Published Thursday December 4, 2008
Football: Swinney rights Clemson's ship
LINCOLN — A Nebraska-Clemson meeting in the Gator Bowl might have seemed unlikely when both teams were 3-3 in mid-October, and the Tigers were left to deal with the resignation of Tommy Bowden as coach.
That's when Dabo Swinney, named interim coach at Clemson, took his team aside.
"We were fighting and clawing and just hoping we could finish strong and get a bowl," Swinney said. "To have a New Year's Day bowl, that's something special."
Swinney and Clemson on Wednesday formally accepted an invitation to the Gator Bowl. Nebraska won't officially be announced as the opponent until Sunday, but offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said the Huskers will "start looking at them" in regards to a question about the Tigers.
"We've got to patiently wait, but that won't stop us from beginning to prepare," Watson said. "They're a very athletic football team. They played great defense this year."
NU assistant coach Marvin Sanders, a former North Carolina assistant coach, said speed and athleticism stick out with Clemson.
"I recruited a lot of those guys on that Clemson team," Sanders said, mentioning defensive back Marcus Gilchrist and receiver Jacoby Ford as players he got to know personally. "So I know what type of athletes they have."
The Nebraska-Clemson game on Jan. 1 will be only the second meeting between the teams. The other decided a national championship when the Tigers beat NU 22-15 in the Orange Bowl after the 1981 season.
Since mid-October, Nebraska has won five of six games to reach 8-4. Clemson lost its first game under Swinney, then won four of five to finish the regular season 7-5 and reach bowl eligibility.
Because only one of Clemson's two wins over NCAA Division I-AA teams — The Citadel and South Carolina State — could be counted toward its bowl total, the Tigers needed to beat South Carolina 31-14 last Saturday.
In the following days, Swinney was permanently named head coach and the Gator made Clemson an unexpected pick over Florida State (8-4). The Gator previously had not taken a five-loss team for its game in Jacksonville, Fla.
"We are very excited that the Clemson Tigers won their way back into the Gator Bowl, and we are looking forward to hosting their legion of fans in Jacksonville," said Brian Goin, chairman of the Gator Bowl Association.
Nebraska last played on Jan. 1 when it lost 17-14 to Auburn in the Cotton Bowl after the 2006 season. Clemson hasn't played on New Year's Day since a 41-20 loss to Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl after the 2001 season.
In fact, Clemson will be making its record ninth appearance in the Gator Bowl.
"Clemson has a proud history in this bowl game," Swinney said. "It has long been one of the top bowl games in college football. It will be a great experience for our players, especially our seniors who have meant so much to our program."
Clemson is led by the 1-2 punch of James Davis and C.J. Spiller at tailback. Davis needs just 112 yards to become the Tigers' all-time rushing leader, and Spiller is 114 shy of becoming the school career leader in all-purpose yards.
The Tigers rank No. 9 nationally in scoring defense (16.6 points a game) and tied for No. 16 in total defense (294.8 yards per game). However, defensive coordinator Vic Koenning resigned Tuesday and will not be with the team for bowl preparations.
The Gator Bowl matchup offers two hot teams under fiery first-year coaches — Bo Pelini at NU and Swinney at Clemson. A week ago, Swinney was unsure if he would get the job.
"I'm not sleeping very much right now, just because I can't," said Swinney, assistant head coach and receivers coach under Bowden. "I've got so many things I want to do and thinking about. Every day when I wake up, I've got to pinch myself. I can't wait to go to work and get started on whatever the day has before me."
This report includes material from the Associated Press.
Most coaches out recruiting
Where's Bo? And Carl and Ron and Tim and . . . ?
Nebraska returned to practice Wednesday with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and assistant coaches Barney Cotton and Marvin Sanders as the only full-time staff members in Lincoln. Coach Bo Pelini and the six other assistants were on the road recruiting.
The Huskers, off since Friday's 40-31 win over Colorado, went for about 75 minutes inside the Hawks Center. They won't practice again until Saturday.
