During an episode of the "Late Kick" podcast, college football analyst Josh Pate discussed the unique strategy of Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney in dealing with the transfer portal. While many coaches have embraced the transfer portal, Swinney has taken a different approach, sparking much debate.
Pate emphasized that Swinney’s reluctance to fully embrace the transfer portal is not due to an inability to adapt, but rather a principled stance.
According to Josh Pate, some head coaches are at the top of the game and have been championship-caliber leaders, but situations arose when things started to change:
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“And then for whatever reason the game started to change, offense started to change, defense started to change. And they just dug their heels in,” Pate said.
“They got to a certain point, they said, ‘This is me. This is how I do things. I'm rooting in concrete now. I'm not changing. I'm not evolving.’ And they became dinosaurs."
Pate argued that Swinney's case is different, and isn't about stubbornness, illustrating the idea by encouraging viewers to imagine holding onto core values.
Pate believes that Swinney's legacy remains untarnished:
“In Dabo Swinney's case, so far that's been the portal,” he said. “It's been a resistance to doing what other programs are doing. It aggravates me sometimes because I think Clemson could be better if they use it… It aggravates outsiders sometimes because they look and they say, ‘What's wrong with this guy? Why won't he evolve?’ Well, it's easy, I think, for outsiders to say that because they're not inside.”
“So to answer the question, absolutely not, it doesn't tarnish his legacy,” Pate said. “I don't care if he retires today. His legacy is set to me.”
Despite mixed reactions and criticism from some, Pate said that Swinney's strategy is rooted in a deep commitment to his foundational principles.
Dabo Swinney named top-rank head coach in college football
The Clemson Tigers head coach has been ranked as one of the top three head coaches in college football for the upcoming 2024 season. Sports Grid recently named Swinney as the No. 3 head coach in the sport.
Swinney is credited with elevating Clemson to one of the country's top programs, achieving two national titles, reaching four College Football Playoff (CFP) final games and making seven CFP appearances.
However, his decision not to use the transfer portal has somewhat affected his reputation. Nevertheless, even during Clemson's "off" seasons, they have achieved impressive 10-3 and 9-4 season records.
Swinney's remarkable coaching record includes a 170-43 win-loss record, two National Championship wins (both against Nick Saban's Alabama) and eight ACC Championships.
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