Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers Have been Faculty Soccer’s Greatest Disappointment in Week 1

About 10 years in the past, it appeared like Dabo Swinney was lastly getting it.

His Clemson groups had develop into the gold customary of the Atlantic Coast Convention, dominating the league and going toe-to-toe with Alabama. The Tigers gained nationwide championships over the Crimson Tide in 2016 and 2018 and performed for a title the next yr however misplaced to LSU’s Joe Burrow. No shame there, as a result of these Tigers may need been the most effective school crew of the final 20 years.

Past that, Swinney established every thing else a championship program requires—tradition, relationships and accountability—whereas doing issues his means. Life was good within the Upstate, and it appeared it might keep that means for some time.

Quick-forward to Saturday. Clemson opened the 2024 season with a 34-3 loss to Georgia, a sport that was shut till it wasn’t. Technically, the Tigers may nonetheless win the ACC, may nonetheless seem within the expanded playoff, and will nonetheless win the nationwide title.

However they gained’t. And so they in all probability gained’t till Swinney stops dwelling within the was and begins dwelling within the is. As in, he must give up being so cussed and begin realizing the switch portal and NIL are instruments each coach has to make use of.

By ignoring the portal and NIL, Swinney is actually the man who sits all the way down to eat a four-course meal with out silverware. You will get full finally, however you’re certain going to be a multitude by the point it occurs. And Clemson soccer is presently the four-car wreck in flip 4 at Darlington you can’t unsee.

Not that a lot of the ACC is a lot better lately. Florida State dribbled down its pants leg final weekend in Eire, shedding to Georgia Tech in a sport that uncovered the Seminoles’ lack of toughness. Virginia Tech was touted as a possible sleeper crew by some specialists, then misplaced in additional time at Vanderbilt.

So long as we’re on the topic, a particular dishonorable point out to Commodore followers, or what existed of them Saturday. Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia stated he needed to go to a silent depend on his crew’s profitable landing due to the noise Hokie followers have been making. Silent depend at residence? That may be just like the Cameron Crazies attempting to rattle one among their very own gamers on a key foul shot. 

If relegation existed in school soccer, the ACC would throw out about half its colleges and usher in both half the Solar Belt or half the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention. Assume North Dakota State couldn’t end within the prime half of the ACC this yr? 

The Bison have been higher than Colorado for many of Thursday night time’s sport and may need gained in Boulder if the Large 12 refs hadn’t whiffed a blatant concentrating on that price NDSU 15 valuable yards on its final drive. Coaches come and go in Fargo, however blocking and tackling sticks round. It’s the way you win soccer video games.

Oh, what about Miami, you ask? Didn’t it submit a giant win at Florida? Effectively, sure, should you’re into profitable in opposition to packages who’re about to flush a $26 million buyout on a coach, Billy Napier, whose seat is hotter than the climate in Gainesville. 

And moreover that, the Hurricanes haven’t been related in 20 years, or concerning the time Kellen Winslow Jr. referred to himself as a soldier in one of the underrated postgame rants of our time after a house loss to Tennessee.

Perhaps Dabo can try this. Or begin taking calls on his coaches present once more. 

Or he may hit the replace button and begin utilizing the portal and NIL like everybody else does. And possibly contending for championships once more.