South Carolina Gamecocks College Football Pregame Quote, 11/26/2024

Got a big challenge on our hands, Dabo has done an awesome job with his team this year. Disappointing game one against Georgia. Have a lot of respect for the way they didn’t listen to all the noise about him and their program and their team after that game. Just stayed focus on getting better and winning the next one and they absolutely have. They have been on a roll since that game. Certainly, playing their best football right now. For him personally, a ton of respect for him as a person, human being, coach. The  consistency that he has had year in and year out at his place is remarkable and really hard to do. I saw my dad do it at Virginia Tech with the consecutive 10-win seasons that he had. You see Dabo doing the same thing. It is a huge testament to their program when every single week in that conference, they are basically getting the opposing team’s best shot because they are all trying to knock off Clemson because of the run they have had in the ACC. A lot of respect for him. He has a great football team.” “Cade Klubnik is playing great right now. The best ball of his career. Shows his athleticism and ability to make all the throws, run. Veteran offensive line. I know they have had some injuries there but even the guys that have come in to replace some of those injured guys have done a really good job. Mafah the running back is a load. Can hurt you inside. Can hurt you outside. They ride him and rightfully so. Receiving corps, a lot of the guys that we played last year but then obviously, it is the two freshmen that have come in and made a difference with their team this year. They are fantastic players and Antonio Williams in the slot is a really good player, obviously. We know all about him and his talent level, for sure. Defensively, every year, they have an amazing defense and this year is no different. They are big and physical. Strong on the line of scrimmage. They have depth there. Tackles that can play end. Ends that can play tackles. The linebackers are really, really good. Carter, I will be glad when he is out of there. We got Trotter out of there last year, but Carter is still around, and he is a fantastic player. A ton of respect for him and love watching him. 17, Woodazz, is a great player. We recruited the heck out of Sammy Brown and know what kind of player he is. They are really good with the way they are able to move those guys around whether it be Woodazz playing out in space as the SAM linebacker or nickel or playing in the box as a MIKE linebacker with Brown in there, as well. I know he has been banged up. They have been able to develop depth behind him and then really good in the secondary. They present problems on special teams. Mafah has been involved in the return game. Antonio is back there returning punts and he is hard to bring down. They do a good job. They know what they are doing. Big challenge. Big opportunity. Our guys are excited to go up there and be a part of this game. Need to have a big week of practice and give ourselves a chance to try and go 1-0 again which has been our mentality all year and this week is no different.”

On how the players responded at the first day of practice this week

“I think they have been good. We talked about it a little bit on Sunday. We play on Saturday. We bring them on Sunday afternoon, and we have a 1:45 team meeting on Sundays. Then, we don’t see them again as far as a full team until Tuesday morning. So, I addressed it a little bit on Sunday just in regards to, you are going to be out in the wild for the next two days before we see you again. Let’s make sure we have an understanding of this opponent, this game, our mindset, especially this week because we don’t have class. Then, this morning was like any other team meeting that we normally have to start the week in that we introduced the opponent just like we have done and talked about their offense, defense, special teams, coaching and what we need to do to win the football game. I’m not dumb. I know it is magnified and it is magnified this year because of what we have done. It is magnified because we are a ranked team. Clemson has been a ranked team all these years. Finally, South Carolina comes in here as a ranked team. It is magnified and big and has implications because of what we have done along with Clemson which they have done each year. The team that prepares the best, coaches the best and plays the best is going to be the one that wins on Saturday. Not the one that gets caught up in whatever on social media and talking in press conferences and things like that. We just need to focus on going 1-0 and that has been our message all year and this week is no different.”

On how he gets the team to channel their emotions on Saturday

“This is a game where Dabo is not going to have to go in the meetings throughout the week and in the locker room on Saturday and motivate his guys to play hard. Neither am I. I am sure that both teams are ready emotionally to play today. If they said you have to be up there, we would hop on the bus and head up today and go play. It is one, making sure you keep your routine throughout the week. Keep you routine and do what you have to do to prepare to go play your very best on Saturday. The emotions are put off it.  It will be an emotional game throughout. There will be electricity in the air and it is awesome to be a part of. This is fun and exciting. Last year at this time, we were 5-6. That was, I don’t want to say pressure. That wasn’t fun. 5-6 and if you don’t win, the season is over. That is a different level of mindset than what we have this week where this is fun and exciting to be a part of. To me, this is going to be a yearly occurrence. We are not going anywhere, our program. We are only continuing to ascend. Dabo and Clemson have shown that they are not going anywhere. I think a battle of ranked Carolina versus ranked Clemson with playoff implications, in my mind, is going to be a yearly occurrence around here. Everybody better get used to it. That is what I told our guys is this is fun and exciting. At the same time, once the game starts, it gets down to blocking and tackling and playing with great fundamentals and that is what is going to win this game.”

