Gallman says hit was dirty, doesn't remember much after "going to sleep" |
CLEMSON – Clemson’s
Wayne Gallman hopes to return to practice this week, and he hopes he’s cleared to play against Florida St. this Saturday.
If he plays, he also hopes he remembers everything that happened. The junior running back met with the media Monday morning in the WestZone, and he said that the events surrounding the concussion he suffered against NC State nine days ago are, predictably, quite fuzzy. Gallman missed most of No. 3 Clemson's 24-17 overtime win against NC State after he took a hard hit in the opening quarter and was taken into the locker room. Wolfpack defensive back Dravious Wright led with his helmet and hit Gallman in the earhole of his helmet, and Gallman immediately fell to the ground, limp and apparently unconscious. Gallman doesn’t know if he was knocked out or not. “I just remember catching the ball, making a move, going north and after that I don't remember anything at all until I got back to the training room,” Gallman said, “It's like I went to sleep and I woke up in the training room. When I saw the video of myself walking off, I don't even remember that. I’ve never been at the point where I couldn't remember something I did before. For me it is not really scary. It's like, dang that really happened?” Gallman said he has passed the team’s concussion protocol and expects to play against the Seminoles Saturday night. He also doesn’t really feel like he was concussed. “I'm fine. I'm ready to play. I went through the concussion protocol this last week, but I think I'm good this week,” Gallman said. “Basically, I went through different drills with my helmet on just to see after I ran did I have any headaches or was there this or was there that. Was the light hurting me? Those little things. I passed everything. I just ran a little bit, did some drills just to make sure that they knew I was right in the head. It was little work that they wanted me to do. “Of course, I don't think I have one because I am ready to play. I'm not going to tell you I had a concussion. They said I had one so I had to go to concussion protocol.” He then said he expects to practice Monday. “I think they're going to let me go today because we're in shorts, but for pads, I think I'll be full-go Thursday,” Gallman said. “Today, they're letting me practice because it's just shorts. I'm pretty sure they'll give me different word throughout the week, but as far as Florida State, I'm playing against Florida State.” Gallman said the pain of the injury was minor compared to the pain of watching his teammates compete without him. “It hurt really bad. I hate doing that. I hate not being able to practice,” he said. “I hate not being able to play. I just had to stand on the sidelines at N.C. State because I told Coach Swinney that I was fine and I could go back in, but they told me no. It's hard. I hate having to do that, but I'm glad to be able to practice this week. That was my first time ever dealing with something like that. I've never really not been able to remember something but hopefully that doesn't happen again.” He said he thinks Wright’s hit was intentionally dirty, and he wanted someone to make sure Wright paid for the hit. “Yeah. Pretty much (hit was intentionally dirty). He didn't lead with his hands,” he said. “He just came with his head. I saw it everywhere. I wanted somebody that was in the game to hurt him if they could since I wasn't able to be in. “
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