TigerIllustrated.com - Swinney holds weekly news conference

November 3, 2009

Cris Ard
TigerIllustrated.com Publisher

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Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney met with members of the media Tuesday, as part of his weekly news conference. The following is an edited transcript of that news conference.

Opening statement: "Good win last week. Thought our team responded well after an emotional win over Miami. Certainly there are some things we continue to coach on and get better. It was also good to play a lot of guys. That always helps your morale. It was a very productive week for us.

"FSU this weekend? this is the biggest game of the year for us. It's a conference game, a division game, a big game for both teams. It's just the next one. Our focus is to keep working toward our goals. I look forward to seeing coach Bowden. He's a legend. I've grown up my whole life following the great coaches, coach Bryant, coach Paterno and coach Bowden, so to have the opportunity to be in a ballgame with coach Bowden is a thrill. I look forward to seeing him before the game.

"Offensively, this team is extremely dangerous. The whole team as of late has really gotten together and has played some good football. They'll gain a lot of confidence from that. They're the No. 1 offense in the league. They try to get the ball out quickly and in space. They do a good job of spreading people out. They've got a bunch of receivers with a bunch of catches. They're starting to click on all cylinders offensively.

"They've got a veteran offensive line. It's a talented bunch. They're athletic. Their quarterback, he makes them go. Seems like every week you look up and we're playing a great quarterback. Ponder is a very good player. He likes to run the football. That worries me a little bit. He really likes it. He runs with some purpose. He's a tough guy and can make all the throws. He doesn't get sacked very often. They don't hold the ball. We'll have to do a great job of trying to affect the quarterback. We have got to affect him and get him out of his comfort zone. We can't have him sit in there and just play in rhythm.

"For us defensively, it always starts with us stopping the run. In this game in particular, it'll be crucial that we tackle in space. We have to do that. That, there, is a big-time factor in this game, how we handle that. We're also always looking to create turnovers. That has to continue. We have to get our hands on balls. We have to create momentum from a defensive standpoint.

"Something we have to do a better job of in this game is those chunk plays. Look at FSU's offense, it's the same type of deal as Miami. They get a lot of big, big plays. 51 plays against Miami, we contained them extremely well, but in 10 plays we gave up 282 yards. It's a miracle we won that game. That's something we have to do a better job of. That goes back to tackling in space and playing with technique and fundamentals. They're going to make some plays, but we have to make them go the distance.

"Look at their defense, it's typical FSU. They're talented, aggressive, athletic. They have outstanding linebackers. They have three kids from South Carolina who will be jacked up to come in here and play. They've had some injuries up front, so they've had to play some young, talented players up front. They're starting to get that group together. We'll have to execute and make plays.

"We can't beat ourselves. Kyle Parker is going to have to have another big game and continue his maturity. It's a great opportunity and hopefully a big step for him.

"In this ballgame, special teams will be critical, as far as the coverage teams. Ball security in the special teams will be a big part of it. I think it'll be a factor.

"The team that executes the best will win. Obviously it's a big game for everybody. I tell our guys to not get caught up in the hype of the ballgame. We have a job to do. This is just the next game for us. Everybody understands the importance of it. It's more about what it takes to win the ballgame, as opposed to the hype of a game. We're a 5-3 football team that needs to get better. And this is an opportunity for us to keep getting better. But I do think it's an opportunity for us to have some fun. I hope it's a sellout. I'll be very disappointed if there's an empty seat in Death Valley at 7:45 p.m. Even if there's 10 tickets left, that's a shame. There ought to be a rear in every seat in Death Valley when we kick it off, and a bunch of people standing outside the gate looking in."

Question: Any update on Da'Quan?

Dabo: "He looked pretty good yesterday. Seems to be responding well. He's in great spirits. He wants to play. I don't see him playing this week. Beyond that, I don't know. If he keeps improving like he has, I think we'll get him back quicker than later.

"If you go back and look at our play counts, we've had guys who have played a lot. It's not like Da'Quan has played every snap. We've been a pretty fortunate football team. Da'Quan is a great player, but we do have depth there. Kevin has started a bunch of games. Malliciah has played a lot. Andre has played a lot. Andre is capable of swinging to either side. I think we'll be fine there. It's the next man up. Let's do your job and get in there. I hate that Da'Quan can't play, but I'm confident in those other guys."

Question: When your team plays a team like FSU, which has so much tradition and mystique, do nerves come into play for your team?

Dabo: "No. We don't get caught up into the logo on the helmet. Just focus on us. We don't fall for those traps. That's showing maturity and changing the culture once again. It doesn't matter who we play. It's not like they've never beaten Florida State. I've been here six years and we're 4-2 against them. Our kids know they can play with anybody, but we've got all the respect in the world for FSU.

Question: Do you think Clemson has fallen into that trap in recent years when looking at the ACC title within reach?

Dabo: "Maybe. That's for y'all to evaluate."

Question: This is a game obviously that's big for C.J., given the national TV audience.

Dabo: "I don't think C.J. will disappear. I think if he does well and continues to do what he's doing, all that will take care of itself. If he'll do that, then he ought to be up there (in New York). If he's not, then they shouldn't even give out that award. He's a big part of our team's success. But it's not something we talk about."

Question: For awhile around here the talk was that FSU's talent level was far and above everyone else's. Are you comfortable that you have caught them and perhaps surpassed them?

