IS THE HEAD MAN EYEING A NEW PASTURE

Is the Head Man on his way somewhere else? That’s the question rippling through the Clemson faithful after a recent TCI article dropped earlier today. The piece, penned by respected writer Jason Priester, referenced the firing of Hugh Freeze and floated a tantalizing hypothetical: if that Auburn job were to come open for Dabo Swinney, should Tiger Nation be worried?

I reached out to several sources close to the scene, and what I heard back was nothing short of startling.

“There’s definitely some smoke there about the Auburn link.”

That line stuck with me.

Dabo has certainly been at odds with a few members of the Board lately. The tension has been palpable, and for a man who prides himself on running his show his way, it’s not unthinkable that he might start gauging other opportunities. Dabo Swinney has never taken kindly to being told how to steer the ship.

Everything around the football facility these past few days has just felt… off. There’s an odd air in the building. Reading between the lines of his most recent press conference was downright fascinating—so many clipped answers, curt nods, and subtle shakes of the head. Dabo isn’t the type to be terse, nor does he typically let a hint of gloom seep through in front of the cameras. But this time? Different vibe altogether.

Adding another wrinkle, we’re told the board has reportedly grown increasingly disillusioned with Dabo and the direction of the program— not to mention a showing by the AD that i wrote about, That’s not nothing.

And then there’s the quote. The one that, in retrospect, lands a little differently now:

“If Clemson is tired of winning they can send me on my way, but I'm gonna go somewhere else and coach. I ain’t going to the beach.”

When he said it a few weeks back, it sounded like standard Dabo defiance. Today, though? It feels more like a breadcrumb.

Now, I’m not saying Dabo Swinney is packing his bags. Not yet. But make no mistake—something is stirring behind those doors, and I’ll be keeping my ear to the ground. Stay tuned, because this story might just be getting started.