Dabo Swinney explains how his faith allows him to sustain positivity

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has long been an outspoken proponent for his faith and how that impacts his life, his coaching philosophy and just about everything he does. On Tuesday, Swinney was asked how his faith allows him to sustain a positive approach.

The question came in from Zach Lentz, the publisher of AllClemson.com, by way of a staffer standing just off camera as Swinney addressed local reporters. Lentz could not be present but submitted his question for the press conference anyway.

“First of all, I know Zach’s dealing with some medical issues, so thoughts and prayers with him,” Swinney said. “I know he’s been through a lot with his family and his wife, etc.”

Swinney then went on to discuss his approach to faith for about four minutes.

It’s not the first time he’s done so, but he expanded quite a bit. Essentially, it’s the constant he leans on during trying times.

“Faith is just kind of the foundation of my life,” Swinney said. “It just helps me have perspective, I guess.

“I think my faith keeps me anchored. I think life happens for all of us. Right? There’s nothing you can do about that. We’re all going to have major trials and tribulations through life and storms of life. I just, my faith has always kept me anchored down and allowed me to have peace no matter what. And it’s allowed me to grow through adversity and develop into hopefully a person that’s more Christ-like as I live my life and I lead my life.”

For Dabo Swinney, faith allows joy that isn’t dependent on external circumstances

Dabo Swinney’s faith is clearly quite personal to him, and he had an interesting way of characterizing one of the nuances for him when it coms to faith. He likened it to understanding the difference between what happiness and joy is.

“A couple years ago, I talked a lot about joy,” Swinney said. “Happiness is dependent upon something, right? Like we’re happy when this, we’re happy when we win. We’re happy when, whatever, my wife gives me a kiss. Whatever. We’re happy. Happiness is really dependent, but joy is something that I think is a constant when you know Christ.

“So for me it’s always been just whether things are great or whether things are just awful, just keep my eyes on the Lord, no matter what. We’re supposed to praise him in the good and the bad, and that’s really hard to do. But that’s what my faith has taught me, is to count my blessings on the worst days and count my blessings on the best days and just keep my eyes on him no matter what. Believe no matter what and just don’t quit. Don’t quit doing that. That’s always given me peace.

“It’s always given me perspective, and it’s allowed me to take some of the biggest messes in my life, if you will, and create a message from it through life, through my experiences. I mean that’s a deep question right there from Zach, but that’s the best answer I can give.”

While Swinney lives and breathes football, pouring countless hours of his life into preparing his team each week, that’s not the key for him in life.

That comes from his faith.

“The biggest thing is my faith gives me peace. Peace doesn’t come from a scoreboard for me,” Swinney said. “Peace doesn’t come from getting the answer you want to hear, and it never has. Peace comes from knowing who I am and where I’m going to spend eternity. That’s where my peace comes from and all the rest of it, life happens, but it all comes back to that relationship and that peace that comes from knowing Christ.”