Ad Disclosure
Dabo Swinney may have been watching an entirely different game on Saturday with his latest comments about the season-opening loss.
One of the biggest games of the weekend was between Clemson and Georgia. It was billed as an opportunity for Clemson to see where it ranked among the best teams in the country. While the Tigers battled for a half, things got ugly in the second half as Georgia pulled away for the 34-3 victory.
Analysts across the country took it as an opportunity to call out Swinney for some of the issues he has had the past couple of seasons. The offense lacks any sort of creativity, and his refusal to find talent in the transfer portal.
Despite the tough performance, Swinney told reporters on Sunday the team was right there for the taking while the Tigers “matched up well” with the Bulldogs.
Dabo Swinney says one of the positives from Clemson-UGA was that the Tigers "matched up well" with the Bulldogs in terms of pure talent. "The scoreboard doesn't show that … but we matched up well … Some details really cost us"
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) September 1, 2024
Dabo Swinney on positives from the UGA game: "We were physical. We played really hard … we were in shape, we're a well-conditioned team."
Adds, "We had some fundamental stuff that really cost us … and in a game like that, momentum can turn one way or another."
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) September 1, 2024
Dabo Swinney starting up his Sunday teleconference after the UGA loss: "Glad we've got a tape to review and get the season started. Obviously, disappointed. That was a heavyweight fight and got away from us in the third quarter … We missed a huge opportunity"
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) September 1, 2024
“We were physical,” Swinney told reporters in a teleconference. “We played really hard. We were in shape and we were a well-conditioned team. We had some fundamental stuff that really cost us, and in a game like that, momentum can go one way or another.”
He compared it to a heavyweight fight, and Swinney truly believes his team is right there as a heavyweight on its own.
“Glad we’ve got a tape to review and get the season started,” Swinney said. “That was a heavyweight fight and it got away from us in the third quarter. We missed a huge opportunity.”
The Tigers will be back in action next week at home with an opportunity to get their first win of the season. They host App State next Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
