There’s a lot of love for nation’s top-ranked team
By: will-vandervort November 10, 2015

Before Dabo Swinney could even address the media on Tuesday morning, top-ranked Clemson was already making headlines.

Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan, whose son Seth is the Tigers’ holder on field goals and extra points, walked into his weekly press conference wearing a Clemson helmet.

When asked why he was wearing the helmet, Ryan told the media, “If you want to be coached by the best coaching staff in the country, take your son to Clemson.”

Swinney had no idea Ryan had done and said such a thing.

“He is crazy. He is hilarious,” Swinney said. “I love Rex Ryan. Whether you like him or don’t like him, he is who he is. As you perceive him … that is just who he is. He is just a real guy. He is passionate about what he does.”

The love for Clemson did not end there. A day after his name was put at the top of their Heisman list on SI.com, Sports Illustrated placed quarterback Deshaun Watson on the cover of its magazine. He is the first Clemson athlete currently enrolled in school to make the most famous cover in sports since Perry Tuttle graced the cover of SI following the Tigers’ 1982 Orange Bowl win over Nebraska, a game that clinched the 1981 National Championship.

“It’s a big milestone for a school to make the cover of Sports Illustrated. It’s a big deal,” Gallman said.

The SI cover has Watson eluding an FSU defender while it is says B.Y.O.D: Deshaun Watson + Dabo Swinney = Dominance in Death Valley.

“I love it. I love it. The ‘D’ for Dominance,” left guard Eric Mac Lain said. “That’s cool.”

Speaking of Mac Lain, America’s love affair with Clemson continued later on when Vice President Joe Biden spoke at Jervey Gymnasium on Tuesday. Clemson selected Mac Lain to introduce the Vice President to the large crowd.

“There are so many great athletes at this university and to choose me was such a great honor,” Mac Lain said. “It speaks to the kind of people we want in this program. That is what we want coming out of the football team and the football office … great people, not just great football players.”

Mac Lain told the Vice President, “We’ll see you in January.” In reference to what would be Clemson’s trip to the White House to be honored as national champions should the Tigers reach their ultimate goal.

“I think our guys are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.

The honors continued for Clemson when Mac Lain announced Watson officially received his letter from the New York Downtown Athletic Club to recognize him as an official candidate for the 2015 Heisman Trophy Award, which is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding player.

“That is just a great accomplishment for the whole team,” Mac Lain said. “It shows how we have gone through the season when a person has had great success and is recognized at such a high level.

“It was pretty cool.”

The whole day was pretty cool for Clemson.

“Shout out to Bills Mafia up in Buffalo,” Mac Lain said. “I love seeing (Ryan) wear that helmet. I just died laughing right when I saw it.

“It’s great to get this attention, but I think we have to fully understand that if we lose one game, then it is all gone. That’s kind of the mindset we have been having. We truly are in a one-game playoff for the rest of the way, and I think our team realizes that.”