DABO SWINNEY: Well, really proud of our team for traveling down and winning our state championship. Really a lot of adversity in the game with some turnovers, but proud of our guys for how they kept their poise and were able to overcome that. Tough place to play down there, and again, 12-0 for us is something that hasn't happened here in 34 years, so we're really just really happy with our regular season and the way it ended, and really happy for our fans that everybody was able to experience that.
But now you're turning the page. It's the postseason. We're just happy to still be playing, just most everybody out there is done, and we're happy to have an opportunity to go compete for the overall championship against a great team in North Carolina. Man, they've had an excellent year, and I've had a chance to see them quite a bit, either on TV or we've had several common opponents where we've -- studying film and stuff. But they have really had a great year.
I think this is a great match-up for our league, and going to have a great champion when it's all said and done. But looking forward to being up in Charlotte with everybody, and hopefully we'll have a sellout crowd and a great night, but for us, just like I said, it's kind of business as usual as far as going back to work today and trying to get a great plan and give our guys the best chance possible to be successful Saturday night.
We're healthy. Didn't really have any issues during the game, so we're very fortunate in that. So we should have all hands on deck as we head up there.
With that, I'll take your questions.
Q. You didn't get to play North Carolina this year. You played them last year. Their defense seems to have really made some major strides. What have you seen out of their defense this year under Gene Chizik?
DABO SWINNEY: Well, I'm just kind of really diving into them today as far as trying to really get a feel for the personality of their defense. But I think the biggest thing is they just have not given up near the big plays. They gave up a lot of big plays last year. We had a bunch of big plays on them, and that's probably the biggest thing is they've been very sound in what they've done. I think he's really done a great job of just giving them the best chance each and every week to be successful.
You know, again, I'll have probably a little more thorough answer for you here in another day or so as I really get through the whole season, but the immediate thing is they're very disciplined and sound and playing with good fundamentals, and they have not given up near the amount of big plays.
Q. I know you guys have had a lot of obviously big plays this year and an undefeated season, but is there any one play that defines what you guys have become all about? You addressed it a little bit yesterday after the game, but you calling the timeout when you guys were only up three yesterday instead of maybe running the ball and setting up a field goal to go up six, you called a timeout and Watson throws the absolute laser to Thompson and you guys go ahead and score seven points. If there's one play that perfectly illustrates your season, that might be one of them there?
DABO SWINNEY: Well, I think that's one of them for sure. I think there's a bunch along the way. I think the biggest thing is, listen, we're playing to win each and every week, and that's what I was saying yesterday. If we get beat, it's not going to be because we kept our bullets in the gun, so to speak. We're going to play until the end. I think we've been aggressive all year long. I think that our players relish that, and you know, I think there's times where you maybe have to be conservative or whatever, but you're in a championship run and you're on the road, and I think you send the wrong message there with the situation that we had. We've got the best quarterback in the country, and I want to give him an opportunity, and again, if we get beat, it's not going to be because he didn't have the ball in his hands. So that's really what that was.
But our team has responded. I think that if you look at this season and this team all year long, it's just -- whether it's been the defense making a big stop or creating a big turnover on the goal line against Notre Dame, and then stopping them on the two-point conversion later in the game, I mean, just so many big, big moments. Same thing at Louisville, we're struggling on offense as far as scoring points, and man, the defense just held all night, got a big sack, and then the flipside, offensively, what we were able to do up at Syracuse and at NC State and so forth, you know, it's just been a good team as far as just finding ways to win each and every week.
We've had some big kicks by our kicker along the way, and just proud of this group. They're a fun bunch, and they don't give up. They believe, and we know that we certainly can be beat by anybody that we play. We respect every opponent, but we also know that we're going to play four quarters and we're going to compete all the way to the end.
Q. Obviously there are some teams this year that Carolina has not scored as many points against as others, Virginia's defense, Virginia Tech's defense, Pittsburgh's defense gave them some trouble. Is there any formula you can borrow from one of those teams to help you guys out this week against Carolina?
DABO SWINNEY: Well, yeah, first of all, those are all good defenses, there's no question about it. But I think the biggest thing is you've just got to be sound. You know, offensively we really kind of mirror each other to be honest with you. We're very similar in a lot of ways, both have a dynamic quarterback, and we've got excellent receivers and tight ends. So do they. We have excellent running backs. So do they. Good offensive line, so do they. So we're very similar in that regard from an offensive standpoint, and I think we're very similar statistically as far as what we've been able to accomplish this year.
But I think the main thing is you'd just better be sound and you have to be very, very disciplined and try to take the big plays away. They've had a lot of big plays throughout -- they're explosive like we are, so I think that's the biggest thing is taking care of the ball. You don't want to give a team like this short fields because they're going to score points, and then defensively being very sound and making the competitive plays because they're going to put the ball in the air. They're going to run their quarterback. They're going to have a lot of misdirection, a lot of different formations, and they're going to play fast. Again, that's what we do.
