CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — There was a new addition to Clemson’s sideline during the Tigers’ 38-10 route of North Carolina on Saturday.

For the first time all season, defensive coordinator Tom Allen was on the field leading the defense.

Allen had been up in the coaches’ box during the first four games, a decision that was totally his, as Clemson struggled to a 1-3 start. With his defense struggling, Allen decided now was the time to make the move back down.

Dabo Swinney addressed the move after the victory, noting that where Allen coaches from is ultimately up to him.

“I don’t make them do anything,” Swinney said. “I want them to do what they feel gives them the best chance to be successful. These ain’t rookie coaches.”

Allen has said in the past that he prefers to call the defense from up top.

“I am not going to micromanage that,” Swinney added. “Because he feels like that is when he’s at his best. Especially with all the technology that we have.”

Whatever the reason, the switch worked. The Tigers smothered the Tar Heels most of the afternoon, with the starters holding Bill Belichick’s team to just 161 yards through the first three quarters. 58 of those yards came on North Carolina’s opening possession that led to their first three points. At one point Clemson’s defense forced four straight three-and-outs, holding the Heels to -5 yards on those four possessions.

North Carolina was just 2-of-11 on third downs and 0-for-1 on fourth downs. They ran just 60 plays in the game, with 14 of those coming in the fourth quarter when Swinney was emptying his bench.

“Where we were and how we were playing, with an open date, (Allen) was like, ‘You know what, I think I am going to come down on the field. I’d prefer to be (up) here, but I need to see if I can get this bunch rolling like they need to be,” Swinney said.

Swinney also believes another part of the defense showing so much improvement was due to the fact that, after having dropped three of their first four games, the unit was ready to prove they are better than what they’ve shown in the early stages of the season.

“They just made their mind up that they were tired of it,” Swinney said. “Finally, hopefully I’ve got the poison out of them and they have woken up and realized who they are.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright