Swinney says he didn’t go hide and cry in the closet, quickly turned attention to UNC

CLEMSON – For Clemson, it’s time to refocus and concentrate on the best offense the Tigers have faced this season. As head coach
Dabo Swinney says, he didn’t go hide and cry in the closet after the loss to South Carolina this past weekend.

Head coach Dabo Swinney met with the media Tuesday to preview this Saturday’s ACC Championship Game against North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 8 pm (ABC) in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.

“I’m really proud of our team for winning the division, the last-ever Atlantic Division. I’m excited to get back to Charlotte for the seventh time in the last eight years (actually six of seven, because one year was in Orlando),” Swinney said. “That’s special, it’s special to have that type of consistency, especially after we didn’t do it for 20 years prior to 2011. It’s not easy to do. They’ve earned it. North Carolina has earned it as well. Both teams have earned it.

“For us, we have two goals left. We won’t hit all five goals this year but if we hit four out of five, that’s a great year. This North Carolina team struggled defensively early but has gotten better as the year has gone on. They had a lot of injuries. They have gotten stronger. They have some of the best corners we have seen, linebackers that stand out to you and talent up front.”

The Tar Heels are 11th nationally in total offense at 480 yards per game and 15th nationally in scoring offense at 37.1 points per game.

“Offensively, they are the best we have seen by far. They are very good. They’re consistent,” Swinney said. “Their quarterback (Drake Maye) is a great, great, football player. He was probably leading for the Heisman going into the Georgia Tech game. That was probably his worst game. He just…