Clemson has been a powerhouse college football program under head coach Dabo Swinney, but the team hasn't experienced the same level of success as of late.
From 2015-19, Clemson played in four of five national championship games under Swinney. It took home two titles in that span, defeating Alabama in both 2016 and 2018 while going a perfect 15-0 in the latter season.
Since Clemson's loss to Joe Burrow and LSU in the 2019 national championship game, Swinney's Tigers have not been able to get back to the College Football Playoff.
Clemson fans have been reeling with hopes of returning to prominence, and one particular fan was not shy to voice his strong opinions directly to Swinney on his weekly radio show in 2023.
Here's how a caller named "Tyler from Spartanburg" got all fans banned from calling into Swinney's segment on the airwaves.
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Dabo Swinney vs. Tyler from Spartanburg, explained
Eight weeks into the 2023 season, Clemson owned a mediocre 4-4 record.
Following a disappointing loss to unranked NC State, a fan named Tyler from Spartanburg, S.C., called into Swinney's weekly "Tiger Calls" radio show with a spirited rant criticizing the head coach's performance.
Tyler compared Swinney to Tommy Bowden, who coached Clemson to a 72-45 record from 1999 to 2008, and asked "Why are we paying you $11.5 million to go 4-4?" in a rambling that lasted over two minutes.
Swinney did not hesitate to go right back at the caller, responding with a nearly five-minute rant that ripped the unrealistic expectations of Clemson's fanbase.
He described Tyler as "part of the problem," saying the fanbase's "expectation is greater than the appreciation" while rehashing all of the Tigers program's success under his watch.
"I used to tell people all the time, they'd say, 'What's the difference in Clemson?' Let me tell you: At some places, there's an expectation, but at Clemson, there's an appreciation," Swinney said.
"And what's happened at Clemson is we've won so much that it used to be the fun is in the winning. Now even when you win, people like you complain and criticize the coaches and question everything. People like you.
"Is this a bad year? Yeah, and it's my responsibility. I take 100% responsibility for it," Swinney continued. "But all this bull crap you're thinking and all these narratives you read, listen man, you can have your opinion all you want. You can apply for the job, and good luck to you."
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Swinney wasn't done swinging, either.
"I ain't gonna let some smarta— kid get on this phone and create this stuff," he told the caller.
"So if you've got a problem with it, I don't care. I work for the board of trustees, the president and the AD, and if they're tired of me leading this program, all they've got to do is let me know. I'll go somewhere else where there is an appreciation.
"I'm the head coach and I'm going to do what I believe is right for the long term of this program, what's best for the players and what I think's best for the moment," Swinney said.
"If you got a problem with that, that's fine, but I'm not gonna see you sit here and let you call in. I don't give a crap how much money I make. You ain't gonna talk to me like I'm 12 years old. You've got to be freakin' kidding me."
You can listen to the full exchange below.
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Dabo Swinney radio show ban, explained
After last year's debacle with Tyler from Spartanburg, the WCCP radio station has canceled Swinney's "Tiger Calls" segment for 2024.
"That's why no coaches take calls," Swinney told Jon Blau of Charleston's "The Post and Courier," referencing last year's exchange with Tyler.
"Because people hijack the phone call. They want to hear themselves talk. That's why most coaches around the country don't take calls."
The show has been renamed "Tiger Hour with Dabo Swinney" and instead features a "Tiger Texts" segment, giving fans a chance to express their opinions over a text message instead of a phone call.
Who is Tyler from Spartanburg?
The day after the heated exchange, Rivals.com "Tiger Illustrated" writer Larry Williams did an exclusive interview and feature on the radio star.
Tyler from Spartanburg is a 29-year-old Marine and lifelong Clemson fan who grew up attending every game with his father. "Generations of his family — parents, uncles, aunts, cousins — all went to Clemson," the feature described.
After being banned from the radio show, Tyler asked not to have his last name included in the article to avoid "inviting more attention."
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