By Will Vandervort, Robert MacRae.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spoke with the media following Wednesday night’s practice. Dabo hopes Thanksgiving does not distract his team as they prepare for the biggest game of the year.
“It is very important that they stay focused and not get distracted. It is very easy to get distracted. You have a little more down time because there is no school. I thought we had a great day today. They were very in tune to what we are doing but tomorrow is Thanksgiving and it is a little different. For some of these guys it is the first time they have been away from home for Thanksgiving. We have a good plan. We will have some meetings and practice. We will have a big Thanksgiving meal as a team and the family. We will have a little bit of time tomorrow evening but again they have to come back in here Friday and not lose the edge that you have in your preparation process,” said Swinney.
Dabo has been pleased with what he saw from the Tigers so far this week.
“I am very encouraged by how they have practiced. The meetings have been good. I look forward to another great day tomorrow,” said Swinney.
Dabo says he and the Tigers have a lot to be thankful for this year.
“We have a lot to be thankful for. It is just a blessing first off to just wake up in this country. I woke up this morning and the USA Today was talking about a bomb blowing up over in Tel Aviv. It is just crazy. We should all be thankful that we live in a country like we do. To be able to be at a place like Clemson and to be able to coach a game that I love. To be able to be around a great group of people like we have on this staff and these players. I am thankful for these seniors that we have here. What a fun group to be around the last four years. These guys have grown into men. They are all going to have their degrees here in a few weeks. They are all going to be very successful after Clemson,” said Swinney.
Clemson will start practice for the bowl game after a couple of weeks off.
“I think we will probably start up practice on Saturday the 8th,” said Swinney.
Bashaud Breeland is the biggest injury concern heading into Saturday night’s game.
“We are good except Breeland. He is the only one that has been playing. He will be out,” said Swinney.
How does Dabo feel about senior day?
“It is going to be a special thing. Kind of a culmination of their careers. I love senior day. It is an awesome time to see these guys and the look in their eye. To see them come down that Hill and to see their families out on the field,” replied Swinney.
When the Tigers return to practice for the bowl game they will be able to practice in the new indoor facility.
“When we start back we will practice in there. I got a chance to tour in yesterday. I tell you what. It is spectacular. There can’t be a nicer indoor facility anywhere. It is incredible. They have the big jumbo-tron up in there. The Paw and Clemson is stitched in. It is really impressive,” said Swinney.