Swinney remains optimistic

CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney is nothing if not an eternal optimist.

That unbridled optimism is keeping him confident his Clemson football team will not implode despite the reality that there's very little left for the Tigers to achieve.

"That's just my nature," Swinney said Sunday, a day after the Tigers' 41-27 loss at Florida State. "I've never been a half-empty kind of guy. Ever. Never will be. My nature is to fight to the very end, and I think we have a lot of football players on this team that have that same mindset."

Swinney's belief will be tested in the final three games of the regular season. Needing to beat Duke, Virginia and South Carolina simply to secure bowl eligibility, the Tigers (4-5, 2-4 ACC) find their preseason goals flushed and their confidence shaken.

And what unfolded Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla., didn't present compelling evidence that this team will serve up the fight that will be necessary to avoid being ineligible for a bowl for the first time since 1998.

Swinney, who's served as the Tigers' interim coach since Tommy Bowden's Oct. 13 departure, could not explain why the defense lacked the intensity that the setting and opponent demanded.

"The only thing I can say is I did a poor job of having them ready," he said.

Clemson wilted from the end of the first half on and ended up yielding 419 yards and four touchdowns after allowing seven touchdowns in the previous five ACC games. The Seminoles rushed for 266 yards, the second-highest total against the Tigers under fourth-year coordinator Vic Koenning.

The Tigers play host to Duke on Saturday at noon.

"They just outplayed us," Swinney said. "They were more physical. They played harder. We had way too many missed assignments. We did not match their energy, and that's what was most disappointing. We had several opportunities to make plays that we've been making on defense."

Swinney, who's fighting to remove the interim tag from his title, said he's not concerned about this team fracturing. The leadership was lacking two years ago when the Tigers suffered a late-season meltdown after starting 7-1, but he said things are different this time. He's confident that veterans like Cullen Harper, James Davis, Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons won't let it happen.

The Tigers haven't suffered a losing season since 1998. They follow Saturday's game with a trip to Charlottesville, Va., then the finale at home against the Gamecocks.

Clemson began the season ranked No. 9 nationally and a landslide favorite to claim its first ACC title since 1991. Now, seven wins is the best the Tigers can do in the regular season.

"I have not seen (quit) at all from these guys," he said. "In fact, the seniors have been really, really good. ... I have no concerns at all about our seniors."

Clemson's offense struggled Saturday thanks largely to an injury-battered offensive line, totaling 212 yards before a 97-yard touchdown drive late. Yet Swinney is encouraged because his offense kept battling back against a good defense.

Clemson's past three opponents rank 16th or better nationally in total defense — Florida State at No. 5, Boston College at No. 9, and Georgia Tech at No. 16.

"I sure hope Duke's not in the Top 10," he said.

Swinney is in luck; the Blue Devils (4-5, 1-4) rank 52nd in total defense, giving up 346 yards per game.

--Senior defensive tackle Dorell Scott suffered a knee injury at Florida State, and Swinney was still awaiting the MRI results late Sunday afternoon.

Left tackle Chris Hairston (concussion) is expected to sit out today's practice, but Swinney said he should be fine for Saturday's game.

He also said tight end Michael Palmer (shoulder injury) should be OK.