Why Not Us is the Question That Drives Swinney

No one will ever be able to accuse Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney of not dreaming big. In fact, many people may question his sanity at times, but few can argue with the results—especially after his Tigers dismantled the Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16 on their way to winning their second national title under Swinney.

No one will ever be able to accuse Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney of not dreaming big.

In fact, many people may question his sanity at times, but few can argue with the results—especially after his Tigers dismantled the Alabama Crimson Tide 44-16 on their way to winning their second national title under Swinney.

Even if someone had told him when he was a walk-on wide receiver for the Crimson Tide that he would beat his alma mater, not once, but twice to win national titles, he would have never doubted or batted an eye.

“Why not, you know? Why not? That's what it takes. It takes belief,” Swinney said. “I think that we put limitations on our own self by how we think. I've always believed that way. Why not?

God is bigger than that stage out there, that's for sure. You know, I know 10 years ago not many people probably saw this coming, but we're here, and we did it. It's amazing. It's a blessing.”

The reason that Swinney has always believed is that he has already seen what belief can do—especially belief in God.

“This is really not anything that I've done. It's not anything that our players have done. I mean, it's -- I think God has worked through us,” Swinney said. “Only God can do this. A Hollywood movie Steven Spielberg or whoever one of them producer people are, they couldn't write this script. They couldn't write this script. They really couldn't. Only God can do this. And I give him all the glory because I know where my strength comes from, and I know that it's only by his grace that I've been able to walk this walk, walk this journey.

“God has opened so many doors for me, closed doors, put people in my path. He's gifted me. Man, I'm just so thankful.”

Swinney still refers to himself as a boy from Pelham, Alabama, but, until next Jan. 13, 2020, when the College Football Playoff will crown their new champion, he is the leader of the kings of college football.

And while many still see the Crimson Tide as the bell-cow of college football, what Swinney has accomplished at Clemson has been nothing short of amazing.

In the last 11 years, Swinney has amassed a 121-30 record, been named a two-time ACC Coach of the Year, won five ACC championships (four in a row), had eight straight 10 win seasons, won seven Atlantic Division titles, won two national titles and boasts wins over Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Georgia, Auburn, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Florida State.

And led the 2018 Tigers to become the first major college football team in the modern era of college football to a 15-0 record.

All of those accomplishments are wonderful and have placed Swinney in the elite of the coaching ranks, but what he hopes comes out of his accomplishments is the understanding that there is hope—no matter what you are going through.

If anything, I hope that a moment like this -- because I know there's a single mom out there somewhere probably trying to figure out how she's going to make it,” Swinney said. “I know there's a kid probably like me that's got some bad circumstances and not sure what your future looks like. If anything else, man, that comes from this tonight, I hope that somebody like that can have some encouragement and some hope that, you know what, God has got a plan for me. And he can say, man, if that guy can go do it, you know what, why can't I. But you've got to be willing to put the work in, number one, and then if Clemson can do it, why can't we?

“We're just little ol' Clemson. We're not supposed to be here. We're not supposed to be the first 15-0 team in history. We're not supposed to be here, but we are. But we are. And beat Notre Dame and Alabama to do it. Only God can do that.”