CLEMSON, S.C. — As Clemson prepares for its highly anticipated matchup against Florida State this weekend, head coach Dabo Swinney expressed his astonishment at the Seminoles' current record, acknowledging the challenges teams face in the unpredictable world of college football.
"Football is hard. It's a hard game. A few plays here or there can affect the confidence of a team," Swinney said during his Tuesday press conference. "A couple of plays go your way or against you, next thing you know it's different."
Swinney emphasized the unique pressures players face today, noting that "kids today are growing up with a lot of noise and pressure ... more than any other time in history with straight-up negativity and criticism." He believes these factors can significantly impact a team's performance, especially when combined with injuries and other challenges.
Reflecting on Florida State's recent performances, Swinney acknowledged that while their record may not meet expectations, the team has faced formidable opponents. Look at a couple of those games, though, and they're right there. If you do this long enough, you'll have a year along the way where crazy things can happen. You just have to keep going."
He also pointed out the strengths of the teams Florida State has encountered. "Everyone is surprised with where their record is. You also have to give the other teams credit. Georgia Tech is a really good team. Boston College is a good team. Look at their quarterback. Man, he's a great player. That was a tough, physical football game. Memphis? They're a really good team. Any time you play good teams, especially if you're not playing with the type of confidence you need, it can go the other way."
Swinney urged fans and analysts to recognize the talent within the Florida State roster and to refrain from solely criticizing their struggles. Let's not just attack Florida State. We lose a game around here and it's like we're just awful. Let's give other teams credit. This is a really, really talented team.