Swinney not fazed by being ACC media’s favorite

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney thinks there are a number of teams that can win the ACC championship in 2015 – his team included.

The media, however, sees Swinney’s squad as the one that stands above the rest.

The Tigers were selected Tuesday as the preseason favorite to win the league title by a wide margin, the conference announced at ACC Kickoff.

Clemson sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson was named ACC preseason player of the year.

Clemson received 84 votes, more than half of Florida State, to take the conference, but it’s not something Swinney pays much attention to in July.

“Whether or not we should be first or whatever, that’s for people to debate,” Swinney said. “When it’s all said and done, those who voted for us, hopefully we can make them look smart and see if we can put the performance on Saturdays together.”

It marks the eighth time since 1976 that Clemson’s been picked to win the ACC, and it’s the fourth year the Tigers have been voted No. 1 since Florida State joined the league in 1992. However, they’ve never won it during that span when picked in the preseason.

The Seminoles have been predicted to finish first in three out of the past four years and 18 times in the past 25 years, but they’re replacing quarterback Jameis Winston with former Notre Dame signal caller and Myrtle Beach native Everett Golson. Also, starting running back Dalvin Cook is suspended after being charged with assaulting a female.

“When we were the favorite, they didn’t give me the trophy,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “When you’re the underdog, they’re not giving Clemson the trophy. It’s all about how you perceive yourself in going at it. It’s great to have the expectations. Clemson deserves it. They’re a great program. Dabo has done a great job.”

Georgia Tech, which visits Death Valley on Oct. 10, was selected to win the Coastal Division, earning 52 more votes than second-place Virginia Tech.

Clemson, which last was picked to win in 2013, also received 101 first-place votes in the Atlantic Division on Tuesday; FSU had 56.

“The next step for us, we’ve got to get back to winning this conference,” Swinney said. “That’s the thing. We’ve won the division. We’ve tied for the division. We’ve finished second in the division. We’ve won the conference. But we’ve got to consistently stay right there. I think we’ve done that, but we’ve got to get back to winning this league if we’re going to truly have a legitimate shot at the College Football Playoff. That’s ultimately what we’re trying to do.”

Watson is a major reason why the expectations are so high. After throwing for 1,466 yards and 14 touchdowns in eight games (five starts) in an injury-shortened season, the Gainesville, Ga., native received 69 votes from the ACC media.

“It’s an honor for him. It’s a privilege and a blessing for us to have a guy like that on our team,” Swinney said. “We’re very fortunate to have a bunch of good players, but especially one like Deshaun, because he’s a good player but he’s a great young man.

“He loves the process of being prepared and he just has a work ethic that’s contagious. That’s what we need for him. Last year he was trying to become the guy and this year he is the guy. We need him to assert himself that way from a leadership standpoint. He’s done a great job of that this summer.”

Watson, who is coming off December knee surgery for a torn ACL, is expected to be full-go when Clemson begins fall camp Aug. 4.

This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 9:46 AM with the headline "Swinney not fazed by being ACC media’s favorite."