Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, trying to salvage what's left of this season after Saturday's loss to SMU, said there is «no quit» in his team and touted his «credibility» after 18 years at the school.
The Tigers, who started the season with a No. 4 ranking and national championship aspirations, fell to 3-4 with their 35-24 home loss to the Mustangs.
«We hopefully have earned a lot of credibility around here,» said Swinney, who has won two national championships and nine ACC titles in time at Clemson. «There's been a lot of great years, a lot of great years. But this is a tough one.
»We're going to try to fight our way and finish this thing the very best that we can. And then we'll start over just like we do every year. You know, that's what we do every year. We have a great year, we have a tough year, you know, we start over and then you go back to work."
Clemson has had only one losing season since 1998, when the Tigers were 3-8 under Tommy West. That came in 2010, when Swinney and the Tigers finished 6-7 after losing in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
The loss to SMU on Saturday was the Tigers' fifth straight against Power Conference teams — the first time that's happened at Clemson since the 1970-71 seasons.
«I take the good with the bad,» Swinney said. «I don't like it, but that's just my perspective. And I know something good will come from it. I promise you though, I've never worked harder. And I'm going to continue to do everything I can and we'll be back.
»We'll win more championships. We'll win more championships. All right? I promise you that. May not happen this year, but we're going to win more championships. That's all I can say. And I think we have a track record that demonstrates that."
Swinney, who has an 183-51
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