Rome News-Tribune

Playoff loss to ’Bama still in players’ minds

- By Pete Iacobelli Associated Press

SUNSET, S.C. — &OHPVRQ¶V GLVDSSRLQW LQJ ORVV LQ WKH &ROOHJH )RRWEDOO 3OD\RII WR Alabama last January is never far from SOD\HUV¶ PLQGV DV WKH\ SUHSDUH IRU WKH XSFRPLQJ VHDVRQ

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,I WKDW¶V WKH FDVH WKH 7LJHUV KDYH UHFHLYHG plenty of motivation from the Crimson 7LGH WKH SDVW IHZ VHDVRQV

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,W PD\ EH &OHPVRQ¶V WLPH WR UDOO\ IURP a playoff loss.

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Swinney, defensive end Clelin Ferrell DQG OHIW WDFNOH 0LWFK +\DWW ZLOO DSSHDU DW Atlantic Coast Conference media days in &KDUORWWH 1RUWK &DUROLQD ZKLFK VWDUW WRGD\

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Offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell said WKH FRDFKLQJ VWDII KDV EURNHQ GRZQ WKH mistakes from the CFP loss and corrected ZKDW WKH\ FRXOG GXULQJ VSULQJ GULOOV 7KH\ DOVR VHQW WKHLU SOD\HUV RII ZLWK VSHFL¿F JXLGHOLQHV RQ KRZ WR LPSURYH KHDGLQJ LQWR IDOO FDPS RQ $XJ

(OOLRWW WKH UXQQLQJ EDFNV FRDFK DORQJ ZLWK VKDULQJ WKH FRRUGLQDWR­U VSRW ZLWK -HII Scott, felt the disappoint­ment of not hav LQJ DQ DQVZHU DJDLQVW $ODEDPD¶V GHIHQVH last winter.

+H¶V FHUWDLQ WKH SOD\HUV ² WKH 7LJHUV UHWXUQ RI VWDUWHUV IURP ODVW \HDU¶V ACC champions — still feel that frustratio­n, too, and will channel it into perhaps a IRXUWK FRQVHFXWLY­H &ROOHJH )RRWEDOO 3OD\RII PHHWLQJ ZLWK $ODEDPD

And maybe another bounce back national FURZQ IRUJHG IURP D GLVDSSRLQW­LQJ ORVV

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 ?? / AP file - Gerald Herbert ?? With seven starters lost from last year’s team that lost to Alabama in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said this year’s Tigers are “a new team with new challenges.”
/ AP file - Gerald Herbert With seven starters lost from last year’s team that lost to Alabama in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said this year’s Tigers are “a new team with new challenges.”

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