College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One : Clemson vs Oklahoma Wednesday, December 30, 2015 receiver, so nothing changes there, and Trevion Thompson is the backup, so both of those guys would have played a lot anyway, but Charone Peake is the starter, so really no change. All those guys are backups. Coaches Press Conference Q. How does this not become a distraction for the DABO SWINNEY: Good morning. Hope everybody is team? doing well, enjoying your trip down here. Looking DABO SWINNEY: Why would it be a distraction? It forward to finally getting to the game tomorrow. Today doesn't have anything Jay Jay McCullough and Lakip is like a normal Friday for us, for a typical week and Deon don't have anything to do with Shaq Lawson standpoint, so really try to get everybody dialed in and and how he plays his game, doesn't have anything to focused on the final details of the plan and kind of do do with the rest of those guys. It's not a distraction at what we do on a typical Friday as far as meetings and all. It's a distraction for me because I have to answer game prep, and then what we do tonight, and then get questions about three guys that break our rules, and I ready to play tomorrow. But really looking forward to it. have to deal with it, but that comes with my job. Those guys, they're focused on doing what they do. Has I know everybody is going to probably ask about the nothing to do with them. three guys that won't be with us. You know, when you don't do the right things, there's consequences. It's Q. Your offensive line has come along throughout just really that simple. It's not a very complicated the season, and I know you're pleased with it. matter at all, just got 115 guys, and 112 of them did Where would you rate this offensive line coming what's right and three of them didn't. So they don't into this Oklahoma game compared to the one last have the opportunity they forfeit the opportunity and year? the privilege to be a part of the game. DABO SWINNEY: Better. Not even close. Way better in every facet. I really hate it for them. They're the ones that really have to deal with the consequences because they're Q. Wow. missing out on a great opportunity. So it's really not DABO SWINNEY: More talented, more depth, way anything else much to add to that, other than the fact more flexibility, more commitment. I mean, just a better that I'm really proud of our team, really proud of how group. Better chemistry. these guys have handled themselves. Again, it's unfortunate that three guys get the headlines, but the Q. When you find some comfort with losing a guy headlines aren't about all the other good things that the the caliber of , over the course of the other 112 guys are doing. But that's the way society is, season you've had a lot of other wide receivers too. Just comes with the territory. step up. Does that help that you've had other guys on the big stage that have produced? But we'll be excited about getting our team meeting DABO SWINNEY: It helps that we've got a big roster going this morning and moving on with our day. and we have a lot of good players. Last time we were Looking forward to playing Oklahoma. What a great down here playing in the stadium, Deon Cain wasn't football team. You know, we've talked and talked and with us, either. It just helps that we recruit well and talked. I'm really not sure what else y'all have to say we've got a lot of good players. since we spent an hour together yesterday, but I'll take your questions. Q. obviously gets a lot of praise and talk about your offense, but is Q. Dabo, now that Cain has been suspended, a 1,300 yard rusher. Could you talk about him and what's your plan at wide receiver? How is the two the impact he'll have tomorrow night? deep going to look? DABO SWINNEY: Yeah, I think he's is he around DABO SWINNEY: Charone Peake is our starting wide 1,400 yards? Yeah, he's 1,400 yards, and he's been a

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 1 of 13 special guy for us. He's been a workhorse, really. The around me. Forever grateful for . I combination of he and Deshaun have really given us a certainly wouldn't be here. A lot of people in my life great rushing attack, has made us very balanced and that have helped shape me and provided opportunities very difficult to defend. It sets up all the other things for me to be where I am, and he's definitely one of that come along with our offense, a lot of the big plays them. I wouldn't be here without that opportunity. flow off of our running game. But Wayne is just one of those guys that really doesn't say a whole lot, but you Q. It was kind of a weird thing with Huegel on the notice him all the time. You hear about how he field goals this year but struggled on the extra practices, his attention to detail from a preparation point, and now with Lakip watching from home, I standpoint, and then just how he plays on game day. I guess, are you a little concerned about that mean, he is a driven he had 160 something yards in tomorrow? the second half of our last game. I mean, he was just DABO SWINNEY: No, no, we'll just roll with Huegel. relentless. That's how he is every single day. Really, really talented player. Young player. Q. Any update on the three suspended players as far as moving forward and what it means for their Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your relationship careers at Clemson, and then if you guys were to with Terry Don Phillips and the faith he showed in play in the championship game, do you know if you seven years ago? they'll be available? DABO SWINNEY: Well, I mean, my relationship with DABO SWINNEY: Yeah, none of those guys those Terry Don Phillips started as just an assistant coach guys have all forfeited their opportunity to be with us for when I came to Clemson, and he gave me an any postseason play. Ammon is a senior so he's opportunity to be an interim. One of the things that I graduated already, and Jay Jay is not a senior but he'll always tell people is because if you know Terry Don, have an opportunity to come back to school next week you know he's not a man of many words. He doesn't and he's got a chance to graduate by the summer, and say a whole lot. But the day that he made me the then he'll have an opportunity to move on if he wants to interim and I went into his office really expecting for play somewhere else next year, he'll have that him to just say, hey, do the best you can do and try to opportunity to do that, but he won't be back with us at get the next guy to keep you or whatever, but it was Clemson. Deon will have the opportunity to come back his message to me was, hey, look, I've watched you for to school and rejoin the team at some point if he grows five and a half years, and I think you're ready for this up and does what he needs to do. If he doesn't, then job, and he said, I'd love to see you get the job, but he won't. So really pretty simple. you're going to have to win some games. He told me that for the next seven weeks I want you to be the head Q. Both are so good at escapability. coach. I don't want you to be the interim . I Talk about the goal of trying to contain Baker and want you to do whatever you think you need to do to fix his ability to keep him from just making plays on this, was his words, and I'm going to support you. his feet outside of the pocket. DABO SWINNEY: I'm open for any suggestions that And at the end of this, you're going to get an interview, you want to share my way here. That's easier said regardless of whether you win one or win them all, than done. And same thing for them. Our guys, you're going to get an interview for this job, and he they're very similar in that regard, that they're both said, I'm going to hire the best guy for the job. But I great creators with the ball in their hand. But Mayfield, want you to know, I've watched you, and he said, you and he's a tough guy. He's not a very big guy, but he is would be a great fit here. strong, especially with his lower body, really difficult to tackle. You see a lot of people that you think have him, So I go into the meeting with one mentality and I come but they don't have him, and the biggest thing out of the meeting with this empowered attitude and somebody was asking me yesterday, what do you confidence of, let's go. Just kind of embraced the worry about the most with him, and you just look at the opportunity. clock, and it's three seconds, four seconds, five seconds, six seconds. He just extends plays, and you I was really shocked by that to be honest with you, can't cover guys forever. because again, you know, he's just kind of an old school guy. So I tell people all the time, just be great at And then there's a lot of plays where the defense really whatever you're doing because you never know who's had him, to be honest with you, whoever that opponent paying attention. You never know. was. They had him. On the board, it looked great. But that guy still has to tackle him, and again, that's easier And then to always be ready for your opportunity, and said than done. I'm thankful that I was prepared and ready for that moment and had a bunch of good players that rallied

