To be honest, maybe we were overdue? It has become pretty much a weekly thing for Paul Finebaum to attack Dabo Swinney or Clemson fans. He hoped somebody would dunk Raising Cane's sauce on Swinney only a few weeks ago. During SEC Media Days, he was asked by Brooks Austin who the most annoying fan base in college football was. Without any hesitation, he went after Clemson fans again.
During Monday's edition of The Paul Finebaum Show, he tried to clarify how he feels about Clemson.
"It was a throwaway line. Didn't really mean anything by it. I was asked a question by Brooks. So, Clemson Nation is in meltdown because they have nothing to really rally around. They've become an average program," Finebaum said. "They're living in the past, and I think you know all the rest."
So in the matter of two weeks, Finebaum has effectively called Swinney insufferable, Clemson fans "absurd", and now the Tigers are only "an average program." Mocking an entire fanbase on the regular is not just some "throwaway line." To be honest, this feels rather personal. Finebaum's utter disdain for Clemson over the years has been well-documented. If it were an SEC school, would it change things?
Right now, Clemson needs to gather as much bulletin-board material as possible to get ready for LSU.
Paul Finebaum's repeated attacks on Clemson are getting more personal
Even in the world of professional sports journalism, every pundit has their allegiances, their favorites, and their punching bags. Finebaum grew up in Memphis and graduated from Tennessee. He cut his teeth professionally covering Alabama and Auburn in Birmingham before truly going big time with the launch of the SEC Network 12 summers ago. His brand has exploded, as has his hatred for Clemson.
Is it purely schtick at this point? Potentially. However, nobody can be this consistently mean to a program without having a little hate in their heart. You need to have something to fuel the fire. While chain-smoking hate is never good for one's soul, who is to say that Finebaum even has one at this point? Regardless, his opinion on Clemson is never going to change, only to devolve even more so.
What is important to understand here is Clemson needs to win this season. Otherwise, you will have Finebaum and an army of gravedancers prancing around a fallen empire from Death Valley. Sports are cyclical, but college sports are where dynasties can be forged. Swinney used to have one, but can he achieve a second crest leading the Tigers before it is too late? Finebaum would be so beside himself.
To tie a bow on this, all it may take is a few signature wins for Clemson football to return to glory. The Tigers only play eight ACC games this year. Outside of a home date with Miami, the Tigers look to be markedly better than everyone else on their conference schedule. They do need to beat LSU in Baton Rouge, as well as keep pesky South Carolina in its place. However, a playoff run is still quite possible.
Finebaum may be the greatest Clemson hater of all time, but he has never been a champion before.
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