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TAMPA, (Fla.) -- DeAndre McDaniel believed in Dabo Swinney when few others did.

The heat was on Swinney in late December of 2010 after Clemson fell behind big to South Florida and lost 31-26 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

The few fans who showed up to watch this embarrassment were irate. The Tigers had already been smoked at home by South Carolina for their first back-to-back losses to the Gamecocks since 1970. And now this ugly showing before a sea of blue seats at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte assured Clemson's first losing season in 12 years at 6-7 -- and assured major scrutiny of Swinney after his second full season.

McDaniel was on his way out and had plenty of other things to worry about. But he stood up in that locker room that day and delivered a speech that resonates to this day for everyone who was present.