2008 game first for Swinney as interim
The challenges facing Clemson as the Tigers once again have a short week to prepare for Georgia Tech aren?t nearly as tough for the squad and coach Dabo Swinney as they were last year.
Chaos, confusion and long nights filled Swinney?s first week as interim coach as he had just a few days to get ready for Georgia Tech after Tommy Bowden?s departure.
?Played ?em close,? Swinney recalled with pride Tuesday. ?Had the lead with five minutes to go.?
The Tigers couldn?t hold it, though, losing 21-17. Clemson (1-0) and the No. 15 Yellow Jackets (1-0) meet again Thursday night with Swinney, his staff and his vision for the program solidly in place.
Things weren?t so clear-cut last October.
Swinney, who fired offensive coordinator Rob Spence soon after taking over, had to rebuild fan confidence, calm player fears and prepare a game plan. Backup Will Korn was in for demoted starter Cullen Harper while starting tailback James Davis was in tears over losing Bowden.
?That game, there was a lot of emotion,? Clemson runner C.J. Spiller recalled.
Swinney understood that from the start.
He switched up practice workouts and allowed students to come out and watch for support. He demanded the players and coaches work harder than ever, all the while promising fans they would be proud of their team.
Swinney couldn?t get too complex in preparation. ?We had to be pretty simple with the situation we were fighting,? he said.
Then again, Swinney had to find his bearings in an unfamiliar situation. He wasn?t sure how his players would respond against Georgia Tech with so much upheaval.
Clemson played tough.
The Tigers struggled offensively, giving up a season-high six turnovers. However, Clemson?s defense limited Tech?s churn-it-out offense to 298 yards. Aaron Kelly?s two third-quarter TD catches from Harper put the Tigers up 17-14, a lead that held until the final minutes.
That?s when Josh Nesbitt threw a 24-yard TD pass to Demaryius Thomas with 5:22 left to save Tech.
There was little doubt among the team that players would stay strong despite the difficult circumstances, tight end Michael Palmer said.
?It?s always in the back of your mind, what in the world was going on,? Palmer said. ?But I don?t think effort was ever an issue last year.?
A big part of Clemson?s offense was missing last year as Spiller sat out with a hamstring injury. He vowed that won?t happen this year.
Spiller was out of Clemson?s 37-14 victory over Middle Tennessee by the second quarter, bothered by what he said was a tight hamstring and a sore toe. Spiller, Swinney and offensive coordinator Billy Napier all said the running back could?ve returned if necessary.
Clemson wanted him completely healthy for the Yellow Jackets.
?We?re not going to hide it, he?s our go-to guy,? said Kyle Parker, Clemson?s freshman quarterback.
The Tigers could?ve used a go-to playmaker like Spiller a year ago and Swinney left the field a loser. The feeling didn?t last long with the interim coach winning four of his final five regular-season games.
It was in the Georgia Tech defeat, Swinney says, he discovered a team of achievers willing to do whatever it took.
?When I saw the effort,? he said. ?I knew we had a chance.?
The challenges facing Clemson as the Tigers once again have a short week to prepare for Georgia Tech aren?t nearly as tough for the squad and coach Dabo Swinney as they were last year.
Chaos, confusion and long nights filled Swinney?s first week as interim coach as he had just a few days to get ready for Georgia Tech after Tommy Bowden?s departure.
?Played ?em close,? Swinney recalled with pride Tuesday. ?Had the lead with five minutes to go.?
The Tigers couldn?t hold it, though, losing 21-17. Clemson (1-0) and the No. 15 Yellow Jackets (1-0) meet again Thursday night with Swinney, his staff and his vision for the program solidly in place.
Things weren?t so clear-cut last October.
Swinney, who fired offensive coordinator Rob Spence soon after taking over, had to rebuild fan confidence, calm player fears and prepare a game plan. Backup Will Korn was in for demoted starter Cullen Harper while starting tailback James Davis was in tears over losing Bowden.
?That game, there was a lot of emotion,? Clemson runner C.J. Spiller recalled.
Swinney understood that from the start.
He switched up practice workouts and allowed students to come out and watch for support. He demanded the players and coaches work harder than ever, all the while promising fans they would be proud of their team.
Swinney couldn?t get too complex in preparation. ?We had to be pretty simple with the situation we were fighting,? he said.
Then again, Swinney had to find his bearings in an unfamiliar situation. He wasn?t sure how his players would respond against Georgia Tech with so much upheaval.
Clemson played tough.
The Tigers struggled offensively, giving up a season-high six turnovers. However, Clemson?s defense limited Tech?s churn-it-out offense to 298 yards. Aaron Kelly?s two third-quarter TD catches from Harper put the Tigers up 17-14, a lead that held until the final minutes.
That?s when Josh Nesbitt threw a 24-yard TD pass to Demaryius Thomas with 5:22 left to save Tech.
There was little doubt among the team that players would stay strong despite the difficult circumstances, tight end Michael Palmer said.
?It?s always in the back of your mind, what in the world was going on,? Palmer said. ?But I don?t think effort was ever an issue last year.?
A big part of Clemson?s offense was missing last year as Spiller sat out with a hamstring injury. He vowed that won?t happen this year.
Spiller was out of Clemson?s 37-14 victory over Middle Tennessee by the second quarter, bothered by what he said was a tight hamstring and a sore toe. Spiller, Swinney and offensive coordinator Billy Napier all said the running back could?ve returned if necessary.
Clemson wanted him completely healthy for the Yellow Jackets.
?We?re not going to hide it, he?s our go-to guy,? said Kyle Parker, Clemson?s freshman quarterback.
The Tigers could?ve used a go-to playmaker like Spiller a year ago and Swinney left the field a loser. The feeling didn?t last long with the interim coach winning four of his final five regular-season games.
It was in the Georgia Tech defeat, Swinney says, he discovered a team of achievers willing to do whatever it took.
?When I saw the effort,? he said. ?I knew we had a chance.?
