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Dabo Swinney calls Clemson football's 1-3 start 'a coaching failure'
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- Dabo Swinney calls Clemson football's 1-3 start 'a coaching failure'
(This story was updated to add new information.)
CLEMSON — Coach Dabo Swinney said Clemson football did some soul searching during the Week 5 open date amid the team's 1-3 start and found the root of the Tigers' on-field problems.
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"It's just been a coaching failure, honestly. We have just failed as coaches," Swinney said Sept. 30.
Clemson (1-3, 0-2 ACC) is enduring its worst start in 21 years after losing to LSU , Georgia Tech and Syracuse in the first four weeks of the season. The Tigers are longshots to win the ACC and make the College Football Playoff after entering the season as favorites to win the conference again and a popular pick to win the national championship.
Swinney isn't considering staff or playcalling changes, though, despite Clemson's poor start. He added the Tigers have been dealing with a "perfect storm" of failures but is confident they will turn it around starting with UNC (2-2) on Oct. 4 (noon ET, ESPN) at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
"It's my job to fix it, and I will fix it. We've always fixed whatever," Swinney said. "That's what has driven the consistency we've had, but what we're dealing with right now is truly football stuff, and we can do something about that."
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Swinney added players have to be accountable, too, especially with many receiving pay from Clemson through revenue sharing. Many of the Tigers' stars, including quarterback Cade Klubnik , edge rusher T.J. Parker and defensive tackle Peter Woods , have had minimal impact or struggled through four weeks.
Offensively, Clemson is averaging 19.8 points (116th nationally, last in the ACC). The last time the Tigers struggled to score points like this was in 1998 when they averaged 19.8 under coach Tommy West, who led Clemson to a 3-8 finish.
Defensively, the Tigers have been inconsistent, where they will play well in one half then struggle in the following one. Against Syracuse in Week 4 they allowed a season high in points (34) and total offense (433).
MORE: Five hard-to-believe Clemson football stats from Dabo Swinney's 1-3 start
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Despite these struggles, Swinney said he doesn't anticipate any depth chart or midweek preparations and gameplan changes entering Week 6.
"If there's changes you have to make, you make them," Swinney said. "We're playing our best players. ... It's our job as coaches to get these guys playing better. When your players are not playing to their potential, it's on you as a coach."
Swinney was adamant, again, Clemson's issues this season are football related, not with the program. He cited the success of Clemson in his tenure but mentioned his belief in his staff and players to respond and finish the season strong.
"We've got eight games (left). Why can't we be the hottest team in America?" Swinney said.
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Will Dabo Swinney be fired if Clemson loses to UNC?
Clemson would be 1-4 for the first time since 2004 and 0-3 in ACC play for the first time since 1998 if the Tigers lose to UNC.
If Clemson were to fire Swinney "without cause," the school would owe him $60 million this season as part of his buyout.
If Swinney were to take another college job, he would owe Clemson $4 million. If he were to take the Alabama job, his alma mater, he would owe Clemson $6 million.
Swinney would not owe any money if he accepted an NFL head coach position as long as he or his agent "notify" Clemson athletic director Graham Neff prior to discussions for other employment.
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Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dabo Swinney says Clemson football's 1-3 start is 'a coaching failure'
