Monday news and notes as Clemson's players talk Georgia

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Mon Aug 26 18:51:14 GMT-04:00 2013

CLEMSON – It’s game week in Clemson, and there was no shortage of excitement in and around the West Zone Monday afternoon.

Especially from Roderick McDowell.

The senior running back entered the PAW dining facility and informed the media that it was too quiet for his liking and that they needed to “Turn up.”

The senior running back and first-year starter is more than excited to get his last season at Clemson started.

“I’m very pumped. I’m ready for this week,” McDowell told the media during Monday’s interview session. “I’m ready and excited for this season. It has been a long time. It’s the opener. Georgia. This is my last go-round. That is the one thing that has really got me pumped. This is my last opener. I’m a senior. This is my last time playing in front of my family and the orange. I’m just ready to go, honestly. I’m ready to be out there to run down the hill.”

McDowell is also ready to send a message to the country.

“One of the things that’s got me really excited is the environment and the atmosphere going around,” McDowell said. “I feel like we are peaking right now. With this game, it’s going to be, ‘Hey Clemson, we have arrived’”

*There is a certain buzz around the Clemson campus this week as the showdown with Georgia looms, but Travis BlanksTravis Blanks
So. Defensive Back
#11 6-0, 190
Tallahassee, FL
View Full Profile said that if he and his teammates are to emerge victorious Saturday night, they have to tune out the hype that surrounds the top-10 matchup.

“All of that stuff – you can’t just ignore,” Blanks said. “College Gameday, top-five team and all of that stuff, but ultimately it’s just another game for us. Coach Swinney always says that the next game is a nameless, faceless opponent. While all of that stuff is here, we have to do our best to block that out and just go play football.”

The sophomore made it a weekly ritual to watch ESPN’s College GameDay every Saturday while growing up.

“I used to watch College GameDay tons. I would watch every Saturday as a kid.,” he said. “I like the atmosphere – the mascots, the campus, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, the whole ruckus that they do. It was just a ton of fun to watch as a kid.”

However, on the opening Saturday of 2013 football season Blanks will be one of the few who won’t care which team’s mascot Corso chooses.

“I won’t be watching so I honestly won’t care,” he said. “He won’t be the first to not put on the Tiger, so what difference would it make.”

*Linebacker Quandon ChristianQuandon Christian
RS Sr. Linebacker
#34 6-2, 225
Lake View, SC
View Full Profile has faced some great running back – quarterback duos during his four years at Clemson.

Names like Auburn’s Cam Newton and Michael Dyer, West Virginia’s Geno Smith and Tavon Austin, and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas and David Wilson come to mind.

However, Christian said that Georgia’s duo of Aaron Murray and Todd Gurley might be in the top two.

“Gurley is a great back. He is probably one of the best backs in the country and Murray is probably one of the best quarterbacks in the country,” Christian said. “We are looking forward to playing them. It is probably one of the top running back and quarterback duos that I’ve faced in my time here. I’ve faced some good ones. It’s probably in the top-two.”

Who was number one?

“Cam Newton and Michael Dyer is probably number one,” he said.

*Senior offensive lineman Brandon ThomasBrandon Thomas
Gr. Offensive Line
#63 6-3, 305
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile said that the first game of the season is always the most challenging because there is no current game film to prepare from, leaving the Tigers to focus on themselves.

“It’s hard for everyone in the first game of the season because you don’t know how they played last week or in previous games,” Thomas said. “I think we just have to work on ourselves more than actually studying them. We still have to look at the film and study their tendencies, but we have to focus more on ourselves.”

However after watching film, he thinks the Bulldogs’ defense looks a lot like South Carolina.

“I can’t tell you that. I don’t know if they resemble anyone from last year,” he said. “They have their own set defense that they go out of with the four-down, odd. If I had to say anyone, I would say that they are kind of like South Carolina with the walk-around end.”

*With summer and fall camp behind him, linebacker Stephone AnthonyStephone Anthony
Jr. Linebacker
#42 6-2, 235
Polkton, NC
View Full Profile is ready to play ball.

As a third year player, Anthony knew what to expect heading into to fall camp so that he was able to make the most of every opportunity.

“It was a pretty good camp. I enjoyed it,” Anthony said. “It was different after being here for three years because there was a different level of expectations and I knew what to expect. I expect [the hard work] to carry over and to be myself. Not to worry about myself and just play ball.”

After having a successful camp, Anthony finally has confidence in everything he does.

“I just have confidence in knowing what we are doing and know what we have to do to win the ball game,” Anthony said Monday. “I know have to do everything with a purpose. Prepare with a purpose. Watch film with a reason.”