Clemson Week Football Media Availability

Head coach Will Muschamp held his weekly news conference Tuesday afternoon. Players who spoke prior to him included T.J. Brunson, Chavis Dawkins, Rico Dowdle, Tavien Feaster, Daniel Fennell, Sadarius Hutcherson, J.T. Ibe, Ernest Jones, Javon Kinlaw and Donell Stanley.

HEAD COACH TRANSCRIPT

Will Muschamp | 4th Season

– Clemson week. Kickoff here at noon. Williams-Brice Stadium. Obviously, honored to be a part of one of the great rivalries in college football. Very important to our state, and important to the University of South Carolina. And we had a good practice this morning. The guys bouncing around, they feel that vibe during this week, and we’re looking forward to it. Got a good football team. Led on offense by Trevor Lawrence. He’s completing right at 70% of his passes. You know, a guy that can obviously hurt you with his legs. He’s a really good athlete. They use some of the zone read and some of the designed quarterback runs, but elite arm talent. Can make all the throws. Just really impressed watching him and a really competitive guy when you turn the tape on. At running back, Travis Etienne is an outstanding player. A guy that’s got really good vision and sees a hole and hits things north and south and has been very explosive. And then also as a receiver, but in the run game, and Lyn-J Dixon’s done a nice job for ’em from Georgia. Big, very big, long athletic group at wide out. You know, Tee Higgins and Overton and Ross, Frank Ladson and Ngata are all 6’3, 6’4, 200 plus guys that do a great job of attacking the ball down the field. Amari Rodgers is not as big, but as a stature-wise a muscle guy in the slot and does a nice job for them. But they’ve got a talented bunch outside. And offensive line’s athletic and talented and Robbie does a great job with those guys. Trey Anchrum, the right tackle, is a very athletic, the left side of their line. John Simpson and Jackson Carman have done a really nice job for them offensively. Defensively, you know, really as you start to watch the tape, I think your eyes kind of drift to the back end. Obviously, with DK and AJ Terrell, two really talented corners that can cover man to man, have good instincts in zone, made a lot of plays for them this year. The safety position, and Brent’s done a good job of co-mingling those guys in some different areas. Tanner Muse, obviously Nick’s brother’s been there. A guy that’s logged a lot of time. He and K’Von Wallace are two guys that have made a lot of plays for those guys, played a lot of football. And then Denzel Washington and Nolan Turner are two guys as well that have played a lot of football for ’em. And they put ’em in some different packages to get those guys all on the field at the same time. But the one guy that stands out’s Isaiah Simmons. 6’4, 230. Plays anywhere from defensive end to linebacker, deep safety, he’s a good blitzer, he’s got really good instincts off the ball, can play man to man. But he is a vast skill set and a long rangy guy that gets his hand on a lot of balls. And he’s a ball hog type of guy, but a really good football player. And then they rotate and play a lot of guys up front. And obviously, losing the front they had last year, they’ve done a nice job there. Injury-wise going in the game. Bryan Edwards is questionable, he did a little bit today. You know, he had a scope last week, so we’ll see how he continues to progress. Obviously, he’s a guy that’s not going to need a lot of snaps and that such, but we’ll see how that continues to progress. Kobe Smith’s still got a little bit of an ankle from the A&M game. Didn’t do a lot today. We’re going to see what he can do tomorrow, and other than that we should be good to go for the game. And I’ll open it up for any questions.

– [Reporter] Will, how are Feaster, Denson, OrTre, some of the guys been staying in?

– All practiced today. All good to go.

– [Reporter] Will, what does this rivalry mean to you, and if you were to describe this rivalry to someone who’s not from South Carolina, how would you describe it?

– Very similar to Auburn-Alabama. In that state, there’s no pro teams. You’re either South Carolina or Clemson in this state, for the most part. And very similar to that state. And it means a lot, yeah.

– [Reporter] I think you mentioned in your call in show last week you were toying with maybe a new offensive line group out there. Have you settled on the starting five that you’re going to put out there this week?

– Collyn, not right at this time, but Jakai Moore’s a guy that we’ve been really impressed with at right tackle, and moving Dylan to left tackle, and then Sadarius to left guard. But still having Jordan Rhodes at left guard, Sadarius at left tackle, and Dylan at right tackle as well. So we’ll go with one of those groups and probably play both of those combinations in the game. Mm-hmm.

