Clemson Tigers College Football Pregame Quote, 12/27/2021

Cheez-It Bowl Day for Kids at Fun Spot America

On Day for Kids:

It’s been an amazing day. I think it’s always cool for us to use our platforms to come out and just make kids have a brighter day. So, it’s been really special to be with these kids, just to be a kid again for ourselves, and kind of break free from football and all the stress.

On participating in bowl week events:

It’s a refreshing experience. I think it’s night and day [from 2020]. [It’s great] to be able to have a bowl experience this year, to just kind of get to come down for a week with some of your best friends on the team and enjoy my last ride, just be a kid. Obviously, we’re focusing on the game and want to win this game for our program, but the same time, the bowl experience is what college is about.

On his development as a player:

It’s been a good ride, especially coming back for my sixth year. I thought it would be smooth sailing, but it’s been a good ride to come in and come back and help lead. This year, I think is as painful as it’s been at times also, it’s also been enjoyable. Just to get appreciation for winning again and just to see our program really rally back. A lot of programs folded at times amid adversity this season. We rallied together, kind of made a decision to just put our heads down go to work, and now we’re sitting at 9-3, we have a chance to go win a bowl game and finish the season strong.

On Clemson players’ commitment to participating in the Cheez-It Bowl:

I think you just see the appreciation for the game here that comes from a top down, from our coach to all of us. We’re blessed to play this game. We can’t play God ‚Äî like, you don’t know if you’ll get hurt or not. ‚Ķ Anytime you’ve got one more time to play this game with your brothers, especially for some guys who are leaving, it’s an opportunity just to cherish that and make the most of it. I think it really is a culture thing for sure. I think other places don’t have what we have, and if a guy had opted out, nobody will be mad. But the same time I think you do cherish the guys who’ve decided, ‚ÄòAll right, I’m going to stick it out ‚Äî one more game for the Tigers and let’s end on a good note.