Clemson Football needs a makeover

Clemson Football needs a makeover.

Yesterday was the end of one of Clemson’s cherished streaks. There is no way that the Tigers can achieve double-digit wins this season. That is something the program has achieved every season since 2011.

The team is now 2-4 against Power Five competition.

Considering the success that Clemson had from 2015-2020, it isn’t shocking that people inside the program had faith in what they were doing, including Dabo Swinney. Three-loss seasons in 2021 and 2022 probably were perceived as reasons for a complete reboot.

Instead, Swinney likely saw them as reasons for tweaking the program. He had no choice but to revamp his staff after 2021 following the departures of both coordinators and some staff. Swinney had faith in the way they had built the program and promoted the people that he had been grooming to take charge.

Following the 2022 season, he made a change as offensive coordinator and brought in Garrett Riley from outside the program. This felt like a major change for the otherwise conservative-minded Swinney.

Dabo Swinney can no longer just tweak the Clemson Football program

Now that the program has dipped further with four losses, and the very realistic chance that the Tigers will not qualify for a bowl game, Swinney is saying all the “right” things.

Please note that the “right” things are not the things that fans want to hear. They are the things that people in his program, both coaches and players, need to hear.

Swinney isn’t giving up on the 2023 season. The goals he mistakenly thought were achievable are off the table, but the goal of qualifying for a bowl is still possible. He will refocus his team towards achieving that goal.

I do not believe Swinney will make changes before the end of the regular season, and therefore he will say the “right” things until November 26th.

I do think privately he will be making decisions between now and November 26th, and I do think some jobs will be on the line over the next month.