Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney spoke with reporters Tuesday as he previewed the Tigers’ upcoming rivalry showdown with South Carolina. The Palmetto Bowl kicks off at noon Saturday on the SEC Network from Williams-Brice Stadium.
Below is everything Swinney said about the matchup and the Gamecocks heading into the weekend.
Opening Statement
“Good morning, everybody, and Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone is ready for a great week with your families. We all have a lot to be thankful for. And you don’t have to look very far to know how blessed and thankful we are. We’re looking for a great week. I always enjoy this week.
“It’s fun being a part of a rivalry game, and it’s even more fun when you win. This is a historic game. It’s kind of my norm in my life, with 13 Alabama-Auburn games and just growing up as a fan. And then 23 years here. It’s fun to be in the fight and be a part of it. I look forward to a great game on Saturday.
“I have a lot of respect for Shane Beamer in how he does things. They’re a really good team, very talented, and a lot of good players on both sides of the ball. Offensively, it starts with their quarterback. (LaNorris Sellers) is an elite player who can change the game on one play. It’s a big task there. We did a poor job with him last year. All of their backs are good players and all-powerful runners. No. 8 (Nyck Harbor) is probably the most improved player on their team. He can run away from anybody. They’ve done a good job getting their playmakers involved. A lot of shots down the field. They’re still committed to running the ball, and No. 16 is a huge factor there. We have to play really well on defense.
“On the other side, if not the best, they’re as good as anybody we’ve played at defensive end. They’re very talented, and they’re strong inside. They have good depth inside. No. 17 (Justin Okoronkwo) and No. 0 (Fred Johnson) are good players. No. 24 has played a million snaps. No. 15 (Brandon Cisse) at corner, we saw him at NC State. He’s another good player. They’re a four-down team that executes their scheme well. They’ve been in every game.
“Special teams are always a factor in this game. They’ve taken a couple to the house. We have to make sure we don’t allow any big plays in the return area. It doesn’t matter what the records are. We all know what this one is about this week. We look forward to the competition.”
On last year’s struggles tackling LaNorris Sellers
“We had him tackled about 50 times. I don’t know how many missed tackles we had. They all know what they’re dealing with. He’s strong and hard to get down. You have to try to keep him in the pocket. When someone gets to him, they have to find a way to hang on. It was the difference in the game last year.”
On why Williams-Brice Stadium is a tough road venue
“Their fans do a great job. They’re loud and they show up. They do a great job in supporting their team. I’ve been here a long time, and they always have. They’ve always been incredibly supportive of their team. It’s a great, loud, loud environment. Throw in the rivalry game, and it’s even more intense. I love going on the road and facing a hostile crowd. That’s part of it.”
Favorite memories from matchups in Columbia
“My first time down there, 1993, I was a grad assistant at Alabama. That’s my first memory. We won the game. I went and visited Woody McCorvey. I spent a day with him and a weekend with him in 1998 when Brad Scott was the coach there. I have a lot of great memories. Got some bad ones, too. My first game down there was the 63-17 game, my first game as a coach at Clemson. That was a crazy game. We just hit some big, explosive plays right out of the gate. 2013, we had five or six turnovers, and we had a really good team, but couldn’t hang on to the football to save our life.”
Was Sellers’ performance a reason for moving on from defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin?
“Not much. Wes can’t tackle him. A lot went into that, a lot of reasons. I just felt like it was time for a change.”
Why Sellers’ rushing numbers are down this season
“You’d have to ask Shane that. He’s a great player to me. He’s special.”
