Clemson’s Dabo Swinney has won nine of ten season openers as a head coach.
Clemson will begin defense of its national title Thursday night in Death Valley against long-time rival Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series 50-31-2, but the Tigers have won the last four in convincing fashion (average score: Clemson 35.5, Georgia Tech 15.5). The spread of 36 points illustrates the perceived talent differential in Clemson’s favor and first-year coach Geoff Collins faces the monumental task of unveiling new schemes on both sides of the ball in a hostile environment. But Coach Swinney opened his Tuesday press conference by pointing out the one factor in the Yellow Jackets favor: The element of surprise.
KEY COMMENTS FROM DABO SWINNEY:
On the defensive line: We just don’t have any Alpha Dogs up there right now, but that will come. Our strength will be in numbers.
DL Logan Cash (out for year with injury) has decided to move on (leave school).
A lot of unknowns heading into this game … we’ve been watching a lot of Temple, but we’re not playing Temple. We’ll be ready to adjust on the fly … We’re just getting ready for what we think they will do. We don’t know, for sure … Don’t have a lot of tape on their QB or guys catching balls.
Whatever happens Thursday, we’ll have a lot of work to do … not only do we have 40 new guys, we have guys in new roles.
We’re going to play a bunch of guys. We still don’t know who’s going to run out there first at a couple of spots.
On offensive line: We feel good about our OL. We’re going to play 9, 10, maybe 11 guys a game.
On ACC Network: Just watched The Huddle. I thought Mark Richt was great. He was funny … to have a network constantly promoting the ACC, that’s a game changer.
On radio broadcast: I think CJ Spiller is the “Rodney Williams” this week. I never listen to you guys on radio. I’ll go back and listen this week.