So I think whichever defense has the better night and whoever wins that turnover margin is probably going to win the game.
Q. Being a sound defense, are those your strong suits this year?
DABO SWINNEY: Yeah, what are we, fifth or sixth in the nation in total defense? We're somewhere in that top 10 in the nation in total defense, so I think that kind of speaks for itself. But when we've had problems, it's where -- just like yesterday's game, we had some big plays against -- really had about five plays in the game out of our 60 or however many they had, we had about five plays that really cost us. But all correctable things, so that's just the way it is.
On defense when you make a mistake, it's points for the other team. On offense, you might back up a little bit, but you can still punt the ball. You know, it's tough when you're going against offenses that know what they're doing and certainly North Carolina does, so it'll be a big challenge for us, and vice versa, but that's what championship football is all about. This is why we're there and it's why they're there, and man, I can't wait to go compete against them.
Q. Dabo, there have been a few more turnovers here in the last few games than I'm sure you would like. In reviewing the tape, just curious if you've seen a common thread or common strength that you guys can get corrected before Saturday.
DABO SWINNEY: Well, I mean, we had one big one yesterday that was just ball exchange. I mean, just a basic thing, what we do. I've got it, you got it, and the ball ends up on the ground. So that's just really being dialed in on your fundamentals and not taking anything for granted. And, you know, uncharacteristic fumble by Artavis. He makes a big play and he's just fighting for extra yards and their guy stripped it out. I mean, it happens, and Wayne Gallman has been as good as anybody in the country at taking care of the ball, and they got it out. So got to give the other team some credit.
But at the end of the day, we still found a way to win the game. Even though you lose the turnover margin by two, and that's hard to do, and I think that speaks to the resolve of this team, the overall talent of our team, the poise of our team, the mental toughness, because those are things that can really cost you, especially when you're on the road. But they just kind of keep playing, and great teams overcome adversity, and we've been able to do that several times this year.
But certainly it's something that we want to kind of break that trend. When we've had our backs against the wall in some of these games, whether it was Florida State or whatever, we've been able to either be even or win the margin, and I think that's going to be a critical factor to this weekend for both teams. They certainly don't want to give it to us on a short field, and vice versa. So we need to be cleaner, but I think it's just something you just continue to work fundamentals, but you don't want to make too big a deal out of it and next thing you know guys are playing tight and all that. Hey, let's go play the game, be loose, and we'll live with whatever result that we get.
But now you're turning the page. It's the postseason. We're just happy to still be playing, just most everybody out there is done, and we're happy to have an opportunity to go compete for the overall championship against a great team in North Carolina. Man, they've had an excellent year, and I've had a chance to see them quite a bit, either on TV or we've had several common opponents where we've -- studying film and stuff. But they have really had a great year.
I think this is a great match-up for our league, and going to have a great champion when it's all said and done. But looking forward to being up in Charlotte with everybody, and hopefully we'll have a sellout crowd and a great night, but for us, just like I said, it's kind of business as usual as far as going back to work today and trying to get a great plan and give our guys the best chance possible to be successful Saturday night.
We're healthy. Didn't really have any issues during the game, so we're very fortunate in that. So we should have all hands on deck as we head up there.
With that, I'll take your questions.
Q. You didn't get to play North Carolina this year. You played them last year. Their defense seems to have really made some major strides. What have you seen out of their defense this year under Gene Chizik?
DABO SWINNEY: Well, I'm just kind of really diving into them today as far as trying to really get a feel for the personality of their defense. But I think the biggest thing is they just have not given up near the big plays. They gave up a lot of big plays last year. We had a bunch of big plays on them, and that's probably the biggest thing is they've been very sound in what they've done. I think he's really done a great job of just giving them the best chance each and every week to be successful.
You know, again, I'll have probably a little more thorough answer for you here in another day or so as I really get through the whole season, but the immediate thing is they're very disciplined and sound and playing with good fundamentals, and they have not given up near the amount of big plays.
Q. I know you guys have had a lot of obviously big plays this year and an undefeated season, but is there any one play that defines what you guys have become all about? You addressed it a little bit yesterday after the game, but you calling the timeout when you guys were only up three yesterday instead of maybe running the ball and setting up a field goal to go up six, you called a timeout and Watson throws the absolute laser to Thompson and you guys go ahead and score seven points. If there's one play that perfectly illustrates your season, that might be one of them there?
