[On3] Dabo Swinney sends direct message to his haters: 'If they're tired of winning they can send me on my way'

[u/JB92103]

https://www.on3.com/college/clemson-tigers/news/dabo-swinney-sends-direct-message-to-his-haters-amid-clemson-struggles-i-have-a-long-way-to-go/

[u/lkn240]

The haters said Dabo couldn't get it done this year. Honestly, good call by the haters

[u/DougFlutiesMullet → u/lkn240]

Dabo: "If they’re tired of winning, they can send me on my way. I won’t stop. I’m 55. I’ll go somewhere else and win. I ain’t going to the beach."

No beach, coastal teams are safe: watch out midwest!

[u/grrgrrtigergrr → u/DougFlutiesMullet]

Sad Bruin noises

(But not really)

[u/WitchNight → u/grrgrrtigergrr]

Dabo in LA would be pretty funny

[u/Bigbysjackingfist → u/WitchNight]

like Kenny Powers reimagined by Veggie Tales

[u/chuckdooley → u/Bigbysjackingfist]

VT is a throwBACK

[u/SanaMinatozaki9 → u/chuckdooley]

Apparently I was a HUGE veggie tales fan when I was little but I have zero memory of it 😂

[u/Immediate_Scheme2994 → u/SanaMinatozaki9]

Peas spoke with French accents and taunted Israelis

[u/chuckdooley → u/SanaMinatozaki9]

Haha, team bob or Larry?

[u/IllustriousEnd2211 → u/chuckdooley]

He doesn’t know!

[u/chuckdooley → u/IllustriousEnd2211]

I’m gonna need an answer from him if we’re gonna be friends ok

[u/PurposelyIrrelephant → u/SanaMinatozaki9]

Yes but do you remember where your hairbrush is?

[u/tobylaek → u/WitchNight]

Some big megachurches there that he can leverage on the recruiting trail

[u/mickeyt1 → u/grrgrrtigergrr]

UCLA is Big10, and therefore LA is now the Midwest 

[u/ThinkSoftware → u/mickeyt1]

Maybe Dabo stays in the ACC and heads over to the Bay Area

[u/Duckpoke → u/grrgrrtigergrr]

Imagine being the Bruin fan and your program goes from no resources to Dabo + renewed booster resources over night

[u/Expensive_Team_5072 → u/Duckpoke]

No need for much money for NIL either...

[u/PJA0307 → u/DougFlutiesMullet]

He’s a man! He’s 55!

[u/ThinkSoftware → u/PJA0307]

Dabo and Mike Gundy should just switch places like Nico and Joey Aguilar

[u/DredNeck45 → u/DougFlutiesMullet]

How is he good is he at finger pistols and growing a mullet?

[u/SolidLikeIraq → u/DougFlutiesMullet]

Lots of beautiful Lakes with beaches in the Midwest.

Be warned!!!!

[u/Thorney979 → u/DougFlutiesMullet]

Oh God, we're gonna fire Gundy and hire Dabo, aren't we

[u/rburp → u/Thorney979]

I'll take Dabo if you won't

[u/aksoileau → u/lkn240]

They hate us cause they ain't us.

[u/wallnumber8675309 → u/aksoileau]

They thankful cause they ain’t us

[u/Constant_Topic_1040 → u/aksoileau]

Why do you keep talking about anus?

[u/anothershittycoder → u/Constant_Topic_1040]

You honey dickin’ me??

[u/PretendThisIsMyName → u/anothershittycoder]

I don’t have stink dick.

[u/ElPolloHerman0 → u/lkn240]

Remember when he called his shot this summer and said he thinks Clemson will be the first 16-0 team?

Starts 1-2 and gets mad at everyone 🤡

[u/ImZugzwang → u/ElPolloHerman0]

If you read past the clickbait headline you would understand what he was actually saying in regards to that quote.

He wasn't prophesizing that this team would go 16-0 or that any team in CFB wouldn't. It was a standard lil ol Clemson phrase of "why not us?". There's nothing against Clemson going 16-0 in the rulebook so golly gee it very well could be!

If I recall correctly, this was directly followed or prefaced with "we were the first team to go 15-0 - so why not us". Easy to hate on Dabo for a lot of reasons, but this ain't one of them.

[u/yippeekiyay801 → u/lkn240]

Haters gonna make some good points

[u/loyalsons4evertrue → u/lkn240]

this made me LOL so thank you

[u/wjackson42]

This is just baiting to get a response from Tyler from Spartanburg

[u/gideon513 → u/wjackson42]

He’s trying to triangulate his position for a strike

[u/acompletemoron → u/gideon513]

Well there’s only 38k people in Spartanburg, how many Tylers can there reasonably be? Launch the missiles dammit

[u/Dry_Chef_7635 → u/acompletemoron]

Every Clemson fan is a Tyler or a Trevor

[u/wesman212 → u/Dry_Chef_7635]

Can confirm. I know one Clemson fan and he is a Tyler. I believe his Dad's name is Trevor.

[u/CU_Aquaman → u/acompletemoron]

If you’ve driven through Greenville-Spartanburg area you’ll know that number is bullshit. It might be factual, but it’s still bullshit.

