What are you doing, Dabo Swinney?
We certainly have a lot of questions about how his Clemson Tigers lost, 31-24, in overtime to No. 4 Florida State at home on Saturday, and college football fans do too. Especially when Florida State didn’t have the lead until scoring its game-winning touchdown.
So much of the Tigers’ loss stemmed from extremely questionable decisions, largely on the coaching. The timing of their final timeouts was perplexing, end-of-regulation clock management was nonexistent and quarterback Cade Klubnik ended up running on a late third-and-11 from Florida State’s 13-yard line, only to set up a missed field goal from kicker Jonathan Weitz, who wasn’t on the team at the start of the season until Swinney called him back.
With about two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Florida State got the ball back after Clemson’s missed field goal but couldn’t break the 24-24 tie. The Tigers had one last chance at scoring with 12 seconds left but completely whiffed.
After Florida State’s offense scored first in overtime, its defense kept Clemson off the board — despite the Tigers at one point needing a single yard for a first down in overtime yet faking a handoff to running back Will Shipley — and that was it.
FLORIDA STATE GOES TO CLEMSON AND BEATS THE TIGERS IN OT 😤 pic.twitter.com/O8v6vn9uEw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 23, 2023
Florida State delivered Clemson its first home in-conference loss since 2016, per ESPN.
It was a thrilling game, to be sure — unless you’re a Clemson fan, probably. And the college football world absolutely let Swinney have it after some seriously poor coaching decisions.
Dabo with the game on the line… pic.twitter.com/odUxWDIaWy
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) September 23, 2023
That last several minutes will not go on Dabo’s Hall of Fame plaque and Norvell didn’t exactly cover himself in glory either. Very poor situational awareness by both.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 23, 2023
Dabo, buddy…what are you doing
— Andrew Hammond (@ahammALDC) September 23, 2023
Dabo: 'We built this program in God’s name, image and likeness'
God: pic.twitter.com/ziUbaFhW4A
— lukezim (@lukezim) September 23, 2023
Animal House.
Blazing Saddles.
A Three Stooges pie fight.
A perfect Carlin, Pryor, Williams, or Izzard sketch.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Fawlty Towers.
Dabo Swinney getting housed.Some things will never NOT be funny. pic.twitter.com/HtX0B7IKby
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 23, 2023
Watching Dabo Swinney coach football pic.twitter.com/IxxDcUALdj
— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) September 23, 2023
Forfeiting your third down to set up a field goal for your kicker-who-wasn't-on-the-roster-a-week-ago is … not great, Dabo.
— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) September 23, 2023
It’s been all downhill for Dabo since this dropped pic.twitter.com/oHNqfTN0hh
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) September 23, 2023
Dabo has been nominated for Clock Commander of the Week. https://t.co/Y9rFqORyZK
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) September 23, 2023
Dabo’s decision making… 😬 pic.twitter.com/w6oXxYiLFn
— John Ewing (@johnewing) September 23, 2023
Coaches lost that one for Clemson
No way around it
And I’m not here for any of Dabo’s glass half full commentary
— Tiger Commenter (@TigerCommenter) September 23, 2023
Dabo running to the press conference to blame his kicker when he chose to run with the QB on 3rd and 11 knowing his kicker has a career long of 30 yards: pic.twitter.com/t319AJtaah
— Hot Whistle (@drillyamama) September 23, 2023
Dabo gettin ready to throw his coordinators under the bus pic.twitter.com/RFgJtYYs4d
— Matt Swartz (@MattSwartz723) September 23, 2023
Dabo in 2 years pic.twitter.com/sFCmAqlIJd
— Vic Damone Jr (@dagreatest33) September 23, 2023
“Dabo Swinney- when are you going to stop losing big games when you don’t have Trevor Lawrence or Deshaun Watson?” pic.twitter.com/9Rprhrzl5q
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) September 23, 2023
Dabo Swinney without a top QB in the country pic.twitter.com/xAd6r3Ixjj
— BLACK ADAM SCHEFTER (@B1ackSchefter) September 23, 2023