Tigers jettison Vincent, lose another starting linebackerSenior had missed spring practice for policy violation By Larry Williams (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
CLEMSON — Clemson's thin linebacker corps became even thinner Monday. Tigers coach Tommy Bowden dismissed senior Cortney Vincent after a series of slip-ups that included a December arrest for DUI. Vincent's loss, which Bowden announced to the team Monday, means the Tigers will likely be without their top four linebackers of 2007 when the season begins Aug. 30 against Alabama. Vincent was suspended for the entirety of spring practice for an unspecified violation of team policy unrelated to the DUI arrest, which is still pending. According to sources familiar with the situation, Vincent struggled academically during the spring semester. "We outlined some goals for Cortney this spring," Bowden said in a prepared statement announcing Vincent's dismissal. "While he would have been academically eligible to compete this year, he did not meet these goals during the spring semester." Vincent ranked sixth on the team in tackles last season with 68. The Tigers lost linebackers Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie, who combined for 65 career starts and 639 tackles. Also out of the fold is Antonio Clay, who spent the spring semester home in Georgia dealing with emotional issues. Clay has played in 38 career games while starting 13. He has a year of eligibility remaining, but coaches have not been expecting him to return in 2008. The Tigers' most experienced returning linebackers would be junior Kavell Conner and sophomore Scotty Cooper, who have combined for four career starts. Senior Josh Miller (35 career tackles) and junior Jeremy Campbell (26 tackles) have been career reserves. Redshirt freshman Brandon Maye generated promise at the position during spring practice, as did early enrollee Stanley Hunter. Vincent, who is from Allendale, would have been a fifth-year senior this fall. For his college career to continue, he'll have to transfer to a Division II or Division III school. Ogren to transfer Bowden announced reserve receiver Jeff Ogren will transfer to another school, and Ogren is planning to end up at Samford. Ogren played sparingly last year as a redshirt freshman, catching one pass for 8 yards while seeing 24 snaps of action in four games. Ogren is from Tuscaloosa, Ala. Samford is in Birmingham. Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/ > |
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Comments
This article has 17 comment(s)
Posted by bigriver1 on May 20, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pay attention wonder Stevie spur. This is how you handle a problem with one of your players. You dont give them FIVE strikes and then pass the buck to the administration. Grow a ... Stevie. I know all that losing is hard, but you had better get used to it at sc! 100 + years, under 500, 1 (one) title in 100 + years, 17-24 record against DUKE in FOOTBALL, Clemson OWNS you!! Better get used to more of the same!
Posted by sbs920 on May 20, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
littleditch"0"
this is the same guy that little tammy kept around for the bowl loss right? "We let him have his day in court on the DUI". . . After the bowl game of course. . .
another loss to a SEC team and a losing bowl record for little tammy and the lab rat spence. . .
Posted by Rggr on May 20, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As stated in the article, he has still not been to court on the DUI. In addition, he passed all of the field sobriety tests which puts that case a little more in the grey area. Either way, the coaches did not like the way he was performing off the field and got rid of him. Had this been USC, he may have been suspended for one half or a week of practice, and we wouldn't know anything about the academics. I will gladly accept the way this has been handled versus the Garcia situationS. I'm sure the USC fans will bring up his DUI arrest anyway the next time one of theirs is arrested in Five Points.
As for the SEC loss in the bowl, how did USC's bowl game end up? Didn't they lose to that ACC team that you're discussing and have that keep them from even making a bowl?
Posted by sbishop on May 20, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets review: Arrested for DUI. Tommy sets goals for him to straiten up. Player fails to meet goals and gets the boot. Vincent was given one chance and failed. Keep in mind the goals were higher than NCAA requirements. On the flip side, wonder Stevie has a player arrested 3 times and doesn't want to do what is right. I can understand that though - if Carolina were to kick everyone off the team that got arrested, they wouldn't have a team. Maybe wonder Stevie should look into the all Prison team. Carolina has gone along way to field that team.
