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Klubnik Ignores Swinney’s Final Call and Changed the Play in Double Overtime Loss to Miami

Dabo Called for the Run On Game’s Final Play and Klubnik Changed it to RPO

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By Scott Salomon

It has become readily apparent that Dabo Swinney has lost more than a game or even a shot at playing for the ACC Championship. Swinney might have lost the locker room, and in particular, the confidence of his quarterback Cade Klubnik. 

Klubnik changed the final play of the game in a 28-20 double overtime loss to Miami Saturday night in Miami Gardens before a raucous crowd of 48,562. 

It was clear that Swinney was not happy at the insubordination of his signal-caller.

Swinney said that he called for a handoff, from the Canes two-yard line and had Will Shipley in the backfield. However, Klubnik faked the handoff, pulled the ball out of Shipley’s clutches, and rolled out to the left where he was trying to score on what looked like a quarterback option. 

Klubnik was tackled well behind the line of scrimmage by linebacker Corey Flagg, Jr. on the final play to preserve Miami’s come-from-behind victory and send Clemson reeling to its third loss of the season, all in the ACC.

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“It was a handoff, 100 percent. We had called a handoff. He just pulled it. I got no answer,” Swinney said. “We were just trying to do too much. It wasn’t RPO, it was a give and we just didn’t do it.”

Clemson, which had not lost to Miami in South Florida since 1956, is 3-5 over its last eight games against teams from the Power Five. Its two wins this season have come over Syracuse and Wake Forest, according to Chris Fallica of FOX Sports.

Swinney went on to say that Klubnik made a lot of big plays in the game, but did not follow the call that he sent in and that it is up to the quarterback to follow the system.

“He made a lot of plays, but he has to play within the system.”

Klubnik rolled out to the left and looked like he wanted to run the ball in himself, but before he could turn the corner Flagg was all over him, and tackled him behind the line of scrimmage, to seal the win for the Hurricanes.

“I was trying to make a play,” Klubnik said as he looked at the ground when interviewed after the game.

“I was just trying to make a play. If I had the playback, I probably would have handed it off, 10 times out of 10, but I take full responsibility for that one, learn from it and keep going.

— Clemson QB Cade Klubnik on his audible on the last play of the game

“I was trying to use my instincts out there and make a play,” Klubnik said. “The ‘backer was tucked inside the box. The (defensive end) slanted pretty hard,” Klubnik said. “It was the same look I saw against Wake Forest that I pulled for a touchdown, the guy crashed I should have given it up,” Klubnick said. “It’s tough, I have to play better.”

Klubnik turned in a very pedestrian-like performance as he went 18-of-34 for 314 yards and two scores. He only completed 53 percent of his passes and had one interception. 

Swinney was admittedly disappointed in the outcome and he was very sensitive about the loss.

“We just should’ve had a couple more scores and we just didn’t do it. And I mean it’s incredibly frustrating, my heart breaks for our players,” Swinney said. “And you know Clemson means a lot to love me and we work really hard, I mean we had one of the best weeks of practice we have had all year…And they come right out of the gate just to hold the ground.”

Swinney said that with the mistakes that were made by the Tigers, Clemson deserved to lose the game.

“We got exactly what we deserved. We turned the ball over and we did not run the ball well, but they certainly did. Especially that one play, (an 80-yard run for a score by Brashard Smith) and then all of the fourth quarter,” Swinney said after the game. “We played pretty good for three quarters. It’s disappointing. We just tried to do too much. Tough game.”

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