Steve Spurrier defends Dabo Swinney after suffering third loss

It’s still incredibly difficult to argue with the resume that Dabo Swinney has put together, highlighted by two national championships. At the same time, with the Clemson Tigers opening the season 1-3, the criticism of his management of changes in the sport is only growing.

Despite that growing concern, former South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier would come to Dabo Swinney’s defense. On Another Dooley Noted podcast, Spurrier admitted that the Tigers are flawed. However, that’s also a staff that’s had enough success that a bad season can be overlooked every now and again.

“My buddy Dabo lost again,” Steve Spurrier said. “They’re having all kinds of issues up there, but they’ll be alright. They’ve won enough to have a bad year every now and then.”

Since Swinney took over at Clemson in 2008, Clemson has won the ACC nine times, including as recently as last season. He’s also won two national championships, in 2016 and 2018. That ACC Championship last season landed the Tigers in the College Football Playoff and was key in setting up those expectations for this season that the Tigers have failed to live up to so far.

Despite all of that success, there has been a clear downturn in dominance for Clemson since NIL and the Transfer Portal became more vital to roster construction. From 2014 through 2019, or over six seasons, Swinney suffered eight total losses. From 2020 to 2025, or less than six total seasons, the Tigers have 19 losses and failed to win the ACC twice already. That’s still very good, but it’s a step back from being a perennially elite program.

Amid the slow start in 2025, Dabo Swinney hasn’t been shy to share his thoughts on the situation. That included some headline-grabbing thoughts he shared after Clemson fell to 1-2.

“I thrive in the battle, honestly. I have my whole life. Perspective is important. If they want me gone, they can send me on my way. If they’re tired of winning, they can send me on my way. I won’t stop. I’m 55. I’ll go somewhere else and win. I ain’t going to the beach,” Swinney said when Clemson was 1-2.

“We’ve won this league eight of the last 10 years. Is that good? I’ve got a long memory in case y’all don’t know. This is a program that’s built to last. If you don’t believe in us after we lost just two games, you weren’t all in anyway. Hate to disappoint all the haters out there, but I have a long way to go, boys.”

Dabo Swinney is certainly capable of turning things around for Clemson. However, it seems like Steve Spurrier is one of the few national voices not hammering him for the bad start. Paul Finebaum recently called him a “laughing stock,” while Booger McFarland said Clemson is “poorly coached.”

Dabo Swinney and Clemson sit 0-2 in ACC play, making another conference championship a difficult proposition. Still, they have a chance to reset now. Clemson has a bye week next before playing a struggling North Carolina team on October 4th.