Dabo Swinney's blend of light-hearted leadership and cutthroat decision-making shone through in the players who powered Clemson's national title rout.

He was “the test-tube QB” the first half of his life, a drug addict since. Closing in on 50, the former USC and Raiders quarterback is struggling to come to terms with his raging beast of a father—and the big lie that he only now can share.