Cade Klubnik didn’t spend the bye week sulking. He spent it cleaning his house, watching film, and finding peace.
“It was just kind of a good mental reset, something I really needed,” he said. “Flush the past, learn from it, but then move on. We’ve got an eight-game season, and that’s what matters now.”
The sophomore quarterback admitted the grind of a rough start took its toll. “It’s been a wild last four or five weeks. But I feel like a calmness came over me. I needed that.”
Owning the Struggles
Clemson’s 1–3 start has been jarring for a program used to championships. Klubnik didn’t mince words:
“Going 1–3 really sucked. A lot of missed opportunities, misplays, bad plays. I’m really just trying to flush all that.”
But he insists the Tigers aren’t quitting. “We’re not going anywhere. We’re right here, and we’re gonna keep fighting until the end. That’s my job—keep leading this team.”
Facing Belichick and UNC
As Clemson prepares for North Carolina and a Bill Belichick-designed defense, Klubnik knows the challenge ahead.
“He’s probably the GOAT of all coaches, so what an honor to step on the field with him,” Klubnik said. “They’ve got a great scheme, some really good disguises. We just have to play four quarters of good football.”
The path to improvement, he believes, lies in the details. “We’ve got all the talent in the world, but we’ve gotta be better at executing and the little things. You have to earn the right to win—that’s through preparation and details.”
Rekindling the Fire
To Klubnik, part of the solution is rediscovering joy.
“Remind guys why you do it. What are you here for? Look around—what a blessing it is to play football at Clemson. Take a step back and realize it’s the same game you’ve been playing since you were five.”
He wants to see his teammates cut loose. “Go rip it. Run routes, catch balls, block, tackle. Go celebrate a touchdown and have fun. That’s what we need to do.”
Still Believing
Despite the record, Klubnik insists Clemson is closer than people realize.
“We’re so close to it being a completely different season—just a few plays away. I feel like if I play well, that sparks everybody else.”
At the end of the day, he boils it down to his identity:
“If anybody knows who I am, I’m a fighter and I’m a competitor. I want to win more than anybody. Doesn’t matter if we’re 4–0 or 1–3, I’m showing up the exact same. That’s who I am.”