TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Dabo Swinney had just been named Clemson’s interim head coach in 2008, replacing Tommy Bowden, when he got a phone call from Tommy’s dad, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden.
“Bobby, he called me the night of the interim and just was like, ‘Hey, all the Bowdens are pulling for you,’ even though I know we’re going to play them in a couple of weeks,” Swinney recalled earlier this week. “It was just this weird, weird dynamic.”
Swinney picked up his first win over Boston College and a week later would play at Florida State. When Swinney and Bowden faced off for the first time on Nov. 8, 2008, they didn’t know each other well but became friends (Bowden was known as a letter writer and often wrote Swinney). The night before the game, the Swinneys and Bowdens ran into each other at a Tallahassee restaurant.
“He was amazing,” Swinney said. “He was so gracious and just kind. … I have a picture in my office of Will (Dabo’s oldest son) and Bobby Bowden and me. And at that point, I had one career win.”
Now in Year 17 at Clemson, Swinney is seeking his 174th career victory — which would surpass Bowden for the most wins at a school in the ACC. Bowden has 377 NCAA-recognized wins, but 173 came with the Seminoles in the ACC from when they joined the league in 1992 to his retirement in 2009.
Swinney is in position to take the record on Saturday when the No. 15 Tigers (3-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) play at struggling Florida State (1-4, 1-3) in Tallahassee. While it’s well known as Doak Campbell Stadium, Swinney would earn the record-breaker on Bobby Bowden Field.
The Clemson-Florida State rivalry has often been a decisive one for the driver’s seat in the ACC race. While Florida State used an overtime win at Clemson last September to take control in the league race and eventually claim the ACC title, this year’s matchup lacks firepower with the Seminoles struggling start and the injury to quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who played at Clemson from 2020-22 but will miss Saturday’s game.
Go with Glenn
Florida State will turn to redshirt freshman quarterback Brock Glenn to make his third career start. Glenn begins his career starting against three teams ranked in the AP’s top 15, following up fill-in starts against Louisville and Georgia in 2023.
“They’ve given me good game experience,” Glenn said. “Just seeing how fast the speed of the game is in a real game has helped a lot. That’s helped me translate it to practice as well.”
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Glenn is an athletic quarterback but must be more precise — he’s completed just 34% of his passes — and Seminoles receivers can’t keep dropping passes, which has been a season-long issue.
Dominance in the ACC
Clemson or Florida State have played in the ACC title game in 14 of the last 15 seasons. The Tigers have made nine championship game appearances under Swinney, claiming titles in 2011, 2015-2020 and 2022. Florida State won ACC titles in 2012-14 as well as last December.
Injury report
Offensive guard Richie Leonard, who made three starts, will miss the rest of the season because of injury, Florida State coach Mike Norvell announced. Florida State’s offensive line has been banged up and could start a sixth different offensive line combination on Saturday.
Ray of sunshine
Florida State hasn’t had much of any success in 2024 and languishes among the lowest teams in many FBS rankings. One bright spot: The Seminoles are tied for eighth in the FBS in sacks (16), with defensive ends Patrick Payton (four) and Marvin Jones Jr. (three) leading the team.
Lasting friendship
Clemson safety R.J. Mickens was Uiagalelei’s roommate for a time at Clemson and he keeps in touch with him every so often. He thought it would’ve been a fun matchup with him at quarterback this week if not for Uiagalelei’s injury. “I’m proud of him and all he’s had to overcome,” Mickens said.
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AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli in Clemson, S.C., contributed to this report.
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