Clemson University's 2024 college football season couldn't have started any worse, as the Tigers suffered a blowout 34-3 loss to the SEC rival Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.
And social media has not been kind to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney.
Swinney hasn't embraced the evolution of college football's transfer portal, which has allowed programs to rapidly improve by acquiring new talent each year.
Fans who saw Saturday's result were quick to point out that that was the reason Clemson failed to pull off a win against the No. 1 team in the country.
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Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis/USA Today Sports)
Swinney answered questions about the transfer portal after the loss.
“People are going to say what they want to say,” Swinney said, via Clemson Wire. “It doesn't matter what I say. People are going to say what they want to say. And when you lose like this, they have the right to say what they want to say. So say what you want to say, write what you want to write. That's the way it is. That's all there is to it.”
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart commented on Swinney's program-building strategy just days before the matchup, saying, “I'm like Dabo, I want to keep all of my players,” but Smart has been successful in taking advantage of the transfer portal since its inception and has led some great Bulldogs teams that have won national titles the past few years.
Georgia's offense explodes in the second half to crush Clemson in season opener
Swinney's thinking wouldn't have been an issue if Clemson, ranked 14th in the country, had a better record against Georgia earlier this year, but that wasn't the case, and critics on social media have aimed their criticism directly at Swinney.
“Dabo Swinney's job is to do everything in his power to field a team that can compete at the highest level of college football,” one X user tweeted. “He's not doing his job so he's going to be criticized accordingly, and totally rightfully so.”
Another X user wrote, “Dabo Swinney's refusal to enter the transfer portal and negative attitude towards NIL was on full display today. Georgia's talent is a world apart from Clemson's. Swinney is a VCR stuck in a Blu-ray world.”
Clemson University coach Dabo Swinney reacts on the sideline during the second half of the Aflac Kickoff Game against the University of Georgia, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Atlanta. (image)
There was more, with social media users posting memes expressing their thoughts about Swinney.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnick struggled, completing 18 of 29 passes for 142 yards, one interception and no touchdowns, while Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was electric for the Bulldogs.
Beck, a potential Heisman Trophy candidate this season, completed 23 of 33 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Nate Frazier also ran for a score and was the Bulldogs' rushing leader with 83 yards on 11 attempts.
Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney reacts to a refereeing call during the first quarter of the 2024 Aflac Kickoff Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Ken Ruinard/USA Today Sports)
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Clemson's start has been less than ideal, but they'll have a chance to bounce back next week in their home opener against Appalachian State.
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