Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney conveyed his excitement about the upcoming matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions in their college bowl game. Despite the Tigers” desire to return to the College Football Playoff, they finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, including 4-4 in the ACC, which did not qualify them for the playoffs.
However, their performance earned them a spot in a bowl game, where they will face off against the prestigious Nittany Lions. The game is set to take place at the iconic Yankee Stadium in New York City, shortly after Christmas Day. In a recent video chat on TigerNet, Swinney expressed his enthusiasm for this opportunity, emphasizing that he does not view the bowl game as merely a consolation prize.
“I”ve had my eye on this bowl game,” Swinney remarked. “It”s a unique opportunity to play a football game in Yankee Stadium.” He noted the significance of this game for many players on his roster, particularly those who have never visited New York City.
“To have an opportunity to not only go to an iconic city but to play in a historic stadium with so much tradition, and to bring Tiger football up there where we have a huge alumni base, is really special,” Swinney added.
He highlighted that this bowl game serves as an important conclusion to a season that did not begin as they had hoped. After experiencing some struggles, the Tigers managed to secure a four-game winning streak to finish the season, culminating in what Swinney referred to as the “state championship” with a victory over South Carolina State.
“One of our goals is to win the closer. This is the closer, and it just so happens we”re playing in Yankee Stadium to do it,” Swinney stated.
The Nittany Lions, who recently had a coaching change after parting ways with their head coach James Franklin, will be led by interim head coach Terry Smith for this bowl game. Smith has been praised by Swinney for his efforts, calling it an “amazing job” in guiding the team to this bowl game despite their 6-6 overall record and a 3-6 mark in the conference.
As for Penn State, they have recently hired Matt Campbell as their new head coach, and they will be looking to make a strong statement in this matchup. Swinney believes this game presents a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience for his team, given the historic nature of the venue and the national spotlight it offers.
The BadBoy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, December 27, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, where Clemson and Penn State will compete for bragging rights to conclude their seasons.
