Olympic photo finish inspires a Dabo Swinney lesson at Clemson (2024)

CLEMSON — U.S. sprinter Noah Lyles’ lean across the finish line to clinch gold in the 100 meters was certainly an iconic moment from the Paris Olympics, replaying in millions of homes across the world.

And one meeting room, at least.

“I used that clip on the 100-meter,” Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney said. “It’s one of the things we talk about all the time. It’s not just effort. It’s effort with technique.”

Lyles, whose jutted-out forehead crossed the finish line at 9.784 seconds, just edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson with a 9.789, further demonstrated a mantra Swinney has been preaching to the Tigers ahead of the 2024 season.

They need to finish.

Last year, Clemson’s offense was 15th in the country in first downs, but just 50th in scoring thanks to far too many turnovers. The Tigers could move the ball, but one mistake or another short-circuited drives.

Multiple fumbles inside the 5-yard line and missed kicks were lethal at Duke. A sack-fumble-score in regulation and a blown read by Cade Klubnik in overtime was pivotal versus Florida State. A keep by Klubnik instead of a handoff was killer in an overtime loss at Miami.

Lyles’ sprint was an example of effort plus form. He gave everything, coming from behind with a fantastic burst in the final 20 meters. A savvy lean on his final stride — bringing his shoulders and even neck forward — won it.

“You’re talking about point-oh-oh-five thousandths between winning a gold medal and not. Well, that’s the margin for difference in winning some football games, too,” Swinney said. “It’s inches. It’s milliseconds.”

Swinney, a well-known enjoyer of sports, hasn’t been able to watch as much of the Paris Olympics as he would like, because he’s obviously in the middle of preparations for a season and an Aug. 31 opener with Georgia.

He did make time to watch the U.S. men’s soccer team’s matches, though, because Swinney’s godson, Tanner Tessmann, captained the squad. Not only that, but former Clemson punter Dawson Zimmerman’s brother, Walker, who played soccer collegiately at Furman, is also on the U.S. team.

The day Clemson’s fall camp opened, Swinney received a FaceTime call from Tessman’s dad. Swinney screenshotted the image, because it was PJ, his best friend from high school in Alabama, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower.

“I’m like, this is crazy,” Swinney said.

Unfortunately, the U.S. soccer team’s run ended with a 4-0 loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal round. When Swinney was asked about the summer Games on Aug. 7, he was quick to ask if the U.S. men’s basketball team won that day.

The U.S. had clobbered Brazil, 122-87.

“Good. All right,” Swinney said. “I didn’t get to see it. I watch basketball, but, heck, I forgot about it until right now.”

Again, he has other things going on.

As far as Clemson is concerned, Swinney has been pleased with the Tigers’ progress through a week of fall camp. Only one of Clemson’s six practices thus far had Swinney feeling like his players didn’t truly “bring it” as they should.

They seem to have heeded Swinney’s “finish” mantra, which comes on the heels of a 2023 season when the Tigers started 4-4 but went on to win five straight games. Clemson, which made six straight college football playoffs from 2015-20, didn’t make the CFP for a third straight season.

“We’re not satisfied with what we’ve done in the last few years. We know that we are a championship-caliber team,” Clemson offensive lineman Collin Sadler said. “We know we have it in us, and we know that we haven’t finished in the past. So I guess that’s a lot of people’s words for this year, just really pushing all the way through the end and making a statement at the end of the year.”

To return to title contention, the Tigers not only have to finish a season but every game, every play, every stride.

This is what Lyles’ photo finish helped demonstrated for Swinney and his team.

“It’s a false step versus a good stance and start. It’s a punt getting blocked because you step under as opposed to taking the proper footwork and losing ground and gaining ground to get your block,” Swinney said. “It’s that small.”