Swinney has a lot of numbers to call back

CLEMSON — If you’re trying to reach Dabo Swinney, he will call back. Eventually.

Clemson’s interim head football coach has been a bit busy this week taking over for Tommy Bowden, managing a staff, and, oh yeah, getting ready for Saturday’s noon home game with Georgia Tech.

Swinney said he has received at least 150 phone calls from friends and well-wishers since taking the job, and that doesn’t count the numerous emails and text messages he has received.

“I just thought I was busy — I told my wife that,” Swinney said. “It’s unbelievable. But I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been fun. It’ll be great when I can come out from under the pile.”

“The genuine happiness from people that have called, friends, family, people from the third grade. People have had a real sincere happiness for me to have an opportunity.”

Swinney said he sleeps “between 3 and 5 (a.m.),” so some of his call-backs have come at odd hours. Which leads into interesting circumstances.

“I called one of my friends at 1 o’clock, and said, ‘We’re up here working, doing things, and you’re dadgum knee deep in bed right now,” he said. “The next morning I walk into my office and there’s a big ice chest that had a note on it that said, ‘Beware, only open if falling asleep.’ I opened it, and it had a bunch of iced-down Diet Mountain Dews.”

OFFENSIVE LINE UPDATE

A hobbled offensive line is getting healthier by the day. Guard Cory Lambert, who suffered a sprained left big toe on the first series against Wake Forest, said he expects to play Saturday.

“I’ve been through a lot of treatment, coming in early in the morning, afternoons, trying to do what I can to get better,” he said. “I feel like I’ll be able to come out Saturday and help the team.”

Right guard Mason Cloy left last week’s game with a sprained knee, but is expected to play this week; he’s been splitting time with freshman Antoine McClain at right guard.

And preseason starter Barry Humphries, who has missed the last five games with a partially torn ACL suffered against Alabama, could also play Saturday at least in limited action.

“He’s trying to go, push through,” Swinney said. “We asked him to go yesterday and today and see what happens. It’d be big if we could get him back in the mix.”