Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney didn't mince words Tuesday, praising his quarterback's "relentless" toughness while simultaneously issuing a stark warning about this Friday's opponent—a Louisville team that embarrassed his defense a year ago.
With a short week following a late Saturday night game, Swinney said his team is operating on "Wednesday for the Tigers" time. The focus is squarely on a Louisville team he described as "two plays away from being undefeated."
But the biggest revelation came when Swinney detailed the extent of the injuries quarterback Cade Klubnik has been battling.
'A Warrior Man'
Klubnik, who has faced criticism during a challenging season, has apparently been playing through significant pain. Swinney lauded his quarterback's toughness, revealing just how bad the quad contusion was leading up to the Florida State game.
"He's got complete respect for this football team," Swinney said. "He's just battles against the Warrior Man. I mean, he just… You can just count on that."
Swinney explained the severity of the injury, stating, "He could hardly walk last week because of the… his thigh. We're so… swollen and blown up. ... He's a lot better than he was this time last week, couldn't practice."
Swinney's belief in his quarterback remains unshakable, both on and off the field.
"A lot of guys that wouldn't be playing," Swinney added. "This guy was born to play football. ... He's always up here sitting in the meetings, watching tape, I mean, he just loves it. And he loves Clemson. ... I'm gonna have a great future in the NFL. I think it's gonna be a great pro."
Redemption for an 'Embarrassing' Performance
Klubnik's toughness will be needed against a Louisville team that Clemson has not forgotten. While the Tigers are focused on the 2025 Cardinals, the memory of last year's matchup is clearly being used as motivation, especially for the defense.
"Probably our worst game last year, uh, was defensively, especially was against this team," Swinney admitted. "And, uh, so big challenge for us."
He later doubled down on the defensive failure: "They ran through us. I mean, it was embarrassing to watch last year."
Swinney said the defense has improved its communication and eye discipline, which was a major issue in early-season losses.
"I thought defensively… It's one of our better games. I mean, with 11 guys on the same page," Swinney said of his team's recent play. "You have to just truly… being disciplined with your process... and that's where we just got truly just trust our eyes, trust the process that you've been taught."
Scouting the 'Special' Cardinals
Swinney spent significant time breaking down what makes this year's Louisville team so dangerous, calling them "a really good football team" with two overtime losses.
On offense, he pointed to their "ball control" style, which is designed to create confusion. "A lot of formations, movements… Um, a lot of outside zone, a lot of… I candy, uh, and movements that challenge you from a discipline standpoint," he said.
He also singled out wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks (wearing number zero, referred to as "Bell" in the transcript, likely a mix-up with a previous player), a player Swinney sees as elite.
"And man, this kid, Bell, is… he's special," Swinney raved. "Uh, he is a great, great football player. ... They get it to them a lot of different ways."
Defensively, the challenge is just as steep. "Then over the defensive side, they're one of the best defenses in the country," Swinney said. "A very aggressive, um… you know, physical up front ... a scheme that's gonna challenge you from an aggressiveness standpoint."
'That's Clemson'
Despite a season that has not met Clemson's lofty standards, Swinney took a moment to praise the fanbase for their unwavering support in the last home game.
"I mean, that's Clemson, and that's who they are, uh, and it was awesome," he said. "You can just feel the juice from the crowd."
Swinney acknowledged the fan's frustration with the team's record but marveled at their loyalty. "This ain't the first… disappointing season around here, but it's the first one in a long time. ... It's been, like I said many times, since 2010, since we've had a… a year like this... But… they showed up in, and 15 years later, they're still showing up. ... That's just who they are. They support the Tigers."
Staff and Family Business
In other notes, Swinney confirmed the promotion of Dennis Love to head strength coach, a move that was finalized in the summer when Love was pursued by the NFL. "We didn't have a choice," Swinney joked. "Uh, it's either that, or it's gonna be the strength coach for the Vikings, uh, right, right then. ... This is where he wanted to be."
Swinney also laughed about the two-point conversion to his son, Clay, revealing his wife, Kathleen, was left in the dark.
"No, she had no idea. Uh, she was mad," Swinney said. "She's like, how come I didn't know you? I said, well, I mean… She's on a need-to-know basis. ... It was a good momentum play for us, kind of set the tone."