Dabo Swinney Fires Back Says Only One Clemson Narrative Held Up

But the coach is not panicking over the hiccup. “If that’s your biggest issue after the opener? Sign me up,” Swinney said. “I got a lot of confirmation about the talent we have. Cade’s already owned it 100 percent and is moving forward.”

The coach also reflected on the media narrative surrounding Clemson this offseason, pushing back against the criticism following the LSU loss.

“There were a lot of narratives this offseason. The only one that held up was Tom Allen and that defense,” Swinney said. “On all the other ones, y’all can start slinging mud. Bring it on. The coaches stink. Garrett stinks. Cade stinks. Write it.”

Swinney noted the pressures of playing in college football, where players are scrutinized in front of the nation.

“This is our world: you fail in front of everybody and you succeed in front of everybody. You have to handle both of those things.” He compared Klubnik’s current situation to other highly touted quarterbacks, like Arch Manning, emphasizing that hype and criticism are part of the game.

Reflecting on the LSU loss, Swinney compared the game to an unexpected challenge early in the season. “It’s like getting the final exam on the first day of class,” he said. “They made a 65, we made a 58. Neither one of us were great. But the good news is we got the answers to the test now … it’s on us to make sure we’re ready.”

Swinney went through the mistakes Clemson made on Saturday but remained confident in the roster. “The talent, the speed, the athleticism, all that’s there … we just gotta get a little better,” he said, emphasizing that the team now knows what adjustments are needed as they prepare for Troy.

As Clemson prepares for Troy, Swinney’s message is one of accountability and resilience. “We’re focused on correcting the little things,” he said. “The talent’s there. Cade’s going to respond. That’s what big-boy football is about.”