There’s football practice taking place at Clemson and that makes Tigers’ head coach Dabo Swinney a happy man. He had a busy stretch after the USC game as he replaced two position coaches and hit the recruiting trail. But Sunday, on the field work for the Gator Bowl matchup with Kentucky started, and Swinney was back in his element.
The Tigers practiced Tuesday. They will be off Wednesday while the coaches meet and recruit, and then they’ll practice Thursday through next Tuesday. They’ll then break for a few days before the team reconvenes at Amelia Island, FL on Christmas Eve. They will practice at Fernandina Beach.
Tuesday, Swinney met with the media and covered all the off-season topics from the changes on his staff, the changes on his roster and what he knows about Kentucky.
Some of Swinney’s key comments:
- Proud of how his team finished the season, 13 straight seasons of at least 8 wins, Gator Bowl brings him full circle, his first bowl game as head coach was there.
- Stoops has done great job at Kentucky, he has created consistency and a mentality and toughness, they have been in position to win at a high level, all their dudes are playing, good matchup.
- Kentucky is built to run the ball, impressed with running back Ray Davis, they spread the ball around in the passing game, knows QB Leary from his NC State days, was able to see some Kentucky in prep for USC game since they played the week before.
- Every game Kentucky has won they’ve rushed for at least 150 yards, so it starts there in defending them, #Clemson has a great postseason record and that starts in the trenches, and winning turnover margin will be key as well.
- They started practice Sunday night, Monday was an all-day staff meeting, no recruiting or practice, practice today, recruiting and meetings Wednesday, then practice every day through Tuesday. Team will get to Jacksonville on the 24th. Full pad practice 26th.
- Lot of excitement with the two new coaches, good opportunity for them during bowl prep, big time for them, lot of work on Kentucky, lot of work on Clemson and a lot of development with the younger players. Shells today, full pads rest of the week.
- Luke and Rumph are fully coaching their positions during bowl practice, they have someone next to them to explain the calls in Clemson terminology, they both understand the concepts of what they’re doing.
- They have no corners, they are “drafting” guys to play corner, they are trying all kinds of different combos back there, got to have a plan in case there’s an injury.
- Sheridan Jones, at this point, will not be able to play, dealing with a hip and migraines. Something could change with him between now and then but right now he’s out.
- Shipley will definitely play in the bowl game, he’ll let Shipley tell the media on his own what his plans are regarding his future.
- Mickens is still with them, his intention is to go pro but he’s still undecided, Antonio Williams looks great in practice, Cole Turner looks good but he can’t play, expects Spector to be able to play in the game.
- Jeadyn Lucas had surgery and will be out about seven weeks, Branden Strozier has also had off-season surgery and is out.
- Lemanski Hall was ready to step away from coaching, something they had talked about for a while, that’s why the change there, Thomas Austin decision came after evaluation and he felt he needed to make a change, first call was to Luke.
- Reserve QB Paul Tyson is staying for another season as a student-coach but he has another year of eligibility and will stay in shape and keep arm ready , happy with the quarterbacks they have coming so no interest in Portal poaching for a QB.
- Still believes in Klubnik as the starting quarterback, game is slowing down, has made progress, making big plays and cutting down on the big mistakes, also excited about Vizzina. Also likes Pearman and because of him they don’t have to go get a transfer QB.
- Looking for another high level PWO at quarterback to give them another arm.
- Need one more linebacker for this class and feels really good about that, need one more offensive lineman and they are on a few guys there, evaluating Portal there for that. Thinks they are in a pretty good spot.
Dabo Swinney bowl practice press conference
There have been some uniform number changes for the bowl game: Jalyn Phillips from #25 to #1; Shelton Lewis from #14 to #2; Olsen Patt-Henry from #81 to #11; Rob Billings from #21 to #14.