Will Shipley explains how bad weather could impact Saturday's game vs NC State

With the state of South Carolina directly in Hurricane Ian’s line of fire, Clemson’s home game vs. NC State on Saturday could be altered quite a bit by adverse weather conditions. However, Tiger running back Will Shipley is ready to strap on his helmet and brave the conditions — rain, sleet or shine.

“I’m freaking pumped, to be honest with you,” Shipley shared ahead of the top-10 matchup with the Wolfpack. “I’m so excited. You know, whatever environment conditions are thrown our way, this football team’s so ready to go. I’m so ready to go,” he declared, brushing off the idea of the storm affecting the Clemson team on Saturday. He just wants his revenge. “It’s one that I’ve had circled since last year, you know, falling short against them. So yeah, I’m so excited.”

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While Will Shipley just want to get out there and play football, he does realize that he needs to be on high alert when carrying the ball due to the likely wet weather. “Yeah it’s definitely something that we have to emphasize this week as running backs, you know,” Shipley said of ball security in the rain. Then continued:

“As ball carriers, you’ve got the points of emphasis and and you’ve just got to always be conscious. And I think that’s the biggest thing…is to never let your guard down. Because it’s always the defender you don’t see cliche. But it’s very true. And, you know, if you’ve just always got that in the back of your mind and you’re always thinking about it, you see all the defenders around you. Then, you know, you’re able to protect that football. And it’s going to be a huge part of the the game this weekend.”

So Shipley and all of the Clemson running backs and pass catchers need to have their heads on a swivel. In all likelihood, they’ll be toting a slippery rock on Saturday. All the more need to hug that piece of pigskin as tight as humanly possible while making sure no Wolfpack defenders sneak up and punch it out.

Though, for as much preparation as Shipley and the other ball carriers do to prevent a fumble in such conditions, all it takes is a perfect punch-out from a defender or a minuscule miscue on a handoff for that ball to wind up on the ground and in the hands of an NC State player.