Dabo: "We don't sit around and compare ourselves to FSU. I'd take my team over any team in this conference. I don't know if that answers your question. I think we've proven that we're good enough to play with anybody. We can line up and play. Nobody has pushed us around. We haven't always played smart, but we've played hard. We're not there yet, by any stretch, but I think we can line up and play ball with anybody. We have more than most and less than some. We're as talented as any team in this conference. I don't think the most talented team always wins. That's what you try to teach these guys."

Question: You certainly get excited about a lot of things, but are you going to have to keep your own emotions in check?

Dabo: "No. I just love competing. I love preparing. Our week is so structured. I guess if we had a lot of downtime and you read this and listened to that, we could get caught up in it, but we don't have time. I'll get excited when they measure us up for some rings. Right now, we're just trying to get better. We're not any different than a lot of other teams out there. We've got a great opportunity, but so do a lot of other teams."

Question: Their defense, their numbers aren't where they normally are. Why?

Dabo: "They've had some injuries. They're younger up front, they've played some freshmen. They lost some leaders for a stretch there. Let me tell you something. Throw all those stats out the window. You can light a fire to it and throw it away. It doesn't matter. What matters is what happens for four quarters Saturday night. This is FSU. And these cats know how to play football, just like I knew we were a better team at Maryland. Mickey Andrews is as good a coach as there has ever walked on the sideline. He'll have them ready to play. We'll have a tough task. This is Clemson - Florida State, and it'll be a classic."

Question: Has Palmer had contact yet?

Dabo: "He'll get some today. Today he'll do some pad work and tomorrow. He's going to practice today. He's cleared to practice. Mike seems fine. You never know until you get back out there banging and clanging."

Question: Can you comment about the controversy surrounding coach Bowden and the uprising down there?

Dabo: "I don't know all the details. I don't keep up with a lot of that stuff. I can just tell you this; coach Bowden ought to be able to coach as long as he wants. FSU wouldn't be on the map if it weren't for Bobby Bowden. He has been gracious with his time. Good Lord, he started coaching in the 50's. He's been a good father, a mentor to so many people. He's very in to it. If people force Bobby Bowden out, then it's a shame. He ought to be able to coach until he gets ready to stop coaching."

Question: Talk about your meeting him a few years ago when you were with Tommy.

Dabo: "I met him in passing, but I got to go down there one time. I was recruiting DeAndre McDaniel. We had some time and Tommy said let's go see daddy. I had never been over there. We just bussed right in there. Bobby had no idea we were coming. There he was sitting and he was sitting there with his feet kicked up on the desk. He was watching film. I was just in awe. It was neat for me. We sat in two chairs right in front of him. I saw all that neat stuff in his office, the coach Bryant trophy. And Tommy doesn't sit anywhere long. He gets up and walks out. He didn't think anything about it. So here I sit, and I didn't know what to say and there was Bobby Bowden. He's just the nicest guy. Said, 'Now you're from Birmingham.' He graduated from Woodlawn High. My mother graduated from there. We were both born at the same hospital. He's good friends with the mayor of my hometown. He goes to play golf there every year. We started talking about coaching and just had a 20-minute conversation. It was one of those things I will never forget. He was so humble and just as in to it as I imagine he was 20 years ago. That was a big thrill for me.

"After that I've gotten to know him more. He has sent me a couple of letters. With the changeover here, you can imagine the awkwardness with it being his son, but he was just tremendous. He was very encouraging and complimentary. I saw him at coach Bowden's daughter's wedding. He's just as nice a guy as you'd ever want to meet. I hope he can coach 10 more years if that's what he wants to do. If they give him enough time, he'll get 'em back going. They were ready to run Joe Paterno out a few years ago, too, and all of a sudden he got smart again."

Question: With Andrews stepping down, is that a rallying cry for his defense?

Dabo: "I have no idea. Those are things that aren't my business. Everyone has their own decisions that they make. I personally hate to see that. He's a great guy, a great person, a great coach. I'd hate to see us lose him."

Question: Gotten any text-messages from Tommy?

Dabo: "No. He's been pretty quiet this week."

Question: You think Bobby should be able to coach as long as he wants, despite attendance and performance decline? Have you ever thought about what it would be like to sit in that role?

Dabo: "I grew up following coach Bryant. I remember to this day walking out of a class in the eighth grade, and I'll never forget walking down the hall and they said coach Bryant died. I just could not believe it. I remember when Elvis died too. I'm a big Elvis fan. Nobody ran coach Bryant out of Alabama. He was Alabama. He came there and they were losing and he made them into a powerhouse. Half the rules we've got now were because of coach Bryant. He was a winner and as tough as they came. He stepped down. His health wasn't good, but coach Bowden is in great health. Had Bear Bryant been in good health, he would have kept on coaching. I look at coach Bowden in that he is Florida State. I don't remember clearly but I never knew about Florida State, ever, when I was growing up. I never heard of them until Bobby Bowden got there and started playing everybody. How many seats do they have down there? 83,000? How many tickets were they selling before he got there? He has earned the opportunity to leave on his accord. As long as his health is good and his mind is sharp, he ought to be able to coach as long as he wants to coach. I'm another coach in the profession who respects what he has done. It's unbelievable."

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