TAMPA, Fla. – Step aside, Southeastern Conference. There's a new king of college football.
At least that's how Clemson coach Dabo Swinney sees it.
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Hours after the Tigers defeated Alabama 35-31 in the College Football Playoff National Championship, Swinney told reporters that he believes the Atlantic Coast Conference is the best league in college football.
"I think all you media folks need to change your stories," Swinney said Tuesday. "It sounds good. I've been in this league a long time, and this league has never gotten the respect that it deserves."
If any team deserves the blame for the ACC's lack of respect, it is probably Florida State. In the first nine seasons since Florida State joined the ACC in 1992, the Seminoles either won outright or shared the conference crown. The Seminoles won 29 consecutive conference games before their first loss at Virginia on Nov. 2, 1995, and their record against ACC opponents during that span was 70-2.
The Seminoles won two national championships and played for three more between the 1993 and 2000 seasons.
Florida State's dominance created the long-standing perception that the Seminoles were holding the torch for the conference.
Georgia Tech and Clemson -- two ACC teams that had won national championships prior to Florida State's admission -- took a backseat to the Seminoles throughout the 1990s, which didn't help. The Tigers never finished better than third in the ACC, and even Georgia Tech's co-championship in 1998 came with an asterisk -- a loss to Florida State that prevented the Yellow Jackets from earning an automatic berth in the Bowl Championship Series.
Then came the 2000s and a sweeping change of the conference landscape. Miami and Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004. Boston College joined a year later.
The ACC split into divisions in 2005 and began fielding a championship game. Florida State wasn't winning as frequently as it had in the previous decade, and other champions emerged (Maryland in 2001, Wake Forest in 2006, Georgia Tech in 2009, although the title was later vacated, and Virginia Tech four times). Still, other ACC teams couldn't seem to replicate the success of the Seminoles.
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Chief Osceola and Renegade, Florida State University: The tradition of Chief Osceola planting a burning spear at midfield while riding his Appaloosa horse, Renegade, before every Florida State home game began in 1978. Conceived by Florida State alumnus Bill Durham, the pregame ritual of Osceola and Renegade is a reason for fans to get to their seats before kickoff. The tradition is so revered that the school fought the NCAA in 2005 after it added Florida State to a list of colleges whose sports teams used "hostile or abuse" Native American names and mascots.Howard's Rock, Clemson University: Arguably one of the most iconic scenes in all of college football, Clemson players rub "Howard's Rock" for good luck before they race down the hill and onto the field at Memorial Stadium before every home game.Cowbells, Mississippi State University: The ringing of the cowbells has become such a nuisance for visitors to Davis Wade Stadium that the Southeastern Conference banned artificial noisemakers until 2010, but it didn't deter Mississippi State fans from helping the Bulldogs with their greatest home-field advantage."Jump Around," University of Wisconsin: Wisconsin players and fans have been bouncing up and down at Camp Randall Stadium since 1998, when the tradition of playing House of Pain's anthem "Jump Around" between the third and fourth quarter of every home game was born.Script Ohio, Ohio State University: The Ohio State marching band first performed its signature formation in 1936, spelling out "Ohio" with band members and creating a special place of honor for the member dotting the "i."War Eagle, Auburn University: War Eagle is the battle cry of Auburn fans. Since 1930, Auburn has kept an actual eagle as a flying mascot during football games. War Eagle VII has been soaring over Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2006, but the 18-year-old bird will sit out this season after being diagnosed with chronic heart disease. A substitute eagle will assume pregame flight duties.12th Man, Texas &M University: The student body at Texas A&M represents the "12th Man," so the students stand during the entire game to show their support. Additionally, whenever the Aggies score, students kiss their dates. The NFL's Seattle Seahawks pay the school an $18,000 annual royalty for using the "12th Man" trademark."Take Me Home, Country Road," West Virginia University: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" has been performed before every West Virginia home football game since 1972. John Denver christened the new Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium by performing his hit song prior to the 1980 season opener. West Virginia players and fans sing it together after every win.Play Like A Champion Today, University of Notre Dame: The slogan "Play Like a Champion Today" is hand-painted in blue letters on a sign located in a stairwell between the home team locker room and the tunnel to the field of Notre Dame Stadium. It is a tradition for Notre Dame players to touch it on their way out of the locker room.Sooner Schooner, University of Oklahoma: Pulled by two white ponies named Boomer and Sooner, the Sooner Schooner became the official mascot at Oklahoma in 1980. The Sooners received a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after the wagon wheels of the Sooner Schooner became stuck on the field in front of the opposing team's bench during a re-kick attempt in the 1985 Orange Bowl.
