CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -Clemson coach Dabo Swinney could use a few more games like his latest loss.
Though tailback C.J Spiller says it’s strange to talk getting confidence from a loss, Swinney said Tuesday it could be very special season for the Tigers if they consistently put forth the effort they did in their 30-27 loss at Georgia Tech last week.
“When the picture’s all painted, it’s going to be a nice picture,” Swinney said.
At the beginning of the Georgia Tech game it looked like an ugly portrait done by an inexperienced artist.
Clemson (1-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) fell behind the Yellow Jackets 24-0. Swinney, in his first full season as coach, admitted he was outfoxed by Tech more than once in the first half.
“I learned that I’m human,” Swinney said. “I screw up, too.”
Austin said.
“It starts from the top,” Austin said. “Everything flows from there.”
The Tigers began flowing in the second half, on offense and defense, and showed a resiliency Swinney and his staff had preached about since taking over midway through last season.
Clemson scored 27 straight points to move in front. A Georgia Tech offense that looked unstoppable was handled by Tiger defenders.
“For the first time, they were tested and they responded,” Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier said.
Swinney took pride in the team’s comeback. “You saw an effort and a will to win that’s uncommon,” he said. “It’s not the norm.”
Eventually, the Yellow Jackets broke through for two fourth-quarter field goals to win. However, that didn’t dampen the feeling of accomplishment in Clemson’s locker room.
“There’s a lot of positives that came from that game,” Austin said. “For me, it’s as optimistic as you can be about a loss.”
Added Swinney: “I think every one of them wholehearted believe in their hearts that we’re a better team today than we were last week. And I certainly believe that.”
They’ll need to be Saturday at Death Valley against Boston College (2-0, 0-0), which has won three of four meetings with the Tigers since joining the ACC before the 2005 season.
st and confident about what’s ahead. But Swinney doesn’t want any more close-loss, morale builders.
“If we can maintain that type of commitment, that type of effort, that type of will to win, that type of oneness to where you don’t flinch even though you’re down 24-0 and you’ve barely broken a sweat,” Swinney said. “You’ve got a chance to be a pretty good football team in this day and age.”
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