McClinton Fine, Back with Team Sunday |
CLEMSON - Less than 18 hours after being carted off the Death Valley turf on
a stretcher with a neck injury, defensive tackle Todd McClinton was back in the Clemson training room Sunday. The scary injury to McClinton, which came in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 30-12 loss to No. 18 Maryland, caused a hush to fall over what was left of the announced crowd of 72,000 fans as he lie near motionless on the turf. But even while complaining of numbness in his arms, McClinton could be seen occasionally moving a leg or foot while being tended to by the medical staff. X-rays of his neck proved to be negative, said Sports Information Director Tim Bourret, and McClinton was back in the team training room Sunday morning. "I saw him there and he looked okay," Bourret said. "But right now there's no timetable for his return." The news wasn't nearly as good for defensive back Ronnie Delusme. Attempting to break up a pass along with two teammates, Delusme suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. "That will mean more snaps for Kelvin Morris and Leroy Hill," Bowden said of Delusme's injury. Also leaving the game Saturday with various bumps and bruises were defenders Eric Sampson, Travis Pugh and Nick Eason. And offensive lineman Cedric Johnson, who injured a shoulder in the first half and didn't return, will have his status determined later in the week. NOTES - Bowden said backup guard Nate Gillespie did "pretty good" filling in for Johnson Saturday, but admitted the already thin offensive line missed one of its key components. "The other guys have worked at it so long, when (the new guy) misses one call and lets a guy through it can disrupt things," he said. "There are some things you miss by not having a veteran in there." - After carrying 14 times for 105 yards in the previous game, redshirt freshman tailback Tye Hill had but one carry for three yards Saturday. He also caught one pass, also for three yards. "The score kind of got out of hand," Bowden said. "I would have liked to have played him more, but circumstances didn't allow it." - Bowden said he expects this week's routine to be a bit different with South Carolina looming next Saturday. "It will be different for the players, for sure," he said. "They'll hear it from their classmates every day. There will be an extra buzz, and I'm sure the coaches know the significance of it."
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