In a development that has stirred the college football world, former Clemson Tigers defensive coordinator Wesley Goodwin—now serving as the assistant linebackers and outside linebackers coach at the University of Oklahoma—has reached out with a heartfelt and candid message to current Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.
Goodwin, who spent over a decade with the Clemson football program in various coaching and analyst roles before making the move to Oklahoma, shared a message that reflected both gratitude and a sense of urgency. In his message, Goodwin acknowledged the pivotal role Swinney played in his coaching development and career trajectory.
> “Dabo, I owe a lot of who I am as a coach to the time I spent with you at Clemson,” Goodwin reportedly stated. “You taught me how to lead men, how to keep faith at the center, and how to stay focused when the noise got loud. But the game is changing fast, and I hope Clemson evolves with it before it’s too late.”
Sources close to the situation indicate that Goodwin’s message wasn’t just a nostalgic nod to his past but a pointed reflection on the current state of the Clemson program. With the Tigers coming off a pair of underwhelming seasons and critics questioning whether Swinney is adapting to the new realities of college football—particularly in areas like the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness)—Goodwin’s words appear to strike at the heart of the current challenges facing Clemson.
> “This isn’t 2016 anymore,” Goodwin is believed to have written. “If we’re going to compete for national titles again, it’s going to take more than tradition and culture—we have to embrace change.”
While the contents of the full message have not been made public, insiders suggest that Goodwin’s outreach was intended as both a personal gesture and a professional critique—aimed not at undermining Swinney but encouraging him to evolve as the college football landscape continues to shift.
As of now, Coach Swinney has not publicly responded to Goodwin’s message. However, the communication between the two longtime colleagues has sparked speculation among fans and analysts alike about potential future changes at Clemson—and whether the Tigers might consider rethinking their current strategies on and off the field.
