The subject was the continuing importance of the bowls outside of the College Football Playoff and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had his perfect example.
He had taken a break from preparing for Notre Dame in Saturday's Goodyear Cotton Bowl and turned into the Texas Bowl on Thursday night. Swinney liked what he saw from Baylor's 45-38 win over Vanderbilt and coach Matt Rhule's reaction. After going 1-11 in 2017, Baylor rebounded to 7-6 this season, the second under Rhule.
"I watched Baylor win last night. And coach Rhule, man, that's what it's all about," Swinney said. "How pumped was coach Rhule?