Earlier: Clemson football is having an uncharacteristically poor season, and Dabo Swinney is feeling some of the heat.
The Tigers are now 4-4 after losing to NC State on Saturday. On his radio show Monday night, a frustrated Swinney was not trying to hear complaints from a fan who questioned his $11.5 million salary paired with this season’s results.
“You can have all your opinions you want. I don’t know how old you are, don’t care. We won 11 games last year and you’re part of the problem,” Swinney said, via Jon Blau of the Courier and Post.
“I started at the lowest paid business in this frickin’ business and I’m not gonna let some smart ass kid get on this phone and create this stuff.”
Swinney then implored the fan not to call back again and said he “ain’t gonna talk to me like I’m 12 years old.”
Swinney says Clemson has won so much people have lost an appreciation for winning.
On his salary, he says, “I started at the lowest paid business in this frickin’ business and I’m not gonna let some smart ass kid get on this phone and create this stuff.”
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) October 31, 2023
Swinney also told the fan, named Tyler, if he wants to apply for the job, he’s welcome to do so.
“To answer your question, I started as the lowest-paid coach in this business … I worked my ass off. I’m not gonna let this smart-ass kid get on the phone” and tell me how to do my job. “I work for the board of trustees.” This the hottest he’s been all season 100% https://t.co/X5u4BmkwZq
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) October 31, 2023
Dabo Swinney ripping into a fan who asks him why Clemson’s paying him a huge salary just to go 4-4. “You’re part of the problem.” Also says to the fan, Tyler, “if you wanna apply for the job, go for it. And good luck to you” This is a lengthy, fiery answer here by Dabo
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) October 31, 2023
This is the second time in the last two weeks that Swinney has bemoaned Clemson fans on his radio show.
Two weeks ago, he suggested the Tigers, then 4-2, might need to lose some more games to “lighten up the bandwagon.”
“We’re at a point in our time, and I hate that, where if you don’t go undefeated, you’re losers. You’re terrible,” Swinney said. “And it’s just such a terrible mindset. And honestly, maybe we need to lose a few games and lighten up the bandwagon. Sometimes the bandwagon can get a little too full.”
It sounds like the Tigers took Dabo literally, unfortunately. Already, they have their most losses since 2011, Dabo’s third season at Clemson.
The last time the program lost five times in one year was 2010. The Tigers are in danger of suffering their fifth loss against No. 12 Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon.
Update: You can listen to Swinney’s entire five-minute response here.
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney went on an epic 5-minute rant tonight after ‘Tyler, from Spartanburg’ asked him about his $11.5 million salary and 4-4 season.
“I’m not gonna sit here and let you, I don’t care how much money I make. You’re not gonna talk to me like I’m 12-years old..” pic.twitter.com/XvjhZDUd2m
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) October 31, 2023
Swinney was calm for the first part of his rant, but then got a little fired up in the middle.