Clemson converges on North Texas, Returns focus to Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Prep
DALLAS – The No. 2 Clemson Tigers arrived Sunday evening in North Texas to very little fanfare, settling in their home away from home for the week in anticipation of their College Football Playoff semifinal matchup with the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Clemson’s official travel party rolled into the Hilton Anatole Hotel to a classic Cotton Bowl welcome before the Tigers quickly turned their focus back to the task at hand just six days away.
“I’m super pumped. Never been to the Cotton Bowl so this is a new experience for me, been doing this a long time. I’ve always heard great things,” said head coach Dabo Swinney. “What a great city, what an unbelievable hotel and a venue to be able play in. So everybody is excited. I’m glad we are able to get out here today and get situated. It’s definitely something we’ve put a lot of work in back at Clemson. Now we’re excited to have a true game week here in Dallas.”
Appearing in this year’s Cotton Bowl Classic is rich with storylines for Clemson. The Tigers are back in the College Football Playoff for a fifth-straight year, joining Alabama as the only programs ever to earn at least four-straight CFP berths. The Tigers are also back at the place of their first-ever bowl win and first-ever win over a Top 20 team, a 6-3 victory over Boston College in the 1940 Classic.
“For the 1939 team to come out here and play in the first bowl game, and to not have been back to the Cotton Bowl since, I think is really special for all of the Clemson old timers for sure,” added Swinney. “For me, just another one of those neat things that this senior class is able to put on their resume.”
The Tigers get back to the practice field Monday afternoon at AT&T Stadium following their introductory media session featuring Swinney, LB Kendall Joseph and WR Hunter Renfrow. Monday’s practice is closed to the public and open to media only for a 15-minute window at the start of practice.
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic celebrates its 83rd anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 29. Live coverage on ESPN is set for 3 p.m. CST, with kickoff slated for 3:10 p.m.
This marks the fifth consecutive year for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic to be a part of the ESPN bowl lineup. Sean McDonough and Todd Blackledge are set to provide the call from the booth with Holly Rowe and Tom Rinaldi reporting from the sidelines.
ESPN Radio returns as the Classic's national radio partner for the seventh consecutive year. Bill Rosinski teams with David Norrie in the booth and Ian Fitzsimmons on the sidelines to describe all the action from AT&T Stadium.