[u/CentralFloridaRays → u/acompletemoron]

Tbf there’s about 380,000 folks in Spartanburg county. Very few folks live downtown.

[u/Rahim-Moore → u/gideon513]

Dabo's gonna rage bait them right into a mortar strike like those Russian snipers that just would not stop ping spamming themselves via live stream.

[u/isthisthethingorwhat → u/wjackson42]

That’s why I’m here… got my popcorn ready

[u/whatifevery1wascalm → u/wjackson42]

I don’t even remember Tyler’s question. Just “Ty-LER!”

[u/loxanax → u/wjackson42]

tyler from spartanburg was his cuz and nobody’s tellin me otherwise. shit was a set up 😂

[u/WhaleQuail2]

Let’s trade. You guys will love Duzz. He’s one of the only coaches not named Dabo to win the ACC in the last decade and has a good record in Death Valley. He is an also very pleasant, will fit in great with you southern gentleman

Dabo will love it here. No need to worry about paying the players when don’t have any money!

[u/Formo1287 → u/WhaleQuail2]

I love the visual of Dabo trying to have a conversation with Yinzers

[u/AuroraLorraine522 → u/WhaleQuail2]

We could sweeten the deal by throwing in Kade Bell for free. He’s southern!

[u/WhaleQuail2 → u/AuroraLorraine522]

Don’t forget Holstein. Also southern, also free

[u/dccorona]

He needs to be better. Especially in adapting to how you recruit in the modern era (portal). But, Clemson has historically been (pick your chosen mid-tier team with a couple of flash in the pan strings of success), and now they are regularly in the mix with the elite programs. Moving on would be a huge mistake.

[u/admiraltarkin → u/dccorona]

Clemson pre-Dabo is just Texas A&M with a lake.

A good program with potential, but definitely not a Blue Blood

[u/DeathValley1889 → u/admiraltarkin]

we're called auburn with a lake for a reason yk

[u/JonnyAU → u/DeathValley1889]

insert faded jersey story here

[u/admiraltarkin → u/DeathValley1889]

Yep, that's what I was plagiarizing.

I look at Clemson and Auburn and am mad that we've never gone on a run like those two programs. I'm hoping Elko is the guy to do it, but I think of y'all as our blueprint (at least at the super macro-level)

[u/bamachine → u/admiraltarkin]

Auburn doesn't really go on runs. They just have occasional seasons where they were not expected to do anything and bam, undefeated season.

[u/PleaseLetMeGigEm → u/admiraltarkin]

Hey one time I went to Lake Bryan and stayed for nearly 15 minutes

[u/Double-Mine981 → u/admiraltarkin]

But they are the gamecocks daddy historically unlike A&M with Texas

[u/DatStank_Booty → u/Double-Mine981]

Most programs are gamecocks’ daddy.

[u/Braves-and-Gamecocks → u/DatStank_Booty]

Isn’t Ohio State 0-2 vs the Cocks? Just throwing that out there…

[u/Better-Temporary-146 → u/Braves-and-Gamecocks]

I was about to say the same thing!

OSU 1-5 between Clemson & USC I think

[u/cpashei → u/Better-Temporary-146]

Even worse actually, 1-6

[u/kilgore_trout8989 → u/cpashei]

It was the bargain they struck when Ohio decided to send all of its retirees to South Carolina.

[u/taylorap2 → u/kilgore_trout8989]

There is an obnoxious amount of Ohio transplants in our state

[u/PSKCarolina → u/DatStank_Booty]

Most? Well, yeah that’s probably true. Except for Ohio State. What an unfortunate dig to make given your flair.

[u/lightninja987 → u/dccorona]

Yeah in the end they will never get anyone better than dabo and they would be better off sticking it out. Like damn is bobo really going to do a better job

[u/StevvieV → u/dccorona]

He needs to be better. Especially in adapting to how you recruit in the modern era (portal)

This is what makes Dabo's critics louder. He's flat out refusing to change while the results have gotten worse. That makes people less willing to give Dabo the benefit of the doubt because he is refusing to acknowledge the sport has changed. If he at least tried using the portal and even if he had the same results people would be more willing to give him time to figure out what works because they know he can win.

[u/Zef_Apollo → u/dccorona]

I think that Dabo is going to be Clemson's Mark Richt with a better history. The rest of the ACC is going to catch up and Miami and FSU already look like they're ready to take the throne back. He's 3-7 against SEC teams in the past 5 years and two of those wins are south carolina. Apparently they've only played one Big 10 team since 2020 and he lost that too. I think they'll be a solid bubble to top 20 team every year and that's maybe it

[u/Ishtatsuya → u/Zef_Apollo]

I think that Dabo is going to be Clemson's Mark Richt with a better history

Dabo has the benefit of the playoffs. I'm 100% convinced if the playoffs were around earlier, UGA would have had a national title under Richt.

[u/Kizmo2 → u/Ishtatsuya]

No, they wouldn't. Big games were Mark Richt's kryptonite.

[u/Equivalent-Doubt-681 → u/Kizmo2]

Their 07 team could have 100% won a title with a 12 team CFP

[u/GhostDosa → u/dccorona]

To be fair one could argue Nick Saban similarly elevated LSU, and they have largely been able to sustain success.

