Every game in the first round of the playoffs was a one-sided affair except one. Things got close in Austin as the Longhorns battled the Tigers for the right to go to the second round. However, at the end of the first half, with the score at 28-10 in favor of the home team, you may laugh at the idea of us calling it a ‘close’ game. Quinn Ewers found his rhythm, and Texas’ run game just didn’t let Clemson’s defense breathe in the first 30 minutes. Things had to improve, and Tigers’ head coach, Dabo Swinney, had a message for the team at halftime.

Chapel Fowler posted a message from Tigers HC Dabo Swinney to his quarterback, Cade Klubnik, on his X account on December 22. According to the head coach, the former Westlake athlete’s performances were outstanding in the first half of the game against the Longhorns. But the plan for the second half was to get the ball to QB Cade Klubnik. And Dabo said, “Let it rip.”

“We knew we weren’t going to get many more possessions.” The Tigers outscored their opponents 14–10 in the 2nd half. Nevertheless, they lost the game by 38-24 since their efforts were insufficient to guarantee an overall victory. This scenario demonstrates a frequent problem in sports: if a team suffers in the first half or during the game, a great showing in the second half does not always convert into a victory.

However, Dabo Swinney seeks to emphasize with this “let it rip” phrase that doing anything with passion or vigor, frequently without regard for the repercussions, is important. Considering Cade’s performance, that makes sense. This season, Clemson’s junior quarterback passed for 336 yards, the most of any Texas opponent, and 3 touchdowns. Cade led a second-half turnaround that gave them a chance. However, it wasn’t enough.

In the 3rd quarter, Klubnik also guided the Tigers (10-4) on a four-play, 55-yard TD drive, including the last 25-yard toss to RB Jarvis Green. It put Clemson behind 31-17. Conversely, his fourth-and-six 7-yard pass to T.J. Moore put Texas ahead 31–24 by barely a touchdown. Tigers’ HC stated afterward, “We put ourselves in a position to win. And that young man (Klubnik) has grown into an amazing leader.”

Whereas the QB stated, “I’m hurting a lot. It was fun to come home, but it was not a vacation. It was time to come win a football game, and we didn’t do that.”

See, his passion for his team, and football in particular, is evident. Getting such a great performance is still blissful, even if you don’t win the championship. Considering that praising is so instinctive.

Dabo Swinney giving props to Cade Klubnik

The Tigers could have had it all. The game poised in the 4th quarter, Klubnik drove Clemson 74 yards to the Texas 1 and made three passes to Moore, including two that were 29 and 30 yards long. However, on 3rd down, Horns safety Michael Taaffe blocked Klubnik. The Longhorns stopped Clemson when it mattered the most. Dabo Swinney’s team’s failure to get a single yard on two attempts brought an end to their season.

However, that doesn’t mean Klubnik wasn’t sensational. “How about that guy. Just incredible, incredible leadership,” Swinney said of his QB1. Even though the first-round exit meant it was all over for the Tigers, the head coach recognized what it took to get here and how the team could reach higher in the future.

Dabo commended that the team as a whole. Dabo said, “We gotta improve everywhere if we want to get to the top. We were good enough to get into the Playoff, good enough to win the league, but not good enough to win it all. We’ve got a chance to be a really, really good football team and grow and get better. It’s my job to make sure we do that.”

Returning to the summit of the mountain appears to be the objective. The most discouraging statistic, though, that can cheer the head coach is that most of his players, including 5-star QB Cade Klubnik, will return in 2025. Let’s see where the team does next season under the 55-year-old coach.