Dabo Swinney Sported Black Eye at Clemson Basketball Game, and Fans Had Jokes

The Clemson football coach was seen with a black eye at Saturday’s Clemson-North Carolina men’s basketball game.

Clemson’s football season ended last week, which allows coach Dabo Swinney some free time on his schedule. However, when he showed up to the Tigers men’s basketball game on Saturday, Swinney sported a peculiar look.

ESPN’s cameras panned to Swinney in the stands, showing the football coach with a distinct shiner under his left eye. Fans who were watching the game weren’t expecting Swinney to show up on screen, but when they saw his black eye, a number of took to social media to share their confusion and crack jokes about the matter.

Dabo been fighting hard in the portal huh pic.twitter.com/3GQ0gcAOLc

— Rob 🦖 (@robdresch) January 6, 2024

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney with a black eye … but wait until you see what Tyler from Spartanburg looks like. pic.twitter.com/UzsOrDPM5u

— Cody Nagel (@CodyNagel247) January 6, 2024

Someone beat up Dabo swinney?

— year 22 (@johnrivers131) January 6, 2024

Dabo have a rough night? pic.twitter.com/gXUB63RVxi

— ASGI Guy (@AsgiGuy) January 6, 2024

Can someone explain why Dabo Swinney has a black eye?!? #Clemson pic.twitter.com/mU1gmCfgdZ

— James’s Mancave (@jlcu_ttmgraphs) January 6, 2024

100% Dabo caught an elbow in a pickup game, right?

— Woody Whitehurst - Women’s Lacrosse Supporter (@woodywhitehurst) January 6, 2024

Who beat up Dabo😂😂😂😂

— Marquise Williams (@1MjWilliams2) January 6, 2024

Swinney was last in the public’s view on Dec. 29, when Clemson defeated Kentucky in the Gator Bowl. That was only eight days ago, but something happened since then to cause that nasty shiner.

With Clemson’s football season over, Swinney is not due to speak with the media in the near future, so we may not get an explanation about Swinney’s bruise anytime soon. In the meantime, fans likely will continue to joke and speculate about how Swinney got a black eye.