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 2 of 13 He's a great football player. He's got great instincts for and the No. 88 lit up on the curb in that particular the game. He really understands all the nuances of parking spot, and that was that was really the last their offense and what they do. But his ability to create moment for me, because it was just kind of to me, really makes him special. So our ability to hopefully that was my college number, and it was just like, God minimize that and make him kind of play on schedule is was just kind of tapping me on the back, putting his going to be a key part of the game. arms around me and saying, listen, I've got you. You're right where I want you to be, and don't doubt that. You Q. You said that you felt confident the day you were know, let's just keep moving forward. named the interim coach, that you were empowered. Was there ever a moment where you I called my wife when I got in that morning to let her thought, what have I gotten into here, am I ready know that, and I really didn't have any doubt. I just got for this, and just how much growth has it taken on my mind back on what He called me to do, and went your part to go from being the guy who was the back to work. interim coach to being the guy who's here today? DABO SWINNEY: Well, yeah, there was a moment. Outside of that moment, that's really it. I've talked about that a lot, especially when I go and speak and give my testimony and things like that. It Q. You noted when you sat down how disappointed happened on a Monday, and I'm pretty sure I didn't you were for those three young men who were sleep Monday and Tuesday, and then Wednesday going home to forfeit this opportunity. But I there was just a lot happening in a short amount of wonder how disappointed you are in them that they time. I come to the office on Thursday morning. It was created this for your team? about 5:30 in the morning, and I probably had about DABO SWINNEY: Well, again, it doesn't affect our two hours of sleep, and just that Wednesday, one of the team. Y'all may think it does, but it doesn't affect our things that I had done is I had moved back then we team. We had a great practice yesterday. This is just were in another building and we were all on kind of this what I do. I mean, it's just part of my job. I mean, thoroughfare hallway, and everybody just kind of walks when you have 115 guys, you're going to have young up and down the hallway, and I tried to stay in that people you're going to have some discipline from office, but I realized after Tuesday that it just wasn't time to time. That's just part of it. But at the end of the going to work. I couldn't get anything done. day, there's consequences for your actions, and we just we always reinforce that and instill that in our program And so I'm going to move just what I needed down and always will. It doesn't matter who they are or how there to I left my stuff in there but I took what I big the game is. If you don't do what's right, you ain't needed to take and just kind of set up in Coach playing. Bowden's office, where I could have a little bit of privacy to do some work. Those three guys didn't do what's right, so they're not playing. It's really not any more complicated than that. And so I moved in there like Wednesday afternoon or It's just it really isn't. Wednesday night after practice, and so I come in on Thursday morning, and I don't know, I just was When my kids don't do what's right, there's overwhelmed that particular morning when I got up. I consequences, so I just love them all the same. I love was exhausted, and it was dark and I was driving to those guys. They're not bad guys. Those aren't bad work, and I always pray when I go to work, and you kids. They ain't gone out and robbed a bank or know, I just had a moment of just, man, like anybody, anything like that. They're not bad guys. But they just what have I I don't know if I can do this. I forfeited their opportunity. mean, I was just worn out, emotional and all those things. This is a privilege. It's a privilege, and we have rules. I don't make all the rules, but I'm going to enforce them. But I'll never forget it because and this is just how I When you break them, you put me in a situation where live my life and it speaks to what I believe in, but I we're going to do what's right. That I know. pulled into the parking lot, and I had never parked over Sometimes it's easier to oftentimes it's easier to do in Tommy's spot, obviously. I always parked down on the wrong thing, but it's always best to do what's right, the left and would walk into the office. So I pulled and that's what we're going to always do in this around because I had a key right there to that door, program, regardless of what people think or want to and when I pulled into the parking lot and my lights hit write or create. That's just the way it is. the curb, and the curb lit up, and I had just prayed all the way to work that morning driving for just wisdom Q. Could you enlighten us as to whether this is a and confidence and clarity, and my lights hit the curb, team issue, an NCAA issue where Deon might face

