Clemson Football: Top 10 wins for the Tigers under Dabo Swinney

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers reacts after the Clemson Tigers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-0 to win the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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COLUMBIA, SC – SEPTEMBER 12: South Carolina Gamecocks mascot ‘Cocky’ leads the band onto the field before the start of their game against the Kentucky Wildcats on September 12, 2015 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Images) /

2008: Home win over South Carolina

We have to begin this list with the game that started it all.

For there to be a “Dabo Swinney era” in Clemson football history, Swinney had to win this game. Back in 2008, Swinney took over as the interim head coach for Tommy Bowden on about as rocky ground as it could come.

Many Tiger fans liked what the young coach had to say, but were unsure if he could truly lead a program to prominence.

On November 29, 2008, Dabo Swinney took on a Steve Spurrier-led South Carolina Gamecock team. He led the Tigers to a 31-14 win and pretty much gave himself a chance to have the “interim tag” removed.

It wasn’t much longer before we would have this heartwarming moment:

Who would’ve known back in 2008 that a decade later we would be talking about Dabo Swinney as the best coach to ever coach at Clemson University?

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