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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/OnlyMamaKnows on 2024-01-23 13:30:29.
As Clemson faces 2024, the Tigers have gone 30-10 in the three seasons since their last CFP appearance, after losing only three regular-season games during their six-year CFP run, and have competed in the ACC Championship Game once, beating North Carolina in 2022. Swinney, whose contract runs through 2031, continues to receive overwhelming support from Clemson’s administration. Long a proponent of hiring from within, he proved he was willing to make tough decisions when he fired offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter and hired TCU’s Garrett Riley ahead of the 2023 season. And last month, he moved on from a former teammate and former player of his on-staff.
But it has been more than two years since Swinney said in November 2021 that “there’s not a school in the country” that won’t have to recruit the transfer portal and joked that the day Clemson finally did so would be “one of the greatest days in the history of Clemson.” Swinney might have acknowledged how fans view his known dislike for the portal, but he still hasn’t used it in a meaningful way and has yet to land a starter.
“Dabo is as competitive as any human being I’ve ever been around,” said Thad Turnipseed, Swinney’s director of football recruiting and external affairs from 2013 through 2022. “I never sold the stock on Dabo Swinney, and I’m buying more stock on Dabo Swinney.
“At the same time, I have no problem saying that he’s slow to change. But that’s what made him successful. He’s always done the right thing, and he will continue. Whatever that is, in his way, he’ll get there.”
Why haven’t the Tigers been able to fix their offense? QBs such as Watson and Lawrence aren’t easy to replace, and both quarterbacks had more playmakers around them, including the ACC’s all-time leading rusher in Travis Etienne Jr. and a group of star receivers.
“Tee Higgins could right a lot of wrongs,” a program source, granted anonymity so they could speak candidly, said of the wide receiver and 2020 NFL Draft pick from Clemson. “Beaux Collins was not Tee Higgins. Joe Ngata, Frank Ladson … were not Tee Higgins.”
Ben Boulware, a former Clemson linebacker who won a title on the 2016 team, pointed to roster makeup.
“This is something that people don’t want to talk about,” he said, acknowledging he was not among Clemson’s most talented players. “But there is a massive talent discrepancy in this team compared to what we’ve had in the past.”