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Dabo Swinney is making headlines once again for his recent comments about the Clemson football fanbase. The head coach told supporters to lower their expectations with the Tigers sitting at 4-2 midway through the season.
Many saw those remarks as hypocritical by a coach attempting to deflect criticism from his team’s slow start.
Swinney took to the podium this week to preview an upcoming matchup against ACC foe Miami. He spoke about the outside view of the program after the Tigers dropped two early conference contests.
Dabo Swinney on the unrealistic expectations of fans for Clemson football…
“We’re at a point where If you don’t go undefeated – you are losers, you’re terrible… and that is just such a terrible mindset. And honestly, maybe we need to lose a few games and lighten up the…
— Clemson247 (@Clemson247) October 17, 2023
“We’re at a point where if you don’t go undefeated – you are losers, you’re terrible,” Swinney said. “Honestly, maybe we need to lose a few games and lighten up the bandwagon.”
College football fans immediately ripped the head coach, who’s constantly preached a “Best is the standard” message to the team.
He went viral earlier in the year for calling out the current players for being the first Clemson class to not win a national championship, yet, when the criticism came his way, he turned the attention to his fanbase.
“Sorry Dabo, you don’t get to collect $11.5m a year and talk about ‘best is the standard’ as if it is only applicable sometimes.”
“We don’t expect to go undefeated. We don’t expect to lose to Duke and barely beat Wake Forest like it’s basketball season.”
“Can’t tell your team they’re on the clock to win a national championship and then complain about fans holding you to the standard you’ve set.”
“Take down all those ‘Best Is The Standard’ posters and replace them with ‘We’re Doing As Good As We Can!'”
Swinney is often caught with his foot in his mouth, particularly his team is struggling. Clemson fans were furious over his comments after a season opening 28-7 loss to Duke, which he called “the weirdest game he’s been a part of.”
Following a loss to Florida State, he claimed the Tigers were just “three plays from being a Top 5 team,” while simultaneously throwing his defensive coordinator under the bus.
The comments aren’t the only thing landing Swinney criticism this season. His approach to the transfer portal and NIL has been a point of focus, too. The Tigers have been slow to adapt to the new landscape in college football, and they’ve seemingly been passed over by ACC rival Florida State.
With all of that being said, Clemson can still go 10-2 and potentially slip into the ACC Championship Game with a strong finish. Of course, he could also lose a few more games and continue to “lighten up the bandwagon.”