Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney says Saturday’s game against No. 4 Louisville is a B.Y.O.G. game.
“There is no question, you better bring your guts and heart for this one. There ain’t no doubt about it,” he said following Wednesday’s practice. “If you are tip toeing through the daises out there on this, you will be exposed pretty quick. You better show up and be ready to go.
“We will be ready, and I don’t have any doubt they will be ready, too. Man! I can’t wait. It just does not get any better. Two great teams battling it out, somebody is going to win and somebody is going to lose.”
Swinney says whatever happens during Saturday’s 8 p.m. game in Death Valley, they are not going to crown the Atlantic Division Champion after the game. However, they understand the kind of momentum winning this game will mean to both programs.
“We still have a long way to go and a lot more football to play,” he said. “You all know, crazy things can happen in this game, but the winner of this game certainly has some pretty good momentum going into the next division game.
“We are both fighting to stay in that driver’s seat, if you will, and not have to depend on anything else so we are looking forward to it.”
Renfrow to dress. Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (hand) will dress for the Tigers on Saturday. However, he will not be playing wide receiver. Swinney said the sophomore will be Clemson’s third-string holder.
Swinney said Renfrow can catch the ball well and can spin the ball so he is okay to be the holder, but they hope it does not come to that, obviously. Because the injury is to thumb area, Renfrow still can’t tuck the football, which is why he can’t play.
“He is actually doing really well,” Swinney said. “He is going through all the drills and does all the routes versus air and catches all the balls. He can do everything. The problem is he can’t tuck it. We are not going to put him back out there until he can literally tuck the ball like he needs to from a ball security standpoint, but he does everything else, which is good.
“If it was another injury, he would be playing, but it is a good thing because he can still run all the routes and get all the individual work and keep his stamina where it needs to be.”
Swinney isn’t exactly sure when Renfrow will be back at wide receiver because there is a certain percentage of healing he has to have on his hand before they will allow him to practice.
Bryant is out. Swinney said defensive end Austin Bryant (foot) is not quite ready to play and he will not play on Saturday.
“He just is not quite ready for the show,” Swinney said. “He is inching closer, but he will not be ready.”
Baker getting better, but will not play. Defensive back Adrian Baker, who tore his ACL in the spring is doing well and had a good week of practice, but he will not play against Louisville.
“He is just kind of getting his football legs back competitively,” Swinney said. “He has been doing all the rehab stuff and they just put him back in practice this week so there is no way we would throw him out there in a game like this.
“Now that he has been cleared, he has to work his way into the football part of it, but he is doing well. He has gone the last two days in full gear. He is doing all the competitive work and one-on-ones so he is inching closer.”