In monsoon conditions, seventh-ranked Clemson cruised to a 24-10 victory over Georgia Tech Saturday night in Death Valley. It was the exact type of rebound the team needed after suffering a loss to Syracuse two weeks ago and also a Kelly Bryant ankle injury on Oct. 7 against Wake Forest.

Following the game the media spoke with Bryant, head coach Dabo Swinney, defensive coordinator Brent Venables and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel. Here is what we heard:

Having Bryant back to full health made a world of difference for the Tigers as he was 22-of-33 on the night which included two touchdown passes. He also ran for 67 yards in 12 carries.

“We needed this,” said the junior. “Coach (Swinney) challenged us on how we would respond. I felt we responded in a good way. We came out really good. From start to finish we played good football so I felt like we responded.”

Swinney was pleased with the effort his team showed Saturday night and felt they responded to a rough last two weeks just the way he wanted them to.

“The effort of our team tonight,” Swinney said. “I just can’t say enough about how they responded. That’s what good teams do. It’s been a long couple of weeks. Not a lot of fun, the fun is in the winning. It was good to see the guys bounce back tonight and really play a heck of a ballgame against a really good team.”

The Tigers’ defense also played a huge part in the game as the Yellow Jackets came into the game averaging 372.2 rushing yards a game. However, Clemson’s defense held them to 198 rushing yards Saturday night.

“Our guys played really well,” said Venables. “A little over a week to get ready for them so that always helps getting our game plan down, getting our technique down. I’m really proud of our players and coaches.

“They can go out and play. They stay on their feet, squeeze blocks, tackle well and are disciplined so there really are no magical calls to it. You have to do those things first and foremost. Just super proud of them”

As Swinney mentioned after the game, “the fun is in the winning.” O’Daniel along with the rest of the team embraced and enjoyed Saturday night’s playing conditions which led to a stronger performance on the playing field.

“It was so much fun,” he said. “Before the game as soon as we came out and it was pouring rain, you can’t really dodge the rain because you’re getting soaked regardless. Me and a couple of the other guys were just saying, ‘If we have to have to have a pump up talk or you have to be forced to have fun in this kind of weather, in this kind of environment then you don’t need to be out here. We don’t want you out here.’

“I think everyone felt the same way so that kind of energy and that chemistry just carried the whole game.”

Clemson (7-1, 5-1 ACC) travels to Raleigh, N.C. this upcoming Saturday to take on NC State (6-2, 4-0 ACC) for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Carter-Finley Stadium.

“It’s the biggest game of the year,” Swinney said about traveling to NC State. “It’s the next game and again you just embrace the opportunity. We are where we want to be. We have a chance. We’ll find out if we’re good enough or not but we’ve got a chance and that’s where you want to be.

“There’s a lot of talking that goes on in July, August, September and October but there’s an old saying, ‘They remember November’ and that’s for a reason.”