3 reasons why Clemson-Syracuse is massively important for Dabo Swinney

There are two very different types of “big regular-season games” in college football. 

Some games can elevate a team or program by putting them in position for a championship, higher in the rankings, or enhancing their profile. Others can go the other way, validating criticism or lowering expectations to an absurd point. 

Clemson has spent much of the last decade playing in the former, beating Alabama in the Nick Saban era to capture two national titles and running through a rolodex of who’s who in the pantheon of the game. 

However, there have been a few too many of the former over the last handful of seasons. Remember Tyler from Spartanburg? He’s the infamous caller to Swinney’s old radio show format. The two sides got into an intense, heated debate that quickly made national headlines, especially after Swinney rattled off his vast accomplishments at Clemson right after Tyler from Spartanburg questioned why Swinney was making $11.5 million to start 4-4. 

That sparked something in the team, as Clemson went on to beat Notre Dame the following game and run off five consecutive victories to end the 2023 campaign. Is a similar run about to begin on Saturday with Syracuse coming to town?

Swinney was once again faced with criticism this week following his team’s 1-2 start after a 3-point loss at Georgia Tech. He spent much of Tuesday’s time with the media going over his resume and telling fans that if they don’t like winning, “they can send me on my way, but I’m gonna go somewhere else and coach.”

Dabo isn’t really going anywhere. The historical defense of his program, though, is a crutch he’s leaned into again, so his program needs a spectacular season-ending run for the history books. 

Are the Tigers completely out of the ACC title race and playoff discussion? Nope. It was one conference loss, and there’s time to make up for it, but don’t mistake time for urgency. Every game matters way more than it should for a team that can’t afford a slip-up the rest of the way. 

That makes Saturday’s noon kickoff an incredibly tenuous and critical game in the Swinney era. Here are three reasons why:

Talk is cheap

When you defend your program the way Swinney did, and he’s every right to do so, you can’t back up all that talk with another loss. It would do serious damage to the confident persona and optimism that Swinney exudes. 

Face this truth: Dabo wasn’t talking to the media, his fans, or anybody other than his team on Tuesday. That’s what those big public statements are typically about. But he has to back it all up now. He has to show this is the team that can turn it around, bounce back, and be that vintage group to change history.

Swinney is right. He’s done it before. The problem, though, is that nobody on the outside sees it. Is Clemson talented? Of course, but this squad is not playing complementary football, and if that doesn’t change on Saturday, all that Tuesday talk will be for naught.  

Keeping the faith

It isn’t just Swinney who needs this win. The players have to have something to feel good about, a reason to be motivated beyond September, and a way to keep the locker room from falling apart. Think it can’t happen? Did you see Florida State last season, when the Seminoles started 1-3 and then lost seven of their last eight games? 

It snowballed. Leadership was non-existent, and embarrassment ensued. It should never get that bad at Clemson. But don’t think it can’t. That can be when it does. So the Tigers have to have a reason to remain engaged in this season, especially in this NIL era, when it’s easy to check out and transfer out for greener grass and higher pay days. 

And then there’s the fan base. Did you see Memorial Stadium late in the Troy game? Could it look like that again in the very near future? There weren’t a lot of butts in the seats because of inclement weather and a lengthy delay. It’s understandable. 

Not showing up again after a team goes 1-3 with two losses at home is also a valid reason to stay on the couch. Fans show their displeasure with their absence and wallets. It’s way too early for it to come to that, so Swinney has to make sure the faithful don’t give up. 

Quiet the storm

There have been a number of “Clemson is dead” takes this week.

After Swinney’s history lesson, many national pundits took their own inventory of why Clemson hasn’t been able to reach previous heights in this different era of football. All the tired transfer portal takes and rehashes of the quarterbacks since Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence can fill up a social media feed. 

Beating Syracuse isn’t going to turn those people on Swinney’s side, and quite frankly, he doesn’t care if they are or not. He says he’s unfazed by criticism. Whether or not he is, that would really be put to the test if another loss ensues. 

A win won’t turn off the heat on the program nationally or locally, but it sure can quiet it down heading into a bye week. Having that taste in their mouths and extra time to read all the hate won’t do this program any good for two weeks.