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Dabo is sounding like Dana with the excuses.
Just use the damn portal like everybody else.
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Dabo is a great coach when he has the ability to develop players from the ground up. It seems he’s afraid to develop players from the portal or when they’re making millions from NIL (NIL absolutely changes the player-coach relationship dynamic drastically).
In my opinion, it’s a religious thing that’s in the way for Dabo.
That said…the problem with Clemson is that they are still seen as an elite program by the media, and that translates to their perception amongst recruits. Kids in high school believe Clemson can function like SEC programs with Dabo at the helm.
The reality is the opposite. Clemson has been in VERY SLOW decline. Dabo doesn’t want to develop a roster in this NIL/Portal era, and when Clemson is slowly losing their dominance, it will (and has) show(n) in their recruiting classes.
Dabo is a good coach. The problem is if he does get replaced, the Clemson brand isn’t strong enough post-Dabo to continue the dominance. That’s how good of a coach Dabo is (or was?) pre-NIL/Portal.
2 Likes
But Dana didn’t have 2 CFP championships. That earns one a lot of grace in tougher times.
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If Dabo leaves for whatever reason, Clemson will regret it.
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I remember when LSU fired Charlie McClendon who had a great record, but couldn’t quite win the NCAA championship poll. There was this guy in Alabama, Bear something or other 
, that just seemed to edge him out in the SEC. It was many years before they were really good again. That’s when they hired Nick Saban.
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Okay, but if Clemson sticks with Dabo, then they will continue down this path of decline… That is, unless Dabo accepts the nature of the modern era and embraces the portal/NIL to the fullest extent (which he still refuses to do).
Dabo was an anomaly for Clemson. Clemson isn’t a top 5 brand independent of Dabo, where they can just hire another decently competent coach and get the same results. Clemson was good because of Dabo.
The other issue is that if Dabo refuses to change his ways, then what exactly would he bring to another program? Programs aren’t going to hire a coach that is unwilling to embrace the portal/NIL.
Clemson is in a bit of a pickle here, because what Dabo said in the press conference isn’t totally untrue. He absolutely has a tremendous resume at Clemson. - But as I and others put it, that resume was built prior to NIL/portal.
On the other hand, if Dabo can get his kids developed into a power team, and keep it going, they could tell kids, “When we recruit you, you are here to be developed and will be; in the long run, it’s best for you.” CWF will continue to use the portal, but each year to a lesser extent as he develops his HS recruits.
Difference between Clemson and Houston is that Houston is smacked dab center of a recruiting hotbed, whereas Clemson is not.
Fritz is also more embracing of the portal and NIL.
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Clemson fans should be careful what they ask for.
Lol for real
Dabo, Dana & Gundy…I wonder what their podcast name would be if they started one 
They were literally in the CFP last year.
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Yes and got obliterated in the first round…and I remind that FSU won 2 games last year.
The ACC was terrible last year, but Clemson was no match for SEC schools.
In 2025, Clemson has losses to LSU and Georgia Tech.
If a 14 point loss is getting obliterated then most of the teams that made the playoffs last year got obliterated.
Did Houston not obliterate Colorado?
I mean if you take out the 2nd quarter maybe lol
But no I don’t think I’d generally call a two score win an obliteration. Now what Ohio State did to Oregon in the first half of their CFP game last year, I think would qualify. 34 unanswered to start the game is a skunking.
Alright we’re throwing words around
Regardless, yes Clemson made the CFP, which is why I emphasized VERY SLOW decline above.
This is the same Clemson that was once competing with Alabama yearly for the 4-team CFP. Clemson does not make the 4-team CFP last year.
Prior to the 12 team CFP, Clemson hadn’t reached the CFP since 2021.
They lost to Georgia, South Carolina and Texas last year (all SEC teams). The only reason the made the CFP was because the ACC was absolutely horrendous.
You know who else doesn’t make the 4 team playoff format last year? Ohio St and Notre Dame.
At the end of the day Dabo has led Clemson to the playoffs 7 times. Thats 2nd most only behind the goat. Their fans should just show their coach some love and stop whining. If they get foolish and fire him, he will get hired up by a big time SEC school immediately and they will regret it.
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Ok in your opinion who makes the 4 team CFP last year?
There is clear decline in Clemson’s football program.
An SEC team is not going to snatch Dabo if he’s going to refuse to use the portal and NIL. If Dabo is willing to use the portal and NIL, then why leave Clemson?
The 4 teams ranked at the top of the final CFP ranking.