CLEMSON, S.C. -- Like him or loathe him, Dabo Swinney doesn't mind speaking his mind, nor does he ever spend much time trying to be somebody he's not.
Entering his 14th season as Clemson's head coach and 20th season overall, Swinney has steered the Tigers to the top of the college football world -- and he's done it his way.
Clemson (gasp) failed to make the College Football Playoff last year for the first time after six straight appearances. Swinney joked that he's on the hot seat heading into the 2022 season. The Tigers hold their annual spring game on Saturday, and Swinney sat down with ESPN this week to discuss everything from lofty expectations, to nasty letters he received when he got the job, to his new-look staff, to name image and likeness, to the transfer portal, to former quarterback Deshaun Watson.