The Clemson football program has become one of the elite in college football, but some believe the Tigers are on the decline.
After six straight appearances in the college football playoff, Clemson has failed to return to the playoff the past two seasons. Winning the 2016 and 2018 national championships and appearing in all but three of the playoffs, Clemson has been one of the most successful programs during the playoff era and is looking to return in 2023.
For some, the Tigers are losing national relevancy, and Swinney was asked whether the program uses this as motivation.
“Listen, people talk about Clemson. We’ve had 12 really, really good years in a row. Some great years in there,” said Swinney, who has led the Tigers to 12 straight seasons with 10 or more wins dating back to 2011. It’s hard to get to a final four when there’s 133 teams trying to do it. We’ve been there as much as anybody. If not going eight years in a row means we stink, well, I guess we stink, but maybe we can get back there this year and be able to say we went seven out of the last nine years. That would be a pretty cool accomplishment.”
Playoff appearances are great, but you need to do the work to get there. Swinney and the Tigers are worried about achieving other goals that will help them make it back to the playoff.
“That (making the playoff) is not going to happen if we don’t win the opener and win the state championship and win this league and win the closer. That’s all we’re focused on,” the Tigers’ head coach said. “None of the rest of that stuff really just — what we can control, and that’s our prep, our mindset, how we attack each day.”
Heading into the 2023 season, the Tigers are the favorites to win the ACC. If they can do what they need to in the regular season, there is no reason we won’t see the Tigers in the upcoming playoffs. Easier said than done, but doable.
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]