Listen: Sirius XM's Mark Packer weighs in on Clemson vs. Alabama Pt. III
**Note: Audio like this will soon be for Premium Subscribers only: Subscribe now ($49.95/year) and get a free Clemson Sports Talk #CHAMP16NS shirt.**
At the midway point of the 2017 season, Lawton Swann was joined by "Off Campus with Mark Packer" host Mark Packer from Sirius XM's ESPNU Radio. The two talked Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs Alabama III, South Carolina, Will Muschamp and much more on Clemson Sports Talk.
On Clemson - Alabama III:
"Everybody says that. It's almost become a given that we are going to get Alabama and Clemson III, and we might, I mean who knows? That's why we play them (the games). Every time I see mass media jump on something, whether this is true for sports or politics, or anything else in entertainment, everybody just assumes it's going to be A. or B., a lot of times we get neither A. or B."
"I asked today for Alabama fans, tell me what your best win of the season is so far? It's like crickets. We really don't have one. Let's see what happens when Alabama plays someone of note. There's a lot of football left to be played."
"After the first month of the season, Clemson's got the best resume based on beating quality teams, especially some on the road. But it's just the first month."
On Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley:
"No doubt about it and he's taking on another young buck in Tom Herman who's team looks like they have improved. If you watched Texas week one get steamrolled at home by Maryland your thinking, 'holy mackerel!' is it going to be an ugly year?"
"I think Texas is trending in the right direction and it's almost as if Oklahoma read all their headlines after beating Ohio State and said, "Hey we've arrived. Just roll over and kiss the ring." Now we've got this while nickname "Sooner-ing" when you lose seven consecutive years when you are a double-digit favorite in that fashion. I think there is some serious question about the mindset of, "What is Oklahoma?"
On the job Swinney and Saban have done:
"Those two have done the best job in recent memory. I think the streak at Bama is now 70 of beating unranked opponents. You catch everybody's best shot when you go on the road especially when you've won championships and have that pedigree. It's another thing that when you are supposed to win, you win. That to me has always been a great sign of coaching, and I don't care what sport we are talking about. I think Nick Saban has taken it to another level, to his credit. I think Dabo Swinney has taken a page right out of the same book."