Tommy Bowden warns Clemson fans about being critical of Dabo Swinney

Tony Crumpton · Assoc. Editor · Friday, July 05 2024

Former Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden appeared on the OutKick.com Hot Mic show recently to discuss the current coaching environment which can be very stressful as fans want huge winning seasons year after year.

For some fans, there is no patience for any type of down year.

“Well, that’s kind of the way, unfortunately, the way this profession is,” Bowden said. “And I thought you saw a little bit of frustration with Dabo (Swinney). He set the standard really, really high, and he was just, I think, in making some criticism."

Bowden cautioned Clemson fans against over-criticizing Swinney, suggesting it could drive him away.

“But with what they get paid nowadays, I think you’re going to see a lot of what’s just happening with five coaches from college football either taking coordinator roles – Chip Kelly at Ohio State, and then the guy at Buffalo and the guy at South Alabama going to Alabama – the guy at BC going to be the defensive coordinator in the NFL. So, they need to be careful if they get on him too much because he’ll take off. He’s got plenty of money.”

Bowden likes to remind people that he hired Swinney as an assistant coach.

“When I hired him, Dabo wasn’t in coaching. He got out of coaching,” Bowden said. “He was out of coaching two years when I hired him, and I caught a little bit of criticism because (they said), ‘Hey, you can hire anybody you want to at Clemson, why are you hiring a guy that’s out of coaching?’"

Reflecting on his own experience, Bowden noted how quickly things can change in the coaching world.

“So, he’s had a taste of civilian life, per se, and with this transfer portal, it wouldn’t surprise me if he says, ‘Hey, I can do other things, I’ve done other things.’ And he’s going to have a statue and be in everything you can do at Clemson to be in – Ring of Honor, statue and all that stuff, he’ll have. But they have a short fuse there. I went 9-3 and signed a seven-year contract. Six months later, I was gone. So, they have a short leash.”

WATCH | Kirby Smart, Mac Brown and Dabo Swinney: What do these three have in common? Saban, Harbaugh and Jimbo are gone. Is Dabo the next on the way out? Coach Tommy Bowden weighed in with @HuttonOutkick on Hot Mic. 🏈⤵ @Outkick @TheChadWithrow #Clemson #CFB pic.twitter.com/PBSqbhiAYg
— OutKick Hot Mic (@Outkick360) July 4, 2024