Clemson’s $10million-a-year football coach Dabo Swinney blows up at radio show caller over 4-4 season: ‘You’re part of the problem… You can apply for the job and good luck to you!’

  • Clemson’s struggles this season continued last weekend when they lost to NC State
  • The Tigers will miss the Playoff again this year under coach Dabo Swinney
  • DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney on Monday hit out at a fan who questioned his $10 million salary amid the team’s struggles this season.

After the Tigers’ 24-17 loss to NC State on Saturday, they are 4-4 and will miss the College Football Playoff for the third straight year.

And when a fan identified as “Tyler in Spartanburg” asked the coach on his radio show why he was earning his huge salary while the team was performing poorly, Swinney ripped the caller.

“You’re part of the problem,” Swinney said. ‘The appreciation, the expectation, is greater than the appreciation. That is the problem.

“We’ve had 12 straight winning seasons with 10 or more wins. That’s happened three times in 150 years. Clemson hasn’t tasted a national championship in 35 years; we’ve won two in seven years. And there are only two other teams that can say that: Georgia and Alabama.

Dabo Swinney called on the radio Monday and told him he was

Dabo Swinney called on the radio Monday and told him he was “part of the problem.”

Swinney reacts on the sideline during his team's loss to NC State this weekend

Swinney reacts on the sideline during his team’s loss to NC State this weekend

‘Is this a bad year? Yes, and it’s my responsibility,” Swinney continued. ‘Take full responsibility for it. But all this nonsense you think, all these stories you read. Listen, man, you can voice your opinion all you want, and you can apply for the job. And good luck to you.’

Swinney, who was hired as Clemson’s head coach in 2009, made $816,000 in his first season but was rewarded with a 10-year contract worth $115 million after leading the school to two national championships.

“I started as the lowest-paid coach in this industry (and) I worked my ass off,” he told the caller.

“I’m not going to let this smart guy come to the phone and tell me how to do my job.”

Clemson has a tough test this weekend against No. 12 Notre Dame.