Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik didn’t hide from the truth Wednesday. Three days after a 17-10 loss to LSU that sparked criticism from head coach Dabo Swinney, the junior signal-caller admitted it was on him.
“I had a bad game and didn’t play like myself,” Klubnik said. “In the second half, Coach put the ball in my hands to take over the game, and I didn’t get the job done. That’s really what it comes down to.”
Klubnik said he felt the weight of letting his teammates down.
“I was pissed off after the game,” he said. “Just upset at myself. I know it’s a team sport, but I felt like I let some guys down. I own my mistakes.”
Moving On, Leading On
Still, Klubnik stressed the importance of moving forward — quickly.
“In the position that I am, everybody’s looking to me and how I’m going to react,” Klubnik said. “I’ve learned that my influence is heavy. If I show up pissed off and defeated, that changes the whole mindset of the team. So I’ve got to attack every day with energy and enthusiasm.”
He pointed to last year’s Week 1 loss as a reminder.
“I remember last year, after that loss, I showed up Sunday and Monday with a ton of energy,” Klubnik said. “Guys told me it totally changed their whole mindset. That’s what I have to do now.”
The Fix: Routine Things
For Klubnik, the biggest problem wasn’t LSU’s scheme — it was his own approach.
“Just bad eyes,” he admitted. “I was too focused on what they were doing instead of what our fundamentals are. A couple times I just overcomplicated things. The fix is simple: make the routine plays, be decisive, and trust my preparation.”
When asked what must change for Clemson to reach its goals, Klubnik didn’t hesitate.
“Do the routine things, routinely,” he said. “I don’t need to be special or try to make plays that aren’t there. Just trust the game plan and go execute.”
Defending Garrett Riley
Swinney had challenged offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to do more to help his quarterback, but Klubnik was quick to back his playcaller.
“I don’t blame Coach Riley at all,” Klubnik said. “That’s his decision, and I think he’s one of the best in the country. I love the way he called the game. In my mind, Coach put the ball in my hands in the second half, and I didn’t get it done.”
Taking the Challenge from Dabo
Swinney’s fiery remarks Tuesday included a blunt assessment: “Our best player didn’t play well.” Klubnik said he heard the message loud and clear.
“It’s a challenge,” Klubnik said. “Chin it, learn from it, move on. That’s it. He’s my coach, and he’s coaching me. I know I’ll respond.”
Eyes on the Bounce Back
Klubnik insisted the LSU loss did nothing to shake his confidence in Clemson’s season.
“I feel really confident about this team,” he said. “That game gave me no doubt about who we are and what we can do. It actually filled me with confidence. We fought till the end, we stayed together. That’s exciting to me.”
And with another week of preparation ahead, Clemson’s quarterback is determined to flip the script.
“I know I can take over games,” Klubnik said. “I didn’t do it Saturday, but we’ll bounce back and go have a great year.”