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Clemson: Dabo Swinney Doesn't Regret Worst Offseason Decision He Predicted
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- Clemson: Dabo Swinney Doesn't Regret Worst Offseason Decision He Predicted
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Dabo Swinney is nothing if not stubborn.
The two-time national championship head coach of the Clemson Tigers has earned some grace, but how much leeway he will receive after following up a 7-6 season with another disappointment remains to be seen.
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Swinney told reporters this summer that Clemson athletic director Graham Neff gave him the blessing to add an elite (expensive) quarterback in the transfer portal. Swinney predicted he'd be raked "over the coals" if the decisions to stand by Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds didn't work out for him.
Before November, Clemson suffered its third loss of the season, prompting Swinney to change the team's goals from the big picture of winning the ACC and making a College Football Playoff appearance to just trying to win the next game, which is against a sub-.500 Florida State team.
Did Swinney learn any lessons after his decision not to add a quarterback in the transfer portal led to a 4-3 start? No.
When speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Swinney said he doesn't like to "look back on that type of stuff," per The State's Chapel Fowler. He said he lives with the decisions he makes and does what he thinks is right, and sometimes it doesn't work out.
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"I don't have any regrets when it comes to that."
And the fan base and national media have not forgiven him when it comes to that.
Swinney has been raked over the coals after the loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday night. The head coach threw his own quarterback under the bus for running a non-called play-action pass on 4th and 9 that sealed the 20-16 win by VT. The passing offense is historically bad .
Given Swinney's comments about not needing a strong general manager to make roster decisions, there should be worries that the situation is not going to improve for 2027. One could see Swinney standing by Reynolds next season, opting to develop while believing he can correct the quarterback and the rest of the roster, unlike what has happened last season and thisIt's anThose answers are concerning coming from the sixth-highest-paid coach in college football.
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The best fix for Clemson would be to have a strong general manager making roster decisions to help Swinney. While last year's team put plenty of talent in the 2026 draft, the Tigers need to make sure they're hitting on their needs all across the roster .
Swinney needs to focus on his job, which is coaching the team. Given the Tigers' record, something is proving to be dysfunctional.
