Day against Dabo: Part II is almost here.
We are about 36 hours away from Ohio State and Clemson kicks off in reducing the Tigers’ 29-23 Fiesta Bowl victory in 2019.
Ryan Day and Dabo Swinney went to the virtual podium on Thursday morning for a joint press conference ahead of the College Football Playoff rematch.
A summary of what the two head coaches had to say:
Ryan Day
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Despite being only an underdog for the third time since 2016, Day says it offers no extra motivation for the Ohio State: ‘Our guys are excited for this game, no matter what. … You’re in the CFP and playing for a national championship. We do not need much more motivation than that. ”
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Day says last year’s loss to Clemson was ‘fresh in our minds’ and used as motivation, but he says the motivation for the loss has become a little less important as the Buckeyes season in question during the COVID-19 pandemic came.
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Day: “The biggest motivating thing for us is that we get the opportunity to tell a wonderful story.”
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A day when the state of Ohio is healthy and at full strength for the game: “Full power is a driving target.” The players who were on their way to the North West match said that they ” work back on it … but to say 100 percent, it’s different this year. ‘
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JK Dobbins was the bell cow in 2019, and the separation between Master Teague and Trey Sermon was ‘different’, says Day. And after an up-and-down season for both of them, Day believes they both get into a rhythm: “Seeing (Trey) run in his last game was great.”
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Since Swinney the state of Ohio in the no. 11 in the poll of his coaches, Day admits he was happy that Swinney was not on the College Football Playoff selection committee, but he did not directly respond that Swinney placed them outside the top 10.
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He believes winning the line is of utmost importance to the state of Ohio to have a chance to win.
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Because he is outside of such a routine-based sport on a daily basis, Day says it hurt the program because he could not “look guys in the eye and tell them what was coming next.” He says they take nothing for granted and that they “have a lot to thank for.”
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The Buckeye defense is confident he’s been inventing things since the Indiana game: “That’s a great question. How do you know when you’ve only played six games? The only way you can find out is to play. “But we go against each other in practice every day … There has been great improvement in this area, but the real test will be tomorrow.”
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The day he was the underdog: “These are people’s opinions. What’s important is that we got out and played.”
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On the importance of Justin Fields to jump back and play his best game against Clemson: ‘I do not think we as a team have played our best game yet … I’m also not sure Justin but that’s the challenge . But that’s all. “He says it will be a joint effort, but that Fields” will surely have to play well, and he knows it. ”
Dabo Swinney
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Swinney says Clemson is “motivated by winning just as much as by losing.” He says winning a national championship means winning another, as much as losing the national title as against LSU: “We definitely learn from our memories.”
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Swinney on offensive coordinator Tony Elliott who is not available for the Sugar Bowl: “We’ll definitely miss Tony,” but how will that affect Clemson? “You can ask me that after the game.”
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Swinney says Clemson is missing only two players who did not undertake the trip, including a walk-on and one scholarship player. Clemson and Ohio State’s status reports will only be released Friday.
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He says the Tigers were forced to make many adjustments during an uncertain season “but we found a way to still find joy in the journey.” He says Clemson has “started more guys than ever before.”
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Clemson’s recruitment was also ‘very, very different’ this season. Swinney says the Tigers have a couple of guys moving to campus next week that he ‘never met in person.
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CJ Spiller handles the return rotation with Tony Elliott outside, while Swinney and assistant coach Brandon Streeter will train the backs together.
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The Tigers are rarely an underdog. He says whether they are a favorite or an underdog, but “stay focused like we always have.”
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About Trevor Lawrence: “He’s as good as ever before, that’s for sure. He’s the biggest winner I’ve ever had. He’s 34-1. He was incredible.”
