GLENDALE, Ariz. — Inside the Clemson locker after Saturday night’s win against Ohio State, a familiar song blasted to help get this party started.The Tigers hollered and whooped and rocked to the words of “Respect” by Aretha Franklin. Because of course they did.Clemson coach Dabo Swinney previously claimed his team didn’t get the respect it deserved this season despite its perfect record, largely because of perceptions that the Tigers’ previous opponents weren’t very good.But never mind that now because now they’ve got it — after coming from behind to beat Ohio State in a thrilling national semifinal game at the Fiesta Bowl 29-23.Respect?“Just a little bit,” sang the song in the locker room.DEFENSE:Nolan Turner, Clemson defense finds redemption with final stop of Ohio StateCONTROVERSY:Ohio State sees potential go-ahead touchdown vs. Clemson taken away on reviewThe Tigers (14-0) earned it with a gutsy late drive by sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence. They also earned it by stopping Ohio State (13-1) with an interception in the end zone at the end, sending Clemson to its 29th straight win and a berth in the national championship game against LSU (14-0) in New Orleans on Jan. 13. “There was never one second that I did not think we were not going to win the game,” Swinney said. “That's the honest answer. Trevor and I talked about it on the sideline: `Man, is this fun or what? I'm not real sure how we're going to win this thing, but we're going to win the game, and it is going to be an epic thing.’”It was indeed, especially because of how they did it. The Tigers had fallen behind 16-0 after being dominated by the toughest team they played all season. But then after a couple of Ohio State penalties helped get them back in the game, there they were at the end, down 23-21 with 3:07 left and Lawrence taking over at the Clemson 6-yard line.What happened next combined swagger, leadership and a key play call they hadn’t tried all year.“Trevor had total confidence in us,” Clemson running back Travis Etienne said. “He just came into the huddle and said, `I love you guys’ and 'Let’s go out here and make plays.’ And that’s kind of what we did.”Lawrence started with three quick first downs in a row: an 11-yard pass, an 11-yard run and then a 38-yard pass to receiver Amari Rodgers that brought his team to Ohio State’s 34-yard line.Then came the game-winner. Lawrence took the snap and threw a pop pass over the middle to Etienne, who caught it near the 25-yard line. Etienne then turned around, raced through open space and slipped through defenders at the goal line to score with 1:49 remaining. After a successful 2-point pass from Lawrence to receiver Tee Higgins, Clemson led 29-23.“Trev threw a total dart,” Etienne said of the touchdown.Swinney said afterward that he had this play in mind and talked to Lawrence about it before that game-winning possession.Ranking the best college football teams of all time Brees called Chargers' 2004 draft of QB 'worst mistake
How Clemson pulled off its thrilling finish at the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Inside the Clemson locker after Saturday night’s win against Ohio State, a familiar song blasted to help get this party started.The Tigers hollered and whooped and rocked to the words of “Respect” by Aretha Franklin. Because of course they did.Clemson coach Dabo Swinney previously claimed his team didn’t get the respect it deserved this season despite its perfect record, largely because of perceptions that the Tigers’ previous opponents weren’t very good.But never mind that now because now they’ve got it — after coming from behind to beat Ohio State in a thrilling national semifinal game at the Fiesta Bowl 29-23.Respect?“Just a little bit,” sang the song in the locker room.DEFENSE:Nolan Turner, Clemson defense finds redemption with final stop of Ohio StateCONTROVERSY:Ohio State sees potential go-ahead touchdown vs. Clemson taken away on reviewThe Tigers (14-0) earned it with a gutsy late drive by sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence. They also earned it by stopping Ohio State (13-1) with an interception in the end zone at the end, sending Clemson to its 29th straight win and a berth in the national championship game against LSU (14-0) in New Orleans on Jan. 13. “There was never one second that I did not think we were not going to win the game,” Swinney said. “That's the honest answer. Trevor and I talked about it on the sideline: `Man, is this fun or what? I'm not real sure how we're going to win this thing, but we're going to win the game, and it is going to be an epic thing.’”It was indeed, especially because of how they did it. The Tigers had fallen behind 16-0 after being dominated by the toughest team they played all season. But then after a couple of Ohio State penalties helped get them back in the game, there they were at the end, down 23-21 with 3:07 left and Lawrence taking over at the Clemson 6-yard line.What happened next combined swagger, leadership and a key play call they hadn’t tried all year.“Trevor had total confidence in us,” Clemson running back Travis Etienne said. “He just came into the huddle and said, `I love you guys’ and 'Let’s go out here and make plays.’ And that’s kind of what we did.”Lawrence started with three quick first downs in a row: an 11-yard pass, an 11-yard run and then a 38-yard pass to receiver Amari Rodgers that brought his team to Ohio State’s 34-yard line.Then came the game-winner. Lawrence took the snap and threw a pop pass over the middle to Etienne, who caught it near the 25-yard line. Etienne then turned around, raced through open space and slipped through defenders at the goal line to score with 1:49 remaining. After a successful 2-point pass from Lawrence to receiver Tee Higgins, Clemson led 29-23.“Trev threw a total dart,” Etienne said of the touchdown.Swinney said afterward that he had this play in mind and talked to Lawrence about it before that game-winning possession.Ranking the best college football teams of all time Brees called Chargers' 2004 draft of QB 'worst mistake
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