In Dabo's Words: 'It was a special day, and I was proud to be an observer'

In Dabo's Words...

On the play of Clemson's defense: "They had a great performance. From the sidelines, I believe it was their best game of the season. We struggled with some missed tackles, but they did really well at getting turnovers, including the pick-six.

"We made some big stops in the second half. We put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, which caused some hesitancy on his part and forced him to throw off target."

On his decision to start Spencer Shuey at middle linebacker: "We played him based on his performance against Georgia Tech. We believed he earned the starting position."

On the performance of Clemson's offense: "There were some missed plays - it was like we were losing as many yards as we gained. Virginia Tech tried to challenge us, but we were able to finish those plays in the second half. Any time you score that many points against Virginia Tech, you've had a good day. Now we have to prepare for the quick turnaround against Wake Forest."

On Andre Ellington's drive as a runner: "He doesn't lose a lot of yards. It always seems like he's moving."

On the stadium atmosphere and Military Appreciation Day: "What a privilege it was to be part of a day like this. It's special to experience it with Daniel Rodriguez. His presence has helped the team, and he never forces his leadership. It has really made the team appreciate our military, and realize that there are a lot more problems in the world than our third-down conversion rate.

"Rodriguez's career started with a video and a work ethic. I can't image what is going through his head comparing where he was three years ago to where he was today. It was a special day, and I was proud to be an observer. The Valley has been coming alive, and I know Daniel felt that today."