‘We Made Some Mistakes’ — Dabo Swinney Holds Clemson QB Tait Reynolds Accountable Despite Crucial 24-10 Win Over California
· Yahoo Sports
Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers secured a 24-10 win over California on Friday night, overcoming an early challenge to keep the Golden Bears at bay. The win moved Clemson to 3-1 on the season, but Swinney didn’t shy away from highlighting quarterback Tait Reynolds’ struggles on the night.
Dabo Swinney Reacts to Tait Reynolds’ Rough Outing vs. California
Following the California win, Swinney praised Clemson’s offensive line and the youth across his roster. The Tigers’ head coach said he likes having a young team because many of the players still have plenty of room to develop.
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Swinney pointed to Clemson’s ability to rush for 250-plus yards as evidence that the offensive line did plenty of work in the trenches.
However, Clemson’s offense also endured some costly mistakes, particularly from Reynolds. He committed a turnover in Clemson territory when he fumbled the football, allowing linebacker Kamar Mothudi to recover it and return it 35 yards for a touchdown.
As Reynolds had already turned the ball over on Clemson’s opening drive, Swinney acknowledged the QB’s struggle following the win.
“We made some mistakes, especially in the first quarter with our quarterback, but we’re just finding a way to keep winning some games,” Swinney said.
Swinney also believed Reynolds had been down before the fumble that California returned for a touchdown.
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However, Swinney noted that the officials had access to every replay angle, while he was limited to watching the video on the stadium’s jumbotron. He also said that Reynolds should not have put himself in that position.
Reynolds finished the game with just 108 passing yards and an interception, but he contributed 28 rushing yards. He remains a work in progress, but he has definitely shown flashes.
Keeping aside Reynolds, Clemson ultimately leaned heavily on its rushing attack to secure the win. The Tigers ran the ball 49 times for 255 yards and two touchdowns, allowing the ground game to carry much of the burden while the passing attack struggled to find consistency.
The Tigers have kept up the winning streak since defeating North Carolina 28-20, giving the program some much-needed momentum. The win was particularly important for Swinney, who has faced continued hot-seat discussion in the last few days.
“I don’t even know what time it is,” Swinney said. “We’re just happy to get the win, and hopefully somebody stayed up back home to watch it. ACC after midnight, right?”
Before leaving, Swinney offered one final message, referencing advice he had previously given to his former players.
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“All my former players, I used to tell them nothing good happens after midnight — except when you come out here and win a football game,” Swinney said. “That’s it. Go Tigers”
Clemson will now return home next Saturday for a major showdown against Mario Cristobal’s Miami.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.