On Thursday Clemson held its next to last practice in the indoor practice facility before departing for Glendale, Ariz., on Friday morning to play in Monday’s National Championship Game against No. 2 Alabama.
Head coach Dabo Swinney spoke with the media to give some updates on how the last full practice went, and some other news and notes.
Here is what we heard:
“The hard part is over. That was our last day in pads. We’ll have a light workout in the morning and then a long trip out to Arizona. It is still a really important day. We have been going pretty hard for four days in a row, so tomorrow (Friday) will be the day that we actually practice in the stadium and just kinda have more of a teach tempo, take a little bit off of the legs,” Swinney said. “I’m excited about it, ready to get on that plane and head that way.”
The most important update Swinney provided was how defensive end Shaq Lawson looked in his last practice at Clemson. Swinney still seems optimistic that his knee will be okay by the title game.
“He’s getting better,” Swinney said. “He’s showing good improvement each and every day, so we’ve still got several more days. I’m still optimistic that he will have the chance to play.”
Swinney said there were no other injuries to report and he also provided an update on wide receiver Ray Ray McCloud’s knee.
“He’s not back to pre-injury form but he is in good shape. He’s looking really good. He’s practicing well, but we’re still protecting him with that brace. Hopefully by spring, he’ll be without the brace,” Swinney said.
The new mid-year enrollees are now on Clemson’s campus, and Swinney is really excited about what they will contribute to the team.
“It is really crazy to see the new mid-year enrollees here practicing. It is just bizarre, but they look good. Big Dex (Dexter Lawrence) gets here on Monday. Unfortunately, he won’t get to practice with us unless we can find a way to play a 16th game. That’s what I told Mac (Eric Mac Lain). Man, we had senior day seven weeks ago,” Swinney said. “To see these mid-years running around, it has been great for them to be able to come out here and kinda get a little bit of coaching.”
Although the team is heading to a new place, Swinney says this will not be a bowl-game experience like the Tigers had in Miami last week. This is a business trip with a very tight itinerary.
“We’re eating at the hotel. This isn’t like a bowl trip. They had the bowl experience in Miami. This is a championship experience. This is truly a business trip, very tight itinerary as far as what we will do,” Swinney said. “There won’t be a lot of traveling around, but hopefully they’ll get to enjoy the hotel. They say it is a pretty nice place. It has a big slide, so maybe I can find my way over to that slide.”