Just two days before the biggest game for the football program in more than three decades, Clemson was hit with a rather significant off-field distraction.
As previously reported, three Clemson Tigers -- wide receiver Deon Cain, tight end Jay Jay McCullough and kicker Ammon Lakip -- have been suspended because of failed drug tests and sent home from Miami. The suspensions would mean that none of the players would be available for Thursday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal matchup with Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, or, more than likely, for the national championship game should the Tigers beat the Sooners.
While the school has yet to confirm the specifics of the development, Cain, in the form of an apology, took to Instagram to acknowledge a “mistake” that he had made.I apologize to any and everyone I hurt or let down. I’m gonna learn from this mistake and become a better person on and off the field. I’m determined to come back stronger than ever before! #beatOU #orangebowl
A photo posted by 🔶Deon Cain🔶 (@deoncain8) on Dec 29, 2015 at 8:53pm PST
The loss of Cain is by far the most damaging as the true freshman is second on the Tigers in receiving yards (582), while his 17.1 yards per catch is tops on the team. He’s also tied for second in receiving touchdowns with five, and his 34 receptions are tied for third.
The future of Lakip, the Tigers’ kickoff specialist, with the program is seemingly tenuous at best as he was arrested earlier this year and charged with possession of cocaine and driving under the influence. That incident led to a suspension for the first quarter (three games) of the 2015 season.
“When you don’t do the right things, there are consequences. It’s not a complicated matter at all,” head coach Dabo Swinney said Wednesday in announcing the suspensions. “Got 115 guys, and 112 do what’s right, and three of them didn’t. They forfeit the opportunity and the privilege to be a part of the game.”
Swinney would only go so far as to state that the suspensions were handed down for violations of unspecified team rules.