Why Clemson’s bowl preparation is more challenging than normal this year
Dabo Swinney has a plan that he believes in when it comes to getting Clemson prepared for its bowl game each year.
That plan is being put to the test this season.
The Tigers have had to practice at unusual times as they get ready to face Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
In previous years Clemson had finished classes and exams by the time it began bowl prep, but that is not the case this year.
“It just has been kind of funky from a when we practice standpoint,” Swinney said Friday afternoon. “When you don’t have classes, it’s just like, ‘Practice is at this time.’ It’s pretty easy. We’re doing the same thing. You have to start practice this week. It wasn’t like we could just say, ‘Hey, let’s don’t practice.’ We’ve gotta get ready. We just have had to practice at different times.”
The last day of exams for Clemson was Friday, which will allow the Tigers to get on a normal schedule beginning this weekend.
Clemson scheduled physical practices for Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will have meetings on Sunday. On Monday, the Tigers will take part in a community service project and also will have meetings and a walk-through.
Clemson will go back to having physical practices Tuesday and Wednesday before graduation on Thursday. Graduation is being held a week later, as well.
“Everything’s just kind of a totally different schedule for us,” Swinney said. “So our graduates will be off next Thursday.”
The Tigers plan to have their game plan put in place by next Friday and then will get a few days off for Christmas.
“Guys will come back here on the 26th and practice here on the 27th, kind of have our Monday type practice,” Swinney said. “Then fly to New Orleans and have our normal game week Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday prep there.”
LACKLUSTER EFFORT
Swinney isn’t thrilled with the start his team has gotten off to as it begins preparation for Alabama.
“Just OK as far as just where we are practice-wise. We’re not anywhere near where we need to be or where I want us to be,” he said. “I think just very kind of average yesterday and today, to be honest with you.”
Swinney believes the school schedule and his players having to focus on exams has something to do with that.
“It’s a little different challenge for us this year,” he said. “The last several years when we’ve started bowl practice school’s been over and we’ve had all bowl focus.”
UNDER THE RADAR
Clemson had a team filled with stars last season. That has not been the case this year.
There are no national award winners like Deshaun Watson and no monster personalities like Ben Boulware that are getting tons of national attention.
“I think that’s probably the biggest difference is this team’s just kind of not been as highly publicized, some of the individuals,” Swinney said. “I think these guys have just kind of been business-like all year. They’ve really done a great job of getting ready and finding ways to win regardless of the situation. But they definitely have been, in every sense of the word, they’ve been a close team.”
This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Why Clemson’s bowl preparation is more challenging than normal this year."