First it was the “quacking like ducks” insult, where he basically told fans to shut up about their complaints of a noon kickoff. Okay, fine. We’ll let that slide.
Then came the recent comments where Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said that there’s about five percent of Clemson’s fans who are just crazy because they expect more than they’re willing to give (huh?) and expect this team to show up each week and win every game.
The nerve!
If he thinks that’s crazy, wait’ll he stumbles across one of those nutjobs who demand a full-blown ACC championship.
I could be overlooking one, but by my count that’s twice since the season started that Swinney has lashed out at fans.
So let’s get this straight:
His offenses are predictable...at the line of scrimmage by opposing defenses,
His defenses have largely been inconsistent since the beginning of the year,
He’s hellbent on starting an injured quarterback who’s head is more in Major League Baseball and won’t be here next year instead of a highly-talented guy who has gotten zero meaningful snaps this year and can change the complexity of a game by his mere presence,
He neglected to give the rock enough to his top producer (coincidentally the ACC’s top running back) the first part of the year while giving it to a back that dances the night away or throws it to receivers who can’t catch...
But it’s the fans who are crazy?
Well, maybe they are crazy. But unlike Clemson’s head coach, they aren’t stupid.
Regardless, the question in my head about this whole thing is this: who exactly does Swinney think he is, that he has somehow earned the right to scold the fanbase? What heights has Clemson ascended under him to justify his arrogance and condescension?
Atlantic Division title last year? Is that the mountainous ‘height’ you’re referring to? The title he not so much won but rather he fell ass-backward into because of a shitty division and he wouldn’t have been able to do that had it not been for C.J. Spiller? You talking about those lofty heights?
If he was a winning coach, I can understand the ego. But he's a loser.
Here’s a fact - Swinney hasn’t done squat to justify mouthing off to a very justified fanbase who is about as equally pissed with him as they are with Terry Don Phillips and James Barker. Yeah, Phillips and Barker are the core culprits but Swinney is screwing up in his own right. Alienating a rabid fanbase who pays your salary is always asking to get canned.
But maybe he won’t get sacked. It is my belief that Swinney’s job is safe and secure as long as TDP is there, and Swinney knows this. He knows that the fans can’t fire him; only TDP can do that. So perhaps that’s why Swinney feels comfortable lashing out at fans; there are simply no consequences.
Just as a pre-emptive measure, no apology from Swinney, should it be forthcoming, should be accepted. Keep in mind this isn’t he first time he’s been snarky at fans. He'll do it again.
No, he gets no forgiveness. Not for his attitude, and not for his failing the football team, the university and most importantly, the fans who pay hard-earned money in this deplorable economy to pay his unjustified salary. Inexcusable behavior should never be forgiven.