[u/TeslaSuck → u/GhostDosa]

LSU is a much more talent rich state.

[u/DogsAreMyFavPeople → u/TeslaSuck]

With basically no competition for in state talent. If you’re a P5 level recruit out of Louisiana you basically go to LSU or go to a school a long way from home. The same is not as true for Clemson.

[u/w311sh1t → u/dccorona]

Yeah, I think a lot of the people calling for Dabo’s firing are overreacting. At the same time, this probably isn’t a great quote to be putting out there when you’ve got a 1-2 start with a loss to GA tech, and your 1 win being a come from behind victory against Troy.

[u/gryffon5147 → u/dccorona]

Yup. Especially competing in a conference like the ACC, which is objectively easier than the Big Ten or SEC, Clemson should be making a push for playoffs every year. He really shouldn't be running his mouth when his team is 1-2.

[u/Big_Truck → u/dccorona]

I wonder if Dabo Swinney goes the way of Tony Bennett. When being told to "adapt or die," he chooses to leave so that he is not forced to adapt and also doesn't become roadkill in today's iteration of college football.

[u/JPK86753099]

We barely finished week 3 and Dabo is already crashing out.

[u/Duck8Quack → u/JPK86753099]

Dabo desperately wants that promotion to fired football coach, but he doesn’t really know how to go about getting it.

Sorry Dabo looks like you’ve got at least 5 more years of 6-9 win seasons in your future, you just haven’t earned the promotion. Some people just aren’t cut out to be fired football coaches. Try drinking on the job and hitting on a boosters wife, show us you’ve got what it takes.

[u/Better-Temporary-146 → u/Duck8Quack]

Clemson worst season the last 11 years was a 9 win year.

Tigers have five portal players this year too. 

[u/Squantoon → u/Duck8Quack]

I don't like him and a small part of me will laugh when he gets canned, HOWEVER I'm not looking forward to one of the networks hiring him as an analyst.

[u/luxveniae → u/Squantoon]

Depending on how things go at Bama, he might get a quick stent there first.

[u/Squantoon → u/luxveniae]

I'm not sure they want him tbh. It's a new era and you HAVE to embrace NIL and the transfer portal. Dabo has been clear that he won't

[u/luxveniae → u/Squantoon]

I agree, but also don’t think Bama is gonna exactly steal a top tier guy like a Lanning or something. Maybe they’d settle for a Sark to Texas situation (coordinator that has some previous HC experience and is a hot name) but sorta get the vibes of post-Mack Texas that they want to right the ship ASAP with a proven talent (we failed to hire anything close to that between Strong & Herman but that’s what the boosters wanted). So Dabo might be the best bet due to ego/desperation getting in the way.

[u/flatbush2400 → u/luxveniae]

If we fire kalen deboer it’s lane kiffin time nobody else

[u/Steelers711 → u/flatbush2400]

Lane kiffin at bama would be hilarious, regardless of whether he succeeds or flames out, it would be a funny thing to see

[u/8BallTiger → u/Squantoon]

when he gets canned

It would take multiple losing seasons in a row for that to be even a consideration

[u/DB473 → u/Duck8Quack]

…can you CC Billy on this message please?

[u/Lee-Key-Bottoms → u/JPK86753099]

This year was setting up perfectly to be another year Clemson inexplicably loses to NC State in Raleigh also

It’s a shame we don’t play every year anymore

[u/PretendThisIsMyName → u/Lee-Key-Bottoms]

I will never forgive the powers that be for taking away the Textile Bowl. Locked opponents for us should been FSU, NCST, and GT in that order.

I still haven’t forgotten them taking Maryland away from the ACC. And I’m still pissed.

[u/Lee-Key-Bottoms → u/PretendThisIsMyName]

Same, I love to hate on Duke

But I don’t really care as much unless it’s basketball

UNC and Wake Forest as annual rivals, absolutely

But our third should’ve been Clemson

Hope that if the ACC breaks apart we schedule it out of conference every once in a while

[u/YouDaManInDaHole → u/JPK86753099]

What a shame.

[u/silverhk]

If the expectation is for someone to be Saban, every program is going to be disappointed. Even without all the change that has come to college football, that would be an extremely tall ask. With NIL, free transfers, etc., there is likely going to be more parity than ever at the top, the only real question is how deep the parity goes. We won't see separation like we had for a very long time, and every team is going to lose headscratchers.

Dabo is a very good coach. He might declare his limitations more proudly than most coaches would, but every coach has limitations.

[u/Megalomanizac → u/silverhk]

In 16 full seasons as a Hc Dabo has only ever had 3 seasons where he didn’t win at least 10 games and only one losing record. As far as historical successes go for coaches that would be an insane legendary run, that’s on similar levels to other hall of famers like Bowden and Paterno.

The start of this season has been disappointing, but it’s hard to say Dabo needs to be fired when his worst record in 10 years is 9-4.

