Dabo Swinney shares personal story involving Bobby Bowden ahead of FSU game

Dabo Swinney met with reporters on Tuesday in advance of Clemson’s Week 6 contest against Florida State.

This isn’t just any game for Swinney — he has a chance to break an all-time ACC record that he currently shares with the legendary head coach Bobby Bowden. He tied Bowden for the most wins by an ACC head coach in league history last week against Stanford with 173.

Swinney and Bowden had a close relationship — something the Clemson head coach touched on during his press conference this week.

“I’ve got a great letter in my office, he kinda claims me as one of his own,” Swinney said. “He said, ‘I hope that doesn’t offend you.’ That’s what he wrote in the letter: ‘I just see you as one of my own.’ And I think that’s one of the greatest compliments that I’ve ever gotten.

“I’ve got voicemails from him, even to do this day that I’ve kept. From long after he was doing playing, he would just call to encourage me.”

Here’s a clip from Swinney’s press conference where he talks in more detail about his relationship with the late FSU head coach:

“I just see you as one of my own.”

Dabo Swinney shares one of the greatest compliments he’s ever received from Bobby Bowden ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nd62aD4OPT

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 1, 2024

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday night.

Spenser Davis

Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.