Clemson Football: 3 Tigers currently suspended for Cotton Bowl
The NCAA reports that three Clemson football players are currently suspended for the Cotton Bowl game against Notre Dame.
Coach of Clemson football Dabo Swinney announced to the media on Monday afternoon that three Tigers would not be participating in the Cotton Bowl at this time.
Swinney said that an NCAA drug test by All-American Dexter Lawrence, tight end Braden Galloway and offensive lineman Zach Giella found a “sliver” of a banned drug in their system called ostarine.
For those of you wondering, ostarine is a substance that is banned by the NCAA because it can provide some of the same advantages as steroids. The sad thing about the substance, though, is that it can be found in hair products, protein or even some over-the-counter products or products bought online.
Swinney said that he believes the guys did not intentionally take the product and that the Tigers are in the process of appealing.
There will be more clarity from the B Sample and it’s possible that the players could still be able to compete in the game on Saturday, but it will just have to be something in which we wait and see.
Obviously, as a Clemson football fan, you hope that this can be overturned. As slow as the NCAA is about things, though, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Giella probably wasn’t going to play very much, but if the Tigers do lose Braden Galloway and Dexter Lawrence for the game, it’s going to be a major loss.
Galloway was another receiving threat that would have been in Clemson’s arsenal against Notre Dame’s secondary. He had earned more playing time throughout the year and was primed to play a significant role for the Tigers in the Cotton Bowl.
Dexter Lawrence would be, without a doubt, the biggest loss. Clemson’s All-American defensive tackle proved to be a force against Pittsburgh and, after a couple of weeks of rest, I really thought Lawrence would have a chance to have a huge game against Notre Dame.
