutely took my breath away. I was watching it. It just breaks my heart. I just hurt for him and his family.
Listen this is a guy that for me represents all the good things that college football should be about. He is a guy I know personally. He is a class young man and always has been. So is his family. It is just devastating because I know how hard he has worked and the kind of season that he was having.
If there was anybody that I would bet on it is Marcus Lattimore. I know it is probably going to be a long process for him to get healthy much less think about playing football. I tell you what though I would put my money on old Marcus Lattimore. I know when he can come to terms with this he will do everything he can to get himself healthy and well. Again he is a class individual, a great player and my prayers go out to he and his family.
Question – What are your thoughts on Duke and what they have accomplished this season?
Dabo – Well it has been a great year for them. First of all I am happy for David Cutcliff. He to me is one of the real class gentlemen of this game. He is about the right things and has always been about the right things. I just could not be happier for him to see them have the success that they have had this year. And to be able to earn a bowl birth, especially this early in the season is a tremendous accomplishment and something that hasn’t been done there in a long, long time. I think that tells you the job he and his staff have done and how those players have bought in. I know it didn’t go well for them down in Tallahassee but that is a really good football team down there. We are going to have to play well going up there at there place at 7:00. I am sure it will be a great atmosphere and environment. I am sure they will be excited to play. We just have to continue to do the things that we do and do them well.
Question – How do you feel about the BCS opportunity outside the conference?
Dabo – We want to be the best we can be. We don’t control the ACC but we do control the type of season that we have. If Florida State gets beat and we are not taking care of business then it doesn’t matter. Regardless of what happens with Florida State at this point we have a chance to have a great year. When I am talking about other things I mean we have a chance to set the record for all-time wins at home. We have a chance to win back to back ten plus winning seasons for the first time since the 80’s. We have a chance to get to a BCS bowl back to back. There are a lot of great things out there for this football team.