College football season is rapidly approaching. It is not even August yet, but Paul Finebaum has already worked himself up into a lather. The ESPN college football analyst has long had his issues with the way Dabo Swinney does things at Clemson. However, his most recent jab at the Tigers' head coach was both gross and incredibly mean-spirited. Now, we cannot get this image out of our heads.
During ACC Media Days, Finebaum said Swinney needed to be dunked in some Raising Cane's sauce.
"Somebody should dunk him in that Raising Cane's sauce because I am so exasperated listening to Dabo tell us how great he used to be," Finebaum said. "They're not great anymore."
Finebaum continued by saying "Dabo is just stuck on stupid right now", really calling the kettle black.
"You don't hear Brady talking about his Super Bowls or LeBron or any of the greats... I mean, Dabo is just stuck on stupid right now, trying to convince us that his program is so legitimate. It's not," Finebaum continued. "It's slipping and sliding away. It's good; maybe they'll win nine games this year, maybe they won't, but they lost six games last year with the Heisman favorite. That is downright embarrassing."
While not all of Finebaum's ESPN colleagues feel the same way about Swinney as he does, what kind of world are we seriously living in where Finebaum thinks it is okay for Swinney to be dropped into a vat of Cane's sauce? It may be a delicious concoction, but this is not some fall festival; this is Power Four football! Swinney is an icon in the sport, and he deserves his flowers over another piece of toast.
Swinney does need to get back to his winning ways here in short order, but this is not helping anyone.
Paul Finebaum leaves no stone unturned in his latest Dabo Swinney rant
Look. For as frustrating as the last handful of years have been for many Clemson fans, all it will take is another great season to get everyone off Swinney's back. We are talking about a two-time national championship-winning head coach, one who has made the College Football Playoff seven times in 12 years. The fact the ACC is so unpredictable should give a program like Clemson an honest shot at it.
Of course, the national media cannot get enough of the Miami Hurricanes this offseason. After playing for a national title a year ago, they are still without an ACC title on their incomplete resume. To be honest, how many other teams do you trust in the ACC? SMU should be good. Louisville has a fine offense. After that, Clemson is among the same group of teams that can realistically get to Charlotte.
Right now, Swinney and the Tigers need to focus on what they can control. Odds are, Finebaum is never going to say anything positive about Clemson for as long as he has a breath in his body. Haters are going to hate. Fortunately for Clemson, Swinney can absolutely play the "nobody believes in us" card to the highest degree this fall. Clemson is being overlooked while ushering in a new quarterback.
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Overall, Swinney and his team need to abide by this notion moving forward this season: Living well is the best revenge. As long as Clemson hones in on what really matters, everything should sort itself out. Miami may be menacing atop the conference, but it is not like the Canes have ever won it before. To be frank, maybe Mario Cristobal needs to be doused in Cane's sauce if Miami cannot win the ACC?
As long as Swinney can coach up to his lofty standard, Clemson fans can avoid this sticky situation.
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