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 3 of 13 further suspension in 2016? Championship team, walked on, earned a scholarship. DABO SWINNEY: No, it's just team rules. Violation of I mean, nobody is going to for me, nobody gives you team rules. anything. That's kind of what I try to teach is you're not entitled to anything. If you want something, go get it. Q. as you know transferred from But your actions have to align with what you want. Texas Tech to Oklahoma, had to sit out a year and There's no shortcut, you've just got to go to work and lost a year of eligibility. Do you think players ought then you've got to be good at whatever it is that you're to be able to transfer one time from another school doing. If you're the last GA on the ladder there, man, to another school and not have to sit out and be be the best last GA in college football. Just bloom able to play immediately? where you're planted. DABO SWINNEY: I think if you graduate, you can do what you want to do. Not everybody is going to be the head coach at Clemson, but really that really shouldn't matter. It's just Q. If you don't graduate? about being your best at whatever it is that you're DABO SWINNEY: Oh, if you don't graduate? No, I doing, and how you treat people and how you live your think that the rules that we have are good as far as just life. I mean, those are the things to me that should from that standpoint. But I do think if guys graduate matter more than I mean, I didn't I hoped to be a and want to transfer, I think that's the objective is to head coach one day, but I'd probably still be at graduate, or at least it should be. That I don't have a Alabama to be honest with you. I loved my job there. problem with. They finally said, you've got to go, and so I left, and got out of coaching for two very short seasons and got into Q. We've heard a lot this week about the the business world, enjoyed that, but I knew that 's ability to run, but Deshaun as a coaching was what I was called to do, and Clemson thrower, can you discuss that, and is the long ball gave me an opportunity to get back into coaching, and his long suit? so I was excited about that, and I was an assistant for DABO SWINNEY: Well, he can make all the throws. five and a half years at Clemson and loved my job He's very accurate, whether he's throwing a slant there, loved my players, just was focused on being the route, which is a tight window on the move, a timing best that I could possibly be. play, or he's throwing an over the top type of a ball downfield, or a back shoulder, stop them in their tracks I was 38 years old when I got put into this situation, type of a throw. He's very accurate and very gifted in and same thing, I wasn't focused on this. I was just making all the throws. trying to be the best coach that I could be, and it kind of speaks to what I said earlier. You don't ever know But he does throw a beautiful deep ball, there's no who's paying attention, and it's the networking, it's the doubt about it. Not all guys can do that, but he has the relationships along the way, again, doing things the ability to really assess the situation as far as the right way. Ultimately those things will mount up. technique of the defender and where he is, is he underneath, over the top, how the receiver is executing Life is about decisions that you make. Always has his stem and release, and he can put the ball where it been, always will be, especially those decisions you needs to be. He's special. He's a special thrower. make when you're younger, especially this critical time that we have with our players, because it affects you Q. There's been a lot of talk about who gets to be a down the road. That's what we try to teach with our head coach in a big time college football, and I guys. But for me, I got the job when I was 38, and I wonder what your suggestions would be. You was still a very young coach. I'm 46 now. I'm still a young coach, but I've had a lot of experience now at came in without a lot of pedigree; what would be being a head coach. It's not something that you go to your suggestion to maybe a player on your team a seminar and get. I mean, you can train and prepare, who's clearly not going to be an NFL player but and I feel like I did a good job of that from the day I got who wants to be you at some point, doesn't into coaching in preparing for an opportunity to one day necessarily have a lot of connections? be a head coach, but until you do it, you know, the real DABO SWINNEY: Well, just go to work, and you've got thing is a lot different than the simulator. to start somewhere, and like I said earlier, just whatever you do, just be great at it. That's what I tell I certainly have grown in that aspect a lot over the last young coaches all the time. People say I don't have a seven plus years. pedigree, but I spent 13 years at Alabama. I coached there for eight years, and I had a bunch of good The other thing is you've got to get your education. If players, recruited a bunch of good players there, and you don't get your degree, you can't do what I do. You played there five years, played on a National know, you've got to be qualified, and football is such a

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 4 of 13 small part so many guys focus on the ball while learning that Deon wouldn't be available to him, you're in the moment of college, which is something and I guess how does that fit into the way Deshaun else that we try to teach we all know that. We know reacts to any and all situations? how small four or five years is. It's such a small DABO SWINNEY: No reaction. Just went to practice. window of our lives, brief, brief moment, and you know, Just more balls for Charone. We just rotate those I try to teach these guys to exhaust the moment, like guys, but it just means Charone is going to play more just get every ounce of everything that you can get out snaps, and that's our starter, so we'll be okay. of this moment, small moment in your life. Football is going to end. Some of these guys will play a little bit Q. If you were to foresee a guy among your longer but not long, but the networking, the receiving corps who could really make a difference relationships, establishing your core values on what in Deon's absence as a deep threat, who do you you're going to live your life on, those are the things hope that will be? that are going to matter. So that's what I would say. DABO SWINNEY: Charone Peake, same guy

