By: Larry Williams
-- No news on the PED test front as of early afternoon.
The NCAA isn't much for disclosure during cases such as this.
So while people from Clemson have been busting their tails behind the scenes for the last five or so days, the NCAA doesn't provide much information as it progresses in the testing of the B samples from Dexter Lawrence, Braden Galloway and Zach Giella.
So Clemson higher-ups are in the dark today as they await word from the NCAA.
As in, Clemson will know an answer when the NCAA supplies an answer. We believe that answer will come via e-mail.
We have been told this case is very similar to that of Allonzo Trier, a former Arizona basketball player who tested positive for Ostarine in 2017 and again in 2018. Trier told the NCAA that he consumed a drink containing the PED without knowing what was in it.
Trier was cleared to play in 2017 once the drug was out of his system, after he missed 19 games. He successfully avoided a year-long suspension after arguing he had ingested the drug inadvertently. In 2018, he missed two games after another positive test before another appeal was granted.
Today, Clemson's coordinators and various players went in front of the cameras. Predictably, the PED thing was the hot topic.
Brent Venables said he hates it for Lawrence and can only let the process sort itself out. But he said he's spent "zero time" thinking about it as he prepares his defense for the Cotton Bowl in three days.
"I'm not involved in the process in any way whatsoever," he said.
It's clear from talks with Lawrence's closest friends on the team that this is being viewed 100-percent as a freak thing for which Lawrence nor the other two bear any fault.
"It's out of our hands," Clelin Ferrell said. "It's hard to even talk about it because we know what type of people they are. It's not their fault. it wasn't intentional."
We asked Christian Wilkins whether the unknowns of PED ingestion are the most difficult part of this.
"It's just interesting," he said. "I feel like there's nothing he could've done to prevent it, so to speak. I feel like we do a good job as players, and obviously our nutritionist and everybody involved, on what we take in and what we ingest. We do a good job of knowing what's in stuff, and is it OK or not OK. It's just like, 'What else could he have done to prevent it?'"
Outside the Clemson bubble, some followers of college football -- particularly fans of rival schools -- are going to view this as an "Ah ha!" moment that reveals a nefarious secret to Clemson's success. That's just the nature of conjecture in a 2018 social-media world, regardless of the conviction on Clemson's part that no one did anything wrong.
Wilkins: "I know that we do everything ethically for the most part as a program. We do a good job of just making sure we do the right things, and that's what Coach Swinney is big on and what he built the foundation of this program on is just doing things the right way and doing things differently.
"I think it would be foolish to say that, because I know I'm not doing anything and other people aren't doing anything intentional to help with their performance or anything like that. The reason for our success is from old-school hard work, grinding in the weight room, study film, practice hard, leadership and a good program."
Wilkins said he found out from Lawrence, who shared the news with some of his closest teammates. His first reaction: "You're playing. I don't believe it."
"I thought it was interesting," Wilkins said with a smile. "I'm like, 'Dexter doesn't need to take anything. He's 6-foot-5, 350 pounds. What more could a person of that build need to do to improve, you know what I mean? It was funny to me, almost. But I understand it a little bit more now. It could come from anything. Obviously it's unfortunate. It's just such a weird situation. He obviously wasn't taking anything. He didn't need to take anything."
Multiple players said Lawrence's presence, assuming he won't be able to play, is still valuable because of what he sees on the field from the sideline.
"Dex is still out there with us. He's still there, and he can still give his coaching and his knowledge and his tutelage and things like that. He's still just as present as normal. It doesn't really feel any different, honestly, because he's still out there with us, which I'm thankful for because he can help us all in so many ways and his leadership.
"It's kind of just a little bit more motivation, seeing a guy who might not be able to play and is going through a little something. You kind of want to put your all in for him."
Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said "everyone in our program" views the positive tests as "unintentional."
"At the same time, the No. 1 message is, 'Hey, we're here to win the game. We're here to play our best four quarters, to win the game and to advance. Even though this is disappointing, we've got to treat it like an injury and love on those guys. But we've got to move on.' That's really been our mindset all week."
Scott was asked what steps are taken to ensure players don't ingest a banned substance.
"We've got a lot of people that go to high extremes to make sure that whatever we're giving the guys has been approved and all that kind of stuff. But everybody goes back and kind of looks through all their stuff. But that's not anything we've been involved with.
"But the thing I can definitely say, and I think Coach Swinney said it: The 100-percent feeling within our program is that everything was done unintentionally. So that's the most disappointing part for those guys."
-- Tre Lamar acknowledged he has a big decision to make.
Lamar is clearly torn on whether to remain at Clemson in 2019 or leave early for the NFL.
He told us he's received a draft grade from the NFL underclassman advisory committee but declined to reveal what it was. He said it was "nothing earth-shattering," but he said it reinforced that he has a decision to make.
He said he's excited about playing at the next level, that it's something he's wanted since he was a child. But he also treasures the college experience.
He said he'll gather with his family after the season and consult with them before making a decision.
The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Jan. 14.
--- Much more from Brent Venables HERE.
We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. More from Dallas coming later today.
NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize this article on other message boards or Web sites, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you.
-- No news on the PED test front as of early afternoon.
