Skalski: A lot of people say, "Clemson's not worth a damn"

Despite being 5-0 this season, sporting a 20-game winning streak and having not lost an ACC game since Oct. 13, 2017, the Tigers are still having to answer the questions of, "What is wrong?"

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—There has been a lot of negative talk surrounding the No. 2 Clemson Tigers.

Despite being 5-0 this season, sporting a 20-game winning streak and having not lost an ACC game since Oct. 13, 2017, the Tigers are still having to answer the questions of, "What is wrong?"

Those questions came to a head in their 21-20 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels, but the Tigers are not focused on the outside noise—instead finishing this year the same way they finished last year, holding a golden trophy as the national champions.

"I think we're going to get a lot of people say, 'Clemson's not worth a damn' and stuff like that," Clemson linebacker Jamie Skalski said. "But you got to remember this time last year, like you said, we went through her game like Syracuse and that same team won a national championship. That same team beat Notre Dame, that same team dominated ACC championship. 

"You've got to give a lot of credit to North Carolina, they came up and they were ready to play and they did outplay us. But I think when it mattered most we showed up, and it's just another great learning experience for our team. Growing experience."

Skalski has emerged as a leader on the Tiger defense that was looking for leadership after losing their entire defensive line to the NFL following last season.

That leadership has been needed this season, as the offense, that was supposed to carry the Tigers back to the national championship this season, has struggled to find their groove in the first five games. 

But for a defense that faces that offenses day in and day out, there is little doubt that they will get rolling sooner rather than later.

"We just try to do our part and our job. It doesn't really matter what's going on in their end," Skalski said. "We know that they will make plays eventually, even if it's not going good for them. We know that the talent we got over there, that they're going to make the plays when we need them, and I think they believe that we're going to make the plays when we need them, and I think that's just what happened today."