Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney entered the 2024 season under increased scrutiny after three consecutive “down” seasons by Tigers standards.
Clemson lost 10 games from 2021-23 after losing only 10 games total in the previous seven seasons. Swinney’s aversion to using the NCAA transfer portal has also earned him criticism.
Well, early in the fourth quarter of today’s season opener and the 14th-ranked Tigers are trailing No. 1 Georgia 20-3. Clemson’s offense has been particularly problematic all afternoon.
On social media, Swinney is being raked over the coals.
“Hard to match up with the No. 1 team in the country when all your transfers are from high school,” joked Stewart Mandel of The Athletic.
“Only a matter of time before Clemson fires Dabo Swinney he just doesn’t have the goods anymore & he refuses to change with the times,” one college football fan said.
“I think today marks the end of the Dabo Swinney-era at Clemson. No information on that but this team is just light years away in terms of personnel as well as coaching. It’s time,” chimed in Austin Mock of The Athletic.
“Beeen saying it for a year now… You’re watching the end of the Dabo Swinney era. He’s unwilling to go to the portal and it’ll be his undoing,” another commenter added.
“Dabo is once again interfering with the Offensive play calling and screwing the whole game up,” chimed in another X/Twitter user.
Obviously, a Week 1 loss to the No. 1 team in the country does not eliminate Clemson from the expanded College Football Playoff, but it does put them behind the 8-ball and increase the pressure on Swinney.
It’s going to be an interesting season for the Tigers.
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