About 10 years in the past, it appeared like Dabo Swinney was lastly getting it.
His Clemson groups had change into the gold normal of the Atlantic Coast Convention, dominating the league and going toe-to-toe with Alabama. The Tigers received nationwide championships over the Crimson Tide in 2016 and 2018 and performed for a title the next yr however misplaced to LSU’s Joe Burrow. No shame there, as a result of these Tigers may need been one of the best school group of the final 20 years.
Past that, Swinney established every thing else a championship program requires—tradition, relationships and accountability—whereas doing issues his method. Life was good within the Upstate, and it appeared it might keep that method for some time.
Quick-forward to Saturday. Clemson opened the 2024 season with a 34-3 loss to Georgia, a recreation that was shut till it wasn’t. Technically, the Tigers may nonetheless win the ACC, may nonetheless seem within the expanded playoff, and will nonetheless win the nationwide title.
However they received’t. They usually most likely received’t till Swinney stops dwelling within the was and begins dwelling within the is. As in, he must stop being so cussed and begin realizing the switch portal and NIL are instruments each coach has to make use of.
By ignoring the portal and NIL, Swinney is actually the man who sits all the way down to eat a four-course meal with out silverware. You will get full finally, however you’re positive going to be a multitude by the point it occurs. And Clemson soccer is presently the four-car wreck in flip 4 at Darlington you could’t unsee.
Not that a lot of the ACC is significantly better lately. Florida State dribbled down its pants leg final weekend in Eire, shedding to Georgia Tech in a recreation that uncovered the Seminoles’ lack of toughness. Virginia Tech was touted as a possible sleeper group by some specialists, then misplaced in additional time at Vanderbilt.
So long as we’re on the topic, a particular dishonorable point out to Commodore followers, or what existed of them Saturday. Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia stated he needed to go to a silent rely on his group’s profitable landing due to the noise Hokie followers had been making. Silent rely at dwelling? That might be just like the Cameron Crazies making an attempt to rattle one among their very own gamers on a key foul shot.
If relegation existed in school soccer, the ACC would throw out about half its colleges and usher in both half the Solar Belt or half the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention. Assume North Dakota State couldn’t end within the high half of the ACC this yr?
The Bison had been higher than Colorado for many of Thursday evening’s recreation and may need received in Boulder if the Huge 12 refs hadn’t whiffed a blatant concentrating on that value NDSU 15 treasured yards on its final drive. Coaches come and go in Fargo, however blocking and tackling sticks round. It’s the way you win soccer video games.
Oh, what about Miami, you ask? Didn’t it put up an enormous win at Florida? Effectively, sure, for those who’re into profitable in opposition to applications who’re about to flush a $26 million buyout on a coach, Billy Napier, whose seat is hotter than the weather in Gainesville.
And apart from that, the Hurricanes haven’t been related in 20 years, or concerning the time Kellen Winslow Jr. referred to himself as a soldier in probably the most underrated postgame rants of our time after a house loss to Tennessee.
Perhaps Dabo can try this. Or begin taking calls on his coaches present once more.
Or he may hit the replace button and begin utilizing the portal and NIL like everybody else does. And perhaps contending for championships once more.
