We are hours away from the 2019 ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte. The Atlantic Division takes to the stage Wednesday and the Coastal Division will be here on Thursday. We will have plenty of news and notes throughout the day so stay tuned to ClemsonSportsTalk.com

Throughout the day, we will have updates from the event, including both free and PREMIUM content including our interviews with Dabo Swinney, Tanner Muse, and John Simpson.

News conferences, which begin roughly 11 a.m. ET will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra - on Wednesday and Thursday - theACC.com and Facebook Live.

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Things are moving right along at the ACC Kickoff. Currently, the ACC is introducing all of the new members of the upcoming ACC Network.

Commissioner John Swofford addressed the media earlier. A few notes, mostly driven around the ACC Network launching in August:

-- To say that these are exciting times in the ACC would be an understatement.
-- The ACC has won the men's basketball and football national championship in the same season two of the past three years. Clemson has been a part of both.
-- Having the opportunity to launch the ACC Network has been a journey. Expansions that have strengthened the conference and geographical footprint have helped the network come into fruition. The network needs to be built the right way for the long term.
-- 7 PM on August 22nd is "go time." It is a very busy time in Bristol and Charlotte. The control rooms are ahead of schedule. The network promises to give you a look into the conference unlike ever before.
-- Live events will be the backbone of the network, but storytelling will be the most important aspect.
-- The first show will be "All ACC." At 9 PM, a documentary film called "The class that saved Coach K" will air.
-- Louisville football will be getting an all-access behind the scenes show to show the preparations for the upcoming season.
-- "Greatest Ever: 2018 Clemson Tigers" will be a documentary showcasing Clemson's final two games in the College Football Playoff en route to a second national title in three years. Clip of Dabo Swinney before the game of Swinney saying "there has never been a 15-0 team before, but after four quarters there will be" as a preview.
-- Gamedays: production will try to give you a look around everywhere on campuses around the ACC for an hour before the games begin.
-- You can't measure what Clemson's success has meant to the conference has meant in terms of the network launching. The timing couldn't be better from a business standpoint.
-- The Charlotte epicenter for the ACC is as strong as it has ever been.

John Simpson is here, pulling off is best Trevor Lawrence.

Willie Taggart just left the podium:

• Takeaways from last season: Going into year two, a lot more confident with his team and staff. Learned a lot more and working with the team has been much smoother.
• I want us to be an aggressive football team and be explosive on both sides of the ball. You do it by being comfortable and executing. Our identity is being aggressive, explosive, have fun, and win.
• On Alex Hornibrook: brings experience in big games and with the postseason. He has gotten to the program and seems like he has been there for years. He's built relationships with teammates and I've been impressed with how he's working.
• Put last year's record behind us. We learned from our mistakes and we've been working on it diligently. '18 is a part of our history, but we are going to keep it there.
• 18 punt returns against the Seminoles last year. Florida State had one: We have to coach better and execute better.

Some of rough notes from the Florida State session
WR Tamorrion Terry on the keys to improved season at FSU: "We know what Florida State takes and whatever it takes to play at this level doing your job and doing it well."
DT Marvin Wilson says his leadership style is outspoken. Not very loud, says what he hays to say.
Wilson wanted to improve on the little things this offseason. His mental aspect, knowing formations, breaking the game down so he can think and react faster than he used to.

Willie Taggart on some of his takeaways from last season heading into 2019:

• You know a lot more. You go through Year 1 just learning and now year 2, you're more comfortable with players and coaches and things are much smoother"
• I want to be an aggressive football team. I see a football team that's fast and explosive on both sides of the ball.

Quick rough notes from the Boston College session
RB A.J. Dillon
On his carries: "The way I view a carry is an opportunity to help my team." Says as long as he can help his team out, that's what he's all about
DT Tanner Karafa
On what has to happen this year for you to achieve the same kind of success as last year: "Need to make a conscious effort to find personality during camp." Says team needs the young guys to provide depth

Head coach Steve Adazzio
"We're a pro style offense but we're playing with tempo."
On opener against Virginia Tech: "We've got our work cut out for us but we're really excited about the opportunity."
On Clemson: "They're an elite program" This is a unique conference in college football. "That team was elite, head and shoulders above everyone else, it wasn't even close."
Next step for the program is to compete for the conference championship. Have to be able to stay consistent, stay healthy and beat a team like Clemson in order to do that.

Quick rough notes from the NC State and Syracuse sessions

NC State
DE James Smith-Williams

• Thoughts on the new ACC Network: "We're definitely intrigued by it ... At the end of the day though, we're about winning games.

