ACC

Clemson's Wayne Gallman on concussion: 'I went to sleep and woke up'

Dan Wolken
USA TODAY Sports

CLEMSON, S.C. — Running back Wayne Gallman, who was removed from No. 3 Clemson’s 24-17 victory over N.C. State on Oct. 15 following a brutal helmet-to-helmet collision with cornerback Dravious Wright, acknowledged Monday he went unconscious after the hit and spent last week in concussion protocol.

Clemson running back Wayne Gallman fumbles the ball while being brought down by North Carolina State defensive back Dravious Wright.

Gallman, however, declined to actually acknowledge that he had a concussion during a session with reporters and said he would play this week in a huge game against No. 14 Florida State.

“I wouldn’t even call it a concussion,” he said. “For me, personally, I wouldn’t. Everybody else is, I guess.”

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The exchange highlighted one of the difficulties both the NCAA and NFL deal with in diagnosing and treating concussions amid an environment where players are steeped in the culture of toughness and playing through injuries.

Gallman said he even lobbied coach Dabo Swinney to come back into the N.C. State game even though he didn’t remember anything between the time he was knocked out and waking up in the training room.

In between, he actually got up on his feet and walked — with assistance — back to the locker room.

“It was like I went to sleep and woke up,” he said. “I saw video of myself walking and I don’t remember that.”

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Clemson sent video of the hit — which went unpenalized during the game — to the ACC office, which determined that Wright was not guilty of targeting. Essentially, Gallman was trying to drive in low with the ball and Wright came flying in, delivering a blow that caught Gallman on the shoulder and snapped his neck sideways.

Gallman said he felt the hit was intentionally dirty and wished a teammate could have delivered retribution.

“I wanted somebody to hurt him that was in the game if they could, but I wasn’t able to be in there,” Gallman said. “You saw he didn’t lead with his hands, he came with his head.”

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Gallman, who said he never suffered from any headaches after the incident, said he ran and did non-contact drills last week. He said he expects to be cleared Thursday for full contact.

“As far as I know, I’m playing Florida State,” he said.

Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said he was hopeful of getting Gallman back this week but said he was not involved in medical decisions.

“There’s no question he’s a tough competitor and you basically had to take the helmet from him versus N.C. State,” Elliott said. “He knows no fear and that’s what makes him a special player. He’s not afraid of contact and he wants to be out there with his guys.”