Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney says some ridiculous things sometimes, and college football fans almost always remember.
But Swinney might want to forget joking about his team losing a few games — and a few fans — especially after the Tigers’ second consecutive loss this year. They’re now 4-4 on the season and 2-4 in the ACC, which is a long way away from the perennial College Football Playoff contender they once were.
A couple weeks ago, Swinney on his radio show shared his response to fans who were less than pleased with Clemson’s 4-2 start. But now, he probably regrets saying that maybe they “need to lose a few games and lighten up the bandwagon.”
“If you don’t go undefeated, people say you’re losers, that you’re terrible,” Swinney said. “It’s such a terrible mindset. And honestly, maybe we need to lose a few games and lighten up the bandwagon. Sometimes the bandwagon can get a little too full. That’s the one good thing about going through a little so-called adversity. You really find out who’s with you and who’s not.”
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Swinney didn’t back down from his statement at the time. But since he shared his thoughts on the Tigers’ “bandwagon,” they’ve been 0-2, first losing to Miami in double overtime before falling, 24-17, to N.C. State on Saturday.
Their other two losses this season were to Duke in the season opener and then to Florida State in overtime in September. The last time a Swinney and the Tigers had four losses in a season? 2011.
Seems like Dabo is doing his part to get bandwagon Clemson fans off the ride. At least, college football fans think so, and, of course, they had so many jokes at his expense.