Dabo’s message: Stay calm and keep coaching
The Clemson football team opened bowl practice Saturday and the usually glass half full Dabo Swinney was not overly impressed with the energy, effort and enthusiasm his team displayed as it begins work for the New Year’s Eve Chick-fil-A Bowl against LSU.
“The biggest thing I saw was a team that hasn’t practiced in two weeks,” Swinney said. “They were sloppy. I’m pretty disappointed with our first day to be honest with you. It is going to take a lot better focus and a lot better energy than what we had today.”
Swinney shrugged off most the problems to cobwebs and the typical distractions that come with taking a few weeks off after the season. But he said how his team responds over the next week will be very important as they prepare for arguably the best defense they’ve seen all season.
“They’re (LSU defense) great,” Swinney said. “They’re deep, they’re incredibly talented, very well coached. Yeah, a lot like the group we just played (USC), a lot like Florida State. That’s why they are one of the top defenses in the country.”
Swinney said he understands the importance of the game against LSU in terms of proving they are ready to take the next step and showing they can play with anyone in the country, not just SEC team. Swinney said it is a challenge his team is looking forward to.
Take a listen to all of Swinney’s comments below:
AUDIO: Dabo Swinney unimpressed with first bowl workout [6:37]
1 ~ Start prepping for the reasons we lost
2 ~ (will be other excuses in the coming days)
Wow I havent been impressed with them all year, lol. It took him that long to see they are really not that good!