Chief Osceola and Renegade, Florida State University: The tradition of Chief Osceola planting a burning spear at midfield while riding his Appaloosa horse, Renegade, before every Florida State home game began in 1978. Conceived by Florida State alumnus Bill Durham, the pregame ritual of Osceola and Renegade is a reason for fans to get to their seats before kickoff. The tradition is so revered that the school fought the NCAA in 2005 after it added Florida State to a list of colleges whose sports teams used "hostile or abuse" Native American names and mascots.
It didn't help that the SEC, which shares at least a portion of its geographic footprint with the ACC, laid claim to the national championship for seven straight seasons from 2006-12.
Florida won a pair of national titles in 2006 and 2008. LSU won the national title in between. Alabama won the first of its four national titles under Nick Saban in 2009, including three in a four-year span. Alabama's rival, Auburn, won the 2010 national title.
There was also the 2011 season, in which two SEC teams met in a rematch to determine the national championship. LSU beat Alabama in the regular season and eventually won the SEC, but the Crimson Tide routed the Tigers 21-0 to win the crystal trophy.
The SEC's trophy case was impressive even before the streak.
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Uga, University of Georgia: Uga is a sideline staple at Georgia football games. After the death of Uga VII, his half-brother, Russ, was selected as interim mascot for the final two games of the 2009 season. He continued as interim mascot for the first six games of the 2010 season and participated in a "passing of the collar" ceremony for Uga VIII before the homecoming game. Less than two months later, Russ was once again called upon for the bowl game because of an illness to and the eventual death of Uga VIII. Russ eventually assumed the title of Uga IX in 2012, but he died in December 2015 and was replaced by his grandson.Mike the Tiger, Louisiana State University: Mike the Tiger has been an attraction at Louisiana State football games since 1936. On home football game days, Mike's cage on wheels is parked by the opponent's locker room outside Tiger Stadium. Opposing players must pass by Mike in order to reach their locker room. In 1950, four Tulane students abducted Mike before a game. He was eventually returned and the students were banned from LSU's campus. A new habitat was constructed for the Bengal tiger in 2005. Mike VI debuted during LSU's national championship season of 2007. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2016 and was euthanized.Bevo, University of Texas: Bevo spends Saturdays in Texas roaming the sideline at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Texas Longhorn steer made his first appearance at halftime of the 1916 football game against Texas A&M. Bevo XIV retired in October 2015 after contracting bovine leukemia virus. He died shortly thereafter. Bevo XV made his debut in 2016, 100 years after the first Bevo was introduced.Ralphie, University of Colorado: The first Ralphie debuted in 1966 and spent 13 years on the Colorado sidelines. Ralphie II took over in 1978, but she unexpectedly died after a 1987 game against Stanford. Ralphie III was pressed into action prematurely after her predecessor's life was cut short and served through the 1997 season. Ralphie IV then spent 10 seasons on the sidelines from 1998-2007. Ralphie V took the field at a Colorado game for the first time in 2008.Big Red, Western Kentucky University: A red, furry blob created by Western Kentucky student Ralph Carey in 1979 serves as the school's mascot. Big Red was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 1997.Oregon Duck, University of Oregon: The Oregon Duck mascot is modeled after Walt Disney's Donald Duck character through a special licensing agreement. During the 2007 season opener, the Duck attacked Houston Cougars mascot Shasta for seemingly copying the Duck's routine of doing push-ups after a score. The Duck was suspended for a game and the student wearing the costume received an unspecified punishment.Sebastian the Ibis, University of Miami: Sebastian the Ibis has been a fixture at Miami games since 1957. On game days, the costumed mascot leads Hurricanes fans in the C-A-N-E-S cheer, spelling the letters with his body. Why an ibis? Because the bird is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane approaches, giving warning that danger is imminent. Sebastian narrowly avoided arrest before a game against Florida State in 1989. Miami's mascot, wearing a fireman's helmet and yellow raincoat while holding a fire extinguisher, was tackled and handcuffed by police during an attempt to douse Chief Osceola's flaming spear.Albert the Alligator, University of Florida: In 1970, an anthropomorphic version of Albert the Alligator replaced the real alligator that roamed the sideline at Florida games. Albert was featured in a commercial for ESPN's "SportsCenter" and is the subject of three children's books. Albert got a mate, Alberta, in 1984.Mountaineer, West Virginia University: The Mountaineer has been a presence at West Virginia sporting events since the late 1920s, but the school established a protocol for determining who would assume the Davy Crockett-esque character in the 1930s. Students undergo a rigid application process for the right to assume the role, which requires selection by the school's senior honorary. Although not a requirement, the men chosen to personify the Mountaineer customarily grow beards during their tenures to complement the coonskin cap and rifle.Stanford Tree, Stanford University: The Stanford Tree first appeared at Cardinal games in 1975. Stanford student Tommy Leep made headlines in 1996 when he was ejected from a women's basketball NCAA tournament game while dressed as the Tree for "dancing in an undesignated area." That was after an earlier scuffle with tournament security, from whom he had attempted to escape by hurling himself across the basketball court on a rolling chair. Stanford then banned him from performing for the rest of the NCAA tournament.
