Clemson Tigers College Football Pregame Quote, 12/26/2019

Your mom talks about your duck feet. What is that? Do you think that helps you? How would you describe that? Is that just something you were born with?

TRAVIS ETIENNE: Definitely something I was born with. I’ve been walking with my feet turned out like this. I feel like it definitely plays in my favor because I’m able to have my feet in an awkward body position and be able to still accelerate and get up the field.

So that definitely plays a role because I’ll have one foot to be like this and the other will be straight, and I’m able to burst off that back foot. And I feel like that really helps me in all kind of positions, because always an awkward body position, it’s

Is that what your mom calls it, duck feet? Is that what your mom calls it, duck feet?

TRAVIS ETIENNE: Yeah, yeah.

So what about Chase Young? what do you make of this kid as far as going up againstseeing him, going up against the defense?

TRAVIS ETIENNE: As a competitor, you want to go up against the best. He’s the best player in the nation. He won the award. It’s a great challenge for us. We just want to go out there and execute and play to the best of our ability. We’re going to have to focus in on him, but also realize that the whole defense is very good. They have great players all over the field.

So it’s going to be a great challenge. We’re ready to accept that challenge.

When you think about where you were 12 months ago, how have you changed as a person?

TRAVIS ETIENNE: 12 months ago, I just feel like, as a player, I’ve grown. In football, you’re always learning new things, tip and little tricks just to be better. So I feel like my IQ has grown more because there’s always room for improvement. The little details just mean a lot more to me now. Focus on the little things, and maybe ‚Äì like, a couple games ago, I was taking things for granted, but now I’m just focused on each and every play. I’m just playing to my full potential every play. and I feel like, as a person, I just keep making growth in my spirit and everything to come in, just trying to become a man and just trying to figure things out and learn who I am and my purpose in why I’m here.

How much fun have you all had this time?

TRAVIS ETIENNE: We definitely had a lot of fun. We were just talking about Tuesday. That was a great event. We never knew how to golf, but just being able to go out there with your friends and just have a great time, just create competition among yourselves. It was just really fun just seeing those guys, because I thought I was a really bad golfer, but just seeing some of them made me feel really good about myself. So I just thank them for being worse than I am. But we definitely had a lot of fun.

We also played games together. It was kind of fun beating on those guys in 2K. We played MLB. We just spent a lot of time just having a lot of fun and just enjoying each other’s company. It has been really great.

Spend a lot of time just enjoying each other’s company. It has been really good.

Is this your first time in Arizona?

TRAVIS ETIENNE: My first time to Arizona. Actually, my first time seeing a cactus was Sunday when we got here. So that was kind of cool. It is different, but I like it. It’s really neat and cool spot.

Can you talk a little bit about how you’re feeling about being here? How excited you are tobe here?

TRAVIS ETIENNE: I’m definitely excited to be here. We all are. Just as a kid, you dream about these moments to be able to play in a Fiesta Bowl, PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. It is really crazy. You’re playing PlayStation and now you’re playing in one of their bowl games. It’s just kind of crazy to think about, mind-boggling. We’re definitely excited, but we’re definitely ready for the moment. Not going to take it for granted, going to cherish every moment, smell the roses, things of that sort. So we’re excited, but we’re ready to go.