CLEMSON – Life in Clemson’s locker room has been different this season.

Trying to keep everyone on the same page has been difficult compared to most seasons because the Tigers are going through struggles the program has not seen in almost 15 years.

There was a time they were on top of the world, or at least the ACC, as they were picked to win the conference in a landslide vote by the media, while considered one of the top four ranked teams in the country.

Seven weeks through the season, and the realization that none of that is going to happen. Instead, at 3-4, the Tigers are trying to salvage what is left of what has been one of the more disappointing football seasons in recent years.

“I wouldn’t say it’s down, but obviously we’ve got to keep pushing,” cornerback Ashton Hampton said. “We’ve still have five more games left and we’re just trying to push forward and just win the day.”

Clemson (2-3 ACC) is off this weekend before hosting Duke on Homecoming next Saturday at Memorial Stadium. As Hampton said, with all of their goals off the table, with the exception of their state championship game against rival South Carolina and winning the last game, the Tigers have to focus on just winning the day and not look back at what could have been and instead look forward to what is next.

“Just to keep fighting. We know the talent that we have in the room. We know we have great players on both sides of the ball,” the sophomore said. “We’ve just got to put it together and play complimentary football. Just like Coach [Dabo] Swinney says.

“At times we’ve done that and other times we haven’t. Last week the defense played well in the first half, but in the second half we didn’t play as well. That’s something we’ve got to continue to work on and strive to get better at it.” 

They have to play Clemson Football, which is something everyone on the team takes pride in.

“At the end of the day, at this point, we’re just fighting for ourselves and Clemson. It’s a great program that has had a history of great players, great teams, great coaches,” Hampton said. “But at the end of the day, we’re fighting for Clemson. The fans in the stands, ourselves, the name on the back of our jerseys, the name on the front of our jerseys. That’s something we really pride ourselves in for the next five games.”