Top of the Hill

When Dabo Swinney officially took over Clemson football for the 2009 season, it was considered a good program that couldn't quite recapture the greatness of the Danny Ford era. Dabo had spent his entire life as an underdog, but his defiant grit pushed him past personal hardships and professional adversity. His simple formula-faith, family, forgiven

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When Dabo Swinney took over Clemson football during the 2008 season, the program was considered a good one that couldn’t quite recapture the greatness of the Danny Ford era. But Swinney’s simple formula—faith, family, forgiveness, fortitude, and fun—pushed the Clemson football program to the next level, taking the Tigers to 10 bowl games while capturing four ACC championships, three College Football Playoff appearances, and most importantly,
two national championships.

Sports columnist Manie Robinson traces Swinney’s coaching ascension along the football team’s return to glory, going behind the scenes of one of the country’s powerhouse programs. Featuring the incredible stories of Clemson stars such as C.J. Spiller, Tajh Boyd, Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, and Deshaun Watson, Top of the Hill is the definitive account of the Tigers’ return to the top of the college football landscape.