Clemson football team has locker room boxing match

Video of a brutal boxing match between two Clemson football players has emerged on social media, prompting coach Dabo Swinney to address the matter with his team on Thursday.

The defending national champions, Clemson was undefeated before suffering a demoralizing 27-24 loss at Syracuse on October 13. The Tigers had not lost since November of 2016, and judging by the video, the team took the defeat pretty hard.

The two players could not be identified with any certainty and neither looks to have much experience boxing. However, in spite of the fact that both players were sliding around the carpeted locker room floor in their socks, one player delivers a devastating right to the back of his opponent’s head. 

The two teammates were wearing socks, which certainly hurt their form and balance 

The rabbit punch ultimately floored both fighters – the recipient, who was knocked to the ground, and the aggressor, who slipped on some padding. 

Teammates can be seen recording the fight on their cell phones.

‘We’re aware of the video that was posted online,’ a Clemson spokesman said in a statement. ‘Coach Swinney is addressing it with the team [Thursday] afternoon.’

Ranked second in the country heading into last week’s game in Syracuse, the Tigers were ultimately done in by an injury to starting quarterback Kelly Bryant, who suffered a concussion, and a fake punt that resulted in an interception in the fourth quarter.

The loss could cost Clemson (6-1, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) a chance at the lucrative College Football Playoff, which the Tigers won in 2016 thanks to a game-winning touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Hunter Renfrow in the final seconds of the national title game against Alabama.

Watson is now the starting quarterback of the NFL’s Houston Texans.  

‘Every goal is there for this team,’ Swinney said. ‘We’ve got to get better from this, have the type of season we want to have.’

Even with the massive upset, Syracuse is just 4-3 on the season and previously lost to unheralded Middle Tennessee State.

Quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) is tended to by trainers during the Tigers' loss to Syracuse on October 13. The defeat could cost Clemson the chance to repeat as national champions

Quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) is tended to by trainers during the Tigers’ loss to Syracuse on October 13. The defeat could cost Clemson the chance to repeat as national champions

Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) is upended by Syracuse defensive back Evan Foster (14) and defensive back Jordan Martin (2) as the Orange upset the Tigers

Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) is upended by Syracuse defensive back Evan Foster (14) and defensive back Jordan Martin (2) as the Orange upset the Tigers

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