Q. You said you were going to roll with Huegel. Q. Besides Charone? You've obviously been rolling with him all season DABO SWINNEY: Well, that's not possible because long. How has your comfort level grown with him they play the same position. Charone is the starter since he was put in the situation to start the and Deon is the backup, and they play the same spot. season? It's really we just have rotated those guys. Deon has DABO SWINNEY: Are you kidding? He made All been the backup, and a lot of his opportunities is just American. He wasn't even on the roster. It's funny, we because he's been in the game where we rotate the showed a I don't know who did it, but we do a little guys. This just means Charone will play more snaps, video of the day about every day, and one of the video and he's certainly capable to do that, and then Trevion of the days was a video game, like they had taken a will back him up. But Artavis has made plenty of plays video game that Clemson and Oklahoma had played, down the field, Hopper has made plays down the field, and it was hilarious. The guys watched it themselves, Renfrow has made plays on the field. I don't think we but the guy that made the field goal was Lakip. I've have anybody Leggett has made plays down the been kidding Huegel, you've got to be on the roster in field. We don't have anybody on our roster that we've the summer to get on the video game. He wasn't even been playing that haven't made plays. Trevion has on the video game, but he made All American, so my made plays. comfort level is pretty good. Q. Mackensie has had some success going up Q. Trevion is a guy who has not necessarily had against some really good receivers this year. What the hugest role throughout the year. He made that are your thoughts on that match up and him going big catch against South Carolina. As his role up against ? potentially gets bigger here in the playoff, what DABO SWINNEY: Tough match up. He's got his hands have you seen from him over the course of the year full. Great player. We got a chance to study him a lot that gives you confidence he's ready to take on last year and really thought he was a gifted receiver that role? last year going into that game. Shifty, strong guy, DABO SWINNEY: Great player. Got every attribute excellent ball skills, great ability to run after the catch. that you that's why we recruited him. Incredibly He's a very talented guy. I think he's top 10 in the talented, gifted receiver. Just another one of those country right now in touchdowns. Got his hands full. guys that we have. He's had some he's just a Going to be a battle right there. That's what you freshman. He's had some big moments for us, but he's expect. I mean, it's the Final Four. There's no been one of those guys that has improved each and weaknesses on either one of these teams. These are every week, to be honest with you. He's just been a whatever 11 run out there on the field, they're all good steady guy, redshirted last year, wasn't quite ready to players on both sides, so it'll be great match ups make the transition, but boy, he's had an excellent fall everywhere. for us, and he's going to have a bright future. Very capable of making any play that we need. That's why Q. Can you quantify how much healthier this team he was in there on third and 8 in probably the biggest is than when they played four weeks ago against play one of the biggest plays of the season there at UNC? the end of that South Carolina game, and got all the DABO SWINNEY: I don't know that I can quantify it, but confidence in the world in him. I think we're really, really healthy. We're in great shape physically. We're going to be a fast football team. I like Q. I'm curious, as Deon emerged as a deep threat where we are as far as our injury report and all that for Deshaun, what was Deshaun's reaction to type of stuff. But I can't really quantify it. I know we

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 5 of 13 played 10 straight games, and that's just kind of you They understand ball, and when you put the film on, just go. You don't really worry about it. You just go get they know who can play, and they know who's not quite ready for the next game and do the best you can. But as good a player pretty quickly. All you've got to do is certainly has been great having some time off. These put the film on, and Oklahoma will get your attention in guys getting their legs. And I think we've practiced every area. They really don't have a weakness. really smart. The guys feel good about the plan, and They're really good all over the field. Punter does it all now we've just got to go execute it. for them, kicks, punts, does everything, so good solid team, and it shows on film. Q. What sticks out to you about Oklahoma's defense this year compared to last year? Q. There's been a lot of consternation over the DABO SWINNEY: Well, they just again, I thought targeting rule this year and maybe last year, as they were really tough against the run last year, and well. Are you in favor of it as it is now, or do you really not much different. Nine of the 11 are back. I think it needs to be tweaked in any way? just think that they've executed very cleanly. They DABO SWINNEY: No, I think it needs to be tweaked. messed around a little bit with a four man front in the I'm actually on one of them committees where I get a early part of the year and they kind of scrapped that chance to actually talk about some of those things, but and went back to their Okie front, which is kind of what I do think it needs to be tweaked. they're kind of built for. But they're better on the back end than I thought they were last year. Just again, I do think it has worked in that it's cut down and it's more experience, more confidence in what they're cleaned up a lot of what they were trying to get rid of. I doing, and they've done a heck of a job. They're really don't think there's any question about that. I think it's difficult to run the ball on. They always outnumber you had a great effect on the game, and again, making the in the box, so you've got to be creative in how you run game safer and eliminating those type of plays. But I the ball, and you have to stay patient. think from time to time, I think there should be a little bit more opportunity in the review process. That's where I But they're not much different. I thought they were think it needs to be tweaked a little bit. really good last year defensively, as well. Q. Now that the week is kind of winding down, did Q. Have you had to use any Jedi mind tricks with you do anything different handling this bowl game your team given what you did to Oklahoma last seeing as it's a playoff and you may have another year? game next week? Did you do anything different DABO SWINNEY: Jedi mind tricks? Is that Star Wars? than in the past? Okay. DABO SWINNEY: No, we prepared the same. I mean, we're not guaranteed another game, so we'd better put No Jedi mind tricks. You got one for me? I'm open to everything we've got into this game. I've got all these all suggestions. people coming up to me, hey, man, I've already booked my tickets to Arizona. I'm like, you'd better get them to No, I mean, last year's game just has nothing to do with Miami. We've got to win this game. That's what our this game. I mean, it really doesn't. We have great focus has been. If we're fortunate to get another game respect for Oklahoma. We talk about that all the time and play again, we've got time to get ready for that. as far as last week's tackles and touchdowns and all We've got 10 days or whatever. Most days you've got that stuff, sacks, don't win this week. And certainly last about three, three and a half days to really get your year's performance isn't going to win this year. plan in. If we're fortunate enough to win it, coaches will Different teams. Every game is a game and a season be back in the office on Sunday, players will be in on of its own. It really is. Monday, and we'll be rolling. We'll have about two or three extra days of actual prep time than we would They turned the ball over five times against us, and normally have in a game week. We'll worry about that we're a good team. That's not going to be a pretty then. Our focus has really been 100 percent on trying result. If we turn the ball over five times, it's not going to win this game, and we've prepared exactly the same to be a pretty result. as we have in our past bowls as far as how we get our team ready, the combination of good on good Clemson That's just the way that game was that day. Really not work, game prep versus the opponent, and then really indicative of the talent the talent is very similar, and spending time with our young players and trying to that's why they've come back and had a great year this develop them for spring practice. And I think we've had year, and they're in the Final Four. a really tight itinerary down here. We didn't get here until the night of the 26th. We had practice in Clemson Our guys, the one thing, young guys and these football that morning, which was really good, and when we've players, these guys are smart. This is what they do.

