HOUR 3 | Diesel and Cole Bryson critique Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's past football success

Detailed Episode Expansion Hour 3: Analyzing Clemson and the Dabo Swinney Era Hosts Diesel and Cole Bryson open the hour debating comments made by sports analyst Paul Finebaum regarding Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney. Finebaum argued that the Clemson program is "slipping and sliding away" and is no longer elite, mocking Swinney for focusing on past achievements rather than current team performance. Diesel calls Finebaum a "jackass" and points out his history of diminishing Swinney's accomplishments, suggesting that Finebaum acts as a media bully who wouldn't confront Swinney directly. The hosts dive into Clemson's recent struggles, acknowledging that going 7-6 last season was a failure by the program's standards. They discuss Swinney's resistance to utilizing the transfer portal aggressively and how that has impacted their competitiveness against rising programs like Miami. They also examine the crucial quarterback position, noting that Swinney missed on Cade Klubnik but expressing hope for younger talent like Christopher Vizzina and Ty Simpson. Looking ahead to their season opener against LSU, the hosts analyze the high stakes, noting that if Clemson performs well, the media narrative will quickly shift. ACC Executive Insights: Michael Strickland Interview Michael Strickland, the Senior Vice President for Football and Chief Assistant to ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, joins the show live from the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte. Strickland discusses the conference's new "Built in the ACC" campaign, emphasizing that the league focuses heavily on developing student-athletes as both football players and adults. Strickland shares impressive business milestones for the conference, revealing that television ratings increased by 68% and revenue rose by 56% over the last season. He credits this growth to high-quality coaching, stellar player matchups, and strategic broadcast partnerships with ESPN and ABC. When asked about media rights and corporate sponsorships, Strickland highlights the conference's discretion and stability. He confirms the ACC's unanimous 34-0 vote in favor of a 12-team expanded College Football Playoff model to give more deserving teams a shot at the championship. He also explains the mathematical reasoning behind the league's new analytic-based tie-breaker system, designed to fairly evaluate the full body of work for teams that may not play each other in a 17-team conference. Player Spotlight: Duke Blue Devils' Luke Mergott The hour wraps up with an interview featuring Duke defensive lineman/linebacker Luke Mergott. Mergott reflects on the Blue Devils' standout win against Clemson last season, noting that while it looked good on paper, the defense still had plenty of areas to clean up. He shares insights into his academic journey, celebrating his recent graduation with a psychology degree and his transition into a fast-paced Master of Management Studies program at Duke. Mergott talks about his coaching staff, naming head coach Manny Diaz and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke as his toughest critics who consistently hold him accountable. Looking ahead to the upcoming season, he voices his support for the proposed "5 and 5" eligibility rule, which he feels will benefit younger players looking to earn snaps early in their careers. Finally, Mergott previews Duke's quarterback room, praising the development of Maalik Murphy and Grayson Loftis, and briefly mentions the anticipation of playing against his former teammate, quarterback Darian Mensa, who transferred to Miami. Full Episode Transcript Diesel: Someone should dunk him in that Raising Cane's sauce because I am getting so just exasperated listening to Dabo tell us how great he used to be! They're not great anymore. You don't hear Brady talking about his Super Bowls, or LeBron, or any of the great—I mean Dabo is just stuck on stupid right now trying to convince us that his program is still legitimate. It's not. It's slipping and sliding away. It's good ...