The ESPN analyst’s comment adds to a season-long debate about Clemson’s direction under its longtime head coach.
Paul Finebaum needed only one word to describe Dabo Swinney.
It wasn’t flattering.
Appearing in a video segment in which he was asked to sum up several head coaches’ current situations, Finebaum labeled the Clemson coach “Grandpa,” a remark that quickly resonated with — and frustrated — many Clemson fans.
The comment reflects a critique Finebaum has repeated throughout the 2025 season, centering on Swinney’s perceived resistance to change in an era reshaped by the transfer portal, NIL and rapid roster turnover.