Death, taxes, and Dabo Swinney being stubborn. Like clockwork, Swinney refused to confront the issues his reeling team is facing. He would not punt on one of his friends at offensive coordinator. Chad Morris has been one of the worst hires any program has made at the Power Four level. Seven games into the 2026-27 season, Clemson has only thrown for two touchdown passes on the year.
"Nobody works harder... There are better days ahead. I haven't lost faith in Chad [Morris]," Swinney said about his struggling assistant coach. Predictably, Swinney plans to keep Morris as his offensive coordinator moving forward. This comes after Morris thought it was a good idea to stay in the booth. Surely, all the things that Morris sees from his ivory tower will really help bring Tait Reynolds along...
It has almost become untenable. No, this is not a championship-caliber team for Clemson. Frankly, it has been a painfully long time since Clemson consistently fielded a roster that could go toe-to-toe with anyone. Swinney made it a point during his halftime interview that it was not about the players; it was about the coaching. Yet, we find ourselves back in the same old situation once again. How pitiful.
Dabo: "There are better days ahead. I haven't lost any faith in Chad." Says the offensive struggles are a "different situation" than last year, when he made an effective midseason tweak by giving analyst Thomas Allen more responsibility over def. passing game communication https://t.co/p3I2b4wDTO
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) October 25, 2026
Even the simplest decisions have become impossible for Dabo Swinney
With two ACC road games back-to-back at Florida State and Syracuse, Swinney better be careful that he does not join Mike Locksley, Dave Doeren, and Dave Aranda in the unemployment line. It should not matter how big Swinney's buyout is. It has not been good enough for the better part of two years now. Outside of the playoff run in 2024, Clemson has not been the same since COVID.
Whether it be refusing to part ways with Morris after shockingly bringing him in, or not having any interest in getting a quarterback out of the transfer portal, is this really how Swinney wants it to end? He used to be outstanding in his own field. Now, he has been left standing out in his own field. College football is an unforgiving sport. Swinney used to dominate it, but the game has changed. He refuses.
If this is the bed Swinney has made for himself, he'd best now lie in it. Clemson will be more than a touchdown underdog at Florida State on Halloween night. This is a Seminoles team that cannot win road games for the life of it. However, the Seminoles can at least do something the Tigers do not seem to have a clue about. They can score 30 points on the regular. Clemson kicks its field goals.
In the end, this undying loyalty to Morris and all of his ex-players on staff may very well be Swinney's undoing. You need to get out of your comfort zone in order to grow. Clemson has been comfortable over the last decade-plus. Swinney may be the longest-tenured head coach in the ACC, but the guy who was runner-up to him just got let go: Doeren. Swinney should recognize he is feeling the heat.
Something has been missing at Clemson for years now, as Morris has become Swinney's useful idiot.
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