Babers on how he assesses his team aside from wins and losses: "The biggest thing is we want to make sure they're still improving."
On leadership moving forward: "There's a certain standard everyone needs to catch up to. We can't lower our standards."
Babers said he had a "big meeting" with the senior class the other day.
Babers asked whether recruiting efforts are a factor in lack of depth this year: "We make evaluations and hopefully we're evaluating correctly. And based off those evaluations, there's personal development that goes on." Said SU needs to develop guys to compete w/ top of ACC.
Babers on being historically large underdog vs. Clemson: "You get an opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the country, whether you're injured or not and whether you're playing with all seniors or freshmen. No one expects you to win."
Babers asked about young QBs' developing: "We're trying to get Rex ready. We're trying to get Rex caught up." Babers said he saw "dear in the headlights look" from freshman QBs getting their initial team reps last week. "I'm not in a hurry to throw my little brother out there."
Babers: "There's a certain type of fight you want to see in your team. ... We need to make sure that we're fighting the right way and that we're fighting the good fight."
Babers on trend of SU OL injuries: "I think some of that is supreme being stuff. The original injuries were a lot more concussional and things like that. That hasn't been the case (now). We had some guys DQ'd from that, but this recent batch of injuries is random phenomena."
Babers said his meeting with seniors was about making the most of this year. He doesn't want to see chances go by the wayside as the team grapples with a brutal start to the season. Babers hasn't talked much about seniors potentially returning. "A lot of that goes unspoken."
Babers on the injuries coming from the lack of practice time in 2020: "You can attribute a lot of the things happening to what's been happening in 2020. You get back to the main fundamentals, tackling, breaking tackles, etc. No doubt 2020 has been a different year."
Babers on playing Clemson every year: "I think it's fortunate for us that every year we get an opportunity to play them. I don't look at that as something that's bad. I look at that as something that's good. ... We enjoy challenges like that."
Babers said WR Taj Harris apologized to the team for his behavior vs. Liberty during a meeting Sunday. There was "internal discipline," though it's unclear if his status is affected for Clemson. "A young man making a mistake. We all understand."
Babers on freshman RB Sean Tucker, who is playing through injury: "Sean is a go-daddy. He wants to go all the time." Babers reiterates that he won't put players in dangerous situations. Tucker came off hobbling early vs. Liberty, but went on to run for 100+ yards.
Babers said RB Cooper Lutz has "really been coming on" in practice the last three weeks. He blocked well against Liberty and, seemingly, could earn consistent reps going forward.
Babers on how he's handled the 1-4 start personally: "I am really trying to stay mentally, physically and spiritually sharp because I think there's going to be nothing but good coming out of this."
More Babers: "I know there are better days to come and I hopefully I'm here to see all of it."
[/QUO a deer in the headlights is to be expected. that speaks more about how he practiced the qbs.
