they represent the best and there's really no way you can argue with that. >> for dabo sweeney, building a college football program like alabama has been a dream since day one at clemson. >> seven years ago, that was my goal and i said that then. we're going to win a national >> and that championship could come on monday night against the alabama crimson tide. the model of success for college football progrgrs everywhere. >> we hope to become a team like alabama that can -- that can compete in that top 10 consistently because again, if you're in that mix, you got a chance every year. >> for us to be the best ever, we got to beat the best and last couple of years, nick saban and alabama has, you know, been the best. been, you know, pretty much the standard of college football. they earned that right. they have that respect. and you know, we respect them, too. >> but completely earning the respect of alabama and the college football world starts with winning another title on monday night. >> we got a lonely trophy sitting down there in that case. they got a family of trophies in tuscaloosa

also, dabo sweeney and nick saban met with the media for the last time yesterday morning. and these two coaches seem like they are completely different. you've got one with the big personality, one that doesn't seem like he really says anything. but they're really a lot alike and actually spend some time together in the offseason. marc: yeah, they really see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues. they both believe in essentially perfection. giving your best at every single moment training hard and working hard for these big moments. and then when you consider what they said about the nfl that they'd like to see the national football league not give their until after the season is over whether that season ends on , december 6 over january 11, tigers and the alabama crimson tide. greg there is no question there : is a mutual respect between these two coaches. >> this has been great for our program, great for our team. you know, this was our goal, to have the opportunity to compete at the highest level, and uh, you know, not only are we getting a chance to do that, but we're getting

also, dabo sweeney and nick saban met with the media for the last time yesterday morning. and these two coaches seem like they are completely different. you've got one with the big personality, one that doesn't seem like he really says anything. but they're really a lot alike and actually spend some time together in the offseason. eye-to-eye on a lot of issues. they both believe in essentially perfection. giving your best at every single moment training hard and working hard for these big moments. and then when you consider what they said about the nfl that they'd like to see the nationalal football league not give their players grade for early entry until after the season is over whether that season ends on , december 6 or on january 11, so, such is the case for the clemson tigers and the alabama crimson tide. brad there is no question there : is a mutual respect between these two coaches. >> this has been great for our program, great for our team. you know, this was our goal, to have the opportunity to compete at the highest level, and uh, you know, not only are we getti

dabo sweeney was asked if shaq defensive end, will be able to play against alabama. remember, he hurt his knee in the orange bowl game and sweeney said that lawson is expected to play in the football game. marc: i do want to put a bit of caution out there. lawson told us at media day that he only felt like he was about 60%. still, i think they're going to haha him go. if he can't complete the game, look to see austin bryant in there. he got a lot of playing time against oklahoma so you look at him you say this guy's a freshman, he's not really a freshman at this point more of a sophomore. brad: yeah, he played very well against the sooners. also, dabo sweeney and nick saban met with the media for the last time yesterdadamorning. these two coaches seem like they are completely different. you've got one with the big personality, one that doesn't seem like he really says doesn't say anything. they're really a lot alike and actually spend some time together in the offseason. marc: yeah, they really see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues. they both believe in essentially perfe

dabo sweeney named the coach of the year. of the award and could reach . >>> the only place to watch powerball as it happens tonight and you can >>> woman received a free car today. jessica live in a homeless shelter and applied for a car through the program so that she could drive herself to work. they are always looking looking for more cars for the program. there are 30 people who are on the waiting list for a new vehicle. >> not bad. congratulations. >>> all right. please, please, please play responsibly tonight with this powerball jackpot. 7:00 p.m.

dabo sweeney has been the guy with a reputation as a players coach. he know shows a the perfect guy lead them to a national title. >> being able to watch him being in the same conference, i think he has done a great job of moving forward with the program, becoming a great ceo of the football organization and that is something that the great coaches do. allowed them to do their job. he focuses on the organization, the recruiting and having the right relationships with university personnel, athletic personnel and the media. i think he does a great job with the media. >> that game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. >> the usc men's basketball team 15-0 with a win over vanderbilt. with a lot of national attention on the men and women, fans are concerned it could get into player's head. not only is it about preparation but trusting in your program. >> players need to know that coaches are in it with them. but they are not concerned with the score of the game. they are concerned with helping them find success. our staff works real hard at being consistent with who we a

clemson won the national championship back in 1981, down 7-3, the dabo sweeney got all over him in the final game. the fake-punt to perfection. clemson needed a play for the watson-rushing touchdown. down 17-16 in the break. in the third-quarter, all this gives clemson a comfortable lead and they never looked back from there. >> and the touchdown in the fourth, absolute domination, 37-17. the tigers are maded to the national championship game. we're headed to miami to check in with mike. >> back in miami, running back wayne, you guys are heading to the national championship. >> if feels surreal. it's a dream come true and being on this stage, i had butterflies and just on the stage that i was o. >> so looking forward to glendale, who would you rather face. alabama and michigan state. >> bring them both. >> leggett said alabama. >> and that too. >> thank you, so an absolutely huge night for clemson on their way to the national championship. best of 2015. >> good evening and welcome to a.b.c. columwe a news. >> the midlands and south carolina made national headlines numerous times. over

. >> tomorrow night dabo sweeney and clemson put their perfect season on the line one final time. >> i am very proud of our team. to go 14 and 0 is really difficult to do, and for these guys to rise up and accept every challenge and get themselves ready each and every week is a great compliment to our team, but same thing to alabama. >> you know, our focus and attention is to try to play the best game we possibly can, which is probably what we're going to need to have success. biggest stage against a championship program won't change clemson's formula for success, one that's worked 14 times already this season. >> it's always about the same things. it's turnovers. it's winning your individual matchups. it's big plays and special teams. the same thing tomorrow night. these are two great teams that they weren't picked to be here. they earned their way here, and it will come down to those same things, very small margin for error. >> mike: that will wrap it up from pregame talk from players and coaches, at least official pregame talk. we're almost ready to kick things off tomorrow night

