Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was in Tuscaloosa on Saturday for Alabama’s 41-9 win over Arkansas.

Swinney was there as part of the 1992 national championship reunion. He played wide receiver for the Crimson Tide from 1990 to 1992.

“It was just great perspective for me,” Swinney said, according to The Post and Courier. “It was kind of just what the doctor ordered. Just seeing my teammates and spending time (with them), and they did a great job of how they organized it. And then the other thing, there’s six of us here that were a part of that. I just felt like with the way God worked it out, all of a sudden, we had a game on Friday night.”

Swinney’s No. 2 Tigers were upset by Syracuse 27-24 on Friday.

“For me, to have a Saturday is a rare thing. Probably the last time we’ll be together as a group with coach,” Swinney said. “Coach just had a heart attack last week and when he said he was going, I really didn’t have any excuse.”

Swinney was referring to his coach at Alabama, the legendary Gene Stallings.

“Of course (Stallings) was fussing at me, still being coach,” Swinney said. “Said he didn’t sleep all night. Said he got up at 3:00 eating grapes, still mad about the game. So, he was walking with a cane and it was tough to see him like that, but here he is, it meant that much to him to get there.”

Clemson has gone head-to-head with Alabama for a national championship in each of the past two seasons. The Tigers won it 35-31 last year. Did that have a negative effect on Alabama fans and the way they view Swinney?

“I had a lot of them wanting to take pictures,” Swinney said. “I told them none of them wanted to take pictures back in January so that just goes to show ya water under the bridge. A little forgiveness in people’s heart. But they were great. The Alabama folks were very welcoming and I was appreciative of that. Just excited to get back going and get this team back on the right track.”