Why Clemson made right decision by ruling Lawrence out for Notre Dame
When Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly first learned Thursday that Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence had tested positive for COVID-19, his first concern was Lawrence’s health.
His mind then turned to the top-5 matchup between Notre Dame and Clemson on Nov. 7.
“Is he gonna play?” Kelly revealed as his next thought while speaking after Notre Dame’s win at Georgia Tech on Saturday. “I’m sure he’s gonna play.”
Kelly wasn’t the only one speculating about Lawrence’s status for No. 1
Clemson at No. 4 Notre Dame late last week. The star quarterback’s availability for Clemson’s biggest game of the season was a hot topic throughout the country for the nearly 48 hours leading up to Dabo Swinney’s postgame news conference Saturday after the Boston College game.
Yahoo! Sports columnist Dan Wetzel wrote that there was “hope” Lawrence would be able to return against Notre Dame. And The Athletic’s Matt Fortuna asked if it was possible Lawrence might fly separately from the team to South Bend and suit up in time for kickoff.
The questions would have continued every day this week — had Swinney let them.
He could have kept Notre Dame guessing all week leading up to Saturday’s game, forcing the Irish to prepare for both Lawrence and freshman phenom D.J. Uiagalelei this week at practice. Instead, Swinney immediately ended any potential distraction, announcing after the win over BC that Lawrence will be out this coming week as well.
“Trevor will not be able to play. I want to go ahead and get that out there,” Swinney said. “There’s protocol.”
That protocol leaves opportunity for wiggle room, but for Clemson the decision was crystal clear.