The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Swinney sees pluses in new starters
Clemson’s mix of experience crucial for a top program.
Clemson is
CLEMSON, S.C. — making its third trip to the College Football Playoff, but not all the Tigers have biggame experience.
Almost the entire offensive line and key members of the nation’s second-best scoring defense started last season when the Tigers (121) beat Alabama to win the national championship.
But quarterback Kelly Bryant and nearly all the skill players will get their first experience in the playoff pressure cooker Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl in a semifinal rematch against the Crim- son Tide (11-1).
That’s how Clemson coach
Dabo Swinney wants it — instead of a senior-laden team finally marching to a title, he wants a mix of experience and youth always in the mix to win a title.
“We’ve never focused on having a great team. We’ve focused on having a great program,” Swinney said.
The only back or wide receiver starting against Ala- bama again is Hunter Renfrow — the guy who caught the winning pass with one second to go in that 35-31 championship victory.
He thinks he knows how Bryant will feel, because he felt that way too. But Renfrow also knows he and his more experienced team- mates can help.
“I was scared out of my mind, for one. I was super nervous. I sat in my bed thinking, I’m never going to be back here,” Renfrow said, recalling the night before last season’s cham- pionship game.
“It’s a neat experience. It’s something we’ve been able to do year after year.”
And Bryant said while he hasn’t taken a snap in a playoff game, he was locked in on the sideline last season, calling the plays into quar- terback Deshaun Watson.
“When I was the signal caller, I was pretty much playing the game mentally in my head,” the junior said.
But just because the players in the backfield are new doesn’t mean Clemson isn’t used to this.
The Tigers are in the playoff for the third year in a row.
Twelve of their starters in last season’s Alabama game will likely start on New Year’s Day.
Alabama also is accustomed to big games.
The Crimson Tide are 27-7 against top 10 teams since the start of the 2008 season, coach Nick Saban’s second year. Saban’s 19 victories against top-five teams are the most in college foot- ball history.
And for the juniors and seniors on both teams, this is the third time they’ve met in the playoff.
Alabama won the national title two years ago with a 45-40 victory.
“Both teams are familiar with the other. We know what type of game this is,” Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris said.
This was supposed to be a reloading year for Clemson.
The Tigers have six seniors on their roster and were replacing all that offense from Watson’s re c eiver Mike Williams and running back Wayne Gallman. But the defense has carried the Tigers through.
And players like second-team All-America defensive tackle Christian Wilkins are making sure the atmosphere of the playoff doesn’t overwhelm the newcomers.
“Once you spot that ball after the first kickoff, it’s all just feels like a normal game no matter how high the stakes,” Wilkins said.
For Bryant, this whole past year has been pressure.
Bryant had to win the quarterback job in spring practice. He has been con- sistent, if not spectacular. He has thrown just seven interceptions, and only one of those has been against a Top 25 team.
That defense has kept Bryant from needing to do too much. He has attempted just 24 passes in fourth quar- ters and didn’t even play in the final quarter of the Tigers’ 38-3 win over Miami this month in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
“After the ACC, I just had to sit there and soak it up,” Bryant said.
Clemson hopes its experienced lines can help give the Bryant another new experi- ence to soak in next month.