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Reason given as to why suspended Clemson players have yet to receive championship rings
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Clemson won the national title in 2018.
The Tigers defeated Alabama 44-16 and have won two of the last three championships in college football. A lot has been made recently of former Clemson QB Kelly Bryant and how he hasn’t received a championship ring yet.
However, it’s not just Bryant that hasn’t received a ring. Former Clemson players Dexter Lawrence and Zach Giella as well as current Tigers tight end Braden Galloway, have yet to receive their rings either.
Why?
The reasoning is this:
“NCAA rules state that ‘awards for participation in special events may be provided only to student-athletes eligible to participate in the competition,'” according to thestate.com.
Lawrence, Giella and Galloway were each suspended a full calendar year after testing positive for the banned substance ostarine. This included the College Football Playoff. Hence, this is why they have not received rings.
Clemson has appealed the suspensions, but they were ultimately upheld back in May. Currently, according to thestate.com, a Clemson spokesman said that Clemson is trying to work through the NCAA to try to get them.
On Thursday, Dabo Swinney, Clemson’s coach, talked about why Bryant — the team’s former QB — hasn’t received a ring:
“I mean, he wasn’t on the team. It’s as simple as that. We played 11 games after he left. We played 15 games,” Swinney said. “I love Kelly. But you’ve gotta be on the team. He certainly could’ve been here, but he wasn’t.”
Bryant transferred to Missouri after playing in four games last season for the Tigers.
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.