Travis Blanks says Saturday’s game against No. 6 Notre Dame is a statement game for 11th-ranked Clemson, but not in the way you might think.
“I think every game is a statement game for us,” the linebacker said on Tuesday. “The media wants us to buy into that, that this is the game that we solidify ourselves. This is the game that we show the world that we’re national championship contenders. This is the game, this is the game, this is the game.”
But Blanks says every game is “The game” for Clemson, and playing a nationally ranked Notre Dame game is no different to them then preparing to play App State or Louisville.
“I’m not really buying into what the media is saying. The media didn’t believe in us at the beginning of the season,” he said. “I feel like no matter what happens in this game, there are still going to be doubts about Clemson, as far as the media is concerned.
“So I’m not really buying into what the media has to say as far as our defense and our team and that type of stuff because at the end of the day, that stuff doesn’t matter. What matters is what we put on the field.”
Blanks is obviously influenced by his head coach. Dabo Swinney, whose Tigers are 6-3 against top 10 foes, is used to having his team on the big stage.
“You rely on your experience. We’ve been in a lot of these games, a lot of these games where we’re playing a great opponent, and we’ve just got to stay focused on what we do,” Swinney said. “That’s why I think it’s important that you are consistent with how you talk to your team, with how you prepare, regardless of who you play. That’s just the way it is for us. That’s allowed us to become one of the most consistent teams in the country over the last five, six years because of that mentality.”
Clemson beat No. 6 LSU in the Chick-fil-A (Peach) Bowl in 2012, then followed that up with a win over No. 5 Georgia in front of ESPN’s College GameDay to open the 2013 season and later that year knocked off Ohio State in the 2014 Orange Bowl.
Last year, the Tigers concluded the season with a win over Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
“Hey, it’s always about what’s next and what’s in front of us. Again, our system doesn’t change. I think that allows our guys to have some stability to where they’re not up or down,” Swinney said. “We don’t meet longer, we don’t practice longer, we don’t do anything different for any of our opponents.
“I think that sends the wrong message when all of a sudden you come in and say, ‘Okay, now we’re going to call the good plays this week. Now we’re going to practice for two hours this week.’ You just have a plan and execute your plan each and every week.”