Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney miffed by reporter's fair question

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney was not in the best of moods by the end of his game week press conference at the Smart Family Center on Tuesday. Swinney took exception to a pretty reasonable question by one of the Tigers' beat writers. Following the single most lopsided defeat in his 18 seasons

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What is the story about?

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney was not in the best of moods by the end of his game week press conference at the Smart Family Center on Tuesday.

Swinney took exception to a pretty reasonable question by one of the Tigers' beat writers.

Following the single most lopsided defeat in his 18 seasons as Clemson's head coach, a 51-10 loss at LSU, Swinney was asked by a reporter if he had any regrets about his offseason decisions regarding roster construction.

Swinney chuckled before using it as an opportunity to seemingly lecture the reporter.

"You come with all these questions. You're the 'gotcha' guy. No, I don't (have any regrets). I regret being 0-1 right now. I regret that, but no, we're -- can you ask me that at the end of the season? You know?

The season ain't over. I mean, we got one game. We've got 11 more. What if we go 11-1? You promise me you'll ask me that then?"

After being assured by the reporter that they would, in fact, ask Swinney the same question at the end of the season, Swinney continued.

"I'm not answering questions like that... I know that's your role and that's this environment, to be the guy who wants to create all the controversy and ask all the controversial questions. If that's who you are, that's fine. I get it."

Swinney did answer the question but not before asking the reporter if they had ever played football.

"See, we played one game. One game. Alright? Did you play football? OK, well, they give you 12 games, and at the end of the year, you count them up. Alright? And, you know, that's when those type of questions are fair to me. Not after one game (against) maybe the best team in the country."

That one game saw Clemson held to 145 yards of total offense while its defense allowed almost 650 yards (644). LSU outgained Clemson on the ground, 309-45, and had 38 first downs to Clemson's eight. The Bayou Bengals led 31-3 at halftime and 44-3 at the end of the third quarter.

"Other people have good teams and coaches and things like that, too, so I give them credit," Swinney concluded. "We've got 11 more games to go battle, then we'll count them up. Then you can ask me whatever question you want."

Clemson's next game is against Georgia Southern in the Tigers' home opener at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ACC Network.

You can watch Swinney's full press conference below.

Clemson football schedule 2026

Sept. 5: at LSU Tigers (L, 51-10)
Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern Eagles, 7:30 p.m., ACC Network
Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina Tar Heels, noon, ESPN
Sept. 25: at California Golden Bears, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 3: vs. Miami Hurricanes, TBA
Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern Buccaneers, TBA
Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech Hokies, TBA
Oct. 31: at Florida State Seminoles, TBA
Nov. 7: at Syracuse Orange, TBA
Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, TBA
Nov. 20: at Duke Blue Devils, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, TBA

Record: 0-1.

Stephen A. Smith puts Clemson on blast after getting torn apart by LSU

📸 Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network , USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect https://t.co/CebUZvJ80J pic.twitter.com/Qk7PQujEIl
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) September 8, 2026