Dabo Swinney reflects on passing Bobby Bowden as all-time winningest ACC head coach

Clemson grabbed their fourth-straight victory this weekend after defeating Florida State in a 29-13 win at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field. A win that also represented Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney surpassing Bowden to become the winningest head coach in ACC history.

Swinney secured career win No. 174 on Saturday in Tallahassee to reach the mountain top of the Atlantic Coast Conference. An honor he did not take very lightly after doing so in a place where for former record holder had a significant impact on college football.

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“I’m just blessed and I’m very honored,” Swinney said . “I don’t want to downplay it, I mean there’s been a lot of coaches coaching this league for a long time. 80 years, however long in this league has been around, so it’s a blessing and I honestly think Coach Bowden’s probably smiling. Somebody’s got to break it and somebody will break this record one of these days.”

“All I can tell you is that’s never been a goal of mine. I mean I’m honored, I’m blessed but that’s not ever anything I’ve ever even dreamed about, or cared about, or thought about doing,” Swinney admitted. “Those type of things, Coach Bowden, poof, was here right now, he’d tell you the same thing. Those type of things, whoever the winningest coach is, coach of the year, that happens because you’ve got great players and great coaches and kids that buy in, great administration.”

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After Bobby Bowden’s son Tommy Bowden resigned six games into the 2008 season, Swinney would become the interim head coach of the Tigers and never look back. Eventually leading Clemson to eight ACC Championship wins, six College Football Playoff appearances, and two national championship wins. Taking the program to new heights following some humble beginnings.

“I’m blessed, I’m thankful. I mean, I’ve been able to be at this place for 16 and a half years. Sixteen years ago almost to the day, or maybe a couple — two or three weeks from now, I came down here with one win and had to meet Bobby Bowden at midfield and I’ll never forget that. Got a picture in my office,” Swinney recalled. “And never in my imagination would I think 16 years later we’d be sitting here having this conversation. But that’s how God works and I just give all the glory to God. I’m just thankful.”

Swinney may have surpassed Bowden on the ACC wins list, but still does not see himself as above or equal to the College Football Hall of Famer. Opening up on how Bowden’s legacy goes much deeper than just wins and losses.

“But honestly, as I said last week, my name may be on the list but ain’t nobody better than Bobby Bowden. That’s just a fact,” Swinney said. “I mean, he’s amazing and honestly, if I could just have half the impact on my players’ lives that Bobby Bowden had in his, then I would have lived a good life of purpose.”

“And that’s just really that simple. He won, but man, he loved his players and he impacted them and shaped their lives. He created transformation in their lives, and if I can be half of that throughout my life, then that’s a life well lived. And it’s never been about any of that stuff, I’m blessed, I’m honored, I’m thankful that we’ve had so many great players, so many great coaches, and staff that are a part of that.”

One day, Swinney will reflect on the stakes of his accomplishment and truly embrace its magnitude. But for now, his main focus is still on this season for the Tigers. One that started with a disappointing loss to Georgia and has since placed them back in the top 10 of the AP Poll.

“So it’s fun to be able to just move forward. I just want to beat Wake Forest . I just want to go beat Wake Forest and reset and get back to practice on Monday and see if we can keep building something special this year,” Swinney concluded.

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