When Dabo Swinney took over at Clemson in 2009, he wanted to build the football program into a consistent winner. One that could compete with the big boys in college football day in and day out, programs like Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Alabama.
Mission accomplished.
Eight years after becoming Clemson’s head coach, Swinney led the Clemson football program to its first national championship in 35 years. However, the Tigers success did not come all at once. It was a gradual climb that started by winning the ACC Atlantic Division in 2009 for the time, then winning the ACC Championship for the first time in 20 years in 2011.