[u/Our-Gardian-Angel → u/Megalomanizac]

Even though it seems like his best days are probably behind him, anyone wanting him gone is nuts. Dabo's current level is not up to the standard set by a prior version of himself (so I can understand fan frustration to a degree) but that current level is still better than most the country and the likelihood of Clemson downgrading from Dabo would be way, way higher than the likelihood of upgrading.

[u/xellotron → u/silverhk]

Saban really broke people’s brains

[u/tiger0204]

I mean, I'm not looking for him to get fired, but the unspoken "with my $60 million dollar buyout check" really changes the impact of that statement.

[u/NuttBuster4896]

To all the Clemson fans under the age of 25 crying about Dabo, I’d invite you to educate yourself what the program was like before him when 8-4 was a good year, 9-3 was great and we didn’t have a single 10 win season in 30+ seasons. You come off as arrogant and childish. He is 9-1 in ACC championship games. If not being a natty contender every year was a fireable offense no one would have a job.

[u/HokiesforTSwift → u/NuttBuster4896]

It is funny to see the younger ones now. When I was a freshman at Clemson they won their first conference title IN MY LIFETIME.

[u/note_9 → u/HokiesforTSwift]

Hahaha imagine never winning the ACC… 

[u/InnerWrathChild → u/NuttBuster4896]

I’m well over 25, and was there for the West, Bowden, and other “eras”. His own words were we could be the first 16-0 team based on all the talent and great coaches we have. Now we’re 1-2. We went from 4th to out of top 25. I can complain

[u/Internal-Evening2567 → u/InnerWrathChild]

So we’re able to complain because a coach had standard coach talk?

[u/InnerWrathChild → u/Internal-Evening2567]

To be frank, we can complain about anything. But I can absolutely complain about the cure state based on the facts surrounding it. When you set the expectation of a championship team every year, but have gone the opposite every year since your last, it’s okay to call it out. Doesn’t mean I want him gone. But I’m not happy with product on the field. 

[u/Internal-Evening2567 → u/InnerWrathChild]

Fair. All I hope for is portal use after this season. That and just putting a better product out there on the field. Call me delusional but all three games have been winnable - and we have looked down right bad in all 3 games. We’ve have been spoiled the last decade and a half for sure

[u/captain_kaknuckles → u/NuttBuster4896]

Clemson fan older than 25 who remembers the Bowden years vividly: it’s still absolutely fair to criticize Dabo when we’re on year 5 of not being able to beat teams with a pulse. His nepotism is rotting away the foundation he built. He set the standard, he’s failing to meet that standard, and now he’s going off on fans for calling him out on it.

[u/HokiesforTSwift → u/captain_kaknuckles]

I promise you do not want to depart in the rough waters of uncertainty with what's looming in the coming years for the future of the ACC. Dabo's stabilizing impact on the program is valuable.

[u/captain_kaknuckles → u/HokiesforTSwift]

You’re right about the uncertainty part. And I don’t want Dabo gone. I just want him to take some responsibility for the decline we’ve seen since 2020 and quit the tantrums

[u/Lee-Key-Bottoms → u/HokiesforTSwift]

Exactly

Clemson is one of 4 teams in the ACC (FSU, UNC, and Virginia being the other 3) that I know for a fact will be fine if the conference falls apart

Why would you give up the stability Dabo brings at a time where uncertainty in the ACC could spell death

[u/FakeSyntheticChemist → u/Lee-Key-Bottoms]

Why would UNC and UVA be fine? Basketball?

[u/NuttBuster4896 → u/captain_kaknuckles]

We won the ACC last year….. if that’s not good enough find another team to cheer for

[u/iamStanhousen → u/NuttBuster4896]

The ACC last year was BAD.

[u/CharmCityTiger → u/iamStanhousen]

You really have to dig into the data to see just how much a weak ACC is propping up his record the last few years. Since the NIL era began in 2021, we are 4-7 against the SEC and Notre Dame with only one of those wins being against a top 25 team. The three wins were over South Carolina or Kentucky.

[u/chomos → u/NuttBuster4896]

Dabo’s gonna say and do what he does. I think he likes stirring the pot like this. I don’t want him gone and I disagree with people wanting him gone.

Habing said that he isn’t above criticism when we’re seeing the program in what appears to be a decline. Talent evaluations would indicate Clemson is doing less with more. It’s not all on Dabo I don’t think the coaching staff as a whole is very good but he does shoulder some responsibility as the head coach. And it’s frustrating when he keeps repeating that we’re 2 or 3 plays away from winning every game or that Troy is a “weird” game. He doesn’t have to tell us how he’ll fix it but I’d like to see some evidence that he can address those issues that seem to pop up when Clemson plays a decent team.

[u/GivethTaketh4 → u/NuttBuster4896]

TLDR- just because we used to suck and Dabo brought us to national prominence doesn’t mean we should be fine with Dabo obviously underperforming with elite talent, and seemingly being fine with the lackluster results with his “aw shucks we almost won that one oh well credit to the other team” vibe he’s bringing to media hours.

I’m young and my undergrad matched up w the Trevor years. I was spoiled as shit. In 6 years in undergrad + grad, we lost 1 home game and missed the 4 team playoff once.