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 6 of 13 not been meeting or practicing and we've had BOB STOOPS: I would just like to extend our thanks to something that we need to be plugged into, we've been all the Orange Bowl Committee people that have engaged in that, and I think it's important. organized our trip. It's been a great few days. All the people at Barry University where we've practiced have The Orange Bowl folks do an unbelievable job, and been just outstanding. Everybody at the hotel, the they work really, really hard to create a great event, and Donald Trump Doral. I don't know all of it, but the I think it's important that we participate. We had the people are fabulous. You know where it is. Everybody FCA breakfast yesterday morning. I think they had has just been so outstanding. It's been really well run, Dave & Buster's last night, so we've done the things well organized, and again, our facilities to work in have that have been on our itinerary, but today is about just been exceptional. getting locked in. These guys have kind of had their normal process as far as how we prepare. So we've had a really good week. I'm really proud of our players, the way they've come to meetings, the way We just keep them dialed in on, okay, today is a team they've handled themselves in all the functions they've Thursday; today is focus Friday. So they can mentally been involved in, and the way they've come to practice. kind of stay in the same routine. I feel like we've had a great four or five days of practice. We've had a lot of good work against each other, Q. You have great fans. You're closer than competitive work, good on good, along with some Oklahoma. You'll have a crowd advantage. Have definite some scout work, of course, for Clemson, you guys talked about that, and what do you and feel like we're in a great position coming into the expect? game. DABO SWINNEY: No, we haven't talked about that, but I expect we'll have a great crowd. I'd be shocked if we All the respect in the world to Coach Swinney and his don't. Wherever we go, we have a great crowd. Our staff and their team, the only undefeated team in the guys know that. country here, you know, and No. 1 in the country. They've got excellent players across the board on But no, we haven't spent any time talking about the offense and on defense. They do a great job. So it'll crowd. That doesn't really matter. I mean, we spend be a big challenge. We are very aware of that. all of our time talking about how we play, and that's it. But in the same way, our players are very focused and Q. You told a great story about how you were led to confident in the way we've been playing, and hopefully know this was your moment by faith. I'm just we can come out and play our best game of the year curious, Arian Foster kind of created a little bit of a here Thursday night. stir when he said he was an atheist. If in your recruiting of an athlete, a kid, and he came to you Q. You've gone against some of the best pass at one point and said, I respect you but I don't rushers in college football and the Big 12 in your believe in God, would he still have a spot in your season, in Lawson, and you have one of your program? roster in Striker. Can you talk about how difficult it DABO SWINNEY: (Laughing). is to try to contain a guy that's really the focus of their defense and a guy that's really good at getting Q. Just in general? off the edge? DABO SWINNEY: Absolutely. You know, my job is to BOB STOOPS: Yeah, you've got to do a great job with win football games. We're going to always recruit and your technique. You know, if you're late off the ball or if play the best football players. That's an easy question. you take a poor step, he's going to beat you. He's just I've got we don't play the best Christians. I've said got excellent power to go with quickness and speed. that many times. If we played the best Christians, I You know, he plays with great technique. wouldn't be sitting here. (Laughter.) Our guys matching up with him are going to have to do I can guarantee you that. But as a Christian, I love that. They're going to have to play with great technique everybody. I really do. I don't judge other people. I and execution. think it's important that everybody has they can be who they want to be. I just know how I'm called to live Timing is a factor in it. You know, Baker and his ability my life, and I try to be consistent with that, be who you hopefully to get the ball out, hopefully we can get open are. Whoever you are, be who you are. I've coached a in a quick way and get the ball out quick, and Baker is bunch of atheists I'm sure along the way, a ton. That going to have his moments where he's not going to do wouldn't have anything to do with it. that, and he's going to start running around and hopefully he can make them miss him and get away

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 7 of 13 from them, too. He has a way of doing that. BOB STOOPS: You mean this year?

Q. Deshaun Watson is obviously a dynamic player, Q. Yes. and you've faced other run pass quarterbacks, but BOB STOOPS: It took a little while, obviously. The just some of the things that you have to do to obvious games are Tennessee, we really didn't get it contain him, a guy that can throw and run? going until the middle late in the third quarter, and then BOB STOOPS: Yeah, first, in all critical situations, it's the Texas game we were very inconsistent, as well. I him that's going to have the ball. You know, think some of it, Coach Riley, along with the offensive quarterback running game or boots, those kind of coaches, we were helping a young, inexperienced they like to get him out of the pocket on boots in critical offensive line along with an inexperienced fullback/tight situations, third and shorts, fourth and shorts, as well end come along, to gel, to communicate together, to as run him. So we've got to do a great job on the see things the same way in how they were identifying quarterback run game, and then contain him. When he blocks and who they were going to. That took a little pulls the ball down, when he's trying to throw it, he can while. make some great plays when he pulls the ball down and runs, as well, so we've got to do a great job staying And then I think also Coach Riley just personnel wise in front of him. figuring out the combinations to be on the field at the same time and to limit he really then started limiting Q. Baker is an emotional guy, and all the hype for our substitution patterns and how we substituted, and this ballgame, you could see him maybe being over that allowed for more tempo, and we started to be amped. Do you talk to guys about being able to more efficient that way. throttle it back? BOB STOOPS: You know, yes and no. Baker is a very You know, and rightfully so, when you have a new smart player, and everyone said the same thing before coordinator who's figuring out all his pieces, you need he played Texas Tech: Oh, he's going to be super more than just spring practice because different teams amped for this game. Well, he played great, and I are going to attack you differently, and it just took a few asked him about it, he says, no, Coach, I understand games to midway through the season to get the right that doesn't do well for me. Play like you've been combinations in there and for some of those younger playing all year. I'm sure Coach Riley will visit with him guys to mature and grow. Once they started to grow about it, and play within yourself. and we started to figure out the best substitution patterns for us to be in. For a quarterback to be overly amped doesn't always work. I often tell them when the guys are getting all Q. Difference in philosophy go into that, too? juiced up, find your corner to collect yourself and get BOB STOOPS: Yeah, all of that, and then it started to away from it because it's a little bit different animal to click, and then we started to really hum. be the quarterback and all that they have to think of and operate in, and he's done a great job of it, though, Q. Your team in the last four or five weeks of the so I trust he'll handle it the right way. season is playing the most physical football in college football. How difficult is it to stay that Q. Dabo Swinney had to send three players home physical throughout bowl practice? for disciplinary action yesterday. Have you had any BOB STOOPS: Well, you know, we've really practiced players have any disciplinary problems since you a lot like we did the last four or five weeks of the year, guys have been here in South Florida? where we really got because we've been healthy, BOB STOOPS: We have not. we've been able to challenge each other. We have a lot of team periods not a lot, but a couple every day, Q. Do you expect that to have any impact on them? that we keep score, and whether it's third downs, Does it change any particularly with three guys, whether it's first downs, whether we have a team run kind of a key receiver for them being out, change period, we have some two minute drill or down periods, anything you guys do? a two point play where we really challenge each other BOB STOOPS: It won't change anything we do, no. I'm and see who's going to win. And I feel like when we sure they'll have another excellent player in there did that through the back half of the season, we running routes. continued to get better. So we hope we've made each other better here even in the last few weeks, the way Q. You've made other changes, offensive we have kind of competed against each other. So coordinator, during your time at Oklahoma. How we've practiced in the same manner. So hopefully we hard is that, and how long did you feel like it took can have some of the same results. to get comfortable and on the same page?