Posted by BlackMagic84 on May 20, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He was suspended for the bowl game and Spring Practice. Not like Spurrier's suspensions which always end early and give the guy more than enough chances to mess up. If he was on Spurrier's team, he would have at least another 3 or 4 chances to mess up before being kicked off the team or passed along to the Administration. Either way, Bowden has more standing as a coach that enforces discipline among his players than Spurrier. At this point Spurrier will take any player he can get so he can prove South Carolina can win the SEC. No matter the type of player. Spurrier has lowered his standards since coming to South Carolina. Spurrier needs to grow a pair again.
Posted by youmanyo on May 20, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The only joy chicken fans seem to get is through other teams , example sec teams and who we play in bowls. Thank God my school brings me joy , and here is another example of it . Coach Bowden (usuks DADDY) doing his best to keep our program clean.
Posted by Rebel_Yell on May 20, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This endangered the entire public by him driving drunk on the those old cow pasture roads. He's a felon I say and could have been put away for felony DUI if he hurt someone. His recent team rule violation was for dope as well -- don't kid yourself. Garcia is an angel compared to this piece of trash . . . and the tigs kept him on board as long as he was needed. No reason to be proud of your team for this. You are all a big joke to try and spin the story. Laughable losers you tigs are. You reap what you sew.
Posted by Rggr on May 20, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know if it was for dope or not, and I doubt you do either. Either way, he was kicked off the team for screwing up. What's happened to the USC guys that had dope?
No matter whether you choose to take shots at Clemson for behavior or for play, USC is a notch below so your attempts are laughable and desperate.
Posted by youmanyo on May 20, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/reco...
Here is a Laughable loser
Posted by fantasy5 on May 20, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rebel_Peep, you might want to think before you type... First off, if we kept him on board as long as we "needed him," we'd be doing as SOS has done, and kept him on through his graduation next year. We could definitely use him this coming year, as he is a hell of an athlete and did great things for us last season, but he didn't cut it off the field so we gave him the boot. Secondly, he hasn't even been convicted of his DUI and there’s a decent chance he'll get out of it seeing as he passed all his field sobriety test, so why wouldn't we let him play in the bowl game?? He was given a chance to redeem himself by accomplishing certain academic goals this spring, and he didn't succeed, so TOMMY kicked him off the team. Now maybe you don't drink but I'm guessing you do, and have probably had a few drinks before driving, so don't throw stones at glass houses pal. On a final note, just cause the Shamecocks aren't in the news for any good reasons, don't feel like you can get on our case about doing the right thing… GO TIGERS!!
Posted by sptiger on May 20, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ah yes Rebel_Smell shows up again!!! allow me to tell you why you like carolina football - you are pathetic yourself and feel for the program in the state that as Stevie has said himself, "has never really done much". losers tend to pull for the underdog as they themselves tend to relish that role.
'jail birds' of a feather flock together!
#6 to 6-6!
Carolina athletics - keeping Neal Lourie in business since 2000!
Posted by bigriver1 on May 20, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder why all the 4 and 5 star recruits are lined up to go to Clemson? They see a coach that is building a team the RIGHT way! Soon the Tigers will be running with the big Dawgs and SOONERS! Clemsons defense will be a terror the next few years. Looks like sc will be left our AGAIN. Oh well all you lamecocks can take a vacation around bowl season and watch the real teams play. Then all of you can gripe about how all the bowl teams did. LOL.
Posted by vern on May 20, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
USC fans should worry about losing to Vanderbilt in your own conference.
Posted by ed52 on May 20, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i wonder how any years in jail i would get for killing someone on an "alcohol involved "jet ski accident ???
Posted by JRob on May 21, 2008 at 12:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
48-28 LOL. Look for another Fiesta bowl loss for the Sooners to a mediocre program. Maybe BYU this year. LOOL!
Posted by ashleyriver on May 21, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ed52---if yours was ruled an accident as the tragedy you're moronically referring to was by the Sherriff's dept, SLED and the Wildlife Dept., you'd not be sentenced either. It never ceases to amaze me exactly how low gamecock fans will sink to make some snide remark about Clemson---even if it involves a tragic accident in which a life was lost. You're a fine representative of usc, ed.
Posted by youmanyo on May 21, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No class chicken