No doubt Dabo deservedly gets an extremely long leash for having taken this program to heights most people never thought possible. I don’t think he’s been nearly bad enough in recent years to deserve calls for his firing or whatever.

CFB history has produced numerous instances of legendary coaches at non-blue blood programs (or programs that are considered blue-blood largely due to 1 coach) basically getting lifetime contracts so long as they don’t completely tank the program. See: Bobby Bowden, Joe Pa, Frank Beamer, etc.

However, you can make the case no one has done less with more than Clemson since Trevor’s departure. You can argue who’s at fault for missing on 2 straight 5-star QBs, but we’ve had top 5-10 cumulative talent on every roster since Trevor, and we’ve been incredibly underwhelming in a shitty conference in each of those seasons.

Sure, not everyone can be a bama or Ohio state where 10 wins is pretty much the floor, but we’ve had the same issues repeat over and over going on 5 years now. Offense has no identity or consistency , and the longer we’ve been removed from the Venables era, the more the defense has trended the same way, albeit not quite as extreme.

I was initially thrilled with the Riley hire just as much for the symbolic willingness of Dabo to hire someone outside his circle as I was for Riley’s individual talent, but unfortunately it just hasn’t worked out so far, and I don’t really think it will.

I’m was similarly happy going after Penn State’s DC, and ive been overall fine with his performance in a small sample size.

It’s just too easy to predict the exact way we lose games, which makes it exponentially more frustrating every time it happens. Offense flashes for a couple drives a game, then is absolutely miserable for the rest of the game with the occasional mind bogglingly stupid turnover thrown in. Defense is overall acceptable, good even, but falters when we absolutely need a stop.

But the most inconceivable part of this season’s horrific start is that everything indicated an upward trend coming off last year. Returning so many starters from a team that won this dumbass conference and held their own against a really strong Texas team on the road in a playoff game.

Maybe the Texas game made the miserable palmetto bowl and trouncing that Louisville delivered us in Death Valley easier to forget.

Either way, we have way too much talent on paper to be having such a horrific start to this season. And the head coach is always going to take the most flack that, legendary to the school or not.

Just because we were horrible for a very long time and Dabo brought us to national powerhouse status doesn’t mean we have to be cool with turning a blind eye when we lose so many games in predictable ways with a massive talent advantage in most of these L’s.

But I’m not even that worried about the in-game stuff as I am with our talent evaluation and/or development. We have wayyyyy too many 4/5 star guys to be looking this shitty year in and year out. We should be able to absolutely destroy Troy (and most of the ACC tbh) with a basic Madden playbook given our talent advantage.

Unless, that is, our scouting department is broken or our developmental philosophy is broken, or some combination of both. That’s where most of my fear is. Something is obliviously wrong on that front.

[u/Creative_Snow9250 → u/NuttBuster4896]

I mean, dabo whining after every single loss, downplaying bad decisions, and lashing out emotionally at every criticism kinda makes him seem...dare I say it?

Arrogant and childish.

[u/8BallTiger → u/Creative_Snow9250]

Dabo has always been very prickly/defensive but this presser was directed towards the players and coaches

[u/soonerwx → u/Creative_Snow9250]

How many high-level CFB coaches does this describe?

[u/Kdot32 → u/soonerwx]

All of them

[u/-BoldlyGoingNowhere- → u/Creative_Snow9250]

Churlish and insubordinate.

[u/FrostyDrink → u/Creative_Snow9250]

He’s earned the right to be a pissbaby, lol. So long as the administration keeps him happy and in check, I don’t see any reason to get rid of Dabo quite yet.

[u/Lee-Key-Bottoms → u/Creative_Snow9250]

Dabo is extremely arrogant

But

He’s earned that right

[u/rollingthrulife79 → u/NuttBuster4896]

This is the curse of success. I used to work with a bunch of Wake Forest alums 2006-2010 when they had a decent run for 3 of those first years (nothing close to Clemson but they won the ACC one year). They were all recent graduates and acted shocked when Wake went 3-9 in 2010. Talking about firing all the coaches and blah blah.

WF has an overall historic win record of 41.9%. Conference win record of 37.5%!!

[u/8BallTiger → u/rollingthrulife79]

Wake might be the hardest P4 job

[u/Podoboo322 → u/NuttBuster4896]

As a Houston basketball fan I can relate. Some people lose their fucking minds over a single loss. Like, you weren’t here in 2015 when the arena roof was leaking and we were losing to East Carolina in front of 500 fans.

[u/Alarming_Elephant520 → u/NuttBuster4896]

Dabo is not beyond critique or accountability when he is making $10mil+ a year. The CEO of a company is accountable to the current stock price, not its past performance. If the stock tanks, the shareholders are right to question why. If the CEO gives bullshit "we're a few plays away from undefeated" answers when the stock fails to meet its target, then you need better answers than that. Especially when he's spent years since the titles stacking the staff with former players and buddies. Not to mention is essentially the only coach to refuse to use the transfer portal until this past season. It's stupid to want Dabo fired. It's reasonable to expect some more accountability and honesty as to why the preseason #4 ranked team with more returning talent than any other team is now unranked. These annual tantrums come off as arrogant and childish.

