Media Question: This message is for Coach Swinney. I noticed last night Amari [Rodgers] didn’t play just as much as we are used to seeing him and Justyn [Ross] after maybe the first half had a big cut on the sideline. I’m assuming it was precautionary for both players and they will be fine going forward, but just wanted to check with you.
COACH SWINNEY: Those guys are (indiscernible).
Media Question: Coach Day, for you, what areas of growth did you see in your team over this three-game stretch where you were playing top 15 opponents week in and week out?
COACH DAY: I think the way that the season played out early in the season, our guys really — we found ourselves in lopsided games where they didn’t really play much in the second half other than the Wisconsin game. And even then, we had our 2s in there the last couple drives.
So as we got into those three games at the end of the season, we found out what our team was made of. And we had to change the momentum swing in that Penn State game. I thought we handled the environment great up north. It obviously went down in this game last night and then had to rally. And we responded in a big way in that third quarter.
So you want to know how your team handles adversity when things don’t go well, it’s easy when things are going good and guys can get out in front of things. But when things don’t go well, how do you respond? I think that shows your character, and I think that was on display last night.
Media Question: You used the phrase. If you had to put it into words, what is your team made of?
COACH DAY: Well, I think you’re talking about a team who has a lot of love for each other, a lot of great leadership, a lot of maturity, discipline. And it goes back to toughness and love. And those are the two things that we hang our hat on. And I think the chemistry and these guys pulling for each other in the end makes a difference, it makes us each special.
Media Question: A couple of weeks ago, about Tee Higgins and Travis Etienne being snubbed by the national award list, how good was it to see Simmons get the recognition he deserves today winning the Butkus Award?
COACH SWINNEY: First time we have had a Butkus winner here. He’s certainly very deserving. And it was pretty cool to be able to announce it today and have Dick Butkus’ son there to present it, and for his family to come down from Charlotte and be there as well. Really great moment and just made the day even more special.
Media Question: Ryan, you mentioned today Brendon White missed the game yesterday for personal reasons. What are his chances of coming back for the playoff game?
COACH DAY: I don’t know. We’ll kind of get that figured out this week. We’ll sit down, have a conversation, kind of go from there. But I don’t really have an update right now.
Media Question: Dabo, just going back a week to your win over South Carolina, you seem to take aim at the current system a little bit or maybe the rankings, I don’t know which. You’re 13-0 again. 28-game winning streak, defending national champs. Yet you’re seeded No. 3. Have you considered just as recently as six years ago the previous system that matched two teams, that you might be left out of the whole deal?
COACH SWINNEY: I don’t sit here and think about it. Yeah — (audio difficulty). You don’t control it now and you didn’t control it then. We have the opportunity, I think. We have been in a playoff game every week for 13 weeks at Clemson. So it’s been great.
Media Question: This is the first time it’s happened, but how strange is it to be in this playoff and your alma mater’s not in it?
COACH SWINNEY: Don’t feel bad. They will be back real soon. They will be fine. They are an unbelievable team. Coach [Nick] Saban’s track record speaks for itself. It didn’t work out for them this year. But I’ll guarantee you, they’ll be back. No doubt.
Moderator: Thank you to everyone for joining us here this afternoon. We’re looking to an exciting game on December 28th and game week starting the 23rd of December.