In Dabo's Words: 'This is the time that top-10 teams separate themselves from the pack'

In Dabo's Words...

"There's no doubt we came ready to play. We were ready from the opening snap. Our players are excited to play every week because we practice the right way. I'm proud of our backups, because they showed our depth and took care of business.

"We are a very focused program and we've had great leadership all season. This group of Tiger is our most consistent ever at home, with 12 consecutive home runs. It all starts with how we practice."

On the Tigers' performance against the Terps: "We played well today. We got Andre (Ellington) good plays, and Sammy (Watkins) was solid. And I'm proud of our young guys getting opportunities."

On Clemson's veterans stepping up on defense: "They are a product of experience. They're not losing focus and they're learning. They are an easy group to keep focused. We want to play with a hard edge and when we make mistakes, we always feel like someone will step up and make a play."

On the Tigers' remaining two home games: "I've told my team that this is the time when top-10 teams separate themselves from the pack. The end of November is when it matters. We need to play our best football down the stretch.

"It's a daily commitment to continue consistency. We've been lucky to have guys stay healthy, but even when players get injured, we can count on the rest of the team to step up."