The never-ending back-and-forth between ESPN’s Paul Finebaum and Clemson’s own Dabo Swinney just hit another fever pitch, and Tiger Nation is right in the middle of it.
Leave it to Finebaum to twist the knife. On his radio show, he jumped at a caller’s question about Dabo Swinney’s $57 million buyout—not to praise what Dabo’s built in the Upstate, but to take another shot at Clemson’s head man. Instead of viewing the contract as proof of Swinney’s legendary run, Finebaum spun it as a sign that no big-time program has ever tried to pry Dabo away from Death Valley.
"First of all, these buyouts are absurd," Finebaum declared during the segment. "What program has ever tried to hire Dabo Swinney? Why do you get that type of leverage at the back end of your contract. Dabo’s never gotten an offer."
Finebaum didn’t stop there. He doubled down, comparing Dabo’s situation to what’s happening at other blue bloods. He pointed out how Alabama just handed Kalen DeBoer a monster extension because they were scared another program might swoop in. The implication? Clemson doesn’t have to worry about anyone coming after Swinney.
In a direct shot at Swinney's status, Finebaum boldly asserted, "Nobody wants Dabo Swinney. Alabama, his alma mater, could’ve easily called him. That didn’t even enter their thought process."
This is just the latest jab in what’s become a full-blown media pile-on since Clemson’s tough seven-win season last fall.
Earlier this offseason, Finebaum openly admitted, "I don’t have any faith or belief in Dabo Swinney anymore," mocking the idea that only a single loyal fan from South Carolina remains in the coach's corner.
Finebaum’s already written off the Tigers’ chances of bouncing back, predicting another so-called ‘mediocre’ finish. He’s calling for an 8-4 season and even agreed with a caller who said LSU is going to run Clemson out of the building in the opener. The disrespect just keeps coming.
Let’s not forget where all this started. After Clemson’s stunning loss to Syracuse last year, which dropped the Tigers to a shocking 1-3 for the first time under Swinney, Finebaum wasted no time declaring it ‘over’ for Dabo at Clemson and saying it was time for him to pack his bags.
Finebaum went so far as to suggest that Swinney should walk away from coaching entirely to pursue a career as a television analyst, comparing his likely trajectory to high-profile media transitions made from figures such as Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher.
"There’s a lot of reasons for this, but my advice to Dabo – and I know he doesn’t like taking advice from people like me – is to get out of there," Finebaum said at the time. "Be quiet. Quit talking, because he has no credibility now with his fan base. They’ve heard the whines before. He’s become a meme. For a really good coach, and I do believe he’s a really good coach, he’s become somewhat of a laughing stock every time he opens his mouth."
According to Finebaum, if Dabo would just stop talking, he’d be a hot commodity for any job—or he could cash in on TV because he’s got more personality and a better resume than most coaches who’ve made that jump.
The record books tell a completely different story. Dabo Swinney owns 187 wins to just 53 losses, making him the winningest coach in Clemson history and the top dog in ACC history, period.
Only Swinney and Kirby Smart can flash multiple national championship rings among active coaches. That’s nine conference titles and seven playoff trips for Swinney. Sure, the Tigers haven’t hit double-digit wins over two of the last three years, but make no mistake: Dabo’s heading into year nineteen with a chance to shut up the critics when Clemson rolls into Baton Rouge to take on Lane Kiffin and LSU.
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