Sapakoff: The best Clemson coach decision ever, Dabo over Kiffin

Swinney cautioned that he wanted to see Lawson “run around” during Monday’s practice before declaring him available for the game.

That was also a pivotal year for the Tigers.

TENNESSEE: Larry Scott, who served as Miami’s interim head coach for the final six games this season, has agreed in principle to become Tennessee’s tight ends coach. Serving at first on an interim basis, he got the job permanently after leading Clemson to bowl eligibility.

“People have a lot of respect for Deshaun because of how he handles things”, Swinney said. “It was just a matter of when”.

The Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1) looked unstoppable in the Cotton Bowl, beating Michigan State in the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff. “We’re going to do what we do so it won’t change anything”. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables pulled Watson aside in the celebratory scrum just to say thank you. “This year, we really wanted to make a statement and do something special”. While he did not post stellar numbers during the regular season (with 2,775 yards and 19 touchdowns), he did finish 25-of-30 passes for 286 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the semifinal.

“I thought he was going to go to sleep before the game”, Miller said. It paid off in the game the other night because he was ready to play and he was confident.

Watson turned in another stellar all-around performance, beating Oklahoma with his arm and his legs. In their first game in their new roles (2014 Russell Athletic Bowl), they didn’t attack Oklahoma’s interior line much, instead using the screen game and jet sweep to rack up 40 points. Clemson’s Wayne Gallman was getting further upfield than OU’s Samaje Perine before contact. “It’s going to be because they beat us”.

The coach said he began pushing players to think about a 15-0 season in August.

Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson is a dominating player who led the nation with 23.5 tackles for loss. I was the one first in my family to get a college degree, and to be able to get it from the University of Alabama was a dream come true for me and for my family, and not only to go down there and really as an 18-year-old kid, I left when I was 31. Alabama has looked like a team on a mission but it would be tough to match last week’s total domination of Michigan State. And Clemson’s big home win over Florida State must be devalued after the Seminoles two TD loss to Houston in their bowl, especially considering FSU didn’t have starting QB Everett Golson for that game either. He rushed a throw and it was picked off by Alabama’s Cyrus Jones at the goal-line. The team is led by Heisman Trophy victor Derrick Henry who dominated the SEC this season. It’s definitely odd calling the #1 team in the nation, 14-0 Tigers “not too bad”, but that’s nearly what you have to call it. Are they undefeated? Yes. He said Cain will go back to class on Wednesday but will not play in the championship game. It’s a great opportunity for them.

The loquacious Swinney added: “I’ve been trying to get back to the national championship as a coach for 20-plus years now”.

These two teams are on a collision course to determine College Football’s national champion.

Alabama’s Allen said the Crimson Tide concentrates on taking away the run so they can get after the quarterback.