Swinney on the Sugar Bowl: "a disappointing end to a good season"

Clemson's season didn't end the way the coaching staff, team, and fans wanted it to. Dabo Swinney highlighted missed opportunities and losing field position as the key reasons behind Clemson's 24-6 loss to Alabama. 

Swinney noted, "We had some opportunities. We had a big drop on third down early in the game. We got a chance in the second half. We come out, and we get the turnover, and we got a chance. It's a 10-6 game."

Clemson had the ball in hand, down 10-6 before Da'Ron Payne snagged a deflected Kelly Bryant pass. "We've got the right call, no safety defense. We got a post route probably getting ready to throw it for a touchdown. And we get a sack, fumble, catch, and a penalty. It's like a 42-yard play." 

Swinney explained it further, "10-6, we're right there in it and then we get another stop. And we put a good drive together. We will be sick when we watch it on tape. Kelly [Bryant] is getting ready to pull the trigger and throw it. And we get sacked. The ball comes out. They get it. So, again, it's a game of a few inches. And they made the plays and we didn't."

For some, this season will forever be defined by the Tigers final performance, but Swinney was proud of what he saw from his team as they closed the game. Clemson finished the year with a 12-2 record and a 50-7 mark over the last four years. The 50 wins are an ACC record for a four-year period. 

"At the end of the day, I will say this, I know we didn't score right there at the end. But I'm really proud of our defense and our offense and how they competed down the stretch in a tough situation. I think that says a lot about who they are, the character of our team. And I'm very thankful."

"It's a very disappointed locker room, but I'm very thankful for our seniors. And this is a team -- nobody picked us to be here this year. This is a team that went to their third playoff in a row, their third ACC championship in a row. They won 50 games in their career, 40 in the last three years. So I'm very thankful for my seniors."

The Tigers finish the year 12-2 with a third consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff, backed by three straight ACC titles.

Clemson is expected to be a contender for years to come and should have more opportunities for games like this, but as Swinney noted, "The lesson is, again, championship football is a few plays and a very small margin for error."