Every so often during college football season, the term “Clemsoning” pops up. It’s roughly defined as an inexplicably poor performance against weak opposition. Well, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is very tired of hearing it, and he let everyone know after Saturday’s 43-24 win over Georgia Tech.
Things are going well for the Tigers. They’re 5-0, ranked in the top ten, and very much in the playoff conversation. So when Swinney was still asked about how his team handles the “Clemsoning” jibes, he did not mince words.
“I think it’s ridiculous that you’re even asking me that question,” Swinney says to begin the three minute rant. “I don’t know why we even bring up the daggum word. How about some of these other teams out there that lose to unranked opponents all the time?”
Swinney goes on to call the term “media bullcrap,” pointing out that his team hasn’t lost to an unranked opponent since 2011 and listing an impressive list of power schools that his Tigers have beaten in recent years.
“I’ll tell you how they feel about it,” Swinney continues. “They don’t like it. It’s a lack of respect. It’s not doing your homework and paying attention to what reality is. I should not be asked that question. Period. That’s how we feel about it. […] People need to get some more adjectives.”
Swinney has a point. His team is still flying under the radar nationally despite being undefeated, and he still has to answer questions about his team’s history of making mountains out of molehills. Still, it’s quite the impressive rant.
