Dabo Swinney responds to criticism over Clemson’s transfer portal usage after Georgia loss

Dabo Swinney came into Saturday’s season opener against the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs convinced his No. 14 Clemson Tigers had enough talent on their roster to compete with the top team in the country to start the 2024 season.

Instead, after a slow start in the first quarter, the Bulldogs found their groove and dominated Clemson with a convincing 34-3 victory.

Swinney has been vocal about his stance toward the transfer portal. The Tigers were one of four teams — along with Army, Navy and Air Force, all of which don’t take transfers as service academies — that didn’t land a transfer player in the offseason.

After the loss, Swinney was asked about the criticism he will face over not picking up any new talent from the transfer portal this offseason. Swinney defended Clemson’s approach, but said it deserves to be questioned after a performance like the one his team turned in against Georgia.

“We do what’s best for Clemson year in and year out,” Swinney said after the blowout loss. “And when you lose like this, they got every right to say what they want to say. So say whatever you want to say, write whatever you want to write, that comes with it, it’s just part of it.”

Here’s video of his remarks:

Dabo Swinney on transfer portal criticism: “We’re gonna do what’s best for Clemson … People are going to write and say whatever” and he says that’s warranted after a loss like this. But it doesn’t annoy him pic.twitter.com/ZmLHqiog2z

— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) August 31, 2024

Clemson will host App State in Week 2.

Sean Labar

Sean Labar is an SEC football contributor for Saturday Down South.