With McDaniel, Bowden’s right to exercise patience

By Marc Hudgens  |   Monday, June 30, 2008  |  Comments( 3 )

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Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden is doing a good job of keeping the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty in mind as he deals with the recent arrest of safety DeAndre McDaniel.

McDaniel, a 20-year-old who had 33 tackles, two interceptions and five passes defensed last season as a true freshman, was charged last weekend with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature after supposedly attacking his 19-year-old girlfriend.

Details from Central Police Department’s state McDaniel cursed at her as he “turned over on top of her, putting the comforter over her head and began choking her while jerking her head up and down” after an argument over whether McDaniel exchanged phone numbers with another woman at a club earlier that day. Other violent acts listed include him punching her in the head and face, throwing her down a flight of stairs and punching her in the chest. The unnamed victim was hospitalized and treated for a cervical sprain and various contusions.

As horrifying as that is, one has to credit Bowden for keeping his cool and avoiding what too many schools do in similar predicaments; that is, immediately handing down punishment. The longtime Tigers coach bit his lip, took a deep breath and began investigating all the facts as they were discovered. In hindsight, that was the correct move because statements from three witnesses refute the allegations of McDaniel's girlfriend.

After all, McDaniel has yet to be tried, much less convicted.

That’s not to say Clemson will wait until the jury hands down the verdict (or a deal is struck) before making a decision. School officials will probably wait and see what evidence the district attorney has against the Tallahassee, Fla., native. If the D.A. has enough to proceed to trial, that may be when Clemson pulls the trigger and kicks McDaniel off the team. Of course, it could happen earlier; it depends on how the talks go between Clemson and the D.A.

But one thing that’s been proven is Bowden, whose charge is to run a tight ship and a clean program, won’t resort to knee-jerk suspensions based on mere allegations.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He...
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CommentsComments: 3  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
11:47 AM
06/30/2008
I agree he should be allowed to remain on the team until he is tried and convicted. To many times players both college and pro...
No.2
RazzMaTazz		08:30 PM
06/30/2008
Guilty! Not McDaniel. Me! Just like in the Duke lacrosse team "rape" case, I'm guilty of prematurely believing the girl's...
No.3
cdr4tigers		06:39 AM
07/09/2008
Absolutely. Teams that suspend players during the summer aren't really affecting anything anyway. If there is more evidence by...
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