Dabo Swinney says ‘mission’ is to develop men before winning football games
By David Wasson
Published:
The 2025 season began with a considerable amount of promise for Clemson, only to see it dissolve early into mediocrity and finally end Saturday afternoon in the Yankee Stadium cold via a 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
That letdown could mean that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney – who has won 2 national championships, 9 ACC crowns, and 187 career games in 18 seasons – enters the 2026 season on the hot seat.
But Swinney, whose Tigers went 7-6 this season for their worst record since a 6-7 campaign in 2010, said after Saturday’s game that his job isn’t as much to win football games as it is to develop men of character.
“That’s my calling in life. That is my purpose,” Swinney said. “I know everyone wants me to win football games, but it is more about how I win. That’s what matters to me more than anything. Always has and has never been different and never will be.
“That’s my purpose in life: Glorify God, be a great husband and father, and use this platform of football and education to build great men through this great game that we love. That’s never changed and is never gonna change. We have been purpose-driven for a long, long time. We have won a bunch of games and a bunch of championships. More than most, and we’ve won a lot more than we’ve lost. But that’s what it is all about to me.”
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
