CLEMSON – Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton spoke to the media earlier this week, as he discussed the morale of the team in the locker room and how the Tigers are adjusting to what has been a disappointing season to this point.

Question: How would you describe the morale of the team right now?

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

Question: What conversation in the locker room have you guys had?

Hampton: “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. We’ve just got to put it together and play complimentary football. Just like Coach [Dabo] Swinney says. At times we’ve done that, other times we haven’t. Last week the defense played well in the first, but in the second half we didn’t play as well. That’s something we’ve got to continue to strive to get better at.” 

Question: When you look back at the second half against SMU, what broke down for you guys?

Hampton: “We just didn’t make the routine plays. Communication was a really big thing for us. At the time, we just didn’t make big plays when we needed to. That really ended up hurting us.” 

Question: What is it like, as a defense, when you see your offense score and then you take the field and the other offense goes down the field and score? 

Hampton: “It hurts a little bit, but we know that the offense is going to have our back. Whether we go out and stop them or give up a touchdown, I have confidence in the offense that they’re going to make a play for us. At the end of the day, you can’t dwell on something that’s happened in the past.  You just got to put your head down and keep moving forward.” 

Question: This was the season that began talking about the College Football Playoffs and making a run at a title. How do guys stay invested? 

Hampton: “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. 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.”