USC Head Coach Steve Spurrier:

Opening Statement:

"We had more yards than usual. But they made a lot of third downs. That was probably the difference in them getting the touchdown."

"We didn't score when we got down there. They made a touchdown, and we didn't."

"We played well. We didn't play our best. We played OK."

"In a close game, some of those misfires can come back and cost you."

"Give Clemson credit. They played hard."

On interception: "We were trying to throw it in the back of the end zone to Sidney Rice. Blake tried to throw it leaning backwards, which is a no-no."

"They zoned up, and we tried to run. We should have tried to run more, but when we did, we didn't go far."

"They made a ton of third and eights and third and 10s. We forced two punts all game, but we played pretty good defense. We just couldn't get them off the field."

"13-9 would have been a good score for us. I figured we would have scored a touchdown."

"We don't play good defense, and you've got to play zone on third and 10. We coach it well, but the players don't see the ball well. It's been a sore point all year. It's hurt us all year. But not scoring in the red zone has hurt also."

"We've been making plays most of the year, but didn't make that one."

"It's been a wonderful year. I told the guys to be proud of the year. To finish 7-4 is a wonderful year. Be proud of it."

"We don't have anything to complain about. We will get ready for the bowl game."

USC Player Quotes:

Na'Shan Goddard:

"It was tough man; it is tougher to lose tight games. This is my last game here so it's real tough. It's all hitting me right now. Clemson's defense played well - Clemson stopped us in the red zone. It was frustrating. But we've been in tough positions this year and we bounced back. We thought it would happen again. It just didn't go our way.

"It was a real close game and it just didn't go our way. People thought we would be 4-6 or 3-7 coming into this game so we turned a lot of heads this year. Things just didn't go our way tonight. We didn't get the ball to bounce our way.

Fred Bennett:

"We had to tighten up and make plays on third down. I thought we played our hearts out. We left it all on the field. Clemson just got the win. It wasn't frustrating. I'm behind the offense all the way. Things just happen. Clemson made some great plays.

Mike Davis:

"We wanted to win. We played together. We just have to do better the next game. The 100 yards feels good, but it doesn't matter if you don't win the game.

Jonathan Joseph:

"It's been a wonderful season. One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to win this game. We fought until the end. We are looking forward to the bowl. We have something to look forward to, something that's positive."

Chris Hampton:

"We had to stop them when it was 1st and 35 - it was a critical moment in the game. We kept thinking we are going to stop them this time. We thought `we will stop them this time; we will stop them this next time.' Then they got the whole 35.

"The players are disappointed in the lockerroom. They aren't really down, but we are disappointed because we know we missed an opportunity. We are disappointing, we are hurting."

Blake Mitchell:

"They did a good job of keeping us out of the end-zone. We have had a pretty good season, better than most people thought.

My ankle got rolled underneath me, it's hurting a lot. Their defensive ends are good players and they got some pressure on me. We didn't capitalize on their mistakes; we didn't get the ball in the end zone."

Sidney Rice:

"It was a real good game. We made a few mistakes on the offensive side of the ball. We have to get past it and move on."

Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden: 

On the game-"We knew it was going to be a hard game coming in. Trying to catch South Carolina like we did, new guy in town, winning five games in a row, playing at home on senior night. They are a well-coached team and we knew it would be hard. I am very pleased with our win."

On winning four straight-"I don't think this is domination. I know those statistics sound impressive, but I don't think that we will have any trouble next year televising this game."

On the first and thirty-five drive-"You have to get it in chunks. You have to try and go 10,10,10 and not try to get them all at once. When the game is on the line, Charlie Whitehurst knows how to respond. There were some great catches by the receivers, and there were some great throws and protection by the line."