Are Dabo Swinney’s claims of disrespect toward Clemson real? | answered by @mattzemek

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QUESTION: Are Dabo Swinney’s claims of disrespect toward Clemson real?

Whenever Dabo Swinney or Nick Saban — the two coaches who have ruled over college football the past five years — open their mouths and say anything which carries the scent of a personal or editorial comment, it makes news. Whenever Dabo or Saban display any degree of attitude, any hint of antagonism toward someone or something, a lot of people will react, and they will react quickly. They will react strongly. They will react emotionally. The media will eat it up.

It doesn’t matter if it’s real. It doesn’t matter if there is genuine substance attached to the remarks. People will react.

Let’s get one thing straight about coaches who talk about “respect”: Do you really think they care what the average college football fan thinks? Do you think they care what journalists think?

Let’s be real. Coaches don’t say these kinds of things for the outside world. They say these things for their own players and their own locker room. They say these things to take the pressure off young athletes and turn a situation into a holy crusade. Dabo is simply trying to motivate his players. If we are thinking about Dabo’s comments beyond those confines, we are overthinking.

He’s just trying to light a fire under his players and make sure that as defending champions, they don’t take their talent for granted when they play Ohio State.

Dabo and Clemson have done almost everything in college football. One thing the Tigers haven’t yet done: Win national titles in consecutive seasons. That’s what Clemson is gunning for.

If playing the “disrespect” card will ignite his players, why shouldn’t Dabo do this? He’s just trying to win. It ain’t a big deal, despite what many people might think.

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