About an hour after the news broke that Kelly Bryant would transfer from Clemson, head coach Dabo Swinney spoke to the media as part of his regularly scheduled participation on the ACC coaches teleconference.

"Obviously I'm saddened and disappointed he's chosen to leave the team but I have nothing bad to say about Kelly Bryant," Swinney said. He's one of the best young people I've been around. Even though I don't think this is a good decision, I respect it.

"It doesn't change anything I feel for Kelly. I love him, care about him, wish him nothing but the best. We appreciate everything Kelly gave to us while he was here.

"As far as the decision, as a coach, sometimes you have to make tough decisions in the best interest of the team. And I would make it all over again. Because I believe it's what right now for the team. I believe Kelly would continue to play and help us win.

"I certainly could have started him this week and limited his options. But that's not how we operate and not who were are."

Swinney was asked to comment on Bryant being quoted in The Greenville News that he wasn't given a fair shot in the quarterback battle.

"He's entitled to his opinion but absolutely I think we've given him a fair shot," Swinney said. "I have always try to be as open, honest and transparent throughout the process with Kelly, as we have all our players. He won the job after Deshaun Watson and beat out No. 1 quarterback in country in Hunter Johnson after that. He won the job, was the starter all last year, and he came out of camp slightly ahead so he continued to start the first four games.

"I definitely think we gave him a fair shot, no doubt about that.

"At end of day, it's not middle school. You have to make tough decisions and do what's best for the team.

"I think at the end of the day, you do what you think is right and live with it. There are always gonna be people that will criticize your decision and that just comes with the territory.

"But there's no question he had a very fair shot here. But he's entitled to feel however he wants to feel. And again, nothing changes how I feel about him. He's one of the best young people I've ever been around. It's impossible to say anything bad about him, and I hope nobody else does either."

Swinney said he told Bryant he'd sit him the rest of the season if Bryant wished to transfer postseason. But Bryant didn't want that.

On how Bryant's departure will affect the locker room: "I don't think it will affect us all," Swinney said. "Everybody is disappointed, but these players understand competition."