Head coach Dave Doeren

• Area of improvement for the defense: Doeren says they need to create more takeaways on defense. Also said "You guys all know the RPO world that allows offenses to do things that really aren't fair in football, to have linemen downfield and throw forward passes is really hard on a defense."

• Declined to go into detail about the starting QB battle or timeline on when a starter may be named. "Sometimes it's really telling. Sometimes it isn't. So I wish I could give you a deadline. I don't know it. It's on the players to show me who it is, to be honest."

Syracuse
QB Tommy DeVito

• Likes to think of himself of a pocket passer. "If I need to run, I will."
• Describes the offense as exhilarating. "We can do the same play a hundred different ways, a hundred different formations, different motions. That's what makes our offense unique."

DE Kendall Coleman on Clemson

• "The best way to handle Clemson is handle the first step with week one and week two." Syracuse plays at Liberty and Maryland in the first two games of 2019

Head coach Dino Babers
Why Syracuse has been able to compete w/Clemson: "Our young men compete very well. We were fortunate to be able to win two years ago." 2017 win creates an edge that they can do it.

Balance of fun and discipline: "Football should be fun. Football is all about winning but for us, it's about winning the right way. We want to lead the league in picnics, barbecues and softball games.

Two quick notes from Wake Forest
RB Cade Carney
Where the level of ease and comfort comes from handling himself off the field: "I put my trust in Jesus Christ and who God says I am. The ability to get up here and not be shaking or to read an article that says I'm a terrible player, should never run the ball again, or if I read an article that says I'm the best running back Wake Forest has ever seen, there's no one that can compare to me."

Head coach Dave Clawson on QB battle:
"I don't know who our starting quarterback is going to be. So as much as I'm worried about who the starter is, I'm also concerned with who's going to be our third, who is our fourth. We have to make sure we're continuing to develop the position.

Clemson's John Simpson at the podium. Full transcription below:
What can you say about a lot returning on the offensive line, just your thoughts on the leadership there not only from you but the other gentlemen?
JOHN SIMPSON: We have a lot of great guys on the offensive line, a lot of leaders, like you said. From every position, like, except for our left tackle right now, he's still a young guy, we just got to bring him under our wing, we're going to try to do everything we can to be great.

Q. If you pass block, Trevor Lawrence may throw it downfield for a touchdown. If you run block, Travis Etienne may find a crease and score a touchdown. Which is more fun?
JOHN SIMPSON: I would say when Travis runs for a touchdown, it just makes me feel like I did my job, even when Trevor throws a ball. When Travis runs, he got to run through the line. When he runs through that line, gets those yards, he just makes me feel like I did a great job.

Q. Robbie Caldwell has been well-known for cross-training you guys. Talk about what it's like to learn each of those different positions.
JOHN SIMPSON: Knowing multiple positions is very helpful for the team and for me. Just knowing those things, knowing that I'm able, I'm equipped with that knowledge to go into the game, be able to play left tackle if I needed to, sticking to guard, wherever they need me at. It just makes me feel more comfortable, I'm sure it makes Coach Swinney feel comfortable.

Q. Obviously there was a lot of talk about the network being launched today. For a program with you guys, two national championships in three years, what keeps the players grounded on a day-to-day basis?
JOHN SIMPSON: Well, Coach Swinney instills in us that we got to just rebuild. Starting from a foundation, we are going to live in the house that we build. So, like, at the beginning of the year, he tries to tell us that we have a windshield mentality. He tells us that throughout the whole year.

That's how a lot of guys view how we play, just windshield mentality. All that stuff we did last year can't carry over. That helps a lot.

Q. What can you say about the leadership from Trevor Lawrence, stepping in as a freshman, what he was able to do quickly?
JOHN SIMPSON: Working with a guy like Trevor Lawrence is fun. I said this earlier to a few people. He's the kind of guy that, like, takes the responsibility even if it's not his fault. Say, if the offensive line did something wrong or makes a mistake or something like that, 'It's my fault, I should have thrown it faster. It's my fault, I should have stepped up in the pocket.'

Having a guy like that behind you makes you feel more confident, makes you feel like you can play faster and quicker.

Q. You've experienced so much in your time at Clemson. What is your thought process heading into your final year of ball?
JOHN SIMPSON: My thought process going into my final year... It's a bittersweet thing (laughter). I just feel like I got to dominate everybody that I go against. That's been my thought process, like, since my freshman year, just dominate, be the best that you can be.

Q. Describe your teammate Tanner Muse, and keep in mind we're going to ask him the same question about you.
JOHN SIMPSON: Tanner Muse is a hard-nosed safety. He plays really hard. He can play some linebacker, if he needed to.

