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Is Dabo Swinney worried about getting fired? What Clemson coach said after Duke loss
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- Is Dabo Swinney worried about getting fired? What Clemson coach said after Duke loss
CLEMSON — Clemson football (3-5, 2-4 ACC) has its worst record after eight games in any of coach Dabo Swinney 's 17 full seasons as the Tigers coach.
After Clemson lost 46-45 to Duke on Nov. 1 for the Tigers' first home loss to Duke since 1980, Swinney was asked if this was his most frustrating season.
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Swinney said 2010 was his most frustration season when Clemson finished 6-7 in his second full season.
He reflected on 2010 when he thought he was going to get fired.
Then he joked that he wouldn't blame Clemson athletic director Graham Neff, who was in attendance postgame, for firing him after the loss to Duke. Still, Swinney said he is committed to Clemson.
"Unless Graham sends me packing, I'm showing up Monday," Swinney said. "I'm gonna be here, and we will finish. It's a great opportunity for these freshmen who are gonna have a lot of great moments and they'll win a championship before they get out of here.
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"I promise you for because, for 17 years, that's happened here."
Swinney has two national championships at Clemson, and the Tigers made the 12-team College Football Playoff last season.
They were a preseason favorite to make the playoff in 2025 but will have to win three of their last four games to continue their bowl streak to 21 straight years.
What is Dabo Swinney's buyout from Clemson?
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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If Clemson were to fire Swinney "without cause," the school would owe him $60 million this season as part of his buyout.
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: Could Dabo Swinney get fired? What Clemson coach said after Duke loss
