Dabo Swinney gives deflated sideline interview, broadcasters note defeated tone

Trailing Syracuse 34-14 heading into the fourth quarter on Saturday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney delivered a deflating sideline interview.

“Just want to see them finish. Just fight,” Swinney said. “We’ve missed some opportunities. Defense has played much better this half, but we missed the touchdown to TJ Moore. We’ve missed some opportunists and they’ve made some big plays. Obviously the turnover was huge because that stretched it out to a three-score game, but hey we’ve got to fight. We’ve got one more quarter. Just want to see them fight.”

This game was projected to be a bounce back game for the Clemson football program, which started the season 1-3 for just the second time in the Dabo Swinney era (2014). That however could not have been farther from the truth. Syracuse immediately took a 10-0 lead thanks to a 12-yard passing score from Angeli and a 23-yard field goal from kicker Tripp Woody.

Clemson bounced back with a beautiful 38-yard passing touchdown from Cade Klubnik to receiver Bryant Wesco near the end of the first quarter, but the Orange immediately poured on 14 more points to jump ahead 24-14 prior to a lengthy weather delay.

Coming out of the delay, Syracuse did not let up the scoring. Following another Woody field goal, backup quarterback Rickie Collins found Ross-Simmons for the 18-yard score to make it 34-14.

“That sounds like a coach that knows there might be 15 minutes on the clock, but it almost feels like the game is over,” said ESPN announcer Bob Wischusen said following Swinney’s interview.