Skip to content
Sports

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney blasts Fox Sports host in post-game celebration

    by Rob Tornoe
    Published 

After Clemson’s last-second victory over Alabama in last night's dramatic National Championship game, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney had some choice words for Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd.

Cowherd, whom Philadelphia fans might remember best as the host who said Eagles fans weren't "cerebral" enough to appreciate former head coach Chip Kelly, blasted Clemson on his Fox Sports radio program at the end of November, calling the team "a fraud."

"Clemson's a fraud. Clemson's going to get their ears boxed by whoever they play," Cowherd said. "I don't buy into Clemson. They're the New York Giants of college football. I don't care what their record is."

Obviously, Clemson appeared to be anything but a fraud during last night’s 35-31 win over top-ranked Alabama. But Swinney, who evidently either listened to Cowherd’s remarks or was told about them, made sure to take time out of his post-game celebration to publicly call out the sports-radio host in a big way.
“The guy that called us a fraud. … Was the name Colin Cowherd?” Swinney said. “Ask Alabama if we're a fraud. Ask Ohio State if we're a fraud. Ask Oklahoma if we're a fraud. The only fraud is that guy, because he didn't do his homework. I hope y'all print that.”

Watch:

CBS college sports reporter Tom Fornelli thinks that while it’s surprising Swinney would take the time to call out a talk-show host in such a major way, it’s also hard to blame him.

“It's one thing when somebody in the media is saying they don't think you're going to win a game or that you'll win your conference,” Fornelli wrote. “When they're calling you a fraud, though, that's a little different. That feels more personal, and for Dabo, he clearly took it that way.”

On Tuesday’s episode of “The Herd,” Cowherd addressed Swinney's comments by saying his listeners didn't care if he was wrong about Clemson, only that he talked about subjects they were interested in. 

"I didn't buy them. I watched them lose almost seven times. I was watching when North Carolina State could've beat them at Clemson," Cowherd said. "But what they did last night was remarkable, great for the sport… and I can take a punch."

Watch:

    RT
    Rob Tornoe
Join The Conversation
Community Guidelines