Josh Pate recently criticized Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney during a segment on his show, questioning both the tone and focus of Swinney’s Tuesday press conference.
While many fans continue to defend Swinney’s track record, Pate argued that the coach missed the mark in how he addressed the public—particularly in framing Clemson’s own standards of excellence.
Dabo Swinney’s Message Under Scrutiny
Pate illustrated his point with a vivid analogy, likening the moment to a top student bringing home a report card with three B’s:
“Dad’s going to look at you and say, why did you make three B’s? That’s not acceptable,” Pate explained. “And you look back at dad and say, I guess you’re telling me I’m a failure. No, no, no. Parents aren’t going to fall for that. That’s what Dabo was missing here.”
The comments came after Swinney defended his program, stressing that Clemson is judged by a higher bar than schools that haven’t won championships.
Pate pushed back: “Do you hold Clemson to a different standard than the other programs who won nothing? And the answer is yes, you do. So what are you chastising me for?”
Cade Klubnik and the Clemson Way
While critical of Dabo Swinney’s messaging, Josh Pate also took time to highlight the strengths of Clemson’s program and its leader.
“We’re not looking to be just not bad at Clemson. We’re looking to be great,” Pate said.
He pointed to the roster as proof of that potential: “You’ve got homegrown talent, a quarterback like Cade Klubnik developed in-house, and a top-tier coordinator in Garrett Riley. This is the team that should be delivering.”
Reactions to Pate’s remarks have been mixed. Many fans and analysts agreed with his assessment, while others noted that Swinney’s words aren’t always aimed at the public. Often, his comments are crafted for players or recruits, reinforcing the culture and long-term strategy of the program.
Despite the criticism, Pate was clear about his respect for Swinney: “I love Dabo Swinney. I’ve long admired the way he does his business. But even the best can miscommunicate sometimes, and that’s what I’m pointing out.”
https://x.com/JoshPateCFB/status/1968299849075552547
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