Dabo Swinney got penalized because he was unhappy South Carolina fans were throwing things

Nick Bromberg
·College football and motorsports writer
(AP)
(AP)

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he drew a personal foul penalty late in the second quarter of his team’s game Saturday night against South Carolina because of his reaction to South Carolina fans throwing things on the field during the game.

“I didn’t know it was in the rules to throw stuff from the stands,” Swinney said to ESPN at halftime. “I didn’t know we were — I didn’t know that was part of the game.

“It’s about the 10th time. I’m just trying to protect my players. And if they don’t control it what are we going to do? That’s all I’m going to say. That’s on me. I shouldn’t have lost my poise and my cool but that’s an embarrassment.

“These people are better than that. That’s just a few people here — that’s not the majority of these South Carolina people. That’s an embarrassing situation right there. That’s how somebody gets hurt.”

Swinney’s penalty was about the only thing that went poorly for the No. 3 Tigers, who beat South Carolina 34-10. Thanks to losses by No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Miami, Clemson should be at No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday ahead of Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

Clemson QB Kelly Bryant was 23-of-34 passing for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception while the Tigers’ defense held the Gamecocks to just 207 yards of offense.

The Tigers play Miami next week in the ACC championship game in what is setting up to be a win-and-get-in game for the College Football Playoff.

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!