He gets the job done. I feel like there's not a harder worker on our team than Tanner Muse.

Tanner Muse' full transcript from the podium to close out ACC Media Day:

You've won two national championships. You have a drawer somewhere full of rings. What is the driving force for this season for this team? Where does the chip come from to make another run?
TANNER MUSE: I think it comes -- I mean, it comes just from the success. Tasting the success, being able to continue to strive to get to the top of the mount, top of the totem pole.

We've suffered a few losses since I've been there. I hate losing more than anything. Just having that bitter taste in my mouth. I always think back of those times, how it felt, how bad it was. That always drives me to continue to get better, continue to bring the guys along where they don't have to feel what we felt in previous years.

For you this season, to come back, after having that success, being able to hoist the trophy, why was it important for you to come back this year?
TANNER MUSE: Yeah, just felt like I had a bunch of unfinished business at Clemson. I had a really successful year, but I just felt like I didn't hit on everything I should have hit on. I got a lot of work to do in my game. I got a lot of things that I can get better at.

I'm super excited just having to get through this work through this summer and spring ball. It's been a lot of fun. Just really finish as much as I can get out of Clemson as I can. It's a great place to be. I love living there. I love everything about it. I love being around my teammates, the coaching staff.

Just really enjoying it for another year. It's been so much fun this year. I look forward to the season.

There are a lot of-high explosive offenses in this league. Some have catchy names. Clemson has had success slowing these offenses down. How have you done it?
TANNER MUSE: I think it all comes into our preparation. We prepare so hard. Coach Venables makes sure we're in there. We go a little overtime sometimes. You know, it's all worth it at the end of the day.

I think our preparation is top tier in the nation. The amount of film we watch all summertime, springtime and now, getting into the season I think is what really sets us ahead of others.

Coach Swinney told us he thought this could be the best back seven he's ever had. How does that make you feel to hear him say that?
TANNER MUSE: Makes me feel pretty good. We've had some good back sevens in the past. For him to say that... Me being one of the seniors, a part of, that I feel very privileged and honored. But it doesn't stop there. We have 11 guys on the field, so that seven has to really lead the other four to be able to all work together as a cohesive unit.

If you have one bad player on the field, it can end up in a touchdown. It really doesn't matter about what group's the best, as long as that defense is tip-top shape, all the bolts are tightened, then we'll be just fine.

Your secondary really received quite a bit of criticism at certain points last year. How validating was it to do what you did to the Crimson Tide? How are you keeping that same chip on your shoulder this season?
TANNER MUSE: We got a bunch of things said about us after the South Carolina game. I thought we really proved ourselves against Pittsburgh. I think we kept them under a hundred yards passing, which is unheard of, in a championship-type game. That was really satisfying as a team. Building that into the Playoffs, doing what we did, a lot of guys coming out, having their come-out party, like Nolan Turner making that pick against Notre Dame, that was huge for him, being a confidence booster, putting different packages in. We really had all four of our safeties out on the field at the same time.

That's just a big thing for us, just being able to have pride in our unit, just understanding that it's not about what the outside media is talking about, it's about what we have in our team, how we have our players, coaches, how we feel about each other.

If there's a problem there, we're going to handle it. Outside stuff, really doesn't bother us. We know what we're about, how we do things.

We know Coach Swinney obviously knows how to win. In the trenches, what we don't see when you're in practices and team meetings, what can you say about him as a head coach? What breeds success?
TANNER MUSE: Yeah, we get after it in the trenches. Every week we have some full days, things like that. It really just kind of keeps us humble knowing what we're going to feel on Saturdays is no comparison to what we're facing each other. I feel like we have our best practice squad, which is good on good. That's what makes us good and so much better as the season keeps going on. We'll play great teams, but we'll also play a great offense.

I think that's what makes us really good, keeps us tip-top and super sharp.

You said you had some unfinished business. Within that, is some of that developing your leadership skills? What do you expect from yourself over the next eight or nine months?
TANNER MUSE: Yeah, definitely in the past I've been a leader by what I've done, by my actions and things like that. This year I really got to take that vocal role. That's really important for the team to see somebody step up and say something for the team. That's what we really need as a defense.

I'm going to do the best that I can. I know we have a lot of other guys on our defensive 11 that step up. K'Von, Isaiah, A.J., a few other guys that I'm missing. We all got to work as a team and as a defense to really be vocal, to lead these young guys to another successful season.

Great hearing from Eric Mac Lain today. We will have that audio for our PREMIUM subscribers.

