Paul Finebaum, radio and ESPN television personality, gets ready to speak on television near activities outside the Superdome, before of the College Football Playoff National Championship game in New Orleans Monday, January 13, 2020. Pregame Fans Clemson Lsu Football Cfp National Championship New Orleans
Longtime college football radio host Paul Finebaum took exception to Dabo Swinney’s placement in a recent ranking of college football head coaches.
On Wednesday, Finebaum brought on Sporting News’ Bill Bender to discuss his list of top college football head coaches going into the 2022 season. Bender’s list has Swinney at No. 2, behind only Nick Saban.
Finebaum specifically called out Swinney’s placement above Georgia coach Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs are coming off a National Championship, but Swinney has 2 rings to Smart’s 1.
Still, Finebaum noted the perceived “trajectory” of the programs in his complaint.
“Are you telling me that Kirby Smart is inferior by 1 number to Dabo Swinney, in spite of that championship?” Finebaum said. “I don’t need to remind you but look at the trajectory of the programs right now and where they are. I think Dabo Swinney is yesterday’s news, and Kirby Smart is where it’s at in college football today.”
It’s difficult to compare Swinney and Smart as head coaches due t
o the disparity in tenure. Swinney has been Clemson’s head coach since 2009 while Smart has only been in charge in Athens since 2016.
Amongst Swinney’s other accomplishments: 7-time ACC champion, 3-time Paul “Bear” Bryant Award winner and 4-time participant in the College Football Playoff.
Swinney has been criticized in recent months (and years) for not using the transfer portal like many of his peers.
But so far, Swinney hasn’t been burned by his reliance on internal development. The Tigers have won 10+ games for 11 straight seasons and project to have one of the best defensive units in the country again this season.
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