Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney apologized Sunday afternoon for comments he made following an overtime loss to Miami on Saturday night.

In his postgame news conference after the Tigers lost 28-20 in double overtime, Swinney was asked if Clemson had an on-staff sports psychiatrist to help players cope with such disappointments. Swinney confirmed the Tigers did employ such a person, but that he’s “probably on suicide watch right now.”

Meeting with reporters Sunday, Swinney issued the following apology.

“That was such a poor attempt at humor on my part, and just a really bad choice of words in a bad moment and certainly not something I should say,” Swinney said, via the Charleston Post and Courier, “and I absolutely apologize for that.

“We are very deliberate in what we do around here in prioritizing mental health for our (student-athletes) … apologize for (the joke), for sure.”

Saturday’s loss dropped Clemson — which began the season ranked in the Top 10 — to 4-3 overall, 2-3 in the ACC. The Tigers have lost six of their last 13 games overall dating back to the middle of last season, when they lost three of their first six games after beginning the year 8-0.

Swinney grew up in Pelham and played football at Alabama before beginning his coaching career as a Crimson Tide assistant. He is 165-42 in 16 years as head coach at Clemson, including national championships after the 2016 and 2018 seasons.