HC Troy Taylor Says Stanford Has 'Hands Full' with Clemson

This weekend, Stanford will make its very first trip to Clemson.

The two programs have only faced off once before, with the Tigers getting a 27-21 win over the Cardinal in the 1986 Gator Bowl.

Stanford head coach Troy Taylor previewed the matchup in his weekly press conference , noting his team is very much looking forward to the challenge that comes with playing in Death Valley.

“It’s everything you want in a college football program,” Taylor said. “They have a great venue, I have never been there, but I have heard it’s very loud and the fans are into it. We are excited for the opportunity to play such a great football program. That is why you get into this thing, to play these games, but in that same sense, we got our hands full.”

For Stanford to have any shot at knocking off the Tigers, they will have to slow down quarterback Cade Klubnik, who is playing as well as any quarterback in the country over his last two games.

The junior signal caller is completing 73% of his passes and has thrown for 587 yards and eight touchdowns in wins over App State and NC State. He’s also added another 75 yards via his legs, with 3 rushing touchdowns.

“The confidence that he is playing with, a big-time player coming out of high school and he has lived up to that billing,” Taylor said. “He is a dual-threat guy. He is a great thrower, he is a fantastic runner. He is just playing at a really high level. Extremely confident. He’s got great weapons and it’s a fantastic scheme.”

Klubnik led Clemson to touchdowns on all eight of his possessions against App State, and then guided the Tigers to touchdowns on seven of his nine drives against NC State. In 17 possessions with Klubnik as the quarterback, the offense has punted just once over those two games.

It’s an offense that has been as explosive as any during that stretch, as evidenced by the more than 10 yards per play that the offense averaged in the first half against the Wolfpack.

“It’s been very impressive,” Taylor added. “I think they had a stretch there where they scored, I don’t know how many times in a row, but they are very explosive. They are physical and they are fast.”

A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!