Clemson HC Dabo Swinney Rips Officiating After Win vs. Pitt

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made sure to reiterate after the Tigers beat Pitt, 24-20, that he’s never been a part of anything like a fourth down personal foul called against linebacker Dee Crayton.

Swinney was critical of the officiating crew in his postgame press conference Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium for a few reasons.

“I’ve never been a part of what we were a part of tonight,” Swinney said. “Never been a part of it. And listen, I’m not saying — I mean, they missed the call. It was a hands-to-the-face, but you can’t review hands-to-the-face. And if a guy is not hurt, I think the ball is probably snapped. I’ve never been a part of that, I can’t wait to have a conversation on that one for sure.

“And then I don’t know what targeting is anymore. I really don’t. I don’t know what — there was a targeting in the Cal-Miami game earlier this year that — I don’t know what targeting is anymore. I really don’t. I’ve coached football, I’ve been doing this for a long time, I don’t know what it is. It changes every week. So, some tough, tough breaks on both sides. There were some tough calls for them and tough calls for us.”

Crayton smacked/elbowed/hit Nate Yarnell in the facemask hard, knocking Yarnell back and into Lyndon Cooper, who left the game with an injury.

The officials initially didn’t throw a flag, but after a long discussion, the officiating crew announced a personal foul. It turned a potential third-and-12 into an automatic first down on a fourth quarter drive that ended with a go-ahead Ben Sauls field goal.

“Guy comes from the end zone and all the sudden drops a flag,” Swinney said. “And then they tried to explain to me that I know it feels awkward, but this is the right thing and we were discussing it. So, all you can do is just say, ‘Well, okay, let’s move on,’ and that’s what we did, but I’ve never been a part of that. Ever. Ever.”

The targeting call came in the second quarter after linebacker Sammy Brown drilled Yarnell in the chest with the crown of his helmet. By the letter of the law, it’s a targeting call. But Swinney continued to express his disbelief.

“I’m gonna have to go to a seminar in the offseason or something, Targeting Anonymous or something,” Swinney said.

Pitt was called for 13 penalties for 100 yards, and Clemson was called for six penalties for 57 yards.