CLEMSON — I do not know if Dabo Swinney gets it or if he is just being stubborn. Either way, it’s frustrating the Clemson fan base.
What exactly am I talking about?
During his weekly press conference in advance of Saturday’s huge ACC game against Virginia Tech, Swinney once again called his program a “Developmental Program,” one that will recruit the best high school players that fit the Clemson Cultural and then fill it in with transfer portal guys as they go along, “as those needs are either opened up, or created in some form or fashion.”
It was not the answer fans wanted to hear from Clemson’s veteran coach, who has come under fire for his nonchalant nature when it comes to using the transfer portal. The majority of the complaints from Swinney’s 18th team at Clemson centers around the quarterback position, and the offensive line.
The Tigers (4-2, 2-1 ACC) have struggled mightily at both positions this season. As everyone knows, Swinney passed on going after a portal quarterback because he felt they had what they needed on campus already.
Though he and offensive line coach Matt Luke dipped their hands into the portal in hopes of finding a quality offensive tackle or two, the argument is that Swinney did not cast a large enough net in the portal to capture the necessary offensive linemen the program needed to find – like their rivals to the South did in Columbia.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer went to the portal and brought in nine offensive linemen to correct an issue that plagued the Gamecocks in 2025. The result, USC currently leads the SEC in rushing offense, averaging 232.3 yards per game.
The Gamecocks also rank near the top of the conference in fewest sacks and tackles for loss allowed. As bad as they were last year—and they were bad—Beamer and his coaching staff fixed those issues by attacking the portal.
Swinney’s stance is “we have to develop them” whether they come from the high school ranks or the portal. And though I get it and I understand what he is trying to accomplish, the thing is he does not have to develop them.
Clemson did not develop Corey Myrick or Jerome Carter. They did not develop Will Heldt. They came to Clemson already developed and ready to go, just insert them into the lineup and watch them go.
All three of those guys have had instant success. The trick is finding more like them. However, to do that, you must venture into the portal even more.
Yes, the Tigers got Elliot Washington, London Merritt and Jeremiah Alexander out of the portal and they have developed them. And that is great, too.
Clemson fans are not asking Swinney to bring in an entirely new roster every year of Will Heldts, Corey Myricks and Jerome Carters from the portal. They want to see the Sammy Browns, Jahiem Lawsons and Ashton Hamptons, too. However, what they do want to see is when there is an obvious need that can possibly be fixed by going to the portal—such as this year’s QB and OL issues—and you totally skip over it. That is what they do not want to see.
I know Dabo Swinney does not care what I think or write, and nor should he. And I understand that he does not have to listen to those fans and keyboard warriors who spread their displeasures all over the radio, message boards and social media.
However, he needs to care about who gave the football program $30 million this year. He needs to care about their opinions. He needs to care because the folks at IPTAY and Clemson Ventures are going back to those same donors and asking for more money this coming off-season, if they have not already.
It’s already being reported the Tigers will spend $40 million on next year’s roster.
This is who Swinney needs to care about. Because if he does not, then why should they care? Why should they invest in the program, if they feel their return on investment isn’t where they think it should be.
Swinney said, “Ain’t no players coming here for free.”
Even more of a reason to listen to your investors.