DABO SWINNEY: Well, I think that's one of them for sure. I think there's a bunch along the way. I think the biggest thing is, listen, we're playing to win each and every week, and that's what I was saying yesterday. If we get beat, it's not going to be because we kept our bullets in the gun, so to speak. We're going to play until the end. I think we've been aggressive all year long. I think that our players relish that, and you know, I think there's times where you maybe have to be conservative or whatever, but you're in a championship run and you're on the road, and I think you send the wrong message there with the situation that we had. We've got the best quarterback in the country, and I want to give him an opportunity, and again, if we get beat, it's not going to be because he didn't have the ball in his hands. So that's really what that was.
But our team has responded. I think that if you look at this season and this team all year long, it's just -- whether it's been the defense making a big stop or creating a big turnover on the goal line against Notre Dame, and then stopping them on the two-point conversion later in the game, I mean, just so many big, big moments. Same thing at Louisville, we're struggling on offense as far as scoring points, and man, the defense just held all night, got a big sack, and then the flipside, offensively, what we were able to do up at Syracuse and at NC State and so forth, you know, it's just been a good team as far as just finding ways to win each and every week.
We've had some big kicks by our kicker along the way, and just proud of this group. They're a fun bunch, and they don't give up. They believe, and we know that we certainly can be beat by anybody that we play. We respect every opponent, but we also know that we're going to play four quarters and we're going to compete all the way to the end.
Q. Obviously there are some teams this year that Carolina has not scored as many points against as others, Virginia's defense, Virginia Tech's defense, Pittsburgh's defense gave them some trouble. Is there any formula you can borrow from one of those teams to help you guys out this week against Carolina?
DABO SWINNEY: Well, yeah, first of all, those are all good defenses, there's no question about it. But I think the biggest thing is you've just got to be sound. You know, offensively we really kind of mirror each other to be honest with you. We're very similar in a lot of ways, both have a dynamic quarterback, and we've got excellent receivers and tight ends. So do they. We have excellent running backs. So do they. Good offensive line, so do they. So we're very similar in that regard from an offensive standpoint, and I think we're very similar statistically as far as what we've been able to accomplish this year.
But I think the main thing is you'd just better be sound and you have to be very, very disciplined and try to take the big plays away. They've had a lot of big plays throughout -- they're explosive like we are, so I think that's the biggest thing is taking care of the ball. You don't want to give a team like this short fields because they're going to score points, and then defensively being very sound and making the competitive plays because they're going to put the ball in the air. They're going to run their quarterback. They're going to have a lot of misdirection, a lot of different formations, and they're going to play fast. Again, that's what we do.
So I think whichever defense has the better night and whoever wins that turnover margin is probably going to win the game.
Q. Being a sound defense, are those your strong suits this year?
DABO SWINNEY: Yeah, what are we, fifth or sixth in the nation in total defense? We're somewhere in that top 10 in the nation in total defense, so I think that kind of speaks for itself. But when we've had problems, it's where -- just like yesterday's game, we had some big plays against -- really had about five plays in the game out of our 60 or however many they had, we had about five plays that really cost us. But all correctable things, so that's just the way it is.
On defense when you make a mistake, it's points for the other team. On offense, you might back up a little bit, but you can still punt the ball. You know, it's tough when you're going against offenses that know what they're doing and certainly North Carolina does, so it'll be a big challenge for us, and vice versa, but that's what championship football is all about. This is why we're there and it's why they're there, and man, I can't wait to go compete against them.
Q. Dabo, there have been a few more turnovers here in the last few games than I'm sure you would like. In reviewing the tape, just curious if you've seen a common thread or common strength that you guys can get corrected before Saturday.
DABO SWINNEY: Well, I mean, we had one big one yesterday that was just ball exchange. I mean, just a basic thing, what we do. I've got it, you got it, and the ball ends up on the ground. So that's just really being dialed in on your fundamentals and not taking anything for granted. And, you know, uncharacteristic fumble by Artavis. He makes a big play and he's just fighting for extra yards and their guy stripped it out. I mean, it happens, and Wayne Gallman has been as good as anybody in the country at taking care of the ball, and they got it out. So got to give the other team some credit.
But at the end of the day, we still found a way to win the game. Even though you lose the turnover margin by two, and that's hard to do, and I think that speaks to the resolve of this team, the overall talent of our team, the poise of our team, the mental toughness, because those are things that can really cost you, especially when you're on the road. But they just kind of keep playing, and great teams overcome adversity, and we've been able to do that several times this year.
But certainly it's something that we want to kind of break that trend. When we've had our backs against the wall in some of these games, whether it was Florida State or whatever, we've been able to either be even or win the margin, and I think that's going to be a critical factor to this weekend for both teams. They certainly don't want to give it to us on a short field, and vice versa. So we need to be cleaner, but I think it's just something you just continue to work fundamentals, but you don't want to make too big a deal out of it and next thing you know guys are playing tight and all that. Hey, let's go play the game, be loose, and we'll live with whatever result that we get.
