Woodrow Clemons wants to be sure Georgia fans know one thing about his grandson.
“He’s a good kid,” Mr. Clemons said of Josh Harvey-Clemons, a starting safety for the Bulldogs. “He really is.”
Harvey-Clemons is having to miss the Gator Bowl due to “a violation of team regulations,” according to UGA. It’s the second suspension for the 6-foot-5, 215-pound sophomore from Valdosta. He also had to sit out Georgia’s season-opening game against Clemson after violating the athletic program’s marijuana-use policy.
According to Woodrow Clemons, this time an academic issue has sidelined his grandson. Harvey-Clemons is not expected to miss any other games after this season, he said.
“Yes, but I really don’t want to say anything else about it,” said Mr. Clemons, who is the legal guardian of Harvey-Clemons and his siblings. “I’d rather you get that from Coach Richt. But he’ll be all right after this game.”
Coach Mark Richt has declined to provide any details on the absence of Harvey-Clemons or fellow defensive back Sheldon Dawson, who is also missing the