“Everybody’s Throwing Dirt on Us”: Clemson’s HC Dabo Swinney Sheds Light on the Hardships of College Football Team Management

Head coach Dabo Swinney has just shown naysayers what it’s like to be the winningest head coach for the Clemson Tigers. Clemson’s last game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish exposes the strong defense that Clemson has refined over the years, leading them to a 31-23 victory. But aside from the action on the field, Dabo Swinney has something to say about managing a football team. 

Before the Notre Dame game, Clemson was down 4-4. Tyler from Spartanburg raised a provoking question: why is Dabo Swinney paid $11 million to go 4-4? While the head coach has something brilliant to say, fans will also get to know why this Notre Dame game is such a big deal for Swinney and the Tigers. 

Dabo Swinney revives Clemson’s past glory with an impressive win

Recently, Tyler from Spartanburg trolled head coach Dabo Swinney over his paycheck for his dismal season performance. He questioned why Clemson pays the head coach $11 million to go 4-4. And in response to Tyler, the head coach replied with carefully chalked-up words. He said, “I know we’re down and everybody’s throwing dirt on us. But if Clemson’s a stock, you better buy all you can freakin’ buy right now.“

This shows Dabo Swinney’s undying belief and hope in the Clemson Tigers. Not every college football team can defeat Notre Dame, one of the leading college football programs in the country. But eight years ago, Clemson had a highly successful run when they beat Notre Dame 24-22 with Dabo Swinney as head coach. Maybe this is why Swinney had a huge “Bring Your Own Guts” celebration when they defeated the power team years ago. This is why his lackluster season is being criticized to the extent that his payroll is questioned. 

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Phil Mafah, Clemson’s running back and star of the game, commented on Tyler’s remark, saying, “We all had a chip on our shoulder.” Perhaps the provocation from Tyler did the Clemson Tigers more harm than good because they went on to secure their biggest win so far in this season. 

Clemson vs. Notre Dame – A proud moment for Clemson

In the last game against Notre Dame, Clemson’s defense shone brightly in the last quarter when running back Phil Mafah led the team to a 31-23 victory over the No. 12 Notre Dame, an impressive feat for a team that lags at No. 10 in the ACC. Mafah secured 186 yards and two touchdowns. It is the first game the team played without a penalty since the 1952 Gator Bowl. 

The Clemson Tigers acknowledged Coach Dabo Swinney on their official Instagram account following the victory over Notre Dame. It reads, “Congratulations, Coach Swinney, for becoming the all-time winningest Head Coach in Clemson Football history!” The last victory marks Coach Swinney’s 166th career win, surpassing the previous record by College Football Hall of Famer Frank Howard with 165 wins. 

Needless to say, Dabo Swinney is still making history and breaking records with Clemson despite a lackluster season. In their next game on Nov. 11, the Tigers will host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Memorial Stadium. Will Coach Swinney hype his team enough to win all their last three games? Keep watching.

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