Will Muschamp shares earliest memory from Clemson rivalry, being the opponent during Tigers’ glory days
By Keith Farner
Published:
The first time coach Will Muschamp heard about the Clemson rivalry was on Day One. That’s all he needed to know about what it means to the program and fan base.
“Day one, beat Clemson,” he said at his regular weekly press conference. “I heard it from everybody.”
Currently, though, Clemson is on a five-game winning streak.
“This is a great rivalry and we need to do a better job. We need to win a game,” Muschamp said.
Muschamp also was asked about being the rival during the glory days of Clemson, and how much the Tigers have won in recent years.
“I worry and spend a lot of time on South Carolina,” Muschamp said. “At the end of the day, I can’t control, and I always talk to our players about control the things you can control. As far as recruiting, as far as developing players on campus, coaching, those things I can control here, and I can’t control the other. Obviously, we need to do a better job as coaches and players in this game, than we have in the previous three. Find a way to win the game.”
So-called outside noise comes with the rivalry territory, he said.
“Generally, geographically, close people to you, that you’ve got to deal with 365 days out of the year,” he said. “Something you obviously hear, it’s nothing you like, or want to become accustomed to. You gotta continue to coach through it, play through and recruit through it, develop through it. Continue to work through it and you can’t let it get frustrated. You gotta just continue to work through the situations to create the best situation you can for your football team and that’s what we’ve been trying to do.”
Muschamp was also asked about a recent statement from President Bob Caslen about Muschamp returning next year.
“I appreciate it, and didn’t think anything else,” he said.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
