Shane Beamer, 'We are not going anywhere...We are only continuing to ascend'

No. 12 Clemson (9-2, 7-1) and No. 15 South Carolina (8-3, 5-3) will face off on Rivalry Week with a lot on the line on Saturday. South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer met with the media ahead of the new College Football Playoffs rankings on Tuesday to discuss the Palmetto Bowl.

On how he gets the team to channel their emotions for the Palmetto Bowl, the only rivalry game on Saturday with top 15 teams in the College Football Playoffs rankings:

"This is a game where Dabo [Swinney] 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.

"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's 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."

On if he or the team talk about what a win over the Tigers on Saturday could mean for the team. South Carolina sits at No. 15 behind No. 12 Clemson in the CFP rankings and a win -- with help -- may put them in their first-ever playoffs:

"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 Antonio Williams, who leads Clemson in receptions (58), receiving yards (689), and touchdowns (10). Williams, from Dutch Fork High in Irmo, SC, committed to Clemson over South Carolina, Auburn, and Ole Miss on Dec. 9, 2021:

"He has improved a lot. [I] 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. [I] knew the skillset coming out of high school. That is why 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 Citadel's option attack rushing for 288 yards against the Tigers and will their offense, which at times, incorporates option plays, add more to the script on Saturday? Surprisingly, the 288 yards is a season-high against the Tigers, ahead of the 210 surrendered to Louisville and 236 to Stanford (all at home);

"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 [Sellers] can either hand to Rocket [Sanders] or pull it. 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."