SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Dabo Swinney won't be celebrating for long.
After leading Clemson to its second national title in three years, the coach is eager to get started on the next one.
Swinney will be back in the office Friday -- meeting with players, going over the schedule for offseason workouts, establishing the tone for another championship run.
That may sound like a perpetual grind to some folks.
Swinney calls it pure joy.
"I get motivated by winning," he said, his voice rising with excitement. "I don't have to lose to get motivated. Man, I'm as motivated as I've ever been to get back to work with next year's team and kind of figure it out. It's going to be fun because we've got a lot of unbelievable seniors that are moving on, but we've got some dynamic pieces."
The Tigers completed one of the greatest seasons in college football -- the best ever, in the estimation of Swinney and his players -- with a 44-16 blowout of Alabama in the national championship game Monday night. Clemson became the first team in major-college history to finish 15-0.
Swinney joined some select company, becoming the 19th coach to win multiple titles in The Associated Press poll era, which began in 1936.
While he scoffed at the idea of using the D-word -- "We're a long way from a dynasty" -- there is no denying that Clemson has gained equal billing with Nick Saban's Crimson Tide in any discussion of college football's most dominant programs.
The Tigers are 55-4 over the past four seasons -- the same record as Alabama. Those two teams have divvied up the national titles, with three of their meetings coming in the championship game. The only exception was last season, when Alabama knocked off Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal before beating Georgia for the crown.
"We're a great program. There's no doubt about that," Swinney said at a Tuesday morning news conference, sitting alongside his freshman sensation, quarterback Trevor Lawrence. "We're incredibly consistent in every area of our program. That's what I'm more proud of than anything, just the consistency."
The offense, in particular, shouldn't miss a beat.
Lawrence will return for his first full season as the starter, having shredded Alabama through the air for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Top running back Travis Etienne, who scored three touchdowns in the title game, is back along with several starters from an offensive line that had its way against the Tide. And then there's the receivers, who will be led by sophomore-to-be Justyn Ross (6 catches, 153 yards, 1 TD vs. the Tide) and rising junior Tee Higgins (3 catches, 81 yards, a TD).
"I definitely made the right choice coming to Clemson," Lawrence said. "Anyone out there that has any doubt about Clemson and what they say, it's all true. Just a real family -- the way we play for each other, the way these coaches love the players. Just everyone is special."
Clemson will have some major losses to address on the defensive side. Pass rusher Clelin Ferrell, tackle Dexter Lawrence, middle linebacker Tre Lamar and cornerback Trayvon Mullen are candidates to leave a year early for the NFL Draft. Tackle Christian Wilkins, end Austin Bryant and linebacker Kendall Joseph have wrapped up their college careers.
But Swinney doesn't seem the least bit concerned.
Youngsters such as Xavier Thomas, K.J. Henry and Justin Mascoll are ready to step in. The next group of stellar recruits has started moving into the dorms.
"Y'all don't have any idea who they are right now," Swinney said, "but this time next year everybody is going to know who they are. That's the fun part about what I do. We get to start over every year and plug guys in and let them go play."
That process begins Friday.
"Oh, man, I'm excited about it," Swinney said. "It's always a fun meeting for me to kind of reset the room, if you will, and kind of paint a picture of what this new journey is going to look like and what we've got to do. Every year is a new challenge, and you don't carry anything over."
Well, nothing except the standard that Clemson has established.
Anything less than a championship just won't do.
"We've got twins now," Ferrell quipped, referring to those two titles. "But we want a family of 12."
AP Top 25 Poll
The final Associated Press Top 25 football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, final 2018 records, final 2018 records, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and previous ranking:
Rec. Pts Pvs
1.Clemson (61) 15-0 1525 2
2.Alabama 14-1 1462 1
3.Ohio State 13-1 1364 5
4.Oklahoma 12-2 1356 4
5.Notre Dame 12-1 1286 3
6.LSU 10-3 1119 11
7.Florida 10-3 1103 10
(tie) Georgia 10-3 1103 6
9.Texas 10-4 1076 14
10.Washington State 11-2 959 12
11.Cent. Florida 12-1 898 7
12.Kentucky 10-3 820 16
13.Washington 10-4 806 9
14.Michigan 10-3 745 8
15.Syracuse 10-3 683 17
16.Texas A&M 9-4 552 21
17.Penn State 9-4 492 13
18.Fresno State 12-2 466 19
19.Army 11-2 418 22
20.West Virginia 8-4 296 15
21.Northwestern 9-5 284 NR
22.Utah State 11-2 188 NR
23.Boise State 10-3 184 23
24.Cincinnati 11-2 171 NR
25.Iowa 9-4 120 NR
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES Appalachian State 96, Stanford 52, Mississippi State 45, Utah 32, Ala.-Birmingham 32, Iowa State 26, Auburn 15, Oregon 11, Missouri 10, Troy 6, Georgia Southern 6, Oklahoma State 3, N.C. State 2, Wisconsin 2.
Coaches Top 25 Poll
The final coaches Top 25 football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, final 2018 records, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and previous ranking:
Rec. Pts Pvs
- Clemson (64) 15-0 1600 2
- Alabama 14-1 1536 1
- Ohio State 13-1 1437 5
- Oklahoma 12-2 1415 4
- Notre Dame 12-1 1316 3
- Florida 10-3 1192 10
- LSU 10-3 1186 11
- Georgia 11-3 1147 6
- Texas 10-4 1093 14
- Washington State 11-2 1007 13
- Kentucky 10-3 945 15
- Cent. Florida 12-1 876 7
- Washington 10-4 807 9
- Michigan 10-3 780 8
- Syracuse 10-3 720 17
- Texas A&M 9-4 625 20
- Penn State 9-4 581 12
- Fresno State 12-2 497 21
- Northwestern 9-5 375 22
- Army 11-2 333 25
- Utah State 11-2 252 23
- West Virginia 8-4 235 16
- Cincinnati 11-2 186 NR
- Boise State 10-3 165 24
- Mississippi State 8-5 107 18
Others receiving votes Iowa 102, Utah 75, Appalachian State 56, Stanford 38, Iowa State 29, Auburn 27, Oregon 18, Missouri 14, Ala.-Birmingham 9, Georgia Southern 7, Virginia 5, N.C. State 2, Troy 2, Wisconsin 2, Duke 1.
TOM MURPHY’S AP POLL
Clemson
Alabama
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
LSU
Georgia
Cent. Florida
Florida
Washington State
Texas
Kentucky
Washington
Syracuse
Texas A&M
Michigan
Penn State
Fresno State
Cincinnati
Army
Iowa
Auburn
Boise State
Northwestern
Mississippi State
DROPPED OUT West Virginia,
Utah, NC State, Missouri
Sports on 01/09/2019