Dabo Swinney reveals emotion of delivering win in Bryan Bresee’s return

Clemson’s 51-45 double OT win at Wake Forest was chock full of emotion. At face value, the Top-25 matchup held a ton of value both in the ACC and in the national picture. However, an underlying storyline was the return and star DE Bryan Bresee after the passing of his sister following her battle with cancer.

Dabo Swinney spoke after the game about the feeling of winning in the wake of Ella Bresee’s passing. He said he’s proud of Bresee for his performance while personally dealing with the tragedy while showing his appreciation for the attendance from the Bresee family.

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“I’m proud of him,” said Swinney. “I didn’t get to talk to his parents but I saw them when we drove in on the bus. They were here, his family, sisters. I’m really glad they were here.”

Bresee did not play in the Tiger’s last game against Louisiana Tech. He returned yesterday and produced two tackles while playing with an unimaginably heavy heart.

Winning that game in Ella’s honor added another layer of sentiment to this massive win for Clemson. If nothing else, Swinney hopes it provided the Bresee family a sense of cheer and comfort during a crushing period of their lives.

“Nobody deserved to lose this game but that’s another reason I’m thankful that we were able to win it, said Swinney. “Hopefully they can just have a little more joy tonight and have something to smile about and celebrate.”

This is a heartbreak Bresee and his family will carry with them for the rest of their lives. The importance of football pales in comparison to what they’re dealing with right now. Still, Clemson has a lot of season left to play. With that in mind, Bresee and his Clemson teammates will continue on and try to play a season that honors Ella’s memory to the fullest.