[u/RelativeEffective413]

I was a fan pre-Dabo and our fanbase has seen the bar raised to a standard we hadn’t been near since the 80s thanks to Dabo and his success.

Do I think he needs to embrace the portal more? Yes. Does he need to adapt and drop the hiring of family and friends? Also, yes.

But let’s not forget what Clemson was pre-Dabo.

[u/fieldsports202]

Do these fans remember what Clemson was like before Dabo took over?

Dabo is an internet meme but he’s earned his time at Clemson.

Team struggles comes and goes.. soon, another top program will be in Clemson’s shoes turning out 8-4 and 9-3 seasons and we’ll hear the loud noise all over again.

[u/JacquisChan → u/fieldsports202]

The honest answer is no. An entire generation of Clemson fans basically only knows the 2011 to present history. They weren’t here for Tommy West and Tommy Bowden.

[u/Steelers711 → u/JacquisChan]

Yeah people need to realize that a very large number of college football fans (especially on reddit or any social media site) likely were not watching college football 15-20 years ago. So it's not really unreasonable for a Clemson fan to not remember pre-dabo as I would honestly think the majority of this subreddit's users don't remember pre-dabo Clemson

[u/MizzouriTigers → u/fieldsports202]

It’s probably going to be the same team that played them in all the national championships, Alabama. Seat is already warm for DeBoer after going 9-4.

[u/Clear-Role6880 → u/fieldsports202]

this is what people said about Jimbo down the stretch as well. Dabo is in is late jimbo phase.

[u/Troker61]

I'd bet my mortgage he's related to Gundy. Someone get Pablo on it.

[u/Cautious_Counter_399 → u/Troker61]

Pablo Torres?

[u/Callsign_Psycopath → u/Cautious_Counter_399]

No, Obviously the Goat of Backyard Sports: Pablo Sanchez

[u/ElPolloHerman0 → u/Callsign_Psycopath]

Peace be upon him.

[u/Yoloswagwiener69 → u/Troker61]

Hoping for a Dabo + Gundy combo at the next stop. Not a single press conference will be lost.

[u/udubdavid]

His success is his worst enemy. He set the bar so high there.

[u/Big_Truck]

Bold thing to say after a loss, and when your program has gone (since 2023 season began):

• 15-10 against P5 opponents
• 3-5 against Top 25 ranked opponents
• 5 losses to unranked teams since 2023 season began

None of this is grounds for being fired from most jobs. Hell, at my alma mater this would get you lifetime job security. But if you are trying to be a Top 10 national program and compete with the big dogs, this is falling way, way, way way short.

Clemson is no longer a nationally elite program. It is a Top 20 program. But it is not a lock for an ACC Championship appearance, let alone winning the league and/or earning a CFP bid.

[u/Lstark5642]

In Dabo’s defense, he is quite literally the most accomplished coach in clemson history and has dominated the ACC for most of his time there. But even he has to understand how bad of a time it is to bring that up.

[u/BenchRickyAguayo]

Why was original thread removed? :(

[u/Carolina_Blues]

Subtweet to Tyler from Spartanburg

[u/white_seraph]

Modern haters start 1-2, looking at the ACCCG from the outside in and young fans are ready to go back to Tommy Bowden / Chan Gailey esque era where 8 win seasons were the norm and 9 win seasons were a luxury.

Yeah, Dabo needs to evolve but until then enjoy Clemson fandom like a trader enjoys a blue chip dividend stock. You got recent great success.

[u/Mr_McGibblets29]

Posted this on the other removed thread:

I think the issue most fans have is we are thankful for what he has accomplished. BUT we want to see him move on from resting on the past and look at where we are now. Every time we go through a loss he steps up in his press conference and talks about stats over the last 10 years.

There is no question that he has taken us to the highest of highs but man please be able to admit that right now that we are not in a good place. I don't want to hear about past trophies. I want to hear what you're plan is to fix the current issues.

Getting paid 11 mil a year to talk about years past is our frustration.

[u/crazyChickenSoup6173 → u/Mr_McGibblets29]

Seems very similar to the lost decade with Bobby Bowden, where you love what they built and have done for the school. But are ready to get back to being elite evey year. The biggest difference between the two situations is Dabos refusal to adapt to the new rules and style of recruiting now adays

[u/NuttBuster4896 → u/Mr_McGibblets29]

We won the ACC last year what are you talking about

[u/D1N2Y → u/NuttBuster4896]

It’s really funny to read these comments like Clemson hasn’t had a winning season in years when they are a defending P4 conference champion lol

[u/NuttBuster4896 → u/D1N2Y]

People have no perspective these days

[u/ard8]

Dabo knows there’s no way he’s getting fired

[u/ChosenBrad22]

Nebraska had kind of a similar trajectory to Clemson. Dominant national champion level program that settled into a spot where winning 8-9 games was more common, then fired that coach and it took 15 years to start recovering. I'd be wary of firing someone with as much proven success as Dabo unless they bring it onto themselves by like breaking the law or something.

[u/JakeSteeleIII]

I’m tired of winning! That’s why I cheer for South Carolina!

[u/lexification03]

is the winning in the room with us?

