CLEMSON – Clemson’s comeback efforts fell short in Carter-Finley Stadium, and each week continued to be a sobering experience for a program that isn’t used to losing.

It’s not just the Tigers program either. It’s the players and the coaches. Head coach Dabo Swinney has led Clemson to 10-win seasons since 2011 and that’s over. Quarterback Cade Klubnik has won all his life, and now the adversity is stacking up in his face.

After the loss that sent the Tigers to 4-4, Klubnik and Swinney shared a moment. It’s a crucial relationship for Clemson to regain their confidence between quarterback and head coach. Klubnik spoke Monday about what was said and what it means moving forward.

“What he’s done for a long time now is win. For a long time, that’s all I’ve done is just win and we kind of spoke on that and kind of spoke on we’re not used to it. He said something, we’re never going to get used to it. We’re never going to get used to that,” Klubnik said.

He’s not joking when he said he’s used to winning. He was a three-time state champion for Westlake High School in Texas, and even last year was still an ACC title. This is the first year there won’t be a championship for Klubnik since before he was playing varsity football.

It’s something that he and Swinney don’t plan to get used to and this sour taste won’t become normal if the pair has anything to say about it. That starts with Notre Dame, and now it’s a matter of pride as the Tigers look to scratch their confidence back in 2023 and onward.

“I think that the people who love to win will never get used to losing because they hate losing,” Klubnik said. “So every time that a loss happens, they don’t grow numb to it. It hits them as much as the first time. So that’s something that I’ll never let become numb to me is a loss.”