On where LaNorris Sellers’ calmness comes from

“I think the calmness, I thank the good Lord above. God made a special human being in LaNorris Sellers. He comes from a very grounded and awesome family. I would say he gets it from him and that is a great quality to have. I love saying nothing much rattles him because I always think back to Spencer last year so nothing really rattles him and it is true. This will be different and we have talked about it. Crowd noise will be an issue. We went to Kentucky and that was a 3:30 game. Not that the crowd wasn’t into it because they were. But we played well and in a lot of ways, took the crowd out of it. We went to Alabama. We were a 23-point underdog. So I don’t think the Crimson Tide were ripping and roaring as a fanbase waiting on the Gamecocks to roll in there. That was an 11 a.m. kick. It was loud, don’t get me wrong but it wasn’t to the point where, oh my God, we can’t here. Then, we went to Oklahoma and were up 21-0 five minutes into the game and we took the crowd out of it. Then, we went to Vanderbilt and it was like a home game for us in a lot of ways and there was not crowd noise. This will be different. It is crazy that in game 12 you are talking about it. It will be the loudest crowd that we have played in and that is awesome and exciting. It goes back to what I said a minute ago. All of us as an offense, defense, special teams, coaching staff, just executing and playing well where you can not let the crowd become a factor. He is excited. He is a gamer. He is a competitor. I know he will be excited to be a part of this game. ‚Ķ I know he is excited to be a part of it.”

On if he allows himself or the team to talk about the opportunity they have should they win

“No. Not that our players aren’t talking about it. I don’t think I need to say anything. They know. They are not going to be in study hall tonight. They are going to be sitting around on their phones and I am sure they will see the rankings come out and people will be talking about it. We addressed it maybe a few weeks ago just the thing that we needed to do is worry about what we can control and that is winning football games. This is no different. We don’t talk about it. None of it matters if you don’t go out there and play well on Saturday. We need to focus on playing well Saturday and everything else takes care of itself.”

On if he sees any similarities between Klubnik and Sellers, update on the injury front

“As far as Cade, you see some similarities. Probably the biggest thing that jumps out is their ability get themselves out of trouble in the pocket. LaNorris, it has been well written and talked about some of the sacks that he has gotten out of. You can say the same thing about Cade. There are a lot of plays where he is sacked and he comes out of there and it is not just coming out of there. It is coming out of there and throwing a 50-yard touchdown pass. He had one against Virginia Tech where they had him on the ground. He comes out of it and throws a touchdown pass down Virginia Tech’s right sideline. There is one against Virginia where he gets out of it, rolls out and throws a deep ball down the right side on Virginia’s sideline. There is one against Pitt where he gets out of there and runs for positive yardage. His ability to get himself out of trouble is really, really impressive. Then, I think the way he has grown as a passer. You see that development just like LaNorris. Think a lot of him. I got ot know him in high school when I was coaching at Oklahoma and Austin, Texas was my recruiting area. Recruited him. We had him up to a couple of games in Norman from down there in Austin. Think a lot of him as a person and enjoy watching him play.”

“As far as injuries, we will see. Dabo said some of his guys are day-to-day. Some of our guys are day-to-day. I know he said one is hour-to-hour. We probably have one that is hour-to-hour, too.”

On how often he hears about the rivalry

“I think you hear about it year-round. That is what I told our players this morning. It’s awesome being in this state because we don’t have any of the major pro sports. It is other schools in the state but it is primarily one of two, Carolina or Clemson. That’s what I love. I love that aspect of it, as well. You can’t help but hear about it because it is a small state. They are right up the road. You are surrounded by wherever you go. Tigers, Gamecocks, wherever. I think that is great. Got a lot of respect for their fan base. I have close friends that are Clemson fands. I have close friends that are Gamecock fans. You certainly hear about it. There is a CVS right by where I live. Whenever I pop in the CVS Pharmacy, the awesome lady that works in there, Mrs. Kathy. She is a Clemson fan and every time I go in there, I get the rundown for 10 straight minutes about Dabo and the Clemson Tigers. We actually FaceTimed Dabo last Thanksgiving. I went in there on Thanksgiving Day and we were going to get Mrs. Kathy on the phone and he didn’t answer. You can’t help but hear about it just being in the state of South Carolina. That is part of it. That is what makes rivalries great and whatnot.”

On Antonio Williams

“He has improved a lot. Saw him throw a pass in a game earlier this year. They are using him in a lot of different ways. They are getting the ball to him on jet sweeps. He is in the slot. He is outside. He is really developed as a receiver. Knew the skillset coming out of high school. That is what we recruited him like we did. Great skillset and ability in space to make people miss. Really dangerous punt returner, as well. He looks stronger and even more polished than what he was as a receiver. Certainly, somebody that has our attention and we need to be very aware of.”

