CLEMSON — I have been trying to understand this.
All I heard from a large population of Clemson fans during the 2023 season was how awful the offensive line was. They demanded a change.
In December, after evaluating all parts of his program, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made that change. Trust me, it was not an easy one for him to make.
Swinney thinks the world of Thomas Austin, who started and was a captain when Swinney took over as Clemson’s head coach back in 2008. So, letting Austin go was one of the hardest decisions of his coaching career.
I thought that would make Clemson fans happy.
However, as I listen to local radio, read the message boards or the posts on X (formerly known as Twitter), I see pessimistic Clemson fans arguing and telling other fans they are wrong for feeling the Tigers have a chance to win the ACC or make the College Football Playoff.
Their arguments:
- They don’t think Cade Klubnik will improve.
- The offensive line sucks.
It’s comical.
I see and hear these fans complain about Klubnik. Their main argument, “He will not develop in Year Two as a starting quarterback because DJ Uiagalelei did not develop.”
What does Uiagalelei’s development have to do with Klubnik’s? First off, they are entirely different players. Secondly, they have different quarterback coaches.
The offensive line argument is more laughable.
Swinney just did what you wanted him to do. He let go of his old offensive line coach, a guy you thought was too inexperienced and replaced him with a veteran coach in Matt Luke, who is a former head coach in the SEC. A coach, who helped Georgia win its first national championship in 41 years.
If the positive Clemson fans out there want to take the Tigers’ 2024 schedule, which was released on Wednesday, and say it is a schedule where Clemson has a chance to compete for another national title, they have every right to do that and they have the right to believe the 2024 Tigers will be improved.
In the last two years, Swinney has looked at himself and his program and has made some changes.
Does he probably have to do a few more?
Probably.
However, Swinney is not being complacent. He is doing what he thinks is best for the program.
I believe his changes will make the program better.
Will Clemson win another national championship next year?
I do not know.
I do believe the changes he made were made with the intent to get the Tigers back on top.
If you believe Clemson is going to be 7-5 or 8-4 next year, then you go on and believe it. That is your right.
However, if a fellow fan wants to look at the steps Swinney made as a way to get Clemson back on top and they feel the 2024 season could be the year, then they have every right to express that, even if you do not agree.