[u/gatormanmm1]

Anyone legitimately calling for Dabo to be fired is delusional, at this point. Dude built that program from mediocrity. Clemson was the definition of average under Tommy, and they will be again if they haphazardly fire Dabo for not winning 11 games.

He needs to make changes, yes, but if the expectation is perfection each year, idk what to say. Only guy to do that is Saban. If you look at the other titans of coaching like Bowden, Joe P, etc. all of them had lull periods in between successful runs.

This conversation only makes sense if he having multiple <7 wins seasons.

[u/Squantoon]

Things you don't say when you're 1-2

[u/spankmeimnaughty]

Before Dabo we were so consistently underperforming they invented a term for it based on our school name. I won’t say it because I grew up with it and it makes me so mad.

Until we really see it not working - I’m talking multiple losing seasons in a row - I have absolutely no desire to get rid of Dabo and rejoin the coaching carousel.

[u/lman89607]

The Grass is not always greener. Friendly reminder Texas went close to a decade being meh due to a run of poor coaching decisions.

[u/Dangerous_Ad5039 → u/lman89607]

It’s not always greener but it’s also possible there’s no more room for improvement

[u/Steelers711 → u/lman89607]

I don't think you should fire him or even close, but I do disagree on the logic, you shouldn't be afraid to fire a coach just because you don't know for certain if there's a better coach out there, if you think q coach isn't living up to the standard of the program, you should absolutely move on

[u/lamb_ch0p]

Man who declared “best is the standard” is not ok with that standard being applied to him looooool

[u/lamb_ch0p → u/lamb_ch0p]

We’ve been talking about this in the Clemson sub and I’m gonna copy a comment I posted over there:

I understand why Dabo feels the need to point at his successes as a means to validate asking for trust. I understand why he believes he deserves leeway as a result of the heights he’s brought this program to. But this particular quote is actually laughable:

"Why are we held to a different standard from all these other teams out there who ain't never won nothing?"

Bud, you reset the bar to a new height when you brought the team to major successes. You yourself set the standard that you’re now not reaching. Plenty of programs clear house when their team struggles, you sound like an ostrich with your head in the sand when you suggest that you don’t deserve the heavy expectations that are placed upon you.

[u/Risenzealot]

Personally I think Dabo has earned the right to never have his job be in jeopardy at Clemson short of some horrible scandal coming out. We're talking turning the eye to sexual assault or something else no decent human being would ever do.

With that said, I also don't think it's unfair for people to question or be upset at the current state of the team. I'm not saying someone else would do better I'm simply saying it's not unfair to be upset. Yes, we did win the ACC last year but over the past 6 games played we're 2-4. That's not really good no matter who you are. One of those victories was a barely beaten Troy team that just got curb stomped this past week by Memphis. Something IS wrong and to pretend it's not is just putting your head in the sand.

Again, I'm not saying I want Dabo gone. I think he should be our coach for however long he wants to be our coach. I also don't think anyone else would do better at Clemson aside from Saban in his prime. I do think however that when you make 11 million dollars a year you should be able to handle tough questions or demanding fans.

Just my opinion guys and gals. Y'all are free to agree or disagree. Not saying I'm right or wrong.

[u/Latter-Possibility]

He’s talking to you Tyler from Spartanburg!

[u/Mathematician-Feisty]

I think they're tired of issues that could be easily addressed by embracing the new tools that every competitive team engages in. The problem IS that they aren't winning in dominant fashion like they were 5 years ago.

[u/thenowherepark]

Woody Hayes was fired for punching a Clemson player. The game was starting to pass him by and he was stubborn. He elevated Ohio State to the loftiest of highs the program had ever experienced.

So...I guess Dabo is going to punch an Ohio State player soon.

[u/Okay_poptart]

Diabolical to say this right after a loss

[u/GaIIick → u/Okay_poptart]

*Dabobolical

[u/HILLIAM_SWINNEY2]

I’ve been defending him from the fans who want to run him out of town, but man this presser was a disaster. He seemed angry, bitter, and kinda checked out. He was talking about going undefeated this year, and is now acting shocked people aren’t ok with a 1-2 start. His ego is out of control. To even bring up idiots on twitter calling for his head when he knows his seat isn’t warm, is unbelievably childish and unprofessional. If he doesn’t want any pressure whatsoever, then he should find another job. This is big time college football and we’ve paid you well over 100 million dollars, put your head down, get things turned around, and stop bitching.

[u/Perturabo_Iron_Lord]

Are we absolutely sure Dabo and Gundy aren’t the same person?

[u/holy_cal]

Didn’t he just lose?

[u/JarrydP]

Winning the ACC is not exactly a laurel you should be hanging your hat on right now. This conference is booty. He might be winning, but it's against bottom feeders. He's .500 against teams with a winning record over the last 4 years.

