Swanny's Take: Swinney vs. Saban

The Bleacher Report’s Kelly Miller and David Kenyon went toe-to-toe discussing which coach, Dabo Swinney or Nick Saban, is the top coach in college football today. Swanny gives some feedback on several of the points that each writer made.

Kelly Miller:

• I'll be bringing my own guts onto the Rest of Y'all Bus to go to bat for Dabo. My main argument in favor of Swinney is that he built a juggernaut out of thin air. When Tommy Bowden resigned midway through the 2008 season, Swinney inherited a program well on its way to an 18th consecutive season with fewer than 10 victories. It took a couple of years for his recruits to take root, but Clemson has now won at least 10 games in nine straight campaigns, including an active streak of five College Football Playoff appearances.
  • Swanny’s Take: This is a true statement, but it’s not like Saban inherited a national power at Alabama either. The Crimson Tide certainly have more tradition and success than Clemson has had historically, but Saban built them into the monster they’ve become. Saban’s five titles at Bama are a pretty steep mountain to climb at this point, even for Swinney.

David Kenyon:

• Yes, like you mentioned, Swinney has enjoyed a relatively similar path. But beyond the national titles—and honestly, I could end there—what I find particularly impressive is how Alabama has consistently boasted one of the country's best defenses. Many of his teams in the pre-Tua Tagovailoa era hardly needed an offense to win games.
  • Swanny’s Take: Brent Venables anyone? I mean you have to consider staff consistency in a program and Swinney’s leaps and bounds ahead of Saban in that department. The Alabama staff is like a revolving door, while Clemson is a steady ship. It would be one thing if the Tigers’ defense wasn’t up to the task, but they have been and as long as Venables is in Tiger Town, I don’t see that changing.

Kelly Miller:

• The five national championships is a fine point that I can't very well refute or dismiss. Swinney only has two. But it bears mentioning that both of Swinney's titles came against Saban—one of which was a 44-16 shellacking that had everyone wondering A) Was that the greatest college football team ever? and B) Are Saban's best days behind him?
  • Swanny’s Take: Miller it’s it on the head here. When you look at the matchups between the Tigers and Tide in the National Championship, you could argue that Swinney should be 3-0 against Saban on the biggest stage. The onside kick call by Saban to help win the 2015 National Title was gutsy and worked to perfection. If Saban is running shenanigans like that, you know he realizes he’s in trouble. You can’t flip that result, but if you could Swinney would have three titles at Clemson and Saban would only have four at Alabama, let that sink in.
• As far as all-time greatness is concerned, sure, your 68-year-old has a leg up on my 50-year-old. However, they have been rather equally dominant against the rest of the nation thus far in the College Football Playoff era.
  • Swanny’s Take: While Miller doesn’t really address it here, that 18 year age gap is a big plus for Coach Swinney. There is no denying that Saban has plenty of years left to coach if he wants to, he seems to be in great health, but right now the 50-year-old Swinney is still a rising star and perhaps the brightest in college football at this point.

© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Alabama knocked off No. 1 Clemson 24-6 in the 2018 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in the opening round of the College Football Playoff.

David Kenyon:

• I'm confident you agree it's incredible that an SEC program, particularly from the loaded West Division, made the CFP in five straight seasons.
• Not for a moment is that a dig at Swinney or Clemson. Five CFPs in a row is extraordinary, no matter the conference. But do I even need to point out that Florida State, NC State and the ACC's Coastal Division are nowhere near on par with Auburn, LSU and usually Georgia? It's OK to acknowledge one path is more difficult, and Saban deserves credit for winning against that tougher competition.
• Also, don't forget the CFP semifinal matchup that Saban and Alabama completely owned against Dabo and Clemson. They have but indirect control of when the matchups happen in the CFP, and it's 2-2 all-time.
  • Swanny’s Take: Lots to breakdown here. Yes, the SEC is a tougher route, there is no questioning that fact. What I will dispute is if that Sugar Bowl matchup was “completely owned” by the Crimson Tide. The score was 10-3 at the half and Clemson was driving to I don’t want to beat up on Kelly Bryant and Deon Cain too much, but if those to connect in the third quarter on a couple of plays, the outcome might have been different. The Tigers were driving, down 10-6 with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter. That’s hardly being “completely owned”. A better quarterback probably takes down that Alabama squad. 

Kelly Miller:

• Bold brilliance is handing the reins to a true freshman quarterback in Week 4, knowing full well that your senior is going to transfer two seconds after you make that decision. Subbing out Hurts when he looked helpless against Georgia simply made sense.
• One more area in which Swinney is clearly superior to Saban is attitude. Some fans undoubtedly get sick of Swinney's "We're just little ol' Clemson" routine, but the players clearly eat it up and thrive off it. He's a great coach and a great cheerleader, and you can't just write that off as nothing.
• Swinney is always hyped up, while Saban—even in his most joyous moments—looks about as excited as Stanley Hudson working on a sudoku puzzle.
  • Swanny’s Take: Once again, this is a great way to look at it. Swinney says ‘the fun is in the winning’ and the Tigers enjoy every single win. Saban looks like he’s got to attend a funeral after each game. There is something to be said for finding joy in success and not feeling beat up by a lack of perfection.

All in all, I thought the duo put together a nice look at the two coaches. While Saban’s success might be seen as the ultimate advantage, Swinney’s youth along with a program that still feels like it’s on the rise lends me to believe that the top coach over the long haul from this point forward is on the Tigers’ sideline this fall.