Dabo Swinney's Clemson secured its first win of the season on Saturday, as the Tigers beat Georgia Southern 22-7. Though Clemson managed to get back into the win column, the Tigers' underwhelming performance against Georgia Southern did little to quiet the growing questions surrounding Swinney.
Clemson defeated Georgia Southern by 15 points, but the Sun Belt opponent remained competitive well into the fourth quarter. Clemson finished the game with 347 total yards while converting only 2 of 14 third-down opportunities.
The Tigers also struggled in the red zone, scoring just one touchdown on five trips inside the 20-yard line. Clemson led the entire game, but the game was far from the comfortable win many expected.
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Inconsistent quarterback play and problems along the offensive line made Swinney's team look anything but dominant. This performance once again triggered hot-seat discussion around Swinney.
"Clemson needs to fire Dabo Swinney first thing Monday morning," one said.
"Respect to Georgia Southern, but it's time to let Dabo Swinney go. Clemson just managed a measly 22-7 win over a Sun Belt team at home, one week after getting embarrassed 51-10 by LSU. This program has fallen way too far," a fan said.
Clemson's win did provide some relief following last week's disastrous 51-10 loss to Lane Kiffin's LSU. The Tigers were outgained by nearly 500 yards in that matchup, which exposed significant issues on both sides of the ball.
The defense responded more positively against Georgia Southern, holding the Eagles to only 22 rushing yards and 266 total yards.
However, Clemson's offensive struggles remained difficult to overlook. The Tigers' offensive line surrendered 11 tackles for loss, including two sacks.
The result continued to frustrate a fan base that has watched the program experience a sharp decline in recent seasons under Swinney.
"Clemson struggling with GA Southern man.,. please Dabo. Hang it up and retire. We thank you, but this [expletive] needs to end, man," a person said.
"Dabo Swinney, it's time to go. Yes, the buyout is huge, but you can negotiate a dignified transition for a reduced buyout. Build the statue, rename the field, and honor him in all ways, but he can no longer be head coach of Clemson," a fan wrote.
"Dabo Sweeney, your time at Clemson is DONE. It's over with for you," one added.
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The Tigers will return to ACC play next Saturday when they play against North Carolina. The game will give Swinney and his team another chance to address the concerns surrounding the program.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