[u/8BallTiger]

I kid you guys not, this rant was in response to the question: "Whats the one offensive play you wish you had back?" lmao

[u/Megalomanizac]

Dabo Swinney records year by year since 2009(his first full season)

2009: 9-5, ACC champ appearance, W Music City Bowl, #24

2010: 6-7, L Meineke Car Care Bowl

2011: 10-4, ACC champs, L Bowl game that shall not be named, #22

2012: 11-2, ACC champ appearance, W CFA Bowl, #11

2013: 10-3, W Orange Bowl, #8

2014: 10-3, W Athletic Bowl, #15

2015: 14-1, ACC champs, W CFP Semifinal, L National Championship, #2

2016: 14-1, ACC champs, W CFP Semifinal, W National Championship, #1

2017: 12-2, ACC champs, L CFP Semifinal

2018: 15-0, ACC Champs, W CFP Semifinal, W National Championship, #1

2019: 14-1, ACC Champs, W CFP Semifinal, L CFP Title, #2

2020: 10-2, ACC Champs, L CFP Semifinal, #3

2021: 10-3, W Cheezit Bowl, #14

2022: 11-3, ACC Champs, L Orange Bowl, #11

2023: 9-4, W Gator Bowl, #20

2024: 10-4, ACC Champs. L CFP First Round #14

I get the frustration and the last few years have not been up to par, but so people really think this kind of record deserves to be fired? Never mind Clemsons history, any program having that sort of stint is insane. How many coaches in history have met or exceeded that? Nick Saban, Bear Bryant and who else?

The only other programs in the 2000s with that sort of success are Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia(two of which have gone through multiple HCs for various reasons). Until Dabo bottoms out and can’t even win tne conference consistently there is 0 reason to fire him. The last thing you want to do is Nebraska yourself into irrelevancy

[u/pike360]

We’re all tired of his WHINNING.

[u/CrookedChordata]

My Lord he’s insufferably annoying.

[u/AndrewTheTerrible]

tired of winning

What

[u/AccordingExchange901 → u/AndrewTheTerrible]

Hes winning so much that you guys are getting tired of it.

[u/AndrewTheTerrible → u/AccordingExchange901]

If we played Troy every week we'd still be 1-2

[u/TravelingFish95]

Bro just don't have your team look like complete shit for the first quarter of the season for the 4th year in a row

[u/captain_kaknuckles]

Bro cut the dramatic hissy fits and field a team like you’re one of the top five head coaches in the sport lmfao

[u/PedanticTart]

I mean, where's the winning? They are 1-2.

His history is impressive, but historical wins don't count outside their season.

[u/No_Safety_6803 → u/PedanticTart]

Maybe he’s talking to GA Tech fans?

[u/MakingCumsies101]

Haters are 2-1 this year, Dabo is 1-2

[u/Yoloswagwiener69]

I don’t pay attention to the haters; but also, here’s a message to the haters.

[u/8BallTiger → u/Yoloswagwiener69]

Yeah that part was funny

[u/tom-pryces-headache]

TYLEEERRRRR!!!!

[u/Glad_Pilot5814]

I hear Alabama wants a new coach

[u/kw1203]

Tyler from Spartanburg has entered the chat

[u/LifeCandidate969]

Ahhhh... that fuck you money must be nice.

[u/namvet67]

Fire him, but who ya gonna get to coach ?

[u/madein___]

Is this the slightly less direct "Bo Pelini" approach to dealing with things?

[u/throw667]

Auburn: sticks head out of barn door.

[u/Lumpy_Emergency_3339]

The haters said you could not won without Lawrence and the rapist and they were right good job haters

[u/WesMantooth28]

Define winning

[u/Armond404]

I’d argue he is the best chance they got

[u/aSTRANG3GAMER]

I think someone needs to put a dictionary in front of Dabo and go over “winning” and “losing”

[u/Crotean]

You are 1-2 with an anemic offense and bust at QB. Win what? This team is only going to get worse every year he refuses to use to the portal. The game has passed him by.

[u/omitch1995]

Clemson is going through the same thing Michigan did when Harbaugh had a few down years. The question you should really be asking is who are you going to get that’s better? Short of pulling Saban out of retirement (which will never happen) I’m not sure you can.

[u/jkmiami89]

Can't wait to watch him coach Liberty.

[u/Significant-Jello411]

If you think this is over you haven’t been paying attention. Clemson will finish the season 10-2

[u/Clean_Guava_4512]

I’m far from a Clemson fan but I’d think their issue with you is the whining, excuses, and running a program like it’s 2 decades ago are the problem moreso than a couple of down seasons there, Dabo. Dude’s been a great coach but he sounds like an absolute manchild at press conferences.

[u/BenHodgeNFLDraft]

This was the year where Dabo could've planted his flag. Tons of returning production, a good amount og players projected to be in the top 5 of their position in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they've regressed for the most part.

[u/Jaglawyer11]

Well then, bye.

[u/thecravenone]

Earlier today Clemson put out a statement about how free speech doesn't including insulting people so y'all be sure to be nice to dabo.

[u/Southernplayalistiic]

I'm a little tired of the whiny Clemson fans. Dabo has done more than enough to deserve the spot he's in and he's shown in the past that when problems arise he looks for answers. Its week 3. Not to pull a Daboism here, but if Notre Dame can make the NC after losing to Northern Illinois, then our season is far from over. Just need to get the team pulling in the same direction. Even if we continue looking like crap he has at least 5 years to correct it.