On the advantages of having multiple vocal leaders on the team

“I think it starts with the fact that so many of those guys, they are experienced a very mature team, and they are not going to be in awe of anything. Kyle was a part of Georgia/Georgia Tech and D-Knight was at Georgia Tech for a minute and was a part of that rivalry with Georgia. Rocket Sanders has been a part of whether you say A&M is that rival game or Missouri at the end of the season. They have been a part of it. LaNorris is a guy that not much rattles him, as well.  I think it is just the maturity and experience that those guys have and continue to be who you are. That is what we have talked about is don’t change anything this week. We are in this position because of who we are and what we have done throughout the season. I think you have to be careful about making it too big at times and talking all week about how much you want it and how much you don’t like Clemson and Clemson talking about how much they don’t like Carolina. I think sometimes when you are doing that, that is taking you away from what is really important. Continue to be who we are and don’t change. The most important thing is, like I said, go play well on Saturday and the team that does that is going to be the one that feels pretty good after the game.”

On if he wants players to think about the game as another game or be emotional about it

“I think there is a fine line. I think they certainly care about the rivalry. I don’t think you can be here long without hearing about Clemson. That is what I think is cool about this rivalry. It is in all sports. Y’all have heard me say it before getting ready to play Clemson. In other places that I have been, they are only really worried about the football game and maybe basketball. Here, it is a real big deal when you play them in any sport. I don’t think it takes long for any new arrival to get here and figure out the Clemson game at the end of the season is really important to the fan base here at South Carolina and this state. Even if you did just get here, LaNorris may not have grown up watching this game but this is one that is always on Thanksgiving weekend and one of the rivalry games that people are always tuned into, in my opinion. I want everybody to play with emotion. Play with an edge in any game. You may not quite realize what it is. Once you get there and experience it and ride in on the bus and walk out there and get out there for pregame warmups, you know there is just a little bit of a different feel. Just prepare yourself during the week to go play well on Saturday. Once the game starts, a lot of that goes out the window and it just gets down to playing football and who can play more winning football than the other team.”

On what’s imperative to stopping Clemson‚Äôs run game

“You have to be able to tackle well, which is easier said than done. You have a big back in Mafah that can make you miss but he can also run you over. You have to tackle well. When we are in the backfield and we get around the quarterback, we have to be able to get him on the ground. I think a huge thing for us will be takeaways. Clemson is third in the nation in turnover margin right now. I know last year, I obviously followed them closely being in this state. They turned the ball over way too times last season and Dabo has said that. They are not doing that this year. I think they have only turned the ball over seven times the entire season which is crazy. That is less than one a game. For us, we have to be able to create takeaways. Knock the ball out, force interceptions, errant throws, whatever it might be. That gets them off schedule. If you are not doing a good job tackling and you are not creating takeaways, it is going to be tough. It is not just Mafah. The receivers are loads and they are hard to bring down and they are different skillsets whether they make you miss, outrun you. They can do it all.”

On what the next few days look like for the team

“Regular week for us. We have tried to keep routine. I am a routine guy. Drives my wife crazy that I just try to always keep this same schedule and I am a routine person and don’t like change. It will be the same schedule for us as far as football goes today. Tomorrow, we will keep our normal routine. There is a big game Saturday but there is a big really big game tomorrow night here. That is our annual manager vs. trainer football game. The turkey bowl. That is tomorrow night at 6:30. The training staff won a huge battle last year so they have had the bragging rights/trophy now for a year. It is up to the equipment staff to try and bring it back. That will be tomorrow night at 6:30 in the indoor facility. We will keep our same schedule on Thursday. We practice in the mornings. We will start out Thanksgiving morning at 8 a.m. with a special teams meeting and we will finish up practice around 11:30 on Thursday morning and then just like a regular in season week, they are free after that until Friday. During the season, they go to class. It will be the same thing. If they live close by and want to get home with their families and go spend Thanksgiving, they can. A lot of guys are staying here and either going to a teammate’s house that maybe lives close or they are going to their position coach’s house which I know a lot of our guys are doing. That will be the rest of the day Thursday and Thursday night and then we are back in here on Friday morning and will start our normal Friday away game routine.”

On when The Citadel rushes for 288 yards using the option, is that something that they might add to the playbook

“When you look at the stat sheet and you see Citadel went for that, certainly, it opens your eyes. They did a nice job. Parts of our offense, we may not be under center and look like the old wishbone, but we are doing a lot of triple option elements in our offense where here comes a receiver around and LaNorris can either hand to Rocket or pull it and if he pulls it, he can pitch it to a receiver.  That is triple option and that is what we have been doing. That is our offense to begin with. Certainly, you look at every game they have played this season in all three phases and break it down and find things that fit you. There is no question about it. The Citadel came in and did a good job running the ball and there are elements to that that we will certainly look at. We will also look at what elements of what Pitt did, Georgia did, Virginia did, App State, Wake and on and on that they have played this season.”