Uga, University of Georgia: Uga is a sideline staple at Georgia football games. After the death of Uga VII, his half-brother, Russ, was selected as interim mascot for the final two games of the 2009 season. He continued as interim mascot for the first six games of the 2010 season and participated in a "passing of the collar" ceremony for Uga VIII before the homecoming game. Less than two months later, Russ was once again called upon for the bowl game because of an illness to and the eventual death of Uga VIII. Russ eventually assumed the title of Uga IX in 2012, but he died in December 2015 and was replaced by his grandson.
Saban led LSU to the 2003 national championship. Tennessee beat Florida State to win the first national championship of the BCS era in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl.
Even before the BCS, SEC teams had found success on the national stage, winning two championships -- Alabama in 1992 and Florida in 1996 -- under the old Bowl Coalition and Bowl Alliance systems and playing for the title on two other occasions, when Florida lost to Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl and Tennessee lost to Nebraska in the 1998 Orange Bowl.
Swinney, who took over for Tommy Bowden midway through the 2008 season, said he told his athletic director there was only one way to change the perception of the ACC.
"We've got to go play people and we've got to win," Swinney said. "We've got to find a way. That's the only way it's going to change."
So far, so good.
The SEC's reign came to an end in the 2013 season, when ACC champion Florida State defeated SEC champion Auburn in the final BCS National Championship. The ACC has been represented in each of the first three seasons of the College Football Playoff, with Florida State earning a berth in the playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl during the 2014 season and Clemson playing in the last two national championship games.
"This is the best conference in college football," Swinney said. "It's the deepest. It's the most competitive. Eleven bowl teams, and it's back-to-back years, something like that, that we've done that."
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney speaks to members of the media the day before the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The ACC's head-to-head record against the SEC during the 2016 season was 10-4. The ACC also had the best overall record in bowl games, finishing 9-3. Perhaps more importantly, the ACC was 4-1 in bowl games against the SEC.
In addition to Clemson's victory against Alabama, North Carolina State beat Vanderbilt 41-17 in the Independence Bowl, Virginia Tech rallied from a 24-0 halftime deficit to defeat Arkansas 35-24 in the Belk Bowl and Georgia Tech beat Kentucky 33-18 in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
LSU was the only team to beat an ACC team, defeating Louisville 29-9 in the Citrus Bowl.
"You don't want to play a team from this conference," Swinney said. "You just don't. I don't care. Name one. That's why we're ready. That's why we're ready to go play Oklahoma two years in a row. That's why we're ready to go play Ohio State two out of the last four years. We're ready because of what we see week in and week out in this conference."
Swinney, who won a national championship as a wide receiver for Alabama in 1992, isn't taking anything away from the SEC.
"Look at the NFL Draft, and the SEC is a great conference, too, but the best and deepest league is this league that we're competing in," Swinney said.
Swinney knows the conference debate will last well beyond this season, and not everyone will agree.
"So, you know, it's just how I feel about it," Swinney said.
Disagree? Just ask Alabama.
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