Dabo Swinney fires back at caller who asks for justification of his salary at 4-4

Just a few years ago, Clemson was one of the dominant programs in college football, having a mini-dynasty rolling. Dabo Swinney has built them from the ground up and had the Tigers competing with the best of the best.

Last season was thought to be an unusual one for Clemson, missing the College Football Playoff. Now, they are 4-4 and could be in danger of missing a bowl game. Results have riled up the fanbase and even led some to question why Swinney is still the head coach.

Well, Swinney fired back at those thoughts, saying the people in charge at Clemson still have faith in him. When a caller wondered how the $11.5 million salary was justified, Swinney really let him have it by saying he was part of the problem.

In fact, Swinney even suggested the caller apply for his job.

“You’re part of the problem,” Swinney said during his Monday call-in show. “If you wanna apply for the job, go for it. And good luck to you.

“I’m not going to let some smartass kid get on the phone and create this stuff. I work for the Board, the President and AD and if they’re tired of me leading this program they can let me know and I’ll go somewhere else.”

In the midst of his rant, Swinney talked about how he was once one of the lowest-paid head coaches in college football. When he took over as the head coach in 2008, Swinney was the assistant head coach and wide receiver coach. Clemson eventually took over the interim tag and gave him full control but being so unproven, the contract was not too lucrative.

Well, two national championships, six College Football Playoff appearances, and eight ACC championships will quickly make you one of the highest-paid head coaches in the country.

Raised expectations come with all that success, though. Clemson fans did not enjoy the three-loss 2022 season and are now sitting at .500 on the first weekend of November. They have been vocal about the frustration and Swinney clapped back in a passive-aggressive way by saying the Clemson bandwagon should shrink.

His tone certainly changed on Monday with this specific caller. Clemson has lost two consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 2011 and the task will not get any easier on Saturday. Notre Dame will head to Death Valley, which is a huge game for both programs.

As they say, winning fixed everything, no matter how bad the on-field situation. Swinney can get back in the fan’s good book by beating the Fighting Irish, even if he does not value their opinions.