On the way over to the Heisman Trophy Presentation last Saturday in New York, Dabo Swinney was doing everything he could to get his quarterback, Deshaun Watson, excited about where he was and what possibly could take place in the hours to come.

“I was like, ‘Let’s go! Let’s go, man! It’s the Heisman!’ You know. He is just like, ‘Yeah, okay,’” Swinney recalled about the conversation.

But that is Deshaun Watson. As the Clemson quarterback has said throughout the year, no moment is too big. Perhaps that’s why he was in New York as a Heisman Trophy Finalist to begin with. Perhaps that’s why he won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s best quarterback. Perhaps that’s why he has led the Tigers to a 13-0 season and into the College Football Playoffs as the No. 1-ranked team in the country.

“He is special,” Swinney said.

“He is just kind of a chill guy. That’s just who is. He is a relentless competitor and he is a relentless preparer. This guy is as big of a grinder that you will ever meet as far as trying to be great and win, and doing whatever it takes to win”

But as far as getting all hyped up and showing enthusiastic energy after throwing a 75-yard touchdown pass or getting to low when turning the ball over or throwing an interception, Watson is not built that way.

Even when he was sharing the stage as one of three best players in the country in New York, Watson rarely cracked a smile or got lost in his thoughts. He acted as if he had been there before and understood everything that was happening around him.

“I just enjoy the moment and really whatever comes with it,” Watson said. “I just tried to enjoy the weekend and have a great time with my family and friends.

“I really did not think about football. I just appreciated the experience and where we were at, and made sure my mom enjoyed it and had a good time.”

Swinney said Watson did enjoy himself in New York, and he appreciated the experience, but when they both got on the plane on Sunday morning, the Clemson coach said his sophomore quarterback was ready to get back to Clemson and get to work.

“To him it is great that he is there and it is great he is being recognized, but the main trophy that he wants is the one that they present at the end of the year to the last team standing,” Swinney said. “I promise you, if there is a trophy he can win, that is the one he wants, and that is the one we all want.”

And though that moment may not be too big for Watson, maybe he will cut it loose a little bit should Clemson lift that national championship trophy in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 11.

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