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 8 of 13 Q. Could you talk about the season? You've got route more difficult now than let's say when you work to get done. Obviously you want to win two were beginning your journey, and if there was more games, but talk about how satisfying the somebody on your team, a kid, not necessarily a season has been considering how last year went, big time player, who would like to be a coach, do and also you've had people on the outside saying you think it's a lot more difficult now than it was we've seen the best of Bob Stoops, and obviously when you started? you've had a bounce back year. Can you talk about BOB STOOPS: First, I do like playing New Year's Eve that? because that's when we're going to play (laughter.) BOB STOOPS: You know, there's not a lot to say about And is it more difficult to enter into the coaching world it. You know, what we've done is what we've done. It's today? pretty evident that a lot of that isn't true, that we've got a strong program. It wasn't nearly as weak as people Q. And ultimately get to be a head coach. wanted to say it was a year ago. Again, I had to BOB STOOPS: Well, it's always been difficult to remind everyone just the year before we had just won become a head coach. I'll be honest, I never had that the and were sixth in the country. You as my goal. I just loved coaching and wanted to do a have some bad breaks. You get a few things that don't really good job wherever I was. I always had great go your way, and you have you go 8 5. That isn't our relationships with my players, loved the competitive standards, and listen, I'm the one who set the part of it. I never thought about being a head coach. standards. They're not acceptable to me, either, when that happens. And then the better you do or the more exposure you get, all of a sudden people are calling you about being But players, you know, took heart to it. They had a lot a head coach, and then you start wondering, well, to do with realizing that coaches only do so much, and maybe I will. That's sort of how it happened for me. their actions and what they do on the field, they ultimately make or don't make plays, and they had So I think it's always it's tough. There's just not a lot some meetings even in the wintertime leading up to our of those jobs. And you know what I think, too? I felt workouts that they really were going to hold each other this way: I wasn't going to take one unless it was the accountable to standards of our work ethic and the way right one. I didn't want to just take a job to be a head we prepare and the way we play, and it's made a coach and not be in a very positive situation. That was difference. They really have made a big jump this year my feeling, because I loved too much what I was doing in the way we've competed on the field. at the time. At that time when people started asking about that, I was working for Coach Spurrier at Florida, You know, in the end, is it satisfying? Sure, but it would and I loved going to work every day and loved what we be if we had won 11, 12 games a year ago. It's still were doing. great to be in this position, to be chasing the National Championship here so late in the year. So anyway, it's So anyway, as far as assistants, I think it is tougher a fairly young team, so hopefully we can just keep today. You're only limited to two graduate assistants on growing from it. each side of the ball. I think when I started in football at Iowa, we had five or six on each side of the ball. We Q. Tickets are distributed evenly or made available had a bunch of former players, all of us that were in evenly, but Clemson will have a larger fan base one room together sharing desks, breaking down film, here. What have you done in preparation for that? but we all had opportunities to pursue then coaching, BOB STOOPS: You know, just you pipe in noise and so I was lucky Coach Fry and Coach Bill Brazier, my music into practice just like we do any time we're going , told me this is what I needed to on an away game. We're used to that. We played in do, and I trusted them and did it. front of 105,000 at Tennessee. Q. The Sooners open as a three and a half point You know what I like, for whatever reason, too, the back favorite in this game. Are you comfortable being half of the year, our best games have been on the the favorite in this game, especially against an road. I'm kind of glad we're all the way down here. I undefeated No. 1 team? think we've really been the most focused and played BOB STOOPS: I don't really care about that. I think we maybe the best when we've been on the road. were favored last year, and obviously those people didn't see last year's game. (Laughter.) Q. Two things: Do you like playing on New Year's Eve? And secondly, is it more difficult there's It isn't something I ever pay attention to. been a lot of talk about how you get to be a head coach in this business. Is it more difficult or is the Q. Sterling Shepard said that there have been a lot

