Dabo Swinney: 'not much I can say' about Clemson's crushing 3-4 season

Dabo Swinney: 'not much I can say' about Clemson's crushing 3-4 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Clemson football hasn't quite been themselves this season, but this isn't the first you're hearing of that. Dabo Swinney's football program hasn't met the standard set for itself after years of championships -- both ACC and national -- and double-digit win seasons. The former is nearly out of view at this point, while the latter is basically a mathematical impossibility (unless you carry a conference championship and some playoff W's?).

It's been the season from hell for a coach and program who, on reputation alone, warrant a top-10 ranking in the preseason AP Poll year-in, year-out.

Clemson is 3-4 on the year, with losses to LSU, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, and most recently SMU. After a double-digit home loss to a team the Tigers took down in the conference championship game last season, there is no denying that this school from South Carolina has fallen from grace just a year removed from a College Football Playoff appearance.

Following that loss to Southern Methodist, Swinney addressed the media with an exasperated, yet resigned response to the following question: What would he say to fans that are frustrated with the team's record and feel like Dabo's process isn't working?

"I mean there's not much I can say other than just let's get back to work and it's been a tough year to this point. But the year's not over. That's all I can say. Hopefully we've earned a lot of credibility around here, there's been a lot of great years. A lot of great years. But this is a tough one, but we're going to try to fight our way and finish this thing the best that we can, and then we'll start over."

[...]

"We've had a lot of success, but right now we're not. I take the good with the bad. I don't like it, but that's just my perspective. I know something good will come from it. I promise I've never worked harder and I'll continue to do everything I can. We'll be back, and we'll win more championships. We'll win more championships, I promise you that. [...] That's all I can say, and I have a track record that demonstrates that. I don't blame [the fans]."

It's a tough look for a program and a coach that have enjoyed so much success together. Fortunately for Swinney, the recent firing frenzy hasn't infected the Clemson athletic department, at least publicly, as he's proved to be one of the best football coaches in the entire country. But the last Clemson national championship was years ago, and he'll need to find a way to work in the new reality for college football.

The Tigers are 2-3 in ACC play, wandering in the middle of the pack, and standing dangerously close to those programs plastered to the notably low floor. Unless, of course, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Wake Forest, Boston College, and the (once again) putrid Mike Norvell-led Florida State squad.

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