Title just a start, Tigers say
Swinney vows to build on win despite losing key players.
reload — the Tigers are losing a handful of offensive and defensive stars — Swinney believes his team will get another title shot in the not-too-distant future, certainly not another three-decade wait.
“There’s no doubt in my TAMPA, Fla. — Standing mind that the best is yet to on college football’s biggest come for us,” Swinney said. stage and hoisting its top prize, ... It won’t be 35 years before Clemson coach Dabo SwinClemson will do this again. ney and dynamic quarterback God willing, I’ll be a part of Deshaun Watson shared the it. But this program is built ultimate hug and a few prito last.” vate words. It’s certainly being built to
A formidable pairing. An compete with anyone in the improbable championship. country. An ideal ending. Swinney has five-star quar
Swinney and Watson’s finale terback Hunter Johnson, from together, a 35-31 upset vicBrownsburg, Indiana, on the tory against Alabama in the way to replace Watson, who national title game Monday graduated in three years and night, might just be a launchis leaving early for the NFL ing point for the Tigers (14-1). draft. And Clemson annu
“You think this is the best ally has one of the top three of Clemson? Just wait the next recruiting classes in the Atlanfive years,” Watson said Tuestic Coast Conference, right on day. “It’s going to be even more the heels of Florida State as exciting, more awesome.” well as perennial powers Ala
The Tigers claimed their bama, Ohio State, Oklahoma first national championship and Michigan. since 1981, ending a 35-year Equally promi sing, the drought thanks to huge plays Tigers are getting ready to from Watson, his receiving open a $55 million football corps and a defense detercomplex that will be attached mined to avenge last year’s to the team’s indoor practice oh-so-close loss to the Crimfacility. The complex will have son Tide in the title game. all the usual amenities, like a
Although most expect Clemweight room, a dining hall, son to need a year or two to meeting rooms and offices, but it also boasts a players’ lounge that features table tennis, pool tables, miniature golf, a golf simulator, laser tag, a bowling alley, sand volleyball courts and a 24-seat high-definition theater.
Oh, and an indoor slide connecting one floor to the next.
“Yeah, it’s craz y, man,” Swinney said.
Swinney clearly has Clemson rolling after consecutive trips to the title game.
“We think that we have a great program to sell, and we’re very proud of that,” he said. “The best is yet to come for us. This is not the end-all. It’s a great moment, and it’s something that we needed to get done. But you know, Thursday I’m going to have a team meeting with the 2017 team, and there will be a new group of seniors sitting in the front row, new challenges, new journey, kind of lay out the vision a little bit for next year.”
He’ll have to st ar t over without Watson, the team’s do-whatever-it-takes leader, and several other key starters.
Watson completed 36 of 56 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns in the title game. He also ran for a score, helping make the sequel an even better show than the original. He was just as good last year, although his efforts weren’t enough in a 45-40 loss to the Tide in Arizona.
“He’s the best player that’s ever come through there, so it meant a lot,” Swinney said, adding that Watson went 32-3 as a starter. “He set the standard. I mean, high standard. Graduated in three years, honor-roll student, represented the program in an incredible way, unbelievable leadership, so easy to coach.”
“He’s an incredible winner, and we’re not sitting here without Deshaun Watson. This is what he came to do.”
Running back Wayne Gallman and receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott will join Watson in the NFL. Throw in tight end Jordan Leggett and center Jay Guillermo, and the Tigers will have to replace a big chunk of their high-scoring offense.
They will have nearly as many losses on the other side of the ball, with cornerback Cordrea Tankersley, safety Jadar Johnson, linebacker Ben Boulware and defensive end Carlos Watkins all gone.
“What’s next?” Swinney said. “For us it’ll be, like I said, enjoying this moment, but getting excited about coming back and seeing if we can charge back up the mountain next year.”