Dabo Swinney addresses Clemson's expectations: 'I'm not trying to prove anybody wrong'

As the start of the college football season draws nearer, teams are establishing their expectations for the upcoming year. With the offseason storylines surrounding the Clemson Tigers, their 2023 expectations might be a little different than that of seasons past. But according to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, proving outside storylines wrong is not a part of his to-do list.

“Yeah, I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong. I’m just trying to be who we are,” said Swinney. “It’s not like we live in some cage. People hear the good, (and) hear the bad. At the end of the day, the external opinions, narratives, as I’ve said many times, that could be fuel for fire, but it can’t be the fire. Because if it is, then you’re up and down, up and down, based on whatever narrative it is.

“It’s really more about us being committed to just being our very best each and every year. I think last year’s preseason top 25, there was probably about 10 or 11 teams that didn’t even finish ranked. So, none of that stuff really matters. I mean, you gotta go play.”

One of the reasons that gap has narrowed has been the lackluster play of Clemson’s offense over the past two seasons. Long-time Tigers offensive coordinator Tony Elliott left last offseason to become the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers. And his replacement, Brandon Streeter, was dismissed shortly after the end of the 2022 campaign. Now, Swinney and Clemson will turn to Garrett Riley to resurrect their offense in 2023.

Despite the expectations surrounding Clemson not as high as they have been in the past, the Tigers are still a likely candidate to win the ACC and finish the season with double-digit wins. And that is where Swinney’s focus and expectations lie.

“We’re a team that’s in the conversation. We’re good enough. I’m never going to be a guy that’s gonna sit here and say, ‘Hey, we stink; I don’t know if we win five games this year.’ I always think we can win. It’s just how I think… I don’t really get too caught up in whether or not we’re picked to win the league or picked in the top. It really doesn’t matter to me.”

Clemson still can be the Clemson of old. And given the parity in other leagues this season, the Tigers are in a prime striking position. If Clemson runs the table as they’ve done in the past, the Tigers could find themselves in the College Football Playoff at the end of the season. And Swinney will have proven the doubters wrong without even trying.