Clemson coach Dabo Swinney spent five minutes hitting on a man named Tyler from Spartanburg who called into Swinney’s weekly radio show, “Tiger Calls,” on Monday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Swinney’s rant came after Tyler spent several minutes talking about the Tigers’ performance this year, including why Clemson paid Swinney $10.8 million “to go 4-4.”
- The 53-year-old Clemson coach told the caller that he “started out as the lowest paid coach in the damn business” and that he “won’t let some smartass get on the phone and create something like this.”… Me work for the Board of Trustees, the President, and the AD, and if they’re tired of me running this program, all they have to do is let me know. I’m going somewhere else where there is appreciation.”
- The Tigers have already lost more games in 2023 than in any season since 2011, Swinney’s third year in Death Valley.
What should we make of the tirade?
Angry. Swinney has had some epic rants in the past, but this was Mount Rushmore worthy. Tyler made some digs in his question, criticizing Swinney for hiring his “friends” internally, accusing the Tigers’ head coach of “a lot of arrogance” after the 2018 national championship, and asking Swinney directly, “Why are we paying?” you?’11.5 million dollars for a 4:4?’
But after about two minutes, Swinney had enough and stepped right back, telling Tyler, “I’ve heard enough from you.”
In a five-minute scorched-earth tangent, Swinney said fans like Tyler were part of the problem, reminding him that Clemson “hadn’t sniffed a national championship for 35 years” before he got there and reached his breaking point toward At the end of the rant, he passionately blurted out, “There’s nothing in my life that I’ve ever failed at, TYLER.” Never. Always.’
Swinney should know better than to mess with a fan by now, and he’s sure to handle (another) emotional response that quickly went viral. But… he wasn’t wrong.
Clemson didn’t have a 10-win season from 1991 to 2010. The Tigers then had one every year from 2011 to 2022, including six consecutive College Football Playoff appearances from 2015-20 and two national titles.
Swinney’s supporters will rally behind him and love this outburst. His critics will accuse him of not being able to control his emotions. But his numbers were right. And even given Clemson’s current season, it’s hard to argue against the last decade of Tigers football. — Grace Raynor, college football writer
Everything Swinney said
Swinney began his response by telling the caller, “I don’t care how old you are,” adding that he doesn’t actually care, before then saying that fans like the caller are “part of the problem.”
“But let me tell you something: We won 11 games last year and you are part of the problem, to be honest with you, because that is part of the problem,” Swinney said, later adding: “It’s people like You.” Everything you do is – the appreciation, the expectation is greater than the appreciation. And this is the problem.”
The coach reflected on his decade of success with Clemson and said before his 12-year 10-plus win season, “Clemson hasn’t enjoyed a national championship in 35 years.”
“We’ve won two in seven years,” he said. “And there are only two other teams that can say that: Georgia and Alabama. OK? Is this a bad year? Yes. And it is my responsibility. I take 100 percent responsibility for it. But all this nonsense you think, all these narratives you read, listen man, you can have your opinion all you want and you can apply for the job and wish yourself good luck, all right?
After touting his program’s success, which included drafting the second-most players and graduating 98 percent of its players, Swinney turned his frustration back to the topic of appreciation while defending his recruiting decisions.
“But part of the problem is appreciation – I’ve always told people that. They would say, ‘What’s the difference at Clemson?’ Let me tell you. In some places there is an expectation, but at Clemson there is an appreciation. But what’s happened at Clemson is that we’ve won so much that even when we used to be “The Fun of Winning,” even when you win, people like you complain. And criticize the coaches. And question everything. People like you. When I hired Tony Elliott as offensive coordinator, who never called a play in his life, I’m sure you were critical at the time. And he took us to two national championships. People like you who just love destroying people with your comments have certainly never made bad decisions. I am sure you have lived a perfect life. I’m sure you’ve managed a lot of people.
“I started out as the lowest paid coach in this damn business. And I am where I am because I worked my ass off every day. And I’m not going to let some smartass get on that phone and create something like that. So if you have a problem with that, I don’t care. I work for the Board of Trustees, the President and the AD. And if they’re tired of me running this program, all they have to do is let me know. I’m going somewhere else – where there is appreciation. It’s not just about winning, it’s about how you win.”
Swinney’s tone grew more agitated as he responded, ending his tirade by defending his character and track record.
“Am I perfect? No. I am far from it. And I am absolutely a man of faith. I am 53 years old and there is nothing in my life – I have been involved in failure many times – but there is nothing in mine Life I’ve ever failed at, Tyler. Never. Always. I wanted to get an education, I got two degrees. I wanted to be the first college graduate in my family. I did. I wanted to play football at Alabama. I did got a scholarship, went to college for three years, worked my ass off and won a national championship. I wanted to get into coaching. I worked my way up to head coach. And when I got that job, you sure didn’t want me to get that job, and 15 years later I’m still here and I would say the results are what they are and I stand by them. So you never have to call again. I wanted to get married. I’ve been married for 30 years. I wanted to be a father . I raised three great sons. If you don’t like the way I run the program, don’t be a fan. I don’t care. But I’m the head coach and I’m going to do what I think is right for this program long-term, what’s best for the players and what I think is best right now. If you have a problem with that, that’s okay. But I’m not going to sit here and let you call me. I don’t give a shit how much money I make. You won’t talk to me like I’m 12 years old. You must be kidding me.”
What the caller said
“I appreciate everything you said, Coach Swinney. It sounded a lot like Tommy Bowden and I’ll tell you this: Tommy Bowden didn’t make as much money as you. They earn $11.5 million per year. That’s second place in college football if I’m not mistaken. I’m curious why that salary led to a 4-4 (record). And I know we’ll talk about how we’re just a few games away from being undefeated and all that, and I know you’re a man of religion. I’m a big fan, coach. Before you count me in the 1.5 percent, I was at Clemson Games and my entire family for generations was at Clemson Games when they were in commercial real estate.
“So I will not accept being part of that 1.5 percent and I respect the fact that you are a man of faith. I’m curious if you’ve ever read Proverbs 16:18, which talks about pride coming before the fall. I was in the military and was overseas for the big run so wasn’t able to see all the games. I did my best, but I only ever watched your press conferences for life advice and I really appreciated that. After 2018 something changed. You’re humble, you’re hungry and stuff, and I always tell people, ‘Man, Dabo, just listen to his press conferences.’ But after that national title in 2018, something changed. And there seemed to be a lot of arrogance there, there were a lot of friends and family there – I mean, three of the ten football coaches on the field are external, experienced employees. All the others were internal employees who had no experience or were former players or friends. So I’m wondering why we’re paying you $11.5 million to go 4-4?”
Required reading
(Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)