Clemson football: Dabo Swinney finds silver lining in playoff loss to Ohio State
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney was able to spin the College Football Playoff loss to Ohio State into a positive.
Spring ball is underway and the Clemson Tigers are back on the field looking for revenge in 2021 under the leadership of Dabo Swinney. His Tigers got blown out by the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl and did not look like the Clemson team everyone expected to see.
Trevor Lawrence is now preparing for the NFL Draft and a new era at Clemson begins with DJ Uiagalelei under center. Swinney appears to be in good spirits and offered up a silver lining regarding the loss back in January.
Dabo Swinney: "Obviously we were all super disappointed in how the season ended but you know what, unless you win it all, you always are a little disappointed." Says being upset about not winning a title means he's at a "special place."
— Grace Raynor (@gmraynor) February 24, 2021
Dabo Swinney and Clemson moving forward in 2021
These points are hard to argue against. Swinney and the Tigers would be in the exact same position if they lost to Ohio State or to Alabama in the National Championship Game. Not ending up as the champion feels the same regardless of where you exited the race.
He also mentions that there is something about beginning a year upset about not being a defending champion. Only a few programs in the country have realistic title expectations every year and Clemson remains in that category once again in 2021.
The Tigers have won at least 10 games every single season since 2011 and have been to the National Championship Game four times since 2015, coming away victorious on two occasions. This is a history-making success and Swinney found a proper silver lining after the loss.
Swinney and Clemson last lost the Sugar Bowl during the 2017 season. They followed that up in 2018 by becoming national champions. Now they are looking to keep the trend alive after their latest Sugar Bowl loss.
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