– [Reporter] Will, this is by far Clemson’s greatest stretch of football in their history. What’s it like to have to be the head coach of the rival when your tenure exactly coincides with that?

– You know, I worry and spend a lot of time on South Carolina, Gene. And at the end of the day I can’t control– And I always talk to our players about control the things you can control. And as far as recruiting, as far as developing players on campus, coaching, those things I can control here. And I can’t control the other. Obviously, we need to do a better job as coaches and players in this game than we have in the previous three. And find a way to win the game.

– [Reporter] What about just the outside noise for you, your family, the seniors on this team that they’ve had to deal with, with this the last four years or so?

– Well, again, that’s part of what a rivalry game’s involved, and it’s generally the geographically close people to you that you’ve got to deal with 365 days out of the year. And something you obviously hear. It’s nothing that you like or want to become accustomed to. You got to continue to coach through it and play through it and recruit through it and develop through it and continue to work through it. And you can’t let it get frustrated and you’ve got to just continue to work through the situations, to create the best situation you can for your football team. And that’s what we’ve been trying to do.

– [Reporter] Will, to that end, how nice was it to hear from Robert Caslen when he put out that statement that you were going to be coming back next year and for years to come?

– Well, I appreciate it and didn’t think anything else.

– [Reporter] Sorry, one more question. What do you think this bye week can do for this team? How did it help this team?

– Well, I think obviously, we had some guys banged up that were missing time. To get Feaster back, to get Mon Denson back, to get AJ Turner back, to get OrTre Smith back. To get all those guys back certainly helps us offensively. You know, to get healthy, I think to have an extra time to practice. We spent a little more time since it’s so late in the season and we don’t have opponents after Clemson, you know, to be able to just to spend a little bit more time on them. Time invested as a staff on them to game plan.

– [Reporter] Will, I’m sure we’ve asked you this question in the past every year, but what was your earliest memory of this rivalry when you came here four years ago?

– Like when I was growing up?

– [Reporter] Well, no, I’m saying when you came here four years ago, like whether it’s boosters, whether it’s just fans.

– Day one, beat Clemson. Heard it from everybody, yep.

– [Reporter] Coach, how much of your, what percentage of your practice time do you spend good on good, first team against first team?

– Well, we always have a some sort of team first and ten team run period, where we do good on good. We always do seven on seven. We always do one on one. We do a six on four period with our five offensive linemen and tight end, ’cause that’s primarily one of our best, or one of our primary run sets that we run from. And we’ll do that against the four down defensive linemen. I think that’s great in the development for a defensive lineman from a standpoint of there’s no linebackers, so the offensive line stays on double teams longer. It teaches defensive linemen to stay in the double team longer, which is one of the most difficult things to do as far as taking on a 700-pound double team. We do that, and we always end with some sort of move the ball team period. Today would be move the ball, but tomorrow will be a one minute. We’ll always have third down period tomorrow. So different types of installation, things that we need to work on. But we’re going to have four or five periods of good on good as opposed to maybe three periods of scouts. I just believe a fast ball works better. Most of the offenses and defenses we face nowadays are very similar. There’s a lot of carry over, you know, week to week that you’re able to see. In some situations if we are facing someone schematically that’s very different from what we do, then we’ll do what I call crossover. And that’s going to mean the first team offense goes against the second team defense. And if there’s a certain look that they need in those periods, we’ll make sure that they get those looks. Or defensively, if the offense is an option offense or just kind of going back, we’ll try and get the second team offense to simulate those looks so you get better fast ball looks. Yeah.

– [Reporter] Was that a change from the beginning of your coaching career to now?

– No, that’s something, when I was with Coach Saban, that’s the way we practiced.

– [Reporter] What’s the biggest difference between Ryan Hilinski now and Ryan Hilinski two months ago?

– Well, I think he’s incrementally made improvements each week. I think from whether it’s preparation, whether it’s decision-making, game management. There might have been, two months ago, Dan might be explaining to him this is what– Instead now, he’s coming to the sideline saying, “I saw the safety.” He understands those things, and it just takes time. And what he’s doing’s very difficult. He’s playing the hardest position on the field as a true freshman. We need to do a better job around him, helping him. But I’ve been very proud of Ryan and how he’s handling it, ’cause he’s handling a lot.

