Clemson vs. South Carolina Quotes & Notes |
Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney
“This is what we talked about all week – be who you are. If you want it to change, change it. The guys had a great week of practice and I knew they were focused. I couldn’t be more proud of this team. “I’m so happy for our team and staff. This was a great way to finish out the season. After we started 1-2, to go undefeated at home, break the streak against South Carolina and to get these seniors their 41st win, I couldn’t think of a better way to close out the season. “With the exception of being in the College Football Playoff, you couldn’t script it any better. Offensively, we had 491 yards with zero sacks (allowed), and
Deshaun Watson “Defensively, those guys played great. We stopped them on the goal line and short yardage. It was a great game for those defensive guys, too. It was just a tremendous performance from everyone. “The fans deserve this win, so I hope they enjoy it. We’re going to enjoy it, too, and we can’t wait to get back at it next year. South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier Overall thoughts: “I told the guys, ‘6-6 might be what we are.’ Clemson was better than us. They played better and they coached better. Give those guys credit, they are better than us. They are a better team than we are. Simple as that. Obviously, we could have some we lost and lost some we won. That's where they are, and they'll try to win the bowl.” On guarding the pitch passes: “We've given up some long ones before, but we didn't stop those two shovel passes.” On Thompson’s fumble: "That was a careless play on his part. He said he didn’t feel the guy." Clemson vs. South Carolina Nov. 29, 2014 * Memorial Stadium Postgame Clemson Player Quotes
Artavis Scott On ending South Carolina’s series winning streak: “It feels great. The seniors haven’t won and we wanted to send them out the right way. We knew we had to break that streak that was going on, and that was a great way to win it.” On having Deshaun Watson back: “It’s great to have him back. He looked better and he’s going to keep working.” On the postgame celebrating in locker room: “It’s crazy in there. It hasn’t happened in awhile. Coach (Dabo Swinney) always talks about the fun is in the winning, and that’s what we did today.”
Wayne Gallman On his performance: “Really, just fundamentals in the run game. Just following my blocks and land the run.” On the future of the offense: “We were talking about it before the season started. We knew what we were coming in to. We’re ready for that.”
Vic Beasley On finishing his career in Death Valley with a win: “It’s a great feeling. The fans deserve it and the team deserves it. We just put it all together today and we’re going to celebrate this special moment with the guys that we’re here with.” On his forced fumble: “It was definitely a big play. It was a big boost because the offense scored. It gave us a lot of momentum.”
DeShawn Williams On being a vocal leader: “This right here…this meant so much to me. I played with a little chip on my shoulder.” On the game winding down: “I told everybody that I’m not happy until it hit 0:00. Anything can happen. That second half, it hit me. This is my last half at Memorial Stadium. Coach (Dan) Brooks told us to give it all we had the last 15 minutes, and we came out with a ‘W’.” TEAM NOTES Clemson is now 66-42-4 all-time against South Carolina in 112 meetings. The Tigers are also 17-10-1 all-time at Clemson against the Gamecocks. Clemson finished the season undefeated at home for the second time in four years. The Tigers finished the 2011 and 2014 campaigns with a 7-0 record at home and are 26-2 at home since the start of the 2011 season. The Tigers have now won 27 straight games against unranked opponents, all by more than four points. The 35 points are the most scored against the Gamecocks since 2003, when the Tigers won 63-17. With the win, the 2014 Clemson senior class earned its 41st victory to establish a new school record. The previous record was 40 by the 1990 senior class. Head Coach Dabo Swinney earned his 60th career victory in today’s game. Swinney is now 60-26 in seven seasons at Clemson for a 69.8 winning percentage. Clemson had a 250-yard passer (Deshaun Watson - 269), 180-yard rusher (Wayne Gallman - 191) and a 180-yard receiver (Artavis Scott - 185) in the same game for the time in school history. All three players are freshman. The Tigers racked up 491 yards of total offense in the game, the most against the Gamecocks since 2003, when Clemson totaled 542 yards en route to a 63-17 victory. The Clemson defense held South Carolina to just 63 rushing yards, its lowest total of the season. Clemson finishes the regular season having held eight of its 12 opponents to less than 100 rushing yards. Clemson held South Carolina to a season-low 17 points, its fewest against the Tigers since 2008. Clemson is now 66-0-1 all-time when recording 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in a game. It was the first time since 2007, a 23-21 Clemson victory, the Tigers rushed for 