Clemson’s Boulware shrugs off teammate’s groping
Linebacker says they’re having fun
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware downplayed Christian Wilkins groping an Ohio State player, as well as himself grabbing South Carolina offensive lineman Zack Bailey by the butt, when he met with the media on Wednesday.
Boulware said it is something the Tigers have done all year to mess with players.
“Is that really that big of a deal? People that are blowing that up have never played the game, or like I said, went into the bathroom stalls to change because they were scared to change in front of their teammates,” Boulware said. “Me and Christian have fun out there. That’s how we play the game … It’s something we do, just have fun. It might look weird or homosexual to others, but it’s just fun out there. We just like to have fun.”
Wilkins, meanwhile, said Wednesday he had talked with Samuel after the game and
that everything was all right between them. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he spoke with Wilkins after the incident and was satisfied with the apology.
Boulware added that Wilkins might have gone a bit over the top by making his grab so obvious.
“No one’s probably done it as aggressive as Christian did,” Boulware said. “… He definitely grabbed a handful.”
Bailey tweeted out a video of Boulware poking him in the butt after Wilkins’ incident on Saturday.
Boulware said that poking someone in the butt is better than what happens at the bottom of some piles.
“Would you rather me poke you in the belly button or grab your butt, rather than me stomp on your ankle or kick you in the area?” he said. “I have a whole video compilation of me messing with offensive linemen or players. I’ve never done it as aggressive as Christian did it. I would just poke them. But it’s something we do just to mess around out there. It’s gained some unwanted attention.”