Clemson Tigers

2016 Clemson Football: What we are thankful for

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Before all you Clemson fans get filled up with turkey, mashed potatoes, etc. We wanted to devote an article to Clemson football and the things that we are thankful for about this years team.

Dabo Swinney

I am thankful to have a coach like Dabo Swinney. Not only is he one of the best coaches in the country, coach Swinney is one of the best men in all of college football. Dabo is a high character individual and he will stand up for what he believes in.

For instance, in a press conference earlier in the year, the issue of kneeling before the American Flag rose. Swinney addressed it in the most honest way that he could, while also being sensitive to the other issues involved with it saying, “Nobodies really asked me about Kaepernick or whatever, but you know I uh totally disagree with that…not his protest, but I just think there is a right way to do things…and I don’t think two wrongs make a right.

Swinney went on to say “It is sad to me to see what is going on in our country.”

Now on to Swinney as a coach. Since Dabo Swinney took over in 2008, Clemson is 85-28. Clemson has won 10+ games for 6 consecutive seasons and the Tigers are 24-2 in the past 26 games. Swinney has the Tigers in the National Championship discussion a year removed from their 45-40 loss to Alabama in the 2015-2016 national championship.

Howard’s rock

I am thankful for Clemson’s entrance. The tradition of touching Howard’s rock and running down the hill is THE best entrance in College Football.

There is nothing like it in all of college football. The anticipation of the team running down that hill is nearly addicting. As soon as the team steps off of the bus, they have to walk through a sea of fans.

Sports Illustrated recently ranked Clemson’s entrance as the best in all of College Football. Regardless if the Tigers win or lose, I will always love being able to watch their electric entrance.

The players

Clemson has built a very talented program, full of quality young men. I am especially thankful for this team because of Deshaun Watson. One could argue that Watson is the best quarterback to ever play at Clemson.

With this likely being Deshaun Watson’s last year in a Clemson jersey I am doing my best to cherish every moment. Too often in sports do we talk about what players fail to accomplish, rather than what they do accomplish. Watson is the first junior in the history of the ACC to surpass 10,000 career yards. He is also one of five quarterbacks in the history of College Football to score 20 rushing and 20 passing touchdowns in the same season.

Clemson also has personalities like Christian Wilkins and Ben Bouleware on the team.

#Clemson: Ben Boulware suit game on point. #CUShowcase #Clemson pic.twitter.com/daiNgegV5s https://t.co/f5boFWVSM5

— Clemson Monitor (@clemsonmonitor) July 12, 2016