Dabo Swinney had a conversation with Nick Saban about the Alabama job shortly after the greatest coach in college football history decided to retire. However, he chose to stay at Clemson and does not plan to leave despite repeated threats to do so in the past.
The 54-year-old reaffirmed his loyalty to the Tigers during an interview with Andrea Adelson of ESPN ahead of their season-opener against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Swinney is perhaps the most egocentric coach in college football. His inability to handle criticism is astonishing. Nothing is ever his fault and there is no limit to his desire for praise.
He is so soft that Clemson recently banned callers from his weekly radio show after an embarrassing on-air disagreement with a fan last season. And then there’s the threats.
Swinney first threatened to resign from his role with the Tigers six years ago because his fans were not satisfied with a 21-point win over South Carolina.
And to you people who suggest it felt like a loss, y’all need to check yourself too […]
That’s a lack of respect for our program and a lack of respect for the effort that these players and coaches put in. I hope you write that […]
Just look around college football, there’s a lot of people that would love to have the program that we have here, I can tell you that. 12-0 ain’t good enough? Then it’s time for me to seek other places. Make sure you get that.
— Dabo Swinney in 2018
He did it again last season.
I work for the board of trustees, the president and the AD, and if they’re tired of me leading this program, all they got to do is let me know. I’ll go somewhere else where there is an appreciation. I don’t know if it’ll be here, but it’ll be somewhere.
— Dabo Swinney in 2023
Those are just two of many similar examples.
Swinney constantly whines when he feels slighted and dangles his job in front of fans as if it is blackmail. If they don’t worship the ground under his feet, he will bounce.
The Alabama job was always part of that equation. Swinney was long considered the logical successor to Saban whenever his career came to an end.
I’m humbled by that and certainly appreciate that anybody would even think that way, that they would want me to be a candidate for a job like Alabama. I’ve always said, “you never say never,” because you have no idea what the dynamics are going to be. Ten years from now, Alabama may call me and want me to come to Alabama, and the Clemson people may hate me at that point. I don’t know.
— Dabo Swinney in 2017
Kalen DeBoer ultimately got the job in January. Dabo Swinney stayed at Clemson.
However, he revealed during his interview with ESPN that he did have a conversation with Nick Saban one day after his retirement became official! Details of their talk are a secret, but we can assume they discussed the open role.
That’s a conversation that stays between us. I’m here (at Clemson) because this is where I want to be. I’m glad that’s over, because for a long time, people say these things. I’m happy for Alabama. I’m happy for Coach Saban, too.
— Dabo Swinney
Even though Swinney reaffirmed his loyalty to Clemson, he once again implied that he can leave at any moment because he is in such high demand.
I’ve had lots of opportunities to leave Clemson, both for the NFL and college. Lots of opportunities, and you don’t read about (that) because that’s not how I operate.
— Dabo Swinney
You just don’t know about Swinney’s other offers because he is so humble. He would never want to talk about how great he is or spark panic amongst the fanbase about a potential departure. Never!
Swinney isn’t going anywhere… for now.
It’d be hard for me to leave here. Who knows what God’s plan is for me down the road. My focus is just being great right where I am and leading at a time where we need leadership more than ever.
— Dabo Swinney
We’ll have to wait and see what Dabo Swinney says about his job if the Tigers don’t win. His words don’t mean anything at this point because they change so often.