Monday practice notes and quotes

Clemson will have one final practice at Nova Southeastern University on Tuesday.

by Press Release - Mon Dec 28 18:25:59 GMT-04:00 2015

Clemson took the practice field at the NSU Soccer Complex in Davie, Fla., for the second consecutive day on Monday afternoon. The Tigers braved the elements again, as temperatures stood steady in the mid-80s with muggy conditions for the duration of the two hour and fifteen-minute practice. Following today’s practice, Clemson will invade Hallandale Beach for teams beach outing. Clemson will have one final practice to prepare for No. 4 Oklahoma on Tuesday, December 29 from 3:10-4:40 p.m. at Nova Southeastern University.

Clemson University Head Coach – Dabo Swinney

On Clemson’s experience in Miami so far:

“Phenomenal. Doesn’t get any better than this. Anytime you’re seeing palm trees at your bowl site, you know you had a good year.”

On if the player’s dinner last night at Fogo de Chao slowed anyone down in practice today:

“No. But I definitely saw some draggy guys coming back into the hotel last night. They were kind of waddling in; they had a great time, they enjoyed it. They’ve been really focused on the practice field, when it’s been time to work they’ve done a nice job.”

On what the focus will be heading into Clemson’s final practice of the bowl week tomorrow:

“It will be the point in the week where we (the coaches) start getting everybody dialed in. We call it “Team Thursdays,” I know it’s a Tuesday, but we’ll be looking to dot our I’s and cross our T’s and really polish the plan, bringing it all together. We want to walk off the practice field tomorrow with complete confidence.”

On the magnitude of the College Football Playoff and if that affected how Clemson prepared this week for Oklahoma:

“We prepared to win this game and that’s all we can do. That’s been our focus 100 percent. The last thing we have tried to do is bring any focus to playing after this game, because you have to earn that, and the only way you earn that is to win. We’re putting everything into this game, just like we have the last several years and trying to get a team ready to play a bowl game. The players all understand that if you win, you play in the New Year, and if you lose, you go home and watch.”

On meeting Dan Marino before Monday’s practice at Nova Southeastern University:

“He’s awesome. He’s from my era; I grew up in the 80s and 90s watching him play. He’s one of the best to ever lace em’ up. Really neat to spend a little time with him.”