Watkins faces media, talks about suspension

David Hood by Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Sammy Watkins Sammy Watkins

So. Wide Receiver

#2 6-1, 200

Fort Myers, FL

View Full Profile met with the media late Friday evening to talk about his two-game suspension, and he answered the questions and faced the scrutiny the same way he faced opposing defenses last season - head on and with no punches pulled.

It was announced during Clemson’s initial practice of the 2012 fall season that Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney Dabo Swinney

Head Coach

View Full Profile had suspended the Tigers’ star receiver for the first two games of the season. Clemson opens the season against Auburn in the Georgia Dome, and returns to Death Valley for the home opener against Ball State a week later.

Watkins admitted that he let a lot of people down with his May arrest, but said the person he let down the most is someone he sees every morning when he looks in the mirror.

“Truly, I hurt myself the most,” Watkins said. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I let the players, the coaches and my family down. But I am a very humble guy and I will learn from it.”

Watkins said he will be the same person throughout his suspension, and that people shouldn’t be upset with Swinney for the suspension.

“I am pulling for my teammates and coaches in the games I will miss,” he said. “As far as how many games it is, I am fine with the punishment. I didn’t care how many games I was being suspended for, I just want to serve my sentence and come back and make a contribution. I am the one that messed up, no one else. I am taking the blame for it. That is my coach and I stand by his decision.”

He said he will continue to work hard so he can be back at 100 percent for the Furman game in week three.

“I have confidence in my team and my coaches,” he said. “I am going to continue to work hard and do the same things I have been doing – work hard in the meetings and do the right things off the field. If I do that, then everything will be alright.”

He said he also hopes that now the announcement has been made, he can put the issue behind him and move forward.

“I have to miss a couple of things, but I know I have to suffer the consequences,” he said. “It is now in the past and I will move on. I am fine with it. I am going to come to work every day, look at coach Dabo the same, look at the coaches the same and look at the team the same.”

Tajh Boyd

RS Jr. Quarterback

#10 6-1, 225

Hampton, VA

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Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd said he thinks something good can come out of Watkins’ suspension.

“Coach Swinney said he thought long and hard about the decision,” Boyd said. “Sammy is one of the most down-to-earth, most humble guys. This is a tough situation to handle, but at the same time this is a lesson learned for the whole team. But I will feel like something good will come out of it, because this gives guys the opportunity to step up and make plays. It’s an unfortunate situation, but I am excited about having him back for the third game. For right now, we have to continue to work hard and improve.”

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