- The latest injury report added RB Tre Madden (knee) and WR Isaac Whitney (shoulder/clavicle), but both are expected to play through pain/soreness this Saturday.
- The team has been positive and energetic all week under interim head coach Clay Helton. "It's almost like a fresh start," said Helton. "I think any time that you have a fresh start, and there's new beginnings, it's exciting for anyone. Plus, it's rivalry week, it's Notre Dame week, that's special."
- Senior captain Cody Kessler has been through this before, and he knows what it takes to turn this season around. "What we've always preached here is being a family," he said. "All we have is each other. We have to have everybody's back. We're going to get through this together."
- Helton has made his presence felt on both sides of the practice field this week despite his offensive background. "I want to be on both sides of the ball," he said. "I think as a head coach the whole team has to feel you at every position. I want to make sure I'm a part of that defensive structure. They have to know you care. They have to know you want their best interest at heart, and they have to feel your passion for them."
- CB Adoree' Jackson has noticed. "It's good having a coach over there working with the defense, making sure we're doing our things right so that when the game comes we can execute efficiently," he said.
- Offensively, Kessler is coming off one of the worst games of his career. "At some point in time, a quarterback is going to have an off day," said Helton about his QB. "I don't care how good you are, you're going to go up against a defense and you're just going to be off."
- As a play-caller, Helton regrets not pounding the rock more, especially because it was working. However, he has full faith in Kessler to bounce back this week. "The great thing for him is that he is a tremendous competitor, tremendous student of the game and I don't anticipate that happening again," Helton said. "[The] first thing he told me coming back was, 'Don't worry coach, it won't happen again,' and I said, 'Buddy, I believe it. I've been with you for a long time.'"
- Kessler promised his teammates that he would be better going forward. "[Washington] did a great job. They had a great game plan and we didn't execute ours. A lot of that's on me. I take full responsibility."
- The team had dinner as a family last night and watched the ESPN documentary, "Trojan War." "We sat down as an entire staff with our families and our kids and our entire team," said Helton. "We're all there together and there's a "30 for 30" on. You really see how powerful 'SC is and the brand of 'SC and how special this place is. There's no place like it in the world."
- Click here to see Cody Kessler's press conference and click here to see Adoree' Jackson's press conference.
- Here is Clay Helton's press conference...
