Editor’s Note: The following is an edited transcript of Dabo Swinney’s opening statement this week ahead of Clemson’s matchup at Boston College.
On the 2025 Boston College Eagles:
“Back on the road again this week, so heading up to Boston, always a tough place to play and always a tough team to play, you know, and no different in this scenario. Watching the team, their record is one and four, and this is far from a 1-4 football team. They are, you know, you say it, but it’s, I mean, they’re four plays away from being 4-1, without a doubt, so very well coached, and I know they are battling through some disappointment because they’ve had some heartbreakers. Michigan State game in overtime, Stanford game, they got a big lead and got away from them on a couple plays and then ended up losing that one, then they got the Cal game won and comes down in the last play, lose that one, so they’ve had some real heartbreakers, you know, as so have we, but they have competed their butts off, and then this past week kind of got away.”
On Boston College’s roster last week:
“They had a bunch of guys out. I mean, I don’t know if y’all saw their injury report, but they had a ton of guys out, especially on defense. They had at least ten guys out on defense and just got in a hole early against Pitt, but, I mean, it’s a good team. I mean, literally a few plays from four and one, and very impressed when you watch the tape.”
On the Eagles’ Offense:
“It’s probably the best OL we’ve played as far as how they play together as a group. This is a really good offensive line, big, strong, well-coached. Back’s a really good player. He’s downhill. He’s actually from Rock Hill. You know, he’d be excited to play the Tigers. They use him a lot in the passing game. I think they’ve got really good receivers. No. 4, I think, is an NFL guy. This guy’s 6'5", 217 pounds. He’s a big-body kid. No. 11 is going to be the all-time lead receiver in Boston College. He’s a really good player. No. 17 is a guy that they get the ball a ton. They got a couple other speed guys. I think one’s been out for them. He’s a good player. I don’t know if he’ll be back or not. But, you know, multiple formations. They do a good job as far as creating, you know, a formational challenge as far as how you line up and defending extra gaps, a ton of play action, a lot of max protection to get the shots downfield. And that’s probably the biggest thing, you know, looking at them. I mean, they’re 11th in the nation in passing. So they’re throwing the ball all over the park. But it comes through the run game. You know, everything, there’s a ton of play. It’s not like they’re just dropping back and letting it rip. There’s a ton of play action. And, you know, really good scheme.
On Boston College’s Quarterback Dylan Lonergan:
“The quarterback, I think, is a very good player. He’s a kid we recruited. He’s from down in Snellville, Georgia. He signed with Alabama. But he’s a very good player. Again, 11th in the country in passing. They schematically really stress you, you know, with how they go about, you know, creating their shots through the run, the play action, a bunch of screens, and, you know, manipulation plays with throwbacks and things like that built into it. Back’s free-releasing a lot. I think he’s maybe third or so in receiving on the team. So you've got to account for him. So I’m just very impressed watching the tape. You don’t know anything about a record. You just watch the tape and you’re like, man, these guys are, they play tough. They’re well-coached. Quarterback, I think he’s an elite thrower. He’s very accurate. They got skill outside, and they got a tough runner in the backfield. So I think it’s a big challenge for us.”
On the Eagles’ Defense:
“On the other side, same thing. Big, strong, you know, physical guys up front. You know, typical, big physical linebackers that you always think about at BC and just a bunch of tight coverage. You know, you got to make plays against these guys. I think they’re well coached. They do a good job with their press technique. They do a good job getting hands on guys. You can tell they know and believe in their scheme. Got a couple of big hitters. You better know where Zero is. He’s a guy that shows up on tape every single week. Plays really hard for them. So physical group, tough group, a lot of pressure, a ton of pressure with this team, a lot of movement. And so, you know, it’s a tough matchup for us and excited about the challenge. But, you know, again, a night game, Chestnut Hill, it’ll be a great environment and a great college football game. Look forward to it. Good team.”