The NCAA isn't much for disclosure during cases such as this.
So while people from Clemson have been busting their tails behind the scenes for the last five or so days, the NCAA doesn't provide much information as it progresses in the testing of the B samples from Dexter Lawrence, Braden Galloway and Zach Giella.
So Clemson higher-ups are in the dark today as they await word from the NCAA.
As in, Clemson will know an answer when the NCAA supplies an answer. We believe that answer will come via e-mail.
We have been told this case is very similar to that of Allonzo Trier, a former Arizona basketball player who tested positive for Ostarine in 2017 and again in 2018. Trier told the NCAA that he consumed a drink containing the PED without knowing what was in it.
Trier was cleared to play in 2017 once the drug was out of his system, after he missed 19 games. He successfully avoided a year-long suspension after arguing he had ingested the drug inadvertently. In 2018, he missed two games after another positive test before another appeal was granted.
Today, Clemson's coordinators and various players went in front of the cameras. Predictably, the PED thing was the hot topic.
Brent Venables said he hates it for Lawrence and can only let the process sort itself out. But he said he's spent "zero time" thinking about it as he prepares his defense for the Cotton Bowl in three days.
"I'm not involved in the process in any way whatsoever," he said.
It's clear from talks with Lawrence's closest friends on the team that this is being viewed 100-percent as a freak thing for which Lawrence nor the other two bear any fault.
"It's out of our hands," Clelin Ferrell said. "It's hard to even talk about it because we know what type of people they are. It's not their fault. it wasn't intentional."
We asked Christian Wilkins whether the unknowns of PED ingestion are the most difficult part of this.
"It's just interesting," he said. "I feel like there's nothing he could've done to prevent it, so to speak. I feel like we do a good job as players, and obviously our nutritionist and everybody involved, on what we take in and what we ingest. We do a good job of knowing what's in stuff, and is it OK or not OK. It's just like, 'What else could he have done to prevent it?'"
Outside the Clemson bubble, some followers of college football -- particularly fans of rival schools -- are going to view this as an "Ah ha!" moment that reveals a nefarious secret to Clemson's success. That's just the nature of conjecture in a 2018 social-media world, regardless of the conviction on Clemson's part that no one did anything wrong.
Wilkins: "I know that we do everything ethically for the most part as a program. We do a good job of just making sure we do the right things, and that's what Coach Swinney is big on and what he built the foundation of this program on is just doing things the right way and doing things differently.
"I think it would be foolish to say that, because I know I'm not doing anything and other people aren't doing anything intentional to help with their performance or anything like that. The reason for our success is from old-school hard work, grinding in the weight room, study film, practice hard, leadership and a good program."
Wilkins said he found out from Lawrence, who shared the news with some of his closest teammates. His first reaction: "You're playing. I don't believe it."
"I thought it was interesting," Wilkins said with a smile. "I'm like, 'Dexter doesn't need to take anything. He's 6-foot-5, 350 pounds. What more could a person of that build need to do to improve, you know what I mean? It was funny to me, almost. But I understand it a little bit more now. It could come from anything. Obviously it's unfortunate. It's just such a weird situation. He obviously wasn't taking anything. He didn't need to take anything."
Multiple players said Lawrence's presence, assuming he won't be able to play, is still valuable because of what he sees on the field from the sideline.
"Dex is still out there with us. He's still there, and he can still give his coaching and his knowledge and his tutelage and things like that. He's still just as present as normal. It doesn't really feel any different, honestly, because he's still out there with us, which I'm thankful for because he can help us all in so many ways and his leadership.
"It's kind of just a little bit more motivation, seeing a guy who might not be able to play and is going through a little something. You kind of want to put your all in for him."
Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said "everyone in our program" views the positive tests as "unintentional."
"At the same time, the No. 1 message is, 'Hey, we're here to win the game. We're here to play our best four quarters, to win the game and to advance. Even though this is disappointing, we've got to treat it like an injury and love on those guys. But we've got to move on.' That's really been our mindset all week."
Scott was asked what steps are taken to ensure players don't ingest a banned substance.
"We've got a lot of people that go to high extremes to make sure that whatever we're giving the guys has been approved and all that kind of stuff. But everybody goes back and kind of looks through all their stuff. But that's not anything we've been involved with.
"But the thing I can definitely say, and I think Coach Swinney said it: The 100-percent feeling within our program is that everything was done unintentionally. So that's the most disappointing part for those guys."
-- Tre Lamar acknowledged he has a big decision to make.
Lamar is clearly torn on whether to remain at Clemson in 2019 or leave early for the NFL.
He told us he's received a draft grade from the NFL underclassman advisory committee but declined to reveal what it was. He said it was "nothing earth-shattering," but he said it reinforced that he has a decision to make.
He said he's excited about playing at the next level, that it's something he's wanted since he was a child. But he also treasures the college experience.
He said he'll gather with his family after the season and consult with them before making a decision.
The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Jan. 14.
--- Much more from Brent Venables HERE.
We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. More from Dallas coming later today.
NOTE: Please do not copy/paste or summarize this article on other message boards or Web sites, as it is a direct violation of copyright laws. Thank you.
