Camp Kool-Aid: Swinney Says Scrimmage was Competitive as Heat Rises in Death Valley

A couple of notes and quotes from Saturday’s scrimmage in Death Valley as the heat turned up on what Dabo Swinney said had been “Camp Kool-Aid” with fair weather for the guys during their time over at Jervey Meadows.

Swinney: "It was a hot one. We finally got what we've been waiting on after Camp Kool-Aid, the last couple of days at a Jervey. We got some heat today; it was just what we needed. We needed a day where at some point the wall was going to show up and then see how the guys would push through."

It sounds like a more suitable last name for Robert Gunn would Cannon because the dude can flat-out kick a football. In fact, Swinney said that attempting a 70-yard FG isn’t out of the question.

Swinney: "Robert was awesome. He's been great all week. I mean, he hit one yesterday that was to win the national championship that we didn't even have goalposts, so you gotta kick it over the camera guy in the tower-- and the camera guy in the tower couldn't touch it. It went over his head right over the middle of the tower-- it was unbelievable. Good from 70. So we're starting to gain some confidence. Don't be surprised if we line up from 70 at some point. It's amazing. He hit one from 60 today."

Overall Swinney said the Tigers’ first fall scrimmage was a good one and was balanced competatively.

Swinney: "Incredibly competitive I don't know, we probably had 120 plays or so, it was a lot. We got a lot of special teams work. A lot of good old good, mixed it up a little bit as well. Really did everything today except two minutes; we'll hit that again on Monday and then again on Wednesday in our second scrimmage."

Swinney : “The biggest thing I'd say is it's just really competitive. There were some big plays on both sides. Kind of a carryover from what I've seen in practice each day from a competition standpoint. The defense started really well, didn't finish as well."

Swinney also said that QB Hunter Helms is out right now and that the plan is for transfer Paul Tyson to be Cade Klubnik’s backup. The Tigers hope to redshirt Christopher Vizzina if possible in order to put more space between him and Klubnik.

Swinney: "No, I think Paul Tyson would be the backup right now and C.V. is coming. But you know, Paul's a fifth-year guy that's got a lot of knowledge. Three years in Alabama and a year at Arizona State. He's been exposed to a lot. He would kind of be the bridge guy right now. But CV definitely, if we had some type of long-term deal, then yeah, I mean, if something happened to Cade, then that changes everything when it comes to CV. As a next guy, what we're trying to do, that's what we brought Paul here for, because we want to try to hold CV if we can."

We will have more thoughts and observations for you from the scrimmage soon!

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