Dabo Swinney isn’t backing away from his approach to running Clemson’s program. With the Tigers trying to turn an uneven season into a strong finish, their head coach remains convinced he can get Clemson back among the nation’s best by staying true to his convictions.
Saturday’s 36-24 victory at Florida State gave Swinney another opportunity to explain that belief. Clemson moved to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the ACC, leaving plenty of room for improvement but giving the Tigers a positive result to carry into November.
For Swinney, rebuilding starts with the people in the program and the expectations he sets for them.
“Be me. Just be me. That’s what it means,” Swinney said. “I have a program that has conviction in the way we do things. Serves these
kids’ hearts. Develops them as men.”
Swinney acknowledged the disappointment surrounding Clemson’s record. However, he said the losses haven’t shaken his confidence in a team he believes has continued to improve through its preparation and commitment.
“Our record isn’t what we want it to be, but this team’s getting better, and they’ve been getting better really all year,” Swinney said.
The Florida State win followed a frustrating home loss to Virginia Tech, giving Clemson a response as it enters the final month of the regular season. Swinney sees an opportunity for the remaining games to serve both the current team and the program’s future.
“I wish we had a couple more wins, but I like what I see with this team and their spirit and their heart and the potential that we have to not only have a really good finish this year, but to really build something special, as we build our way back to the top at Clemson,” he said.
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Getting there, in his view, means continuing to recruit players who fit the program, retaining them and supporting their development. The coach who has delivered two national championships and nine ACC titles remains willing to stand behind that philosophy.
“And if that ain’t good enough, it ain’t good enough. But I believe in who we are at Clemson, the way we do things,” Swinney said.
Clemson will look to put consecutive wins together Saturday at Syracuse. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on ESPN2.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Dabo Swinney is ready to build Clemson back up to top of college football
