By Will Vandervort.

At first it was just some friendly banter between two guys that were about to go head-to-head on the football field.

“It was just football. Things like that happen all the time,” Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander said just moments after the Tigers drilled Oklahoma, 40-6, in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Monday.

But then it turned into a little more than just friendly banter. It got serious. Alexander claims Sooners’ wide receiver Sterling Shepard started taking things a little too serious so Alexander fought back. As Clemson was about to head back to the locker room for one final talk before the game, Shepard had some choice words for Alexander, who in turn replied back.

The two had to be separated by their coaches and security. And just like that it was on.

“He was talking trash. A guy that talks trash before the game is a guy who is scared,” Alexander said.

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