Editorial: The men who made Clemson football special in 2015

A LIST OF THE PEOPLE responsible for Clemson University’s championship football season would certainly fill dozens of pages.

The heart-stopping win over Notre Dame, the rout of Miami, a second-consecutive win over rival South Carolina, and the Tigers’ 15th ACC championship would not have happened without rabid fans, donations from boosters, supportive students, and administrators who believe in athletics.

The Tigers also would not be undefeated this year without the hard work of every player, assistant coach and trainer.

But Clemson has had that level of support for years. And many other schools — particularly in the Southeast — boast similar passion for football.

While many people deserve pats on the back, the Tigers have risen to the top this year because of the combined efforts of two men: quarterback Deshaun Watson and head coach Dabo Swinney.

Without them, the Tigers are still very good. But with the nation’s best college quarterback and the passionate, at times quirky coach, Clemson is on the brink of a national championship.

On Thursday, Mr. Watson, Mr. Swinney and the Tigers hope to beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl near Miami. A win over the Sooners would land the Tigers in the Jan. 11 championship game against either Alabama or Michigan State.

To get here, both men had to overcome challenges.

Mr. Watson started the 2015 season after recovering from major knee surgery. It hardly slowed him down. The Gainesville, Ga., native threw 30 touchdown passes — tops in the Atlantic Coast Conference — and became the only major college player since 2012 to throw for more than 3,500 yards and rush for 800, according to SI.com, the website for Sports Illustrated.

More impressive than his numbers, though, is the sophomore’s ability to make a key play when Clemson needs it most. Throughout the year, he converted third downs or led scoring drives in crucial moments, including against South Carolina.

He was named ACC Player of the Year, The State’s Amateur Athlete of the Year and Clemson’s first finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s best college football player.

Coaches and others praise his humility and his character. He does not come from a financially privileged family — he lived much of his childhood in a Habitat for Humanity house. But he’s extremely confident, believing he’s always one of the best players in the game.

For Coach Swinney, getting to this year’s college football playoff required overcoming challenges as well. His teenage years were less than perfect as his father, an alcoholic, created too many unhappy moments.

After being named Clemson’s interim head coach in 2008 — and later head coach — Mr. Swinney suffered through several wrenching losses, including a losing season in 2010.

While previous Clemson coaches have dominated South Carolina, Mr. Swinney lost five straight games to the Gamecocks and their coach, Steve Spurrier, who loved to needle his Clemson counterpart about the losses.

Under Mr. Swinney, Clemson’s offense and defense in previous seasons have been, well, pathetic at times. But he took steps to fix both — steps that included parting with the men in charge of both units.

Those who work with him say he is impeccably organized and possesses a knack for leading young football players. He also professes a devout Christian faith.

He also is exuberant at times. After Clemson’s win over Notre Dame in October, the coach told a national television audience that colleges give players a lot of perks. But in the close game against Notre Dame, the players had to “Bring Your Own Guts.” That’s now become an iconic slogan for Clemson and its fans.

Later, a video of Coach Swinney “dancing” with his team after a win against Louisville became a media sensation.

On the eve of one of Clemson’s biggest games ever, we congratulate everyone who played a part in the Tigers’ success. The number of people who share credit is surely in the tens of thousands.

But if Tiger Rag, the Clemson fight song, becomes the championship tune of 2015, Clemson’s legion of fans will owe special thanks to these two men who lifted their university to the top.

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Editorial: The men who made Clemson football special in 2015."