Swinney Ties Bobby Bowden

CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney has a number of mementos in his office from all of Clemson’s accomplishments during his time in Tiger Town. However, one of his most treasured pieces is a picture he took with late Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden.

The picture with the Hall of Fame Football Coach came prior to kickoff in the Tigers’ 2008 trip to Tallahassee, Fla. It came after Swinney’s first win, then as Clemson’s interim head coach, which he accomplished the week before at Boston College.

“I will never forget that,” Swinney said following No. 17 Clemson’s 40-14 win over Stanford Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Swinney will not forget Saturday night either. The win over the Cardinal was win No. 173 for him during his 16 years at Clemson, tying Bowden’s record of 173 wins as an ACC head coach.

“You just put your head down and go to work,” Swinney said. “Not to downplay that, because that is a big thing. I well tell you, that is just the grace of God. That is it.

“To be here long enough to be a part of cool things like that, it all Glory to God for sure. But all these great kids that have come to Clemson that have bought into what we asked them to do and all these coaches that have come through here over the last sixteen years, that is what it is really all about.”

As for wins against ACC opponents, including ACC Championship Games, Swinney has 113, five wins shy of tying Bowden’s 118 wins, which is an unofficial record. In the regular season, Swinney has 105 wins against ACC foes, 12 off of Bowden’s 117.

“I am just thankful to be a part of something like that, I think Coach Bowden is probably smiling,” Swinney said. “Again, I still got voicemails on my phone from him. He would call me and encourage me long after he was through.

“He came here when he was 90 or 91 and did a chapel for us. So, just a great man. Great family, and I am honored to even be in a conversation with anything Bobby Bowden.”

Clemson’s win over Stanford, was also Swinney’s 100th in Death Valley. He is now the only coach in Clemson’s storied history to win 100 games at Memorial Stadium.

Frank Howard, who Swinney past last year as the Tigers’ all-time winningest coach, had 81 victories at Memorial Stadium.