Dabo Swinney reflects on call from Steve Spurrier after Clemson lost to Georgia in 2014

Ahead of Clemson’s matchup with Georgia to begin the 2021 season, Dabo Swinney remembers the loss his team suffered in 2014 against the Bulldogs. Specifically, he’s reflecting on a call he received from the legendary Steve Spurrier afterwards.

At the time, it was a rough week for both Swinney and Spurrier. Just days prior to Clemson’s loss, Spurrier’s South Carolina Gamecocks lost 52-28 to Texas A&M.

That time Spurrier consoled Swinney after Clemson lost to Georgia… "I still got the voicemail. Steve Spurrier calls you, you usually wanna keep those." 😆 @SteveSpurrierUF pic.twitter.com/exwWGKsGQo

— On3 (@On3sports) August 27, 2021

“Coach Spurrier called me after the game . . . I guess he was calling to console me,” said Swinney. “I still got the voicemail. I put it in my Spurrier voicemail file. Steve Spurrier calls you, you usually want to keep those.

“He said ‘Yeah, I don’t know why we schedule these games. We play East Carolina, y’all play Furman or somebody. Everybody’s happy, we get a win. We go play these games . . . it’s pretty much terrible. Got our butts kicked for four quarters. Looks like y’all just got yours kicked for one quarter, but hey, we’ll bounce back – go get ‘em next week.’

“I just laughed. But it made me feel better.”

Evidently, Spurrier’s vivacious personality and perspective made the loss sting a little less for Swinney. Moreover, Spurrier’s Gamecocks finished 7-6, while Swinney’s Tigers ended 10-3.

Additionally, Swinney defeated Spurrier in a matchup between the two head coaches later that November. Now, it’s looked back on as the first of a current six-game winning streak for Clemson over South Carolina.

Swinney hoping to avoid a repeat of 2014 against Georgia

As the summer winds down, the focus shifts for Clemson to their season opener against Georgia. With Sept. 4 quickly approaching, the coaching staff will turn some of their attention back to the work they put in this summer. 

Dabo Swinney knows the showdown in Charlotte is quickly approaching. But for now the focus remains on improving his roster.

“Well, the biggest thing is they’re together,” Swinney said of his team last week. “This is a team that likes each other. And they’ll compete. You know, they practice physical. They’re a focused team. And those are things that excite me. We’re talented, I think we all know that. But having the right leadership, having the right focus, having the right commitment, the right attitude and the right character.

“I think this team has all those intangibles that we’re going to need to have the type of season we want to have.”

Moreover, Clemson starts it’s season with a heavyweight matchup against the Bulldogs. While a win could go a long way to bringing the Tigers back to the College Football Playoff, a loss could dash their hopes as early as September.

The stakes are high, but Swinney’s team has proven to be up to the task. Perhaps another phone call from Spurrier is on the way following Clemson’s matchup with Georgia – a congratulatory one this time for Dabo Swinney.