Dabo Swinney at the podium for ACC Media Day. He was the last person to answer questions. Full transcription below:

You've been in Charlotte a lot lately. How important is Charlotte for you guys? How important is Charlotte for the ACC?
DABO SWINNEY: Charlotte has been great, really has. This is a wonderful city, has a great infrastructure. Actually came up here for the All-Star basketball game this year. That was pretty cool.

It's a great venue that we're blessed to play in here in Charlotte. It's one of our goals every year, is to try to get here. Love everything about this city.

Q. Seems like every team today has been asked how they might be able to close the distance with Clemson. Knowing you still have that giant target on your back, how important is it for you to keep hammering those things that have made you successful to this point?
DABO SWINNEY: Yeah, it's kind of business as usual for us, to be honest with you. It's just what we do every year. We've had eight 10-plus winning seasons in a row, been very consistent. The reason for that is we start over. You heard these guys talk about it. Truly, we don't carry everything over. It's a new team, there's new challenges. You got to re-develop the leadership, re-install the core values.

I start my meetings tomorrow with the coaches. We have five days. Even though we've all been together for a long time, when we meet tomorrow, it's as if we just showed up and met each other for the first time. We're going to install the program, what we do, how we do it, why we do it that way.

Then we just go execute the plan. That's just the mindset that's woven into the culture. It's always about what's next. You got to show up every year with something to prove.

That sense of urgency, we create that all the time. It's in our off-season, our strength and conditioning program, the way we practice, the way we meet and message with our team.

For us, that's what we do. Then you got to continue to recruit the right people, develop your players. We've been able to consistently do that.

Q. Over the last several years you guys I think are 34-2 against ACC foes. You beat them by an average of 22 points. Seems like most teams you're rolling over. The last couple of years there's one team that has given you fits, and that's Syracuse. Why have those guys been able to play with you? Do you view them as your biggest obstacle in your path of where you want to go?
DABO SWINNEY: We've had a lot of teams give us fits. We've had some good wins and some games we've been able to get control of. I mean, shoot, we had three games with Louisville go down to the last play. Epic battles with NC State. I know Florida State this year was a different type of game, as they're transitioning. Unbelievable battles with Florida State, on and on and on.

Syracuse, Dino has just done an unbelievable job. It's a great place. It starts with him. I mean, he's put a good staff together. They have a good philosophy in place. They're well-coached. They recruit well. They develop well. You can tell that it's a relationship-driven program. He does a great job in connecting with his players. They play hard. They play hard.

He's created the belief in his team that they can win, regardless of who they play. That's what it takes. He's done an awesome job of instilling that mindset into their team. He's had good players, some really good players.

So I don't see them going away any time soon.

Q. Last season I asked you about faith. There's obviously something else with this team than just simple recruiting and wins and losses. What can you say about the culture that you have that's developed at Clemson and the fact this team not only wins games but does it professionally in a humble way? There's obviously pillars to the foundation.
DABO SWINNEY: Well, that starts with the process that we go through tomorrow starting with our staff, making sure that everybody's on the same page. Again, we'll have five days from about 8:30 to 5:00, no phones, we don't leave. When we walk out of there, we're ready for the year.

It starts with the people involved. I've got I think 19 former players on my staff in different roles. It's very connected. It's very relationship-driven. I got relationships with -- I mean, you look at my staff. Woody McCorvey was my coach. Lemanski Hall, Thad Turnipseed, Mickey Conn, I played with them. Danny, I coached with him. He was one of my coaches when I was playing. Tony, I coached Jeff, Tony was a GA for me. It just kind of keeps going on and on and on.

I work with a group of people that I love. We have great relationships. So Clemson is a special place, there's a quality of life and a simplicity of life in Clemson that's really special, that's just kind of a natural resource that you really don't understand until you have lived it.

I think that's part of it. When this is your profession, I think our staff, especially the staff that have been other places, they realize how unique it is to be able to live in a place like Clemson, then had this unbelievable stage to do what you love to do on the weekends.

Then they all leave (smiling).

It's just an awesome place, a bunch of good people. We have a great administration. There's a great chain of command, an alignment with our board and our president and our AD. We're just all on the same page. And we like each other.

We've built our culture through loving our players, graduating our players, equipping them with the tools they need to go be successful in life, making sure they have a good experience, and that they win, but in that order.

We've kept the main thing the main thing. We haven't changed anything since 2009 when I got the job. It's the same thing. Same deal. We stayed the course. We stayed committed to the vision of the program even when sometimes it didn't make sense to other people or other people wanted us to do this, do that. We stayed the course.

I think God has blessed us with an amazing journey, great group of people, group of young men that have chosen to come in and buy in and believe. I can be the greatest coach in the world, but if the players don't buy in, don't believe, it's not going to work.

