Top of the Hill: Dabo Swinney and Clemson's Rise to College Football Greatness

by Manie Robinson, Tajh Boyd (Foreword)

When Dabo Swinney officially took over Clemson football for the 2009 season, it was considered a good program that couldn't quite recapture the greatness of the Danny Ford era. Dabo had spent his entire life as an underdog, but his defiant grit pushed him past personal hardships and professional adversity. His simple formula—faith, family, forgiveness, fortitude, and fun—pushed the Clemson football program past its potential and to the next level, taking the Tigers to 10 bowl games and four ACC championships, earning three College Football Playoff appearances, and most importantly, capturing the 2016 national championship. In Top of the Dabo Swinney and Clemson's Rise to College Football Greatness , Greenville News sports columnist and Clemson insider Manie Robinson traces Dabo's coaching ascension along Clemson football's return to glory, going behind the scenes of one of the powerhouse programs in the country.

304 pages, Hardcover

Published October 23, 2018

Reviews

[Joanna Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read for a Clemson fan! Neat to find out the backstory... though I remembered several of the games, there was much I had forgotten. It ended rather anti-climactically though, because the book ends with Clemson’s loss to Alabama in the CFP in 2017. 2018 was a great season, and we tore up Alabama in the “Natty” 44-16. 🤗🙌🏼

[Colton Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top of the Hill is a novel focused on the rise of the Clemson Tigers football program under head coach Dabo Swinney. Through the years the Tigers had gone through seasons of mediocracy following their 1981 national championship as Terry Bowden had held the reigns of the program until his surprise resigning halfway through the 2008 season. Following his resigning Dabo was brought in to fill in as the intern coach. During his short “audition” now Coach Swinney was able to put on a good enough show to impress then Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips as Terry Don went on to announce that Dabo would be placed with the title of head coach going into the 2009 football season. Throughout the beginning of the book we are told of Dabo’s past and what molded him into the man that he is today. After all of his trials in life Dabo had finally found a home and once he was coach, his faith-based culture took off leading to two national championships and more success than the Tigers had witnessed in years.
Being a Clemson Tigers fanatic, this book was an absolute pleasure to read in how stories of the Tigers rise to prominence and dominance is shown and it just sparks so many memories in the journey that I have watched them go through as I have been there for every high and every low of Dabo’s leadership as it has left such an impact on my life personally. Some of the things in the novel about Dabo’s personal life I had never heard before and it gave me so much more respect on top of the respect for him that I already had as Dabo’s life is one that I can relate to in some of the trials that he faced in his life and the troubles that he had. One of my personal favorite things about the book was when games were mentioned that I had been to as I can vividly remember the stress, happiness, relief, and excitement of the games and their meanings as Dabo’s rebuilding and promise to Clemson was being established and I can remember every second of it. I have had the opportunity to meet Dabo multiple times in my life and throughout the novel I can’t help but think of the memories that I have with him and the personality of Dabo as I can relate to his go lucky always positive demeanor as him and I both are Christian men and we aren’t afraid to explain our faith and feelings as we’re very similar in our actions and beliefs. It’s so awesome to be able to read a novel that covers on a topic that I have a lot of interest in and know a lot about as Clemson has been a very important part of my life and the roller coaster ride that has been our past few football seasons has been such an incredible ride that my family and I have shared as we have savored every second that has passed in our loyalty to the Tigers. As for the overall novel, I easily rate it with five stars as this is a novel that can give anybody a good laugh, inspiration, and good time in general as Dabo can light up any room and this novel is another testament to it.
• Throughout Dabo’s tenure, how did he rise to prominence?
• Why is Dabo’s message of All In so important to the Tigers program?
• Why do you think AD Terry Don Phillips kept Dabo after his rocky 2010 campaign?

[Paul Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

How can you not like Dabo? The only hatchet job I recall seeing on him was in SI earlier this year. They discovered that the values he freely speaks about - faith, family, community… - he actually personally lives and ingests into how he runs his program. Egad! This book breaks no new ground - it’s a simple, chronological paean to the rise of Dabo and Clemson football. The only surprise for me was how long it took (he took over in 2008; remember “Clemsoning”?). He’s so much at the top of the heap now, it feels like he’s always been there. If you're a Clemson fan, this book is for you. For the rest of us, we can just root for a genuinely good guy in the National Championship game next Monday.

[Bob Morrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok book- typical biography- learned all about Clemson football,coaches and players- lot of repetitiveness,but lighthearted book nonetheless-

[Rob Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about Coach Dabo Swinney and Clemson Football!

Well done! This book tells the full story of Coach Dabo Swinney's transformation of the Clemson Football program. The author does a great job describing Coach Swinney's dynamic personality and his love for his players. Great read for any fan of college football!

[Dee Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

Awesome read. Dabo has truly transformed the Clemson football program. Top of the Hill allows you to see the story behind the rise. One of the most positive reads I've has in a while.

[M2189 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look at Clemson football and it’s rise under Sweeney and his life. . Overall great story, well told.