200 yards and passed for 200 yards against the Gamecocks. In the second quarter, Vic Beasley forced a South Carolina turnover, which ultimately led to a Wayne Gallman touchdown. It was Clemson’s first points off a South Carolina turnover since the Tigers’ 31-14 victory over the Gamecocks on Nov. 29, 2008. The Gamecocks had outscored the Tigers 62-0 on points off turnovers over the previous five meetings. Clemson scored 21 points in the first half. That is the most first-half points for Clemson against South Carolina since 2008, when it led 24-7 at halftime. The Tigers totaled 13 tackles for loss. The Tigers’ defensive unit entered as the national leader in tackles for loss per game. INDIVIDUAL NOTES Vic Beasley added to the Clemson career sack record, recording two sacks in the game to give him 32 for his career. He also forced a fumble in the second quarter, marking the seventh time in his career that he earned a sack and caused a fumble on the same play. Beasley also totaled three tackles for loss in the game. He entered the game as the active FBS leader for both sacks and tackles for loss. Deshaun Watson was 14-19 passing for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores in the game. He is the first Clemson first-year freshman starting quarterback to defeat South Carolina. Watson is now 4-1 as a starter in his career. Artavis Scott recorded seven receptions for 185 receiving yards, including a career-long 70-yard reception, to establish a Clemson single-game record for receiving yards by a freshman. Additionally, the 185 receiving yards is a Tiger record at Memorial Stadium. The previous high for a game at Memorial Stadium was a 176 by
Martavis Bryant Scott’s 185 receiving yards is also a Clemson record for receiving yards against South Carolina. The previous record was 138 in 1999 by Rod Gardner, who was an honorary captain at today’s game. Freshman Wayne Gallman rushed for a career-high 191 yards on 27 carries. It was the most rushing yards allowed to one player by South Carolina this season. It was also the most rushing yards by a Clemson player against South Carolina since Ken Callicut had 197 rushing yards in 1974. Clemson vs. South Carolina Nov. 29, 2014 * Memorial Stadium Postgame South Carolina Notes GENERAL NOTES Captains were senior OG A.J. Cann, senior SPUR Sharrod Golightly, senior DT J.T. Surratt and senior QB Dylan Thompson The Gamecocks have had six players start every game this season: senior OT Corey Robinson, senior OG A.J. Cann, junior OT Brandon Shell, senior QB Dylan Thompson, senior DT J.T. Surratt and senior DB Brison Williams. The loss snaps South Carolina’s five-game winning streak against Clemson. It also snaps a streak of 18 consecutive games with a win vs. a non-conference team. OFFENSIVE NOTES Senior offensive guard A.J. Cann made his 50th career start. That is second highest in school history. Sophomore Pharoh Cooper’s 20-yard touchdown run in the first quarter marked his second touchdown run of the season. His previous touchdown run was vs. Tennessee on Nov. 1, 2014. Senior quarterback Dylan Thompson set a school record for passing yards in a season. He has totaled 3,280 for the year and surpassed the previous record of 3,206 set by Todd Ellis in 1987. Thompson was 21-39 passing for 249 yards and a touchdown. Junior tailback Mike Davis moved into ninth all-time in school history in rushing. Davis carried 12 times for 39 yards and has 2,385 rushing yards in his career. Freshman tailback David Williams had a career-high four receptions for a career-high 70 yards. Senior wide receiver Damiere Byrd’s 12-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was his third touchdown catch of the season. DEFENSIVE NOTES Skai Moore tallied his third interception of the season with his second quarter “pick.” All three of his interceptions this year have come in the last two games. Moore’s career total now sits at seven. Moore also led the Gamecocks with 10 tackles. It marked his third game this season with double-digit tackles as well. SPECIAL TEAM NOTES Elliott Fry’s 47-yard field goal tied a career long. Elliott Fry has 99 points on the year, tying his mark from last year, which is fourth-most in a single season in school history. He also moved into a tie for sixth all-time in school history with 198 career points.
Deshaun Watson
Fr. Quarterback
#4 6-3, 204
Gainesville, GA
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was unbelievable. 
Artavis Scott
Fr. Wide Receiver
#3 5-11, 190
Oldsmar, FL
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, WR 
Wayne Gallman
RS Fr. Running Back
#9 6-1, 209
Loganville, GA
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, RB 
Vic Beasley
RS Sr. Defensive End
#3 6-2, 236
Adairsville, GA
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, DE 
DeShawn Williams
Sr. Defensive Tackle
#99 6-1, 292
Central, SC
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, DT 
Martavis Bryant
Wide Receiver (2011 - 2013)
#1 6-5, 200
Calhoun Falls, SC
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in 2013.
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