Video: Dabo Swinney Citadel postgame press conference

by TigerNet Staff - Sat Nov 23 17:12:32 GMT-04:00 2013

Clemson Head Coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
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Overall thoughts:

“This game was exactly like you would want to script it. We had an almost flawless first half, and I’m happy to see our seniors on the field.

“The fact that we had sellout crowds against both SC State and The Citadel is one of our biggest accomplishments.

“The opening drive was the only one we didn’t score, and our defense was flawless as well. We played to our standard, not anything else.”

On sending out this group of seniors:

“Quandon Christian got his first touchdown and (Chandler) Catanzaro is now the No. 2 scorer in the ACC. Sammy (Watkins) had a great start and Tajh (Boyd) was on the money.

“I told the seniors we have gotten 31 wins in not quite three seasons. We are not done yet. We may be done at home, but we are not done.”

On the next game against South Carolina:

“I’m excited about USC week. We have a couple of injuries. We probably lost Travis Blanks, who is a great leader on the team. Zac Brooks has been battling a shoulder injury. We thought he would be able to finish out the season, but it looks like he is going to need surgery.

“We have the biggest game of the year this week. For our seniors, they know how important this game is. A win is definitely on the short list of things they haven’t done.”

On the play of Daniel Rodriguez and Military Appreciation Day:

“It was a special moment getting to see Daniel Rodriguez in the end zone. God has a way of working it out, and it was great to see our own Purple Heart recipient get a score.

“I have great respect for the Citadel and their program. We have a great military background here at Clemson and no one does Military Appreciation Day better.”

On Tajh Boyd’s impact on the program:

“It was emotional to have a curtain call for the seniors. I told the seniors to leave Clemson better than when they got here. Tajh has made us an elite program again. He embraced his role and enjoyed every second as the quarterback at Clemson University. His vision was to leave his mark on Clemson, and he has done that. How he has represented our university and been an ambassador for Clemson is awesome.”

The Citadel Head Coach Kevin Higgins

Overall thoughts:

“I was disappointed. I believe we could have played better. From an offensive standpoint I wish we could have had some more first downs, and could have held on to the ball. Their defensive scheme is the best we have gone against in our four years running the triple option. The talent they have is something we have not seen in a long time. Brent VenablesBrent Venables
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
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On play of seniors on team:

“This is really a great group of seniors. They have changed much of the culture in the football program. Now it becomes the younger guys’ responsibility to carry the torch and get the program over the hump. These seniors have left us some great examples of how to do that and do it the right way.”

On field goals by Thomas Warren:

“It was nice to see Thomas make two field goals today. He walked on from Bishop England High School, and it really is a great story. Unfortunately, you lose the game and the season ends, but there are so many great stories in the locker room that are missed often times. Thomas is a good story because he came as a walk-on, earned a scholarship, and came back for a fifth year and did a nice job for us.”

On Clemson’s speed:

“When we go through practice each week we have the scout team trying to simulate their speed, but you just can’t do that when we have guys running 4.8 and they have guys running a 4.4. The speed they showed on the field is so much different than what we saw in practice. It takes time to get adjusted and when you start spreading guys out wide, they hit you up the middle with their other weapons. The volume of plays they run also makes it very challenging to defend.”