MIAMI, Fla, — Clemson has now wrapped up two full days of practice and press conferences in preparation for the Orange Bowl, and Monday’s interviews featured the defensive side of the ball.

Here is what we heard:

Head Coach Dabo Swinney is really thankful to be playing in the Orange Bowl.

“Doesn’t get any better than this. Anytime you’re seeing palm trees at your bowl site, you know you had a good year,” Swinney said.

Swinney insists that his players are enjoying themselves but are entirely focused on their preparation for the playoff matchup.

“We prepared to win this game and that’s all we can do. That’s been our focus 100 percent. The last thing we have tried to do is bring any focus to playing after this game, because you have to earn that, and the only way you earn that is to win. We’re putting everything into this game,” Swinney said. “The players all understand that if you win, you play in the New Year, and if you lose, you go home and watch.”

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables is also thankful that Clemson has proved its talent enough to be in the playoffs.

“I knew we were going to be good. Everybody else doubted us, but I never did, I’m usually not that guy, and I’m not Debbie Downer and I’m not a negative person. I’m a perpetuator of the positive, high energy, confidence, let’s go, but I was worried about beating Wofford and stopping the option,” Venables said.

For players like linebacker Ben Boulware and defensive end Shaq Lawson who grew up in the Clemson area, it is surreal for them to be in this position playing for the team they grew up loving.

“I used to work at a concession stand when I was younger, used to sit in and watch the games and jump over the stands and try to get some gloves from anybody. I used to watch back when Kevin Youngblood and all those guys played and Charlie Whitehurst and all them. So I’ve been looking at Clemson since I was younger,” Lawson said. “It was just crazy that now I’m playing for Clemson.”

“I’ve been a Clemson fan my whole life. I grew up 30 minutes away from here, and then going to the games,” Boulware said. “I just wanted to come to Clemson and hope for the best really, and it’s definitely exceeded my expectations.”

Clemson’s defense is preparing to face an entirely different Oklahoma offense led by new quarterback Baker Mayfield.

“The kid is fast, unbelievable when you watch him on film. We’ve got to be on edge every time,” Lawson said.

“The quarterback, he’s something serious, something that we’ve really got to take into consideration. He’s a great player. He has all the skill sets to dominate this game, and if we take him for granted, this game could get out of hand early, so we’ve definitely got to handle this quarterback,” defensive end Kevin Dodd said.

“As a competitor like myself, you love seeing that. You love getting to play against that, so I’m looking forward to getting to play against him,” Boulware said.

However, defensive tackle D.J. Reader added that it helps that Clemson’s defense goes up against Deshaun Watson in practice everyday.

“Reminds us a lot of what we play against in practice. He’s a pretty good player. He’s a competitor. That’s what we’ve seen from him on film. He really likes to compete, and he’s a leader, and his team feeds off his energy, so yeah, it’s good to go against a player like that, and we’re excited to get out there and play against him,” Reader said.

Venables also reiterated that Clemson’s 40-6 victory over Oklahoma last year has nothing to do with the team the Tigers are about to face on New Year’s Eve.

“That’s living in la la land. Every year you play, you’ve got to start over and you have to earn everything again. You’ve got to tear everything down from week to week, season to season. You look at Oklahoma and look at where they feel like they are mentally from their last game from a year ago, and now all of a sudden they lost their bowl game, they have no momentum, and they’re going to get rid of everybody,” Venables said. “I know that animal.”