Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney addressed recent perceptions that the Clemson Tigers football program has declined, despite their recent successes.
"We've been very consistent, even the last three years," Swinney said in an interview with 247 sports. "There's a perception, a narrative that gets drummed up that we stink, that we're no good because we haven't made a Final Four. We made it six years in a row. It's hard, you know?"
Swinney emphasized the challenges and the need for some luck along the way, noting the team’s resilience despite tough breaks. "In that three-year span, we won 30 games. We've had a postseason win three years in a row: we won the league, we've won two bowl games. There's probably not four or five teams that can say that."
The coach highlighted Clemson's sustained excellence, pointing to the program's record of 13 consecutive seasons with at least nine wins, including 12 seasons with 10 or more wins. "Consistency on and off the field has kind of been what we've hung our hat on, and we continue to do that," Swinney said.
Swinney acknowledged that winning championships every year is unrealistic but maintained that Clemson remains a competitive force. "It's all good. It's all part of your journey. We're not going to win a championship every year but you want to be a team that has a chance to compete, and I think that we're a team that's consistently shown that," he concluded.
Despite not making the College Football Playoff in recent years, Swinney's message was clear: Clemson's football program remains strong and poised to continue its legacy of success.