Swinney fires Back at Critics as Clemson prepares for Troy
CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney challenged preseason narratives and expectations surrounding his team’s wide receiver corps as the No. 8 Tigers prepare to face Troy on Saturday. The response comes after a disappointing Week 1 loss to LSU, where Clemson’s offense struggled and key wide receiver Antonio Williams suffered a hamstring injury.
Williams, a second-team preseason All-American, was targeted twice on the opening drive against LSU before exiting the game and not returning. His status for Saturday remains uncertain, with Swinney indicating he’s unlikely to rush the receiver back. If Williams is unable to play, freshman Noble Brown will start in his place.
Swinney expressed frustration with the early-season criticism, notably regarding his highly-touted wide receivers. ”A lot of narratives in the offseason, the only one held up was (defensive coordinator) Tom Allen and that D-line and them linebackers,” Swinney said. “The rest of them? Nah, none of them held up. All these great wideouts we got? Hey, great wideouts make them contested plays to win the game.If you’re a Heisman quarterback and all that and first pick in the draft and all that crap,you don’t show up and play like that.”
The Tigers’ rushing attack also faltered in the opener, managing only 31 yards. Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley will aim to establish a more effective running game against Troy.
Troy coach Gerad Parker also emphasized the need for his team to play with more instinct and less hesitation on defense following a narrow win against Nicholls.”We were looking at things rather of playing hard at the line of scrimmage and just playing through stuff,” Parker said. “In order for us to have success this week we better come off the football and think less and play faster. Those things happen through instincts.”
Key Notes:
Clemson is 3-0 all-time against Troy, with previous matchups being decisive victories.
Under Swinney, Clemson holds a 37-10 record in games following a loss, including season openers after a loss in the previous season finale.
The Tigers boast a 70-6 record at Memorial Stadium (“Death Valley”) since the start of the College Football Playoff era, second-best in the nation during that span.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik needs 90 passing yards to reach 7,500 career yards, joining Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence, and Charlie Whitehurst as the fifth quarterback in program history to achieve the milestone.