We've had a bunch of selfless players and staff that have bought into the philosophy of the program, how we do things. It's been a great journey. But we're just getting going. We're just getting going. It's been a fun time. I can't believe I've had 10 years already under my belt. My 11th full-time year. Going to be my 17th at Clemson.

Love what I do, who I do it with, where I do it. I'm excited about this challenge and this journey and the story that this team it's going to write as they go through the season.

Q. This year you will play 10 out of your 12 regular-season games in the Carolinas. Do you look at that as an advantage or a luxury considering how far you've had to travel for games before?
DABO SWINNEY: Wow, I didn't know that. Didn't even think about that.

Obviously I don't look at that as a luxury (laughter). Haven't even thought about it. But that's great.

I think we had one stretch, I think we went, like, 17 out of 18 road games or something where they were night games. I mean, it was like crazy. You're getting home at 6 a.m. We won most of them.

But it's nice. That's nice to know that when you do go on those road games, and you don't ever know when you're going to play, but it is nice to know it's a short trip whenever the game is over. It's not like you're having to go a long way.

But, no, that's pretty cool. Be great for our parents. Most of our parents, families and fans, easy for them to get to the games also.

Q. As Todd Bates enters year three with Clemson, what does he mean to you and your program?
DABO SWINNEY: Todd has done an awesome job, just really proud of him. I would equate Todd replacing Dan Brooks to these young D-linemen trying to replace Christian and Dexter and Clelin and Austin and Huggy, that group. Kind of the same thing.

I'm really proud of him. He's a guy that I kind of had my eye on for a while. Just a matter of whenever that time came. Dan decided to retire. This is one of the greatest coaches of all time, Dan Brooks. When he decided to retire, after the championship in '16, I was able to go hire Todd. He was at Jacksonville State. He has done a phenomenal job in connecting with our players. Nobody works harder at trying to be a great coach and a student of the game, learning. He's been great with Brent. Brent has really enjoyed him.

He's an unbelievable recruiter. He's passionate about what he does. Got a wonderful family. He has twins getting ready to be born literally any minute. Just really proud of him.

It was a great decision to bring him to Clemson and we're thankful he's still here.

Q. A lot has been made about your leadership. Who are some of the leaders that you admire, that you've learned from, not necessarily in the football world, maybe a book you've read?
DABO SWINNEY: Oh, man. A lot of my teachers growing up. My coaches. I learn from everyone. You don't have to have a Twitter follower account for me to think you're a great leader or something. I think everybody has a chance to be a great leader. You have an opportunity to learn from everyone as you go through life.

Man, some of my coaches that I've had all the way back to Coach Tohill back in high school. I grew up in one town. I had relationships with my teachers, small town, kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school. I'm so thankful for all the teachers that shaped me, disciplined me, encouraged me, equipped me with an education, helped stoke that belief.

Same thing with my coaches. Coach Stallings has been one of great mentors in my life. A lot of great leaders I never met. I grew up, Bear Bryant was one of my heroes growing up. I loved Coach Bryant. Never got to meet him. He was one that I followed and read about and things like that.

Bobby Bowden is I think a man that I have learned a lot about, got to know obviously with my relationship with Tommy. Just so many people. So many people I've never met, then some people I've than fortunate to meet.

A guy like Tony Dungy. I read his books, read his daily devotional. I've had an opportunity to visit with him. He's spoken to the team. I've really met some neat people along my journey that have been great leaders for me.

But I study anybody and everybody. I think we can learn. It's a constant process, never ends. I learn from my kids. I learn from my players. I learn from the staff. So it's a never ending process for me.

Woody McCorvey, who was my position coach, been one of the great mentors in my life, one of the wisest men I know. Lots of them. My wife. Don't leave her out (smiling). Known her since the first grade. She's been a great leader in my life, for sure.

Q. The other room just now you were talking about that recruiting cycle when you got K'Von and Isaiah late in the process. Is that a situation you could see yourself using the transfer portal, if there had been one back then?
DABO SWINNEY: Probably not. To me, I mean, like I say, we haven't recruited a transfer portal. Not anything wrong with that, it just hasn't been what we needed to do. Hope we don't have to do that.

I think at that time those guys were seniors. I still prefer to recruit the high school kid, do a good job of evaluating and develop. That's just my mindset. That's my philosophy.

There may come a day where maybe we have some guys leave that you didn't know, all of a sudden you get some guys injured, something like that. Maybe it's later in the process, maybe spring or summer, something like that, where you might have a specific need.

I don't know. Figure that out as I go. It's not really where we are right now.