Clemson’s Dabo Swinney unloads on caller who questions salary, 4-4 record

Swinney asked rhetorically whether former Clemson coaches Danny Ford and Frank Howard, as well as Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, ever had “bad” years.

But Swinney believes it’s less accepted today than it was in the past.

“I used to tell people all the time … at some places there’s an expectation. But at Clemson, there’s an appreciation,” Swinney said. “And what’s happened at Clemson is we’ve won so much … it used to be ‘the fun’s in the winning.’ Now, even when you win, people like you complain, and criticize the coaches, and question everything.”

Swinney continued.

“People like you, when I hired (current Virginia head coach) Tony Elliott to be offensive coordinator, who never called a play in his life, I’m sure you were critical then. Alright? And then he took us to two national championships,” he said. “People like you, who love to destroy people with your comments, I’m sure you’ve never made any bad decisions. I’m sure you’ve lived a perfect life. I’m sure you’ve led a bunch of people. I’m sure you do your job.

“To answer your question, I started as the lowest-paid coach in this frickin’ business and I’m where I am because I’ve worked my (butt) off, every single day, and I ain’t’ gonna let some smart-(aleck) kid get on this phone and create this stuff.”

Swinney, who earlier in the show said he expected to coach another 15 years, said he works for “the board of trustees, the president, and the AD.”

“And if they’re tired of me leading this program, all they gotta do is let me know and I’ll go somewhere else, where there is an appreciation, alright?” he said.

Swinney, who admitted he isn’t perfect, then went on to list his accomplishments outside of coaching, which included being married for 30 years and raising three “great” sons.

“I have been a part of failure many times but there ain’t any one thing in my life that I’ve ever failed at, Tyler. Never. Alright? Ever,” Swinney said. “I wanted to get an education, I got two degrees. I wanted to be the first college graduate in my family. I did it. I wanted to play football at Alabama. I earned a scholarship, lettered three years, worked my (butt) off, won a national championship.