Another Solid Effort

JACKSONVILLE - Another day and another productive practice from a Clemson perspective.

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"It was another good practice," Dabo Swinney told CUTigers.com Monday afternoon. "We kind of took the pads off. It was a good mental practice- similar to what we'd do during a Thursday during game week. Our scout team really gave us a good look I thought on both sides of the ball and that's always important."

Swinney also welcomed back two offensive linemen who have missed time this week due to flu-like symptoms. Both Mason Cloy and Landon Walker were back in action Monday.

"They were back moving around today and did a good job," he said. "Cloy didn't puke so that was good.

"Landon- that's just one of them deals where you have to have teachable moments. He's a great kid and a great worker. I'd be surprised if something like that ever happens again."

Redshirt kicker Spencer Benton also came down with the same illness, but he's not playing Thursday and was strong enough to practice Monday.

IMPORTANCE OF A WIN: With the Tigers on a three-game winning streak and with a new coaching staff in place, you'd think a win in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl would be a great way to start the offseason.

And it would be.

However, Swinney said Monday you can't place too much importance on just one game- even in a bowl.

"If you win the game it gives you a little more momentum going into the offseason but the sun is going to come up whether we win or lose," he said. "2009 will not be defined by what we do on Jan. 1. We've got 364 more days if my math is right.

"But certainly a win would be a great way to finish this season and a great way for our seniors to end their careers."

Since a 19-10 win over Colorado in the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl, the Tigers have lost two straight- 28-20 to Kentucky in the 2006 Music City Bowl and 23-20 to Auburn in overtime in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl last season.

QUICK HIT: The team left practice Monday afternoon around 1:30 to go to a local Children's Hospital. ... Last night's curfew was pushed up to midnight from 1 o'clock.

NEXT UP: The Tigers will practice one more time Tuesday morning in preparation for Thursday's game. On Wednesday Swinney and selected players will participate in a press conference along with Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini and selected Cornhuskers at noon.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "First time I've seen them was this morning at the FCA Breakfast and those are some big boys. Big jokers. They have a physical presence to them and I know that's what Coach Pelini is going to preach all the time too- you have to have that to win games. You have to be physical. That's how we coach and that's how they coach so it should be a good matchup." - Dabo Swinney on seeing Nebraska in-person for the first time.