NEW YORK -- Kevin Young walked into BYU's locker room at halftime of Tuesday night's game and had a simple message: Clemson is playing harder than us.
The Cougars have become accustomed to second-half surges this season, but allowing a 21-0 run to end the first half and trailing by that margin at the break felt like a steeper hill to climb.
"The look in their eye got different," Young said of his team's reaction. "I thought we were blank and a little lifeless in the first half. I challenged the guys to come out with more of a competitive spirit.