– [Reporter] When the season is over, what will his program look like? What will you tell him you want him to do from then till next August?

– Well, I think the number one thing, and he and I have talked, is the game slows down for you. And I think as much as anything, to be able to go back and rehash all the decision-making in the run game, getting us to the right run. In the pass game, taking it to the right progression. All of those things. Again the game’s going to continue to slow down, and that’s a huge part of the off-season program. The mental side of it, obviously the physical side of it, of getting stronger. Getting your body more ready for a run through the SEC, which is tough.

– [Reporter] Couple of questions for you. During this open week, did you have a chance to sit down with Jake Bentley and talk about any future plans with him?

– No, we were going to do that after the Clemson game.

– [Reporter] Secondly, how much have you guys offensively looked back at last year’s tape against Clemson where you did some things out of the ordinary on offense? And since you’ve had two weeks to get ready, is it safe to assume we’ll see some different things, or do you think what you’re doing now will be good enough to be successful?

– Well, obviously in our last two performances we haven’t done enough to be successful, so there’ll be obviously some changes. I think from a personnel standpoint, from a schematic standpoint, when you have a little extra time you are able to look at some different things, and you know, Phil, I think you always go back and watch that tape. Not necessarily from what you did, but how you were defensed. You’re always going back to see a coordinator and how he’s done things against you before. ‘Cause obviously, if you took it into a game plan before, he thought it might be a good idea. So, I think those are things that you always go back and study your opponent. Not necessarily of what you’ve done, but maybe what you’ve seen, because that’s what you’re trying to prepare our players for, is what are you going to see on game day? And then how are we going to block these runs and how are we going to protect here and route concepts and such.

– [Reporter] I’m curious, Will, you always talk about just evaluating everything after a season. I’m just curious, what goes into that evaluation process and how long does that usually take for a head coach to go through and do that?

– I guess everybody’s different, but you’re constantly evaluating. I may not say what I think as far as those things are concerned. Because I think there’s a right and a wrong time to express those thoughts. But you’re constantly evaluating where you are and what you’ve got to do to continue to improve. Right now, we’re focused on Clemson and that’s where our focus is.

– [Reporter] Bryan, and kind of trying to work his way back from the knee. Is he pushing for playing, pushing to be able to play, and what does that conversation like in terms of potentially that knee not being 100%, that kind of stuff?

– I told him in 1988, Rodney Hampton had arthroscopic surgery on a Sunday night and he played on Saturday. It’s been done before. You remember that, Josh?

– [Reporter] I don’t. I remember Rodney Hampton, but I don’t remember his knee history.

– Yep. Old Miss game, I believe it was on a Saturday. Scoped Sunday night, played at Auburn on Saturday. Just a little trivia there for you.

– [Reporter] I don’t know that I could have done that.

– Yep.

– [Reporter] Considering the games that haven’t gone your way this year, how much does it help having the Georgia game as an example of if you play your best it’s good enough against elite competition?

– Well, I think it’s a combination of coaching well too. It’s not all on the players. We got to do a good job of getting our guys ready to play. Coaching our guys, ain’t nobody around here trying to make excuses. We need to do a better job on our end, starting with me. So that’s, but that’s a good example of when we do coach and prepare the right way, and go and execute against a really good football team, then good things can happen.

– [Reporter] Will, kind of a two-parter here. Pregame speeches. You’ve heard a lot of ’em, you’ve given a lot of ’em. What goes into your preparation for that, or is it just spur of the moment, off the cuff?

– Spur of the moment. We’re going to say the Lord’s Prayer, and then we’re going to say, “Let’s go!” And believe me, after that first time you get hit in the mouth, that pregame speech is out the window. I can tell you that right now. It’s about your preparation Sunday through Friday to get you ready for Saturday. And nothing I’m going to say in pregame, especially this week, if I got to say something to get you excited in pregame, something’s wrong with you.

