Will Shipley explains how much last season's loss to NC State still lingers for him, Clemson
Clemson and Will Shipley are looking of a measure of revenge against NC State this weekend.
Last season, the Wolfpack sent the Tigers into a tizzy, a 27-21 loss handed to Dabo Swinney’s squad. However, Shipley and company believe things will be different this season.
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“It was really unfortunate, just the series of events. We didn’t finish,” reminisced Shipley. “It’s something that you saw us do Saturday against Wake Forest. We were confident in going our there that we were going to put the ball in the end zone and the defense was going to come up with a big stop, and then like I said, it’s something we didn’t do against NC State last year. So just kind of going into it, I feel like we weren’t fully prepared, mentally, physically.
“This year it’s different. We’re going into it and giving ourselves the best hand to do our thing, and that’s what it comes down to. Just now the players making the plays.”
Evidently, Clemson is using their momentum gained from defeating Wake Forest as their driving force behind their preparation this week. Still, revenge will be nice if Will Shipley and the Tigers can get it.
Will Shipley shoots down NC State as Clemson’s biggest rival ahead of Top 10 matchup
Moreover, Clemson and NC State will play in a key ACC matchup between two top 10 programs on Saturday. However, Clemson running back Will Shipley doesn’t think of the NC State Wolfpack as the Tigers’ biggest rival.
While speaking to the media, Will Shipley was asked about the rivalry between the two schools.
“I wouldn’t throw the name rival out there to just about anybody but South Carolina,” Will Shipley said. “But, you know, they’re definitely a really, really respected opponent for us, and coming in a top 10 matchup in the Valley is something that we’re looking forward to.”
“It’s been a really, really good matchup the past couple years, you know, with the exception of one or two. So, we just got to take the momentum from last week as an offense, as a team, and just build off of that.”
During the 2021 game between Clemson and NC State, the Wolfpack won. On top of that, Will Shipley was injured. It also cost Clemson a shot at the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. So, this is an emotional game for Shipley and the Tigers.
Will Shipley was a consensus four-star recruit in the Class of 2021.