No. 4 Clemson 31, Florida State 14, Postgame Notes and Quotes

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney

On Clemson winning the ACC Atlantic Division title:
“That was the next goal for us. You can’t play for the conference title if you don’t win the division. I’m so proud of this team. Nobody really picked us to win the league this year, and not many picked us to win the division..so I’m glad my guys didn’t get that memo. They just went to work. We’ve had a lot of guys step up and earn it.”

On the victory over Florida State:
“To be able to hold Florida State to 21 yards rushing was great. Of course, we had several opportunities to put them away that we missed out on. That’s really the biggest disappointment of the game. We left 11 points on the field in the first half. But, at the end of the day, I’m really proud of our defense. The turnover by Van Smith was huge. For him to get that interception and for us to score not long after that was big. On offense, our rushing game was good. Travis Etienne got loose several times, and Adam Choice had some critical carries toward the end.”

On young players making quality plays:
“You saw A.J. Terrell in there. He almost had a pick. J.D. Davis got his first start and played a heck of a ballgame. Also, Chad Smith filled in for Tre Lamarafter he got injured and did a great job for us. K’von Wallace was out there filling in for Tanner Muse and played well. I’m just really proud of our team. All kinds of guys stepped up. We’ve committed to playing these young guys all season and giving ourselves the best path moving forward both this year and into next year, and they’ve played well.”

On the outlook for the Tigers moving forward:
“Senior day is next week, which will be exciting. That’ll be the last game in the Valley for our seniors. Then, it’ll be on to the state championship, and then, a chance to play in the ACC title game. We’ll be ready to play. This is an exciting time. It’s playoff football. It really is. Every single week, we’re competing for something new, and that’s what makes it so much fun.”

Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher

Opening statement:
“Give credit to Clemson, they played a great game...that was a heck of a college football game. With five minutes to go, we were right there to have a chance, but we let it slip away from of us. Give them credit...they made the plays they needed to to win the game.

It was a great atmosphere, and our kids are learning, and we can continue to grow from this. They competed very hard, played very hard and made a heck of a run to come back and have a chance to be in it, but we need to relax and make the play when we have to. We had some opportunities in the game earlier... some different things, whether it was offense, defense or special teams. We just can't seem to make that play when we need to make it...whether it is picking up a fumble, drop a post, overthrow a couple balls. We had big plays, and we need to relax and make those plays. The heart, the soul and the drive is in those kids, we just have to get them to make those plays at the right time.

Once again, Clemson did a nice job in the game. They have a very good football team, obviously, with the way they are playing. We have to learn to make those plays in that game to give us a chance to be successful, especially on the road in a great environment here at Clemson. We will keep fighting. We have three more games, and we'll play our tails off for three more weeks and finish the season out the right way.”

On standing toe-to-toe with No. 4 team in the country:
“Our team will fight, compete and play hard…we just have to learn to play better. Again, if we pick up that fumble, it could have been a 90-yard touchdown. We had two overthrows on two balls that were there, we had a dropped post in the first half, and at the end we just made a mistake...we have throw the ball to the outside.

We have to learn that we want things so bad, and we want to turn things so bad for the people and the fans and the right reasons...not to just have success, that you try too hard at times. You get in your own way. You have to go back in and [follow] the old adage real quick and don’t hurry. But that comes with confidence, that comes with playing well and being used to making those plays, and guys being there. You have to get that and be able to just do it.

One day it will click and they will look around and say ‘what the heck was so hard,’ but they have to fight through this time they are going through right now, and the adversity they are going through.”

On the first half credit to Clemson’s defense:
“We didn’t execute, and they controlled us up front. We were pinned back in field position. The first drive we weren’t, but we had a couple things that we missed and didn’t get, and after that, we were pinned back, so you have to be careful. We got used to blocking them and got on things. We got used to the environment…a couple times what happened is the guy on the end of the line of scrimmage didn’t hear the snap count and didn’t hear the clap and got off a half second late, and the guy beats him, which happens on the road in loud environments. That’s part of it, and you have to go through it, but we got back and competed in the game.”

Clemson Players

Kelly Bryant, Quarterback
On his attitude towards the game and future season:
“I’m excited. We won tonight against a really good Florida State team. We won the division, and that’s one of goals in our team meeting room. We get to check that off, and we’re excited to finish out the season.”

On proving himself and the team this season:
“Going into the season, not many picked us to be in the position. But we knew who we had in the offensive room...the team, and the type of guys we had that were coming back. All of them were ready to step up into the role and embrace it as well.”

On his mindset after the fumble:
“I should have better ball security, and those are things I just need to go back and watch and learn from. It was a good check for us...it was great for the defense to come out and get a turnover right off and go out and finish the last two drives in the red zone.”

