CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson is hoping to run its streak of consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins to 13.
Head coach Dabo Swinney has overseen a program that won just six games in 2010 and one which has reached the top of the college football mountain on two occasions.
But in 2023, the Tigers have dealt with two gutwrenching losses, the season opener at Duke and the overtime loss to #4 Florida State.
So as the Tigers prepare for the first of six remaining games in the regular season, the head coach gave his assessment of the fan base. Swinney has calculated that more than 98% of the fans are “amazing” with the other percentage made up of fans who are more interested in creating drama than supporting the program through the ups and downs that come with any season.
“I love our fans. Again, 98.5 percent are amazing,” Swinney said.
“But the other 1.5 percent, they create a lot of problems. They are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
“That is everywhere. You always have them. That is what social media does, it gives them a loud voice. There are always people that want to complain about something.”
Swinney’s first full-time season as head coach was in 2009 and since then, he has led the program to eight ACC Championships and six trips to the College Football Playoff.
On his Monday night radio call-in show, Swinney spoke to a Tiger fan who was having a hard time at work with a colleague who was giving him grief for Clemson’s fall from grace after the two losses. Swinney joked with the caller that perhaps the Tigers needed to lose a few games to lighten the bandwagon. Translation – don’t be one of those fans who are ready to jump ship just because the water gets a little rocky and don’t let the national championship seasons of 2016 and 2018 lead to a lack of appreciation for what the other programs since have accomplished.
“Sometimes, you can win so much you lose the appreciation for the blessing,” Swinney said.
“That’s just a reality. It’s hard to win. It’s freaking hard to win and to win consistently is almost impossible So, if people can’t understand that, then I can’t help them.”