It would take a whole, whole lot for me to dislike Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney.
I was fortunate enough to have known former Red Bank High School and University of Alabama linebacker Victor Ellis, and I was fortunate enough to have been in the congregation at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church when Swinney delivered a powerful, heartfelt eulogy after Ellis succumbed to a rare form of cancer in March 2008. Swinney was an Alabama assistant and recruited Ellis to Tuscaloosa, and he has kept pictures of Ellis in his office as a reminder that even the greatest of lives can be cut short.
"I loved Victor Ellis," Swinney told me several years later. "He was a good person and an excellent player, and he just had a beautiful smile and a sweet spirit to him."
Swinney has treated countless people, ranging from the incredibly fortunate to those in great need, with love and warmth, and he has spent much of his 11th full season as Clemson's head coach trying to defend his 12-0 team that is currently No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings entering Saturday's ACC championship contest against Virginia. On multiple occasions, defending his Tigers has morphed into whining, and a whining Dabo isn't nearly as enjoyable as the fun-loving Dabo.
My advice to Dabo, not that he asks for it, is to leave the defending business behind.
It's not his fault Florida State is 18-19 since 2017. It's not his fault Miami lost several days ago to Florida International. It's not his fault Georgia Tech lost in September to The Citadel.
Fighting the Atlantic Coast Conference fight is wasted time when Swinney could be touting the many positive aspects of his program, and that includes scheduling.
Swinney should never have to defend a Clemson schedule, which for the entire decade has included South Carolina at the end and either Auburn, Georgia, Notre Dame or Texas A&M at or near the start. Again, if the ACC opponents in between aren't carrying their weight that's not his fault, nor should he try to take on that battle.
In those games against Auburn, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas A&M, Swinney's Tigers have gone 8-2, losing only at eventual national champion Auburn in 2010 and at Georgia in 2014.
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney greets fans during the team's "Tiger Walk" before a home game against Boston College on Oct. 26, 2019. / AP photo by Richard ShiroClemson is seeking a fifth consecutive outright ACC title, which would match Alabama's dominance in the Southeastern Conference from 1971-75. Coincidentally, Oklahoma is after a fifth straight Big 12 championship this weekend as well.
The Tigers already have set an ACC standard with four straight conference crowns - Florida State won nine straight from 1992-2000 but never had more than three outright titles in a row - and are looking to become the first team in any league to win five consecutive championship games. Florida won four straight Southeastern Conference title contests from 1993-96.
"I think what's been achieved by this group of young people should be recognized, and it's a shame that a lot of people have missed it outside of our folks here," Swinney told reporters this week. "It's incredible what they've done. It's historic, and it's just a beautiful group of young people.
"This is a special football team."
That's more of the message Swinney should stick with. After all, if last season's run to the national title taught us anything, it's that Clemson can treat Notre Dame and Alabama the same way it can Boston College and North Carolina State.
Pasquali's Pix
Oregon vs. Utah: The Utes have held 11 of their 12 opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards. Utes 16, Ducks 13.
Baylor vs. Oklahoma: For the first time in the 24-year history of the Big 12 Conference, the Sooners led the league in total offense (526.9) and total defense (330.6). Sooners 30, Bears 27.
Cincinnati vs. Memphis: The Tigers clinched their first 11-win season with a victory last week against these same Bearcats. Tigers 31, Bearcats 26.
Georgia vs. LSU: No Lawrence Cager. George Pickens for only a half. D'Andre Swift could be limited. LSU may be coming together defensively. Things are not trending Georgia's way. Tigers 30, Bulldogs 17.
Clemson vs. Virginia: Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be competing in his 28th college game. He's yet to lose. Tigers 48, Cavaliers 17.
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: The average score of a Buckeyes game this season is 50-12. Buckeyes 41, Badgers 10.
Winners - 18
Pee celebrations - 7
Pasquali is 277-73 overall (79.1%) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.