Hunter Renfrow, Wide Receiver
On leaning on past experiences:
“Guys in the junior class...we’re spoiled. We have gone to three straight ACC Championships, and we just have that belief we are going to win.”

On the difference in the offense between the third and fourth quarter:
“I think we just need to be more consistent. We started strong and finished strong, but we just need to be more consistent. If we do that, we would complement the defense...they helped us out a lot tonight.”

On the effort given from Florida State:
“They have four and five star [players]...they didn’t just get bad all of a sudden. We knew they were very good defensively as well. They held NC State to its lowest scoring and yardage all year. We knew we were going to get a good defense, and they played well.”

Austin Bryant, Defensive End
On how it feels to be going to the ACC Championship game:
“It feels awesome to come out here against a really good team with really good skill players and dominate. It is special to win it the way we did. We’re looking forward to our next challenge which is the Citadel, then we will look forward to South Carolina, and then the ACC Championship game.”

On the consistent pressure defense put on Florida State's quarterback:
“We were all dialed in. Coach Venables really gave us a chance to get after them. We knew they struggle on the offensive front, so we knew we would be able to get a lot of pressure on them.”

On the Van Smith interception:
“That was awesome. It was a critical play in the game. It took away all hope, because our offense got it so deep in their territory and were able to score. It was a big game changer.”

Christian Wilkins, Defensive Tackle
On the success against Florida State:
“We stuck to the game plan and stopped the run game. We did a good job keeping them to short gains and made them two-dimensional. Our guys played with great effort and energy.”

On going to his third straight ACC Championship:
“It feels pretty good. It is pretty remarkable. Not every team gets to experience that...winning three divisions. It’s not a right. It’s good to see the work we have put over these past three years I’ve been here pay off. The moments and memories you create with your brothers never get old.”

On having the offense’s back after critical fumbles:
“Anytime they have a bad drive or a turnover, the defense makes sure to let the offense know we’ve got their backs. When I’m running on the field, I give them that look to let them know defense is ready. It’s a mistake, but we are on to the next play.”

NOTES:

Clemson Team

• Clemson clinched the ACC Atlantic Division with the win over Florida State, marking Clemson’s third straight division title and the sixth in the past nine years.
• Clemson clinched a conference-related title, whether it be an outright ACC title or an ACC Atlantic Division title, at Memorial Stadium for the ninth time.
• Clemson won its 301st game in Death Valley, improving to 301-102-7 all-time at the venue, dating back to 1942.
• Clemson improved to 40-3 in its last 43 games, dating back to 2014.
• Clemson improved to 28-1 in its last 29 home games.
• Clemson improved to 24-2 in its last 26 contests versus ACC teams.
• Clemson improved to 51-2 in its last 53 games against unranked opponents.
• Clemson won its 58th game of the past five years, which is the second-most of any program in that stretch.
• Clemson won its 101st game of the past 10 years, which is tied for the fourth-most of any program in that stretch.
• Clemson improved to 85-21 in the 2010s. That .802 winning percentage is the best of any decade in program history.
• Clemson’s senior class improved to 28-4 in ACC regular season games, and the 28 wins tied for the most ACC wins for any senior class in program history. The .875 winning percentage is also tied for the best in program history.
• Clemson improved to 22-1 in its last 23 games against ACC Atlantic Division opponents.
• Clemson defeated Florida State for the third straight time, dating back to 2014.
• Clemson shut out Florida State in the first half for the first time since 2003, a game that the Tigers won 26-10 at Memorial Stadium.
• Clemson defeated Florida State for the ninth time in the last 14 matchups between the two teams.
• The Clemson win marked the 13th time in the last 16 matchups that the home team has won in the series with Florida State.
• Clemson won for the 53rd straight time when holding an opponent to under 23 points.
• Clemson won for the 41st straight time when rushing for at least 200 yards.

CLEMSON INDIVIDUAL

• With the win, Dabo Swinney is guaranteed to coach in his fifth ACC Championship game as the head coach of Clemson.
• Swinney improved to 64-17 overall against ACC opponents, which includes a 61-16 mark in the regular season. Swinney’s .790 winning percentage against ACC opponents is the third-best such mark for a head coach in ACC history.
• Swinney won his 98th game as the head coach of the Tigers, tying him with former North Carolina and Virginia Tech coach Bill Dooley for the fourth-most wins by an ACC coach in conference history. The 98 wins also serve as the fifth-highest win total for any head coach in his first 10 years as a head coach.
• Wide receiver Deon Cain hauled in a reception for the 33rd straight game.
• Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow hauled in a reception for the 24th straight game.
• Offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt started at left tackle for the 39th time in the last of 40 games.
• Safety Van Smith hauled in his first interception of the season.
• Kelly Bryant scored his 10th rushing touchdown of the season.
• Tight end D.J. Greenlee hauled in his first reception of the season.