The whole “nameless, faceless opponent” mantra can get tiresome. It provides lots of humor for media types who know Clemson’s players and coaches can’t possibly individually draw all of the same conclusions.
It’s not a gimmick, though. It isn’t a hoax. It isn’t contrived, at least to a point. Clemson’s players and coaches actually do buy it—and they save the best of “nameless, faceless” for the most appropriate moments.
The theory is that every game is the most important of the year, because it’s the one that’s next up on the schedule. An abundance of tried-and-true clichés (it’s about Clemson, it’s how we prepare, win today, etc.