Dabo Swinney draws Nick Saban comparison when asked about retirement: ‘I’m just getting going’
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Dabo Swinney is just getting started, man.
In a story released Tuesday, while speaking with Chris Low of On3Sports, Clemson’s head coach was asked if there was any hint of retirement in his mind. Swinney’s response made it clear that his answer is an emphatic “no.”
Here’s what he told Low, evoking former Alabama head coach Nick Saban:
“Hell no. I mean, I’m just getting going,” Swinney said. “I’m right about the same age Nick (Saban) was when he got to Alabama. So I’m just getting going, man. I love a challenge, and again, all we’ve done is win. Sometimes, people want me to be like this guy or that guy, and I’m like, ‘What’s that guy done? How many championships has that guy won?’ I’ve got 11 championships. The next closest is Kirby, who’s got six. I’ve got seven playoff appearances. There ain’t another coach still coaching with seven playoff appearances.”
Swinney has been coaching the Tigers since 2008 and won 2 national championships in 2016 and 2018. However, things have since slowed for the Tigers program since the start of the NIL era — Clemson has not been back to the College Football Playoff since 2019 and finished last season 7-6 — not exactly the results of a coach who is “just getting started.”
A big critique of Swinney is his inability to adapt to the current landscape of college football. The Tigers, for example, brought in just 4 transfers last offseason and sit at 11 offseason transfer additions this year according to 247Sports.
The Tigers return some promising players on defense, including Sammy Brown and Will Heldt, but will look a lot different most everywhere else. Can Swinney’s squad turn things around and reach the Playoff once again?
We’ll know if Clemson is looking to show up this year after Week 1, as Lane Kiffin and LSU welcome the Tigers to Baton Rouge for a primetime bout.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