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 9 of 13 of, in team sessions, watching film of that game, stepping up and could they do it and of course he and he says he sometimes watches it privately. was fired yesterday. I was wondering, in your How have you orchestrated it this week to use that mind, does that mean anything? Does it reinforce as a motivator? just how difficult it is to be in the NFL, or does it BOB STOOPS: Well, I think as much as anything, it's reinforce the idea that coaching in college and in segments of the game and all parts of the game, this is the NFL is almost day and night and it's a difficult what we experienced, this is what we did. This is how I transition? coached, this is how you played. And by our BOB STOOPS: Well, I think it's difficult anywhere. You standards, it isn't acceptable, regardless of who we're know, it's competitive. I haven't been in the NFL, so I playing, this isn't Oklahoma football the way we need to wouldn't be it isn't right for me to comment on what it play, so we need to make sure that we perform better would be like to do that. But in the end, there's than this. probably been some NFL coaches that have gotten fired in college, too. So it's competitive, it's tough at all Q. I'm sure if you recast the votes today, Baker levels, and challenging at all levels. would easily be a team captain for you, but when you look at from where you started in the year, your In our profession, those things happen. But there's a leadership, you've got big personalities on this lot of parts to it that I think, too, a head coach can only team, you've got earnest guys. What's it been like control so much, and there's a lot of other parts to, I to watch this team develop? You talked about big think, NFL organizations as well as in college. wins on the road, this team has had a lot of adversity being in the airport at Kansas State, Q. I was curious what you did during those 10 going to Kansas State. What's it been like hours at the airport personally, and then my other watching the chemistry develop on this team? question is do you see similarities between this BOB STOOPS: Yeah, a real joy. One of my really all and your 2000 National Championship? time favorite years because of the players. Just their BOB STOOPS: What I did, just kept checking in with interaction and respect for one another, the way they the players. Like I said, checking in with the people listen to us, to the coaches, and you know, their that were on the phones telling us we were going to intensity and focus, and you're right, we have a lot of leave in an hour, and then we didn't, then telling us we strong personalities, not just the captains. I mean, were going to leave in another hour, and then we didn't, you've got other guys as you said, you've got Baker, and trying to find out where our plane was, and then you've got Sterling Shepard, you've got Zack Sanchez, eventually realized, all right, what's our strategy, do we we've got a bunch of guys that all stick out and have go home? But that's a 40 minute ride back with the strong personalities and have a lot to say and buses, and then when all of a sudden a plane becomes contribute to the team chemistry. available how do we round everybody back up, so that wasn't a great option. And I think probably maybe the turning point in our year may have been that 10 hours in the airport in that Had we had a night game the next day so what I was little FBO, whatever, 140 of us crammed in there for 10 doing was strategizing what are we going to do. hours. We went out and got pot luck fast food, What's the best way to manage the team with our whatever people could bring back, find something so athletic director Joe Castiglione. Had we had a night the players could eat, and checked into our hotel I think game, we would have went home and said we'll leave like 12:15 in the morning to play a 2:00 game the next in the morning. But we didn't. I didn't want to risk that day at Kansas State, coming off a Texas loss. with a 2:00 kickoff. And then I decided, we're going to be here, players need to eat, let's everybody who has a But the players had a lot of energy, and in the FBO had car go out and find any fast food joint you can find and a lot of fun. There was a lot of interaction with all of us. bring back 10 burgers or bring back 10 of something, It's funny when you're stuck somewhere for 10 hours and we had everyone go out and get burgers to pizza crammed in there, you know, everybody is relating to to chicken to whatever. I'll give Kentucky Fried Chicken one another and everybody kept their cool about it, and a plug. That was the biggest hit. then we went out and played one of our best games the next day. When I walked in, one of the we had one conference room, and we also spent time, the offense had a But a lot of chemistry on the team. meeting in there to review practice that day, and then defense took their turn in there to watch practice, and Q. From the moment was hired in then it became the music room. So there was probably Philadelphia people were going to say this is going 40 of them in there blaring music and chanting all the to be a referendum on coaches from college words and jumping up and down, and I came in with

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 10 of 13 two buckets of chicken, and it went crazy. that level, and that's a player' responsibility. In my eyes it always has been. So anyway, you can get all uptight about it, but it isn't going to change anything, so I just thought as a team So there was some talk just about that, about how we managed it as well as you could, and really ended they're going to compete. up having fun with it. You know, that's what we ended up doing. Q. What exactly is it about that you think makes him such a good coach, and the Q. And then the 2000 team? second thing is how much suggesting, if at all, BOB STOOPS: Yeah, it's a team that's probably similar have you done when it comes to play calling and to the 2000 team in that, kind of young, started the run pass emphasis this season? year a little bit inexperienced but grew, and you know, BOB STOOPS: Lincoln is incredibly bright. You can tell and playing better than everybody thought they would. he understands his system inside and out, so he's able We were probably ranked in a similar position to start to make quick decisions. I think probably the number the year that year, as well. one thing is he has answers to what the other team may be doing because he understands his offense so Q. Two questions: One, are you guys just going to well. bus to Manhattan from now on? BOB STOOPS: No, but So all of it, he's a great communicator, great motivator, all those things. He's got a bright, bright future and Q. It's not that far. continues to do great with our guys and does a great BOB STOOPS: What is it, about five hours? job with the rest of the staff. You know, so all of it, he's been excellent. Q. Four and a half from Oklahoma City. Police can escort you and make it quicker. What was your other part of that? BOB STOOPS: Yeah, but you have to in 17 years of me being the head coach, that's only the second time Q. Just in terms of how much emphasis we've ever had a plane issue. The first one was my BOB STOOPS: Oh, do I? Yeah, I stay out of it. An first year there, our last game of the year, and we lost offensive play caller I am not, and I think when you at Texas Tech where we were favored and find out the start trying to interject into a play caller, that's never a plane wasn't coming, and we had to wait for buses, and good idea. You know, he has a better feel for what he's we had to bus all the way back from Lubbock, and I told setting up and how he wants to do it. All of that. As far my operations guy, Matt, I said, that's what we deserve, as run to pass, I let him come to terms with it as we so get on the bus, and there wasn't a radio, there evolved in the fourth, fifth game of the year, that look, wasn't a TV on it. They were clankity old buses, and even in the Texas game, if you look at if you take we rolled all the way back, about seven, eight hours. Baker's scrambles or sacks out of it, backs still ran the ball for about four or four and a half yards a play. So Q. Second, a lot has been talked about the we had talked just a little bit about that, of possibly let's speeches that were made in the Cotton Bowl after just keep making sure that that's part of that that's a the game, after the loss to Texas. Some guys strong part of what we're doing, as long as it fits in yesterday particularly were talking about Zack's, what you're trying to do. It started to come to fruition what he addressed to the team. What do you after that, and then he settled and that was his he remember about that, and how unique and how wanted to settle on simplifying substitution patterns different was that? and just eventually start getting into different formations BOB STOOPS: Well, it's just different. I just sensed a without substituting, and that helped, as well. I say it a lot. As a coach, I don't want to act like we all can push every button. In the end, players ask about He made the adjustments, and again, I've given him motivation. I said, you know who I motivate? Whoever free rein. the heck wants to be motivated. If you don't want to be motivated it's not going anywhere. That's a player's Q. Talking to Charles Tapper earlier this week, his responsibility. When you're 18, 19, 20, 21 years old, arm is all scratched up, and he said Zeus did this. nobody is going to fool you into wanting to play for four Orlando Brown is really proud, saying he did that, hours. You be a man and you play. he loves how much progress he's made. I'm curious how unique that is that you have such a I sensed that they felt that wasn't happening maybe, loose team off the field that likes each other yet on that there were some guys that weren't whether it be the field between the lines they're serious in have the fight, the intensity, whatever it is, to play at practice and really almost try and kill each other all

