First published 2019
Dabo Swinney stands before his team at the start of another season, preaching his familiar message of "joy." But this year feels different. Week after week, Clemson crushes opponents with ruthless efficiency. The big orange machine hits its stride at midseason, leaving a trail of devastated teams in its wake. The college football world watches in shock as the foundation of the sport shifts beneath their feet. Swinney remembers the earlier years of 2015 and 2016, when his Tigers had to scrape together every ounce of courage just to compete at the highest level. Now, in his tenth season as head coach, they wield sledgehammers instead of hoping for breaks. Larry Williams chronicles this remarkable transformation through insider stories from Swinney's entire tenure. What began as a season consumed by Alabama's dominance becomes something else entirely as Clemson's own tide sweeps across the landscape. This is the story of how one coach's relentless optimism built a dynasty that nobody saw coming.
Genres: american, sports, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, football, college, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: rise-to-power, underdog
Setting: Clemson
Period: 2015, 2016
179 pages · Kindle Edition · The History Press