There’s a lot more positivity surrounding the Clemson football program right now, with the 24th-ranked Tigers (7-4, 4-4 ACC) finding their stride during a late-season surge that’s featured three straight wins including victories over ranked opponents in Notre Dame and North Carolina.

But earlier this season, Dabo Swinney and his team had to deal with plenty of negativity and criticism from some fans and others outside the program following a 4-4 start (Clemson’s worst start since 2010) and 2-4 start in the ACC (its worst start in conference play since 1998).

This week, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik met with the media ahead of Saturday’s regular season finale against rival South Carolina and was asked how the attitudes of fans affect the team.

“We really just try not to really focus on that,” Klubnik said. “I think that we have really, really loyal fans.”

With that said, Klubnik echoed the sentiments of his head coach last month, when Swinney said he feels 98.5 percent of the fan base is behind him and his players, but there is a 1.5 percent group that is with them “win or win.”

“There’s always those 1 or 2 percent that aren’t really ever happy,” Klubnik said. “So, we just try to focus on us and just try to really just stay within this program and focus on the people that really matter, and that’s the people in this program. So, we’re just trying to live inside out and just continue to be better every single week.”

Klubnik and the Tigers will try to continue their improvement and the momentum they’ve built over the stretch run of the season when they face the Gamecocks in Columbia on Saturday. Kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network.

To honor Clemson’s special senior class Dear Old Clemson is selling footballs signed by 7 of Clemson’s Avengers for only $100.  These limited edition footballs are signed by Thomas, Orhorhoro, Davis, Mascoll, Henry, Murphy and Williams.  Get one while supplies last.