. >>> there's a lot to be positive about -- dabo sweeney -- >> there's a huge reason he wears the number four. nick sabin paying the best complement of all. his defense could not stop watson. company times did you see him do what he does and scramble. alabama had not seen a quarterback to that to them in the decade-long nick sabin era. watson after the game, disappointed in the outcome but diplomatic and certainly looking forward for what could be head. >> and learn from it and get back to work. with a groin harder. if you play short but we will high and keep motivated and keep going. >> todd summers with a look back in the game. a historic date by watson and what else might've been for the tigers in their quest for the national title. sending it back to the desk. >>> despite the loss, the excitement of the national championship is generated and that -- an economic gain. >> business owners say it's been busy. the championship has drawn tourists and owners say they have a hard time keeping given stock. restaurants and businesses have enjoyed a boost in what is typically a slow time of yea

either way, though, really doesn't matter to head coach dabo sweeney. >> we're student athletes and you don't change a whole university calendar because of a football game. that's crazy. this is college. this is -- this university is a lot bigger than this football team. >> u.s.c. linebacker announcing he will stay at u.s.c. for his senior season and not go to the nfl draft this year. and finally, carolina women's basketball wins on the road that will do it for the sports minute to win it. i'm mike gillespie. >> thanks, mike. if you've ever wondered what happens to all of those ground-up christmas trees you've recycled wonder no more. keep the midlands beautiful is giving that mulch away for free this saturday. the giveaway will begin at 8:30 in the morning and last until supplies run out. to get your hands dirty, stop by seven oaks park on leisure lane or the south carolina state farmers market on charleston highway in columbia. from free mulch to free mulch merchandise, it's almost time for one of the most glamorous nights for area teens. we're talking about the prom. dressing to the

other team on the right --- clemson, undefeated and not getting a lot of respect --- but coach dabo sweeney doesnt seem to mind that his tigers are 7 point underdogs. (( "we may not be the favorite, but we don't see ourselves as an underdog. we think that we've got a great team and i think that our guys have done a great job of embracing every role that we've been put in for the last seven years to be honest with you. the only other team that's had five 10- plus win seasons, we're playing them. alabama. so there's been a lot of consistency between these two teams, and our guys have earned that. for whatever reason people are just noticing that this year. ")) ((michelle mortenson)) > and speaking of football superbowl sundy is just a few weeks away!... and as part of the celebration 8 news now is givng you a chance to take home some serious cash. we're giving away 25- hundred dollars during our special newscast after the super bowl. just head to our website las vegas now dot com to enter .... click the banner at the top of the page. and while you're there, we want you to check out our newly

the coaching, two of the biggest personalities in college football -- clemson's dabo sweeney, known for the raucous post game interviews. >> i can't give you guts. i can't'tive you heart and tonight it was byog, bring your own guts. >> and those moves. over in alabama, nick say bin. >> sabin with his third national title at alabama. and jesse, clemson is number one, but they're not favored to win? >> that's right. not a lot of respect for the they're the undefeated team here. it's actually alabama who's favored to win by seven points. that's a lot. but regardless of who the favorite is, i think this game promises to be a really good one. >> looking forward to it. tomorrow we'll anchor "world news" from the se of the big game. college football's national championship tomorrow night, 8:30 eastern, only on espn. >>> still ahead tonight, a crime spree targeting jewelry store ace cross the south. this woman, a popular waitress taking whatever she wants. millions of dollars in jewelry. how police tracked her down. new details. was she living a double life? and later, scandal in spain. why a p

certainly that is the blueprint that dabo sweeney hopes to follow for this clemson football program. title in quite some time. but they're certainly hoping they will play for many more in years to come considering how good they have done on the recruiting trail in recent years. 7 sports, and now back to you. >> thank you, todd. >>> next on 7 news at 6:00, the news of new gun rules proving good for business for local we're going to talk to the president's call for stricter gun regulations is creating a spike in sales. retailers are having a hard time keeping firearms on the shelves after president obama unveiled executive orders on gun control this week. paul oliver is a gun dealer and maker based in spartanburg. he says his phone is ringing off the hook and sales are brisk. guns owners are also registering for classes in record numbers. "our concealed weapons permit courses have probably doubled in the amount of clients that have enrolled in our classes in the last two weeks." >>> our concealed weapons permit courses have probably doubled in the amount of clients that have enrolled i

the tigers and their coach dabo sweeney going to rely on their moves on the field as national championships for the first time in over 35 years. >> clemson wins the national championship. >> it's not about the other team. it's not about who you play. it's about how you play. >> cannot wait for this game tomorrow night. nick like last year it will phenomenal. one of the lucky ones but really the winners will be the folks at home and espn last year record 33.2 million people watched. the most ever for a cable broadcast, guy, so it's going to be a great game. good luck to you big el. good luck to you, cub. fighting tigers against the crimson tide. >> he has a future in sports, that dr. marciano. >> do you remember who you took? a couple weeks ago -- thank you, rob, by the way, have fun but you guys took -- do you remember and ron and -- >> we took clemson. >> no. >> it was a 50/50 chance. we took the other one. alabama. >> we took the one with the cat. >> we took the elegant. >> we should say abc news live from the site of the big game in glendale with rob and jesse palmer reporting for "gma"