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 11 of 13 the time? defense, he does to the offense, and it's natural for BOB STOOPS: Very competitive. You know, there's so him. He just has a lot of fun out there and gets much it's really fun to watch because they really go at everybody energized and everybody enjoys the way he it hard, and they are very close, and then there's a lot does it. of laughing walking to the locker room afterwards, who got who, and there's a lot of jawing and taunting and Q. In regards to the comparison between this team whatever because you can. In fact Sterling caught the and the 2000 team and in regards to the way the two point play to win the team period yesterday, and team responded against Texas, that 2000 team was slanting and spiked the ball two days ago. They a really mature team and had been through some wanted me to penalize him for it, and he said, he rough times. This team is a little bit younger. Did knows there's no officials out here. They go at it. they maybe need that wake up call to get that Again, there's a lot of back and forth on who's getting internal motivation that was maybe missing for this who today, and it's good. It's made us better. team? BOB STOOPS: Probably a fair comparison in the team Q. What's impressed you about how your defense that we inherited in 2000 had been beaten down pretty has played this year? good before we arrived. We were told they weren't any BOB STOOPS: Well, all of it, really. A lot of things, our good. They were really beaten down, and they were communication has been excellent. I don't know that sick of it. So they played with that kind of attitude, and we've had a missed call all year. So the guys have just of course our guys from last year had been kind of been great at the communication. We've been beaten down, and then we don't play very well, or physical. I don't feel really there's a weak area from again, I'm all for give Texas the credit, they outplayed front to back, you know, so there's talented guys. Like I us, and in the end, that may have been a wake up call said, we've played physical. We've been disruptive. that they needed, that there's more to this, and they've We've caused turnovers. We've gotten a lot of sacks been able to give that extra now to get themselves in and tackles for loss, all of that. You know, they've been that position. a really great unit for us. Q. You've talked about how much you love this Q. The media had a chance to meet Joe for the first team. Can you speak to some of the specifics that time yesterday. Could you talk about him being a they've experienced together, whether it's crushing part of your program and what it was like when he bowl loss, tackling the social issue like they did first earned his way back on the team, what it was with the video on campus and all the things that like for him and the team to have him back out really go into this being a special group? there and how much excitement he had to rejoin BOB STOOPS: Yeah, it goes back to starts at last the team? year's bowl loss to then some staff changes to now BOB STOOPS: Well, you know, again, it's a situation we're into spring ball and we're cancelling two or three that was very unfortunate, and Joe was penalized. Joe practices because they felt the need to demonstrate, was removed from the team for a year, and we believe and rightfully so. 80 percent of our team is probably as a university that you give people second chances if minority, and they felt strongly that this is something they can do certain things to grow from it and learn that they needed to stand up against because it relates from it. There is no excuse ever for violence against to them so closely. And they felt even though this women at all. But Joe, again, as an 18 year old and a happens around the country, we have it captured. person we felt, and the circumstances that surrounded Because we captured it, we're strong enough to do it all, that he deserved a second chance, with strict something about it, and that was their stance, and they guidelines moving forward, but he's met all of those. did a great job with that. He's been a really good student. He's been a great teammate to everybody. So he continues to do the That was a lot. They had a lot of interaction through things that the university has set in front of him to do to that time, a lot of meetings, and were very thoughtful be given that second chance. about how to continue to approach it, and then had a lot of discussions without coaching in there that were Hopefully as a young man he can keep growing from it, very heated, and so, again, I think they got to know and if he does, he'll be a very productive student and each other more, respect one another more, you know, person out in the community if he can continue to do all of it kind of continued to happen that way. that. We believe overall with what we know about Joe that he has the character to do that. Hopefully he can And then, I don't know, as you that was a big factor, keep doing it. But he's been a big he's a spark for and then, you know, just as we roll through the the offense. He's one of those guys that has all the summer, just all of it, they just kept getting tighter and energy. I've said it a lot, like Eric Striker does to the tighter. I think, just again, maybe everybody doubting

Rev #2 by #19 at 2015-12-30 15:34:00 GMT page 12 of 13 them, as well. Maybe even for them everybody doubting me gets them to that they need to do something about it. All of it together has made them a really just a tough minded, tight team.

Q. What is the single most important thing for your defense against an explosive Clemson offense? BOB STOOPS: Well, there's not one single first, it starts with Deshaun Watson for sure. We've already talked about that. But a year ago they hit a bunch of big pass plays on us, as well, and he's got a great arm. It's limiting big plays and controlling as much as anything, being great against the run game. That's always a major factor.

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