Clemson running back Travis Etienne
Q. What was your favorite Christmas gift growing up?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: My grandma gave us walkie-talkies. Me and my little brothers probably used those all throughout the year. We would play hide-and-seek with the walkie-talkies.
Q. What’s your favorite PlayStation game?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: Probably right now, probably 2K. I just beat Chez Mellusi last night and Darien Rencher. They were really upset about that. Probably 2K I play whenever I have free time.
Q. What’s your thoughts on the OSU defense that impresses you?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: Just the overall defense. Great personnel. Tremendous players. Fast, strong. Everything that you live for. At this time, you expect nothing less. You expect the best of the best. They definitely have that. It will be a great challenge for us. Just go out there and execute every single play.
Q. What are the things that — when you’re going against a defense like this, what are things you have to do as an offense if you’re going to have success?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: Take care of the ball. Not turn over the ball. Just execute each and every play. Stay above the change. You can’t put yourself in a tense situation — a second and long, third and long, because you can’t win games behind the change. You want to stand by the change and not turn the ball over. Basically what I’m saying is don’t beat yourself. Just execute.
Q. Do you enjoy the opportunity to go head to head with a back like J.K. Dobbins?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: Definitely. Any competitor, definitely. You want to go against the best. He’s one of the best in the country. We’re definitely going to be out there, fighting awesome, just hoping to play our best game.
Q. How well do you know J.K. [Dobbins]?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: Well, me and J.K., we met one time at Hilton Head. We met at that camp. We were there for a weekend. We became friends at that camp, but outside of that, we haven’t really, like — he’s in Ohio. I’m at Clemson.
Q. How much have you followed what he’s done this year?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: I don’t follow much football outside defense, the film that I watch. I don’t have time to watch the games.
Q. What’s caught your eye when you have you been watching this Ohio State film?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: Just their personnel. Their DB, their safety, backers. Just their front. They’re fast. They’re fast, big, long. So they present a huge challenge in just them having guys that they have and how athletic they are and how fast they are. You’re definitely not going to be able to just — execute at the end of the day. Not going to just go out there and just beat them. They present a huge challenge. You definitely are going to have something up your sleeve. A game plan, things like that. We definitely have to be ready.
Q. Does their speed stand out compared to other teams you’ve played this year?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: Most definitely. Very fast team. Just watching them on kickoff, you can see how fast they get down the field. Their speed definitely stands out.
Q. You guys haven’t been tested since really North Carolina. In a close game. How much are you looking forward to — obviously they’re a great team. So is Ohio State. We’re going to see how good we are. Is there that kind of mentality at all?
TRAVIS ETIENNE: I feel going to the game is about how we play. We have to go out there and execute and play to the best of our ability. At the end of the day, we play to the best of our ability. We will be able to live with the scoreboard whether it is a “W” or an “L.” At least for us, it is an offensive reason to execute and put us in the best position possible.