– [Reporter] And as an assistant, any time you’ve been around, have you ever seen any kind of, you know, really out to lunch pregame speeches? I mean, you heard the story about Erk Russell and the rattlesnake, I’m sure. But anything like that ever go on during your career?

– No, if I pulled a rattlesnake out, we’d have a problem.

– [Reporter] Now Will, with that injury lingering for Bryan, has he approached you at all in terms of just his NFL future, and has any other player addressed you about that?

– No, not at this time. I tell our guys all the time. It’s kind of a common theme. We’ll discuss post-season things when the post-season happens, and that’s, we’ll move forward after the regular season and talk in terms of those discussions.

– [Reporter] So when a player does come up to you, whether it’s a bowl game, whether it’s the last game of the season, how do you usually go about that?

– As far as?

– [Reporter] In terms of if they’re talking about, “Coach, I’d rather sit a game out in order to “preserve my body.”

– Well, Bryan’s not going to sit the game out.

– [Reporter] No, I’m not saying with him. I’m saying when a player does come to you with those conversations.

– Well, I’ve only had one in my career, and that was Deebo, and he and I had a very healthy conversation that that’s what his plans were. And it’s worked out well for him.

– [Reporter] Coach, of course, each week is the focus is on that opponent, but obviously Clemson is a different type of opponent. Do you guys spend time each week focusing on them, practicing for them, or is there kind of just as the week comes up? Or is it kind of something that’s a season long preparation for this team?

– No, we spend a lot of time on our perennial opponents, that we play each year. We spend time in the off-season, we spend time in the summer, we spend time in training camp as far as preparation of things that we know we’re going to carry into the game in all three phases. So, yeah, we prepare for Clemson, Georgia, I mean a lot of those teams throughout the entire season. And the off-season, different things we’re looking at as a staff. We might not introduce it to our players. We might introduce new concepts maybe in spring ball. To introduce something that might be a little different that we need to look at. That we think we might carry into a game like Clemson. So yeah, it’s a year-round preparation, and then obviously we’ve got those notes ready for game week as we pull those notes out and we start going through the things we felt like comfortable with going in the game and what’s going to help us win.

– [Reporter] Will, at any time during the week, are you going to talk to your guys about if they win on Saturday, what that could do about changing the perception of the 2019 Gamecock team?

– You know, I don’t know that that’s what we’re necessarily after. I think we’re after the fact this is a great rivalry and we need to win the game. As far as how it affects our season, I’m not totally, that’s not something I’m going to focus on with our team. I’m going to focus on the fact that this is a great rivalry and we need to do a better job. And we need to win the game.

– [Reporter] What about your team gives you the most hope that you can win this game?

– Well, I think early I was asked about the Georgia game. You know, obviously, we’ve been inconsistent in all three areas, in offense, defense and special teams. And we need to form some sort of consistency. Obviously, the formula for us is being able to run the football, being able to create some shots down the field, be opportunistic defensively. We haven’t stopped the run versus these guys in three years. We’ve got to stay away from explosive plays and when we have opportunities on third down, we got to get off the field. Create some field position on special teams. As far as in the return game, and doing a good job with our coverage units, ’cause they got some really good skill guys returning kickoffs and returning punts. And those situations. But that’s, with our football team, that’s who we are right now.

– [Reporter] Will, when you look at your tenure here, over the last three years, when you look at the Carolina-Clemson games, what has been the biggest difference you think, between the two schools on that Saturday when they face off?

– Well, I’ve felt like skill-wise the first couple years, we had a hard time matching up on the perimeter on both sides. And then last year, they won the line of scrimmage. We had a hard time running the ball. I think we ended up with 90 or something yards rushing. I think we hit a late run. And we couldn’t stop the run. And I think that, as much as anything, is where we’ve made some improvements this year with our football team.

– [Reporter] We all know your opinions on Thanksgiving being a meal, not a day, but is there a favorite Thanksgiving food for you that you like to eat? And is it stuffing or dressing? Javon said stuffing and then Sadarius said dressing.

– Dressing with gravy and then turkey. Warm turkey.

– [Reporter] Fried?

– And I’m good with, no I don’t like fried, and I’m good with white or dark meat, either way I’m good.

– [Moderator] These are hard-hitting questions. That’s it?

– You all have a great Thanksgiving.