Clemson HC Dabo Swinney blasts 'bandwagon' fans: 'It’s just such a terrible mindset'

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is not used to much adversity as it relates to losing football games. There are clearly some fans of Clemson football that are similarly in uncharted territory.

The funny thing is, it's not like Clemson is bad in 2023. The Tigers are 4-2 and have won two straight. Those two losses — one to Duke and the other to No. 4 Florida State — have been bad enough that Swinney is apparently feeling the head from some in the fanbase, though.

Never mind those fans, though. If you can rock with Clemson when the Tigers are winning championships but now when they're "suffering" a two-win season, you're nothing but a bandwagon fan.

That is, at least, according to Swinney's recent comments (h/t On3).

“We’re at a point in our time, and I hate that, where, you know, people, if you don’t go undefeated, you’re losers. You’re terrible,” Swinney said. “And it’s just such a terrible mindset, you know. And honestly, maybe we need to lose a few games and lighten up the bandwagon. Sometimes the bandwagon can get a little too full.”

Perhaps some Clemson fans are spoiled. The Tigers won the College Football Playoff national championship in 2016, 2018 and 2019 and they made their first in 2015. Swinney's program has been the definition of consistency, but that has admittedly dropped off a bit over the past few seasons.

Still, it's not like things are horrible. We're not talking about a teardown here. We're talking about a 10-2 record in 2020, 10-3 record in 2021 and an 11-3 record last season

Most programs would kill for that kind of success. And as far as the future is concerned, Swinney thinks his program still has "it".

“You know, that’s the one good thing about going through a little bit of so called adversity is you really find out, you know, who’s with you and who’s not,” Swinney said. “But as far as our program, hey, we may win every one of these games out. We could lose every one of them. We’re a really good team that can beat anybody, and we’re a team that could lose to anybody. But our program is built to last. I mean we’re going to be around for a long time. We’ve got the makings, I really believe the foundational pieces to the next championship at Clemson is on this team. I don’t have any doubt about that.”

With six games left on the schedule, Clemson can still finish with a 10-win season. Only two of Clemson's remaining games are against ranked opponents in Notre Dame and North Carolina.