Clemson University head football coach Dabo Swinney hoisted the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches’ national championship trophy, and All-American Christian Wilkins tossed doughnuts and sported a victory cigar as thousands of fans celebrated the national champions during a parade through Clemson Saturday.
As some seniors hoisted the iconic Waterford Crystal football awarded to the national champion Sweeney reminded them not to drop it – it cost $50,000.
Clemson was also awarded the Cotton Bowl trophy for beating Notre Dame in the semifinal playoff game in Dallas.
More than a reported 65,000 fans came to Memorial Stadium on a cold day to see the Tigers, who won their second national championship in three years.
Clemson beat Alabama 44-16 on Monday. It was Clemson’s third national championship – 1981, 2016, and 2018.
Trevor Lawrence, who threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns in the title game against Alabama, rode a flatbed truck with dozens of his freshmen and sophomore teammates.
The parade ended outside the stadium where the players walked down the hill and seniors thanked the crowd.
Amway sponsored the national championship trophy.