What Dabo Swinney said about losing to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl
By Paul Harvey
Published:
In Round III of Clemson-Alabama, the Crimson Tide provided a resounding knockout of the Tigers.
Alabama’s defense showed up in a big way during the game and carried the Tide to a 24-6 win over the Tigers. The Crimson Tide took a 10-3 lead to halftime, and Clemson began the second half with an early field goal.
It appeared the Tigers may keep it close in the second half, but Alabama had other plans. The Tide forced interceptions on back-to-back drives in the third quarter and turned both into touchdowns, including a pick-six for Mack Wilson.
The Crimson Tide were able to push to the finish line after those turnovers, and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney simply said the Tide were the better team in the game:
“Obviously, very disappointed,” said Swinney. “We came here to win and just incredibly disappointed in our performance. But the credit goes to Alabama. Congratulations to Alabama. They were the better team today. No question about it…But, as bad as we played, we still had an opportunity. I thought our defense kept us in the game and really played pretty good.”
Swinney did point out that the field goal to start the second half following an Alabama turnover was big for the Tigers, but it still turned out to be a missed opportunity as they could not get a touchdown out of the field position:
“That was critical,” Swinney explained. “Like I said, it gave us a little shot in the arm, gave us momentum and great energy…the field goal, 10-6, we’re right there in it and then we get another stop and we put a good drive together. We will be sick when we watch it on tape. Kelly (Bryant) is getting ready to pull the trigger and throw it and we get sacked. The ball comes out. They get it. So, again, it’s a game of a few inches. And they made the plays and we didn’t. So just really that simple. That’s what it comes down to, missed opportunities. But they forced those missed opportunities.”
You can hear all of Swinney’s comments here from AL.com.
Nick Saban and Alabama truly came up with the big-time performance needed to advance. The Crimson Tide will now get set to take on Georgia in an all-SEC championship game on Monday Jan. 8.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
