Dabo Swinney, We Hardly Knew Ye

↵This isn’t to say interim Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who took over the Tigers after Tommy Bowden “resigned” this week, has no chance of keeping the job permanently once the season ends. This is to say Swinney has almost no chance of keeping the gig. In a loss to Georgia Tech, Clemson played as bad as they had under Bowden, lacking any sense of cohesion or collective focus.
↵
↵The Tigers gave up six turnovers, including four turnovers spread between three passers. But Swinney lost his tenuous hold on the job in final minutes, when Clemson A.D. Terry Don Phillips joined the team on the sideline. With 2-1/2 minutes left, down four and facing fourth and 22, Swinney called the ol’ hook and ladder. FAIL.
↵
↵After the shocking fumble, Phillips could be seen talking smack at a flustered Swinney, who looked more embarrassed than anything. Swinney paced, Lane Kiffin looked up South Carolina real estate, and Ga. Tech ran down the clock. Forced to punt with about 10 seconds left, the Jackets watched Swinney send all 11 Tigers in an attempt to block the kick. No one in orange got close, and precious seconds ticked down as Tech watched the ball settle to the turf with nary a Tiger around.
↵
↵The Hail Mary got picked off. Swinney made various motions to get his team to huddle up and leave the field together. One player responded. Everyone else in orange wandered aimlessly. Something tells me the Clemson players aren’t buying Swinney’s continued leadership either.↵