Change is hard, especially for a coach like Dabo Swinney, who’s built his career on tradition and a deep belief in doing things from his own backyard. But in the fast-moving modern world, where transfer portal success can make or break a program, even the most stubborn have to adapt. And, well, Dabo’s adaptation has been less of a seamless evolution and more of an awkward stumble into 2024. Monday’s announcement of Clemson’s first-ever non-quarterback portal commitment felt monumental—until the internet got ahold of it.

The Tigers landed Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Tristan Smith, a 6’5″, 205-pound junior who racked up 76 catches, 934 yards, and 10 touchdowns last season. By most accounts, it’s a solid pickup for a program that desperately needed a spark. But this milestone move might be overshadowed by the 2024 ACC champions and 12th-seeded Tiger coach’s earlier words about the portal. “I mean, it’s really pretty simple,” Dabo Swinney said not a long ago in an interview, with his trademark matter-of-fact tone. “Most of the guys in the transfer portal aren’t good enough to play for us. That’s just the reality of it.”

Oof. The internet doesn’t forget, and Yahoo! Sports certainly didn’t. They clipped Swinney’s words, slapped on some funny background music, and posted a reel on Instagram that instantly went viral. Their caption? “Guess Dabo found a player ‘good enough’ to be a Tiger 😅.” The timing couldn’t have been more perfect—or more awkward—for the ex-Bama WR himself, Dabo Swinney, who now finds himself in the middle of a classic case of eating his own words.

For years, the 2× ACC COTY awardee, has worn his resistance to the portal as a badge of honor. While other programs aggressively pursued plug-and-play talent, he boasted about his loyalty to homegrown players. “I’m just for the guys that we have,” he declared to the ACC media months back in July. It was a stance that fit Clemson’s old-school, family-oriented image. But as the Tigers faded from national title contention in recent years, that loyalty started to feel more like stubbornness.

Clemson’s only previous portal pickups were quarterbacks, Hunter Johnson and Paul Tyson, neither of whom made a meaningful impact. Meanwhile, programs like Florida State and Alabama have thrived by strategically adding key pieces through the portal. Swinney’s reluctance to adapt could’ve have become a glaring weakness in an era when adaptability is crucial.

So, what changed? Maybe it was a necessity. Clemson’s wide receiver room has been underwhelming, and Smith offers size, experience, and a proven ability to make plays. Maybe it was the realization that the game has shifted and that even the most traditional programs need to keep up. As he and Tigers have become an afterthought in the Natty race. Smith’s decision to choose Clemson over Kentucky is undoubtedly a win for the Tigers, but it’s also a sign that Swinney may finally be rethinking his approach.

High time to let go that attitude of yours, pal

“If I took a job somewhere else, I’d be the greatest portal recruiter ever,” Dabo Swinney quipped recently. “Half of my roster would be gone, and I’d have to put it together. But if you study our team, our retention is as good as anybody in the country. Guys graduate, they stay, and we recruit.” Classic rivals’ promoter, right?

The Clemson head coach isn’t one to shy away from defending his approach, even in a college football world increasingly dominated by NIL deals and transfer portal buzz. While other programs piece together rosters overnight, Clemson has stuck to its guns: build through recruiting, retain players, and develop talent. But let’s be real—will that formula still lead Clemson back to the top of the mountain?

The orange tigers’ 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes, ranked 15th nationally, could be pivotal in shaping their future. While solid, they lack the top-tier, game-changing prospects that fueled the Tigers’ national championship runs. Combine that with Clemson’s underwhelming NIL structure—at least compared to the heavy hitters—and it feels like the Tigers are playing catch-up. Sure, there’s intrigue around portal additions like Tristan Smith, but expecting one player to turn the tide feels like a Hail Mary.