CLEMSON, S.C. — Patrick Phibbs used to look at his father’s national championship ring with envy.

He soon will be wearing one of his own.

A native of Treesdale and 2015 Central Catholic graduate, Patrick Phibbs is a redshirt freshman long snapper on Clemson University’s football team, which won the national title with a 35-31 win over Alabama Jan. 9.

His father, Bruce Phibbs, earned his ring as a long snapper for Southern Illinois University, which won the NCAA Division I-AA championship in 1983.

“I have a WPIAL championship ring from Central’s 2013 team,” said the younger Phibbs. “Every time I mentioned it or showed it, my dad would bring out his ring to one-up me.

“It’s pretty cool that we’ve both won a national title. My dad has always been so supportive of me.”

Patrick Phibbs did not snap during a game this season, but did work with the Tigers’ scout team. He dressed for 11 of Clemson’s 15 games, including the national championship.

The game featured three lead changes in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. Deshaun Watson’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow with one second left lifted Clemson to victory.

“The last six minutes of that game, it was crazy,” said Phibbs. “I went from being so excited, to so depressed, to so excited again. When the game was over, it was surreal seeing 320-pound monsters crying like babies. They were so happy that we had won. It was very cool to realize all of our hard work paid off.”

The Crimson Tide entered the game as 6½ point favorites, looking to defeat Clemson in the title game for the second straight year.

“Coach (Dabo) Swinney drilled it into our heads that though we were considered the underdog, we really weren’t,” said Phibbs. “If we had lost, we would have been very disappointed.”

Phibbs’ position requires him to have a different mind-set from just about every other player on the team.

“If you get hyped up on defense or offense, that can help you make plays,” he said. “But as a long snapper, if you get too excited, the snap can be too high or too low. You have to keep a level head, it’s very touch and feel.”

Phibbs was originally headed to Michigan State University, where he planned to walk on with the Spartans. He decided instead to attend Clemson after he was impressed by the school’s geology program.

“I tried out for the football team in 2015, but there were already four long snappers on the roster,” he said. “I was told to wait a year and come back.”

Phibbs did just that and earned a spot on the team. He is hoping for more next season.

“Our (first-string) long snapper this season, David Estes, will be graduating,” he said. “The job should come down to me and Austin Spence. Spring practice is going to be very important for me.

“He (Estes) is someone I look up to. He’s so dedicated and walked on just like I did. He took advantage of the opportunity.”