Clemson coach Dabo Swinney made freshman defensive back Andrew Booth, who was ejected from the Tigers’ Saturday game at Louisville for throwing a punch, find an alternate route home.
While the team took a short flight back to Clemson, S.C., after its 45-10 victory, Booth was relegated to hitching a ride on the managers’ bus for about a 450-mile, seven-hour ride.
Swinney said that was the start of Booth’s discipline over the incident.
“The rest of it will be handled in-house,” Swinney said on his Sunday media teleconference.
“He’s very remorseful and responded the way you would hope a great young person would respond. He’s very disappointed in himself, embarrassed. He’s apologized to his team, our AD.
“That’s way out of character for who he is. He’s gotta own it and learn from it. But very pleased with how he’s taken ownership and been accountable. But he had a long bus ride home last night, plenty of time to think about it.”
Booth threw the punch at Louisville’s Trenell Troutman after Troutman was covering a punt. Booth wrestled Troutman to the ground before taking a swing.
TV audio caught Swinney apologizing to Louisville coach Scott Satterfield on the field after the game.
Booth has three tackles this season. Per NCAA rules, he must sit out the first half this Saturday as No. 4 Clemson hosts Boston College.
