By Ian Taylor
Courtesy The Journal
itaylor@upstatetoday.com

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a news conference earlier this month in Miami Gardens, Fla., ahead of the Orange Bowl, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney looked back on the first time he was a part of the storied game.

It was Jan. 1, 2000, when Swinney was a wide receivers coach for Mike DuBose’s Alabama Crimson Tide, which had gone 10-2 and won the SEC championship. The season ended on a loss though, as Michigan quarterback Tom Brady — playing in his last collegiate game — led the Wolverines back from two 14-point deficits to send the game to overtime, where Alabama kicker Ryan Pflugner missed an extra point and the Tide lost 35-34.

“One of my notables of life was coaching against Tom Brady in his last college game, and I didn’t

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