Dabo Swinney fires back, says he doesn't need outside advice

It’s been a tough week for Clemson football, which is fresh off a shocking, 27-21 overtime loss to the N.C. State Wolfpack on Saturday, and head coach Dabo Swinney is not looking for any advice on the matter.

Swinney on Tuesday was asked in Clemson’s press conference whether he’s sought out advice or contacted his mentors in the industry after the upset loss, to which he responded strongly. He explained to the reporter that the people in Clemson’s program know exactly what went wrong and how to fix it; Swinney said that he has received some advice from others, but he seemed very adamant on not using it as guidance. Instead, he wants every subsequent step taken from within his program.

“Oh, I talk to lots of people. Fortunately, I’ve got a lot of people that reached out to me. I get plenty of advice,” Swinney said, before clarifying, “No, there’s no funeral around here. We’ll be alright. We’ll be just fine. I know what the problems are. I don’t need to call anybody to have someone tell me what the issue is. I know what the issue is.”

Worth noting, however: Swinney never clarified what the issue or issues are in Monday’s press conference.

With Saturday’s loss, Swinney and Clemson picked up their second loss in just four games, and fell to No. 25 in the AP Top-25 poll. With the demotion in the polls, Clemson’s 97-week streak in the top-ten of the AP top-25 — which was tied with Alabama for the longest current run in college football and the second-longest in the history of the AP poll (behind just Miami’s 137 in the 1980s) — was snapped.

“I have lots of friends in the business, but I just spend time with the people here,” Swinney said Monday. “We all know where we are, and how we got here, and what we’ve got to do. [We’ve got to] keep moving forward. It’s not complicated. It’s very simple, actually. But simple things lead to big things, and until we get great at the details, we’re not going to get it turned around.”

N.C. State on Saturday forced Swinney’s quarterback, D.J. Uiagalelei, into a fourth-down incompletion to clinch the overtime win, and Uiagalelei’s inability to pull Clemson back into the game was consistent with his play all night. Uiagalelei managed to complete just 12 of his 27 passing attempts, throwing for 111 yards in the air, two passing touchdowns and one interception, finishing with a quarterback rating below 50.

Clemson’s rushing attack was no more effective than Uiagalelei under center, as Uiagalelei happened to also be Swinney’s leading rusher with nine carries for 63 rushing yards. Freshman Will Shipley, who had 11 carries, only turned it into a meager 36 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown before sustaining a minor injury.

Clemson has a rocky road ahead, as its College Football Playoff hopes are all but officially gone. Swinney will prepare his team for a home game this weekend, as the Tigers host the undefeated, 4-0 Boston College Eagles — fresh off a win over Missouri.