Dave Doeren meets with media before Clemson game
NC State football coach Dave Doeren met with the media Thursday for one last time before Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Clemson. The game will be at Memorial Stadium in Clemson and can be seen on ABC.
A transcript of Dave Doeren’s availability is provided below.
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Dave Doeren Pre-Clemson
On preparing for Saturday’s potential weather:
Dave Doeren: “I think we’re ready for whatever it is. I think we’re planning on it being wet and windy, and if it’s not then it’s pretty easy to make that kind of adjustment. So guys are definitely prepared for wet balls.
“We have experience here, at least some of us do, playing in a game like this. So be fun, get out there and play in the mud a little bit.”
On Clemson fight song at practice:
Doeren: “Yeah, that’s the crowd noise we’ve been playing.”
On fourth-year redshirt sophomore tackle Timothy McKay:
Doeren: “Really physical, has more pancakes than anyone in the run game. He’s improved himself a lot in other areas. We look at him and [Bryson] Speas as co-starters. It’s really the guys that are grading out the best are being rewarded for that first series and then there’s a rotation that goes on with Anthony Belton as well with Speas.
“Proud of Tim for his growth. He’s gotten a lot better and has developed and worked hard.”
On rankings and knowing Clemson is top-10:
Doeren: “We’re not intimidated. We’re excited. We’re looking forward to the opportunity. You got two good teams playing for a lot. Whether you guys think we’re good or not, we’re excited to go down there and compete and play against a team we have a lot of respect for.”
On injuries:
Doeren: “I’m not going to tell you.”
On monitoring weather:
Doeren: “We’re well-informed. Our operations staff and Boo Corrigan are communicating with all the different people out there. We’re talking to Clemson folks as well. There’s a lot of good communication.”
On Florida players dealing with families in path of Hurricane Ian:
Doeren: “I haven’t heard anything, but definitely reaching out. I know our position coaches are as well. Saw some pretty crazy of what’s going on down there. We’ve reached out. It’s scary. So hopefully everybody’s safe and they’ve done the right different things they need to protect what they can.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of damage control down there.”
On leaving earlier:
Doeren: “Best window to travel was to get out of town a little bit earlier for what’s happening in South Carolina. We’re just trying to beat it.”
On experience beating Clemson:
Doeren: “We believe we can beat anybody. This team obviously did a lot of things last year that hadn’t been done in a while. So, it’s a very confident group. It’s definitely not a group that thinks they they’re just going to show up and win. There’s things they have to do right in the preparation and practice.
“You go down there and play a really good team in a place that for 5 years nobody’s won. There’s a lot against us that way. As far as the matchup, our guys are very confident if they play the way they practiced and make the plays they need to make and strain for as long as it takes that they can win.”
On practice this week:
Doeren: “It’s been a really good week. We challenged them. It’s a lot out there. It’s not all clean. That’s why you practice, but got better and better as the week went on. The effort and the intensity were excellent.”
