He ushered in a new attitude to the Clemson program and along with it a stronger work ethic to his team. Now the fire Dabo Swinney displayed on the sideline is smoldering, waiting to be rekindled into a blaze in the Gator Bowl.

The countdown to the Gator Bowl kickoff is at four days, and Clemson and Nebraska are ready to renew acquaintances. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney already has the game plan installed, but Sunday he put the team through what he calls a “sprited” practice.

Clemson held its second practice at Jacksonville University on Sunday afternoon, as the Tigers prepare for their meeting with an 8-4 Nebraska team in the 2009 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on Thursday.

Bowl week began Friday for the Clemson University and University of South Carolina football teams. Both teams play in bowl games in Florida on New Year’s Day—the Tigers against Nebraska in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl and the Gamecocks against Iowa in the Outback Bowl—and they will mix in practice and entertainment in the next five days.

You can forgive Bruce Watt if he is a little overexcited about the news that the Clemson Tigers will face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day.

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP)—Clemson defensive coordinator Vic Koenning resigned Tuesday, one day after the Tigers officially hired Dabo Swinney as head coach.

Clemson will be invited to play in the January 1st Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, according to sources. The official invite may not come until as late as Sunday.