WATCH: Dabo Swinney challenges offense ahead of ACC Championship game in hilarious pre-game interview
The Clemson Tigers are back in the ACC Championship this year in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Tigers will take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night. Before the game, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was clearly in a joking mood and took some time to speak with the ACC Network broadcast crew while he was walking on the field.
Check out the video of the interview below, but the transcribed version is below the video.
Dabo Swinney was in a joking mood ahead of ACC title game
First, Swinney discussed how grateful he and his team were to be back in the ACC Championship and that they don’t take it for granted. “Well, it’s great. It’s good to be back. Sat at home [last year] and watched it. So, certainly, great accomplishment for our team, you know. When you get your schedule at the beginning of the year, you got 12 days and they give those to ya. Right?! And tell you who you play and where and when,” Swinney said while walking the field.
What he appreciates most about the ACC Championship Game is that you have to earn your way in. “But this one, you gotta earn. You gotta earn your way here. Our team earned it. And won some big games at home and on the road. And won a tough division. So, I’m really proud of them for having the opportunity. You know, we’ve got two really good teams. Two champions and there’ll be one tonight. The team that earns it,” Swinney said.
The Clemson head coach then issued a challenge for his offense after the ACC Network crew asked what he wanted to see out of his offense in tonight’s game. “Just make the routine plays. You know?! Make the layups. Just do the simple things. Everything that we didn’t do last week [against South Carolina],” the Tigers head man said.
The ACC Network crew then asked Swinney what exactly he was doing by walking the field before the game. “Just routine. Routine. Coach Richt knows. I mean, we as coaches are creatures of habit. Right?! We’ve got a routine and this is a opportunity to kind of walk the field and make sure I’ve kind of got the lay of the land. Where’s the shot clock and all that?! Right?! (Laughs),” Swinney said.
The ACC Network crew then joked with him and told him that his suit looked a little big on him. They asked if he’d lost weight. “I have lost a little weight. When you lose to the Gamecocks…[I lost] half my body this week [Laughs],” Swinney quipped.
One thing is for certain, Swinney doesn’t seem overly stressed out ahead of yet another appearance in the ACC Championship Game. Let’s hope it’s a great game. Clemson is seeking their 7th ACC Championship in the past 8 seasons.
The 2022 ACC Championship between Clemson and North Carolina will be nationally televised. Kickoff is set for 8:00 PM EST and the game will be televised on ABC.