Dabo Swinney on Clemson loss: 'We're going to bounce back'

There comes a time for every head football coach where they have to draw a line in the sand and say "enough is enough."

It's a "no turning back" point in the season, where a team can either sink or swim. Usually, that comes right before a big game or in the aftermath of disappointment. Normally, this moment comes during the heart of the season.

For Dabo Swinney and Clemson, though, that moment unexpectedly came in Week 1 when Duke upset the then-No. 9 ranked Tigers, 28-7. 

It was a huge loss for a Clemson team that some thought could be a contender in 2023. The problem was it wasn't as if it was that close of a game, either. Duke came out in the second half and ran away with it, punching Clemson in the mouth in the process.

It was a loss that hasn't been typical of the Swinney era at Clemson and — predictably — along with it came a tidal wave of negative press for the Tigers. 

Could this be the end of Dabo's dynasty? 

Talking to the media on Wednesday, Swinney said everything but "not so fast". He's still willing to go to battle with this 2023 Clemson squad.

“It’s a gut-wrenching thing. I mean, it is,” said Swinney (h/t On3). “We work so hard with these kids. I love this team though. I mean, I really do. I love this team. I love this staff. We’ve got to stay together and bounce back. Get back to work. I know a lot of people are probably going to quit on us and give up on us and throw us away, but man, I ain’t quitting. I ain’t throwing this team away. We’re going to bounce back. We’re going to get better and learn from it."

Clemson's next task will be getting back on track against Charleston Southern and then FAU, which should be easy enough but — as we've learned — no guarantee. The Tigers will then face a potentially huge get-right moment against No. 4 Florida State in Week 4. 

There's a lot that has to happen between now and then in order for that to be a competitive game, though.

"We'll stay together and we'll get back to work, Swinney said.