"They came back well," Watson said. "They actually did really well. I can tell they're rested. They ran around fast and that's always a good sign, because that means the rest was needed and it's been good for them."
• Contact the writer: 444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
That's when Dabo Swinney, named interim coach at Clemson, took his team aside.
"We were fighting and clawing and just hoping we could finish strong and get a bowl," Swinney said. "To have a New Year's Day bowl, that's something special."
Swinney and Clemson on Wednesday formally accepted an invitation to the Gator Bowl. Nebraska won't officially be announced as the opponent until Sunday, but offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said the Huskers will "start looking at them" in regards to a question about the Tigers.
"We've got to patiently wait, but that won't stop us from beginning to prepare," Watson said. "They're a very athletic football team. They played great defense this year."
NU assistant coach Marvin Sanders, a former North Carolina assistant coach, said speed and athleticism stick out with Clemson.
"I recruited a lot of those guys on that Clemson team," Sanders said, mentioning defensive back Marcus Gilchrist and receiver Jacoby Ford as players he got to know personally. "So I know what type of athletes they have."
The Nebraska-Clemson game on Jan. 1 will be only the second meeting between the teams. The other decided a national championship when the Tigers beat NU 22-15 in the Orange Bowl after the 1981 season.
Since mid-October, Nebraska has won five of six games to reach 8-4. Clemson lost its first game under Swinney, then won four of five to finish the regular season 7-5 and reach bowl eligibility.
Because only one of Clemson's two wins over NCAA Division I-AA teams — The Citadel and South Carolina State — could be counted toward its bowl total, the Tigers needed to beat South Carolina 31-14 last Saturday.
In the following days, Swinney was permanently named head coach and the Gator made Clemson an unexpected pick over Florida State (8-4). The Gator previously had not taken a five-loss team for its game in Jacksonville, Fla.
"We are very excited that the Clemson Tigers won their way back into the Gator Bowl, and we are looking forward to hosting their legion of fans in Jacksonville," said Brian Goin, chairman of the Gator Bowl Association.
Nebraska last played on Jan. 1 when it lost 17-14 to Auburn in the Cotton Bowl after the 2006 season. Clemson hasn't played on New Year's Day since a 41-20 loss to Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl after the 2001 season.
In fact, Clemson will be making its record ninth appearance in the Gator Bowl.
"Clemson has a proud history in this bowl game," Swinney said. "It has long been one of the top bowl games in college football. It will be a great experience for our players, especially our seniors who have meant so much to our program."
Clemson is led by the 1-2 punch of James Davis and C.J. Spiller at tailback. Davis needs just 112 yards to become the Tigers' all-time rushing leader, and Spiller is 114 shy of becoming the school career leader in all-purpose yards.
The Tigers rank No. 9 nationally in scoring defense (16.6 points a game) and tied for No. 16 in total defense (294.8 yards per game). However, defensive coordinator Vic Koenning resigned Tuesday and will not be with the team for bowl preparations.
The Gator Bowl matchup offers two hot teams under fiery first-year coaches — Bo Pelini at NU and Swinney at Clemson. A week ago, Swinney was unsure if he would get the job.
"I'm not sleeping very much right now, just because I can't," said Swinney, assistant head coach and receivers coach under Bowden. "I've got so many things I want to do and thinking about. Every day when I wake up, I've got to pinch myself. I can't wait to go to work and get started on whatever the day has before me."
This report includes material from the Associated Press.
Most coaches out recruiting
Where's Bo? And Carl and Ron and Tim and . . . ?
Nebraska returned to practice Wednesday with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and assistant coaches Barney Cotton and Marvin Sanders as the only full-time staff members in Lincoln. Coach Bo Pelini and the six other assistants were on the road recruiting.
The Huskers, off since Friday's 40-31 win over Colorado, went for about 75 minutes inside the Hawks Center. They won't practice again until Saturday.
"They came back well," Watson said. "They actually did really well. I can tell they're rested. They ran around fast and that's always a good sign, because that means the rest was needed and it's been good for them."
• Contact the writer: 444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
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