(This story was updated to add new information.)
CLEMSON — Clemson football safety Khalil Barnes said coach Dabo Swinney entered the team's meeting on Sept. 22 and didn't show any film of the team's performance.
Instead, Barnes said Swinney read Bible scriptures that turned into a "sermon." This led to Swinney and his players having an emotional heart-to-heart team meeting, where he and his players expressed themselves amid the Tigers' 1-3 start.
"It was emotional in there just because he truly does feel what we feel but times three because he's not feeling it as a current player," Barnes said on Sept. 23. "He's feeling as a coach. He's feeling it for his former players... and obviously for the community."
Clemson (1-3, 0-2 ACC) is enduring its worst start in 21 years after losing 34-21 at home to Syracuse (3-1, 1-0) in Week 4. The Tigers are longshots to win the ACC and make the College Football Playoff after entering the season as favorites to win the conference again and a popular pick to win the national championship.
This rough stretch prompted Swinney to have "one of the best team meetings" he's ever been a part of because of how his players responded to the early season adversity and their enthusiasm to finish the season on a strong note.
"It was great. It was needed. It was just about responding," Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods said. "Nobody expected us to start the season off like this. This wasn't in coach Swinney's notes for the bye week, but it's about how you respond."
Woods said players like offensive linemen Collin Sadler and Walker Parks and wide receiver Antonio Williams were among players who spoke during the meeting. Woods added their focus was on how to be better and finishing strong for themselves, senior players and the fans.
Those seniors or fourth-year players included Williams, quarterback Cade Klubnik , offensive tackles Blake Miller and Tristan Leigh and linebacker Wade Woodaz who opted to come back to Clemson for another season instead of going to the NFL.
Sadler, a fourth-year player, emphasized the importance of leaving a legacy for the younger players. Clemson won't likely compete for a national championship, but having a strong end to the season will be a lesson younger players can have entering 2026 and beyond.
"Obviously, not the start we wanted, but it was great to see the leaders on our team really step up and have encouragement for us in this time," second-year tight end Christian Bentancur said.
Clemson will likely play in a non-CFP bowl game for the fourth time and five seasons, but the Tigers can extend their 14-year streak of winning nine or more games, which is tied for the third-longest streak in major college football history, with a strong finish.
Swinney said the Week 5 open date came at the right time because Clemson was beat up physically and emotionally. He was even emotional following the loss to Syracuse . Still, the Tigers' display of emotion is a sign they are committed to salvaging their disastrous season with this summit serving as a potential flashpoint moment.
"There were some tears shed, guys speaking from their heart," Sadler said. "That's one thing that I really appreciate about the guys we have in our room. They aren't afraid to speak from their heart."
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney, Clemson football players describe emotional team meeting
