CLEMSON – The last time a Dabo Swinney coached football team was 2-3, was way back in 2010. Coincidentally, the Clemson coach was leaving Chapel Hill, N.C., on that day as well.

However, there is a difference.

In 2010, the Tigers lost to North Carolina to fall to 2-3. This time, they left Kenan Stadium with a 38-10 victory to improve to 2-3.

“I am happy. I never thought I would be happy to leave anywhere 2-3,” Swinney said.

To put context to Swinney’s statement, he is happy because Clemson ended a two-game losing streak, while playing perhaps their best game of the season to this point.

The Tigers (2-3, 1-2 ACC) scored 28 points in the first quarter, while racking up 253 total yards. They averaged 15.8 yards per play in the first 15 minutes.

That alone will make any coach happy.

Also, to put some perspective on things, when Clemson lost the 2010 game in Chapel Hill, Swinney had no idea what was next for him.

“I was really frustrated,” Swinney recalled. “I was disappointed, mad, and to be honest with you, probably not as mature in my faith as I needed to be at that time.

“The reason I have perspective, like I have now, is because I had no idea was God’s plan was when I left here in 2010 at 2-3. I was thinking, ‘I am probably going to be fired.’ I had no idea what God’s plan was over the next 14-plus years. That’s why, as I sit here once again at 2-3, I am happy.”

Swinney has every right to feel happy. His team took care of business, and they looked good doing it.

As he said, they played complimentary football. And more importantly, they had a lot of fun.

“I have a much more mature perspective of knowing, ‘Hey! You know what? God is good all the time.’ You have highs and you have lows, football is hard,” Swinney said. “Coach (Bill) Belichick told me that before the start of the game. He said, ‘you are five plays away from being undefeated.’ He has watched a lot of tape in his day, so I appreciate his encouragement there.

“At the end of the day, we are what we are, but to see a group of guys fight, pick themselves up and go play a great game, it was fun.”

Now it’s time to keep having fun.

“It is one game, so hopefully, we can build some confidence, build some momentum, build some moral, build some competition… Just really happy for the team. They deserve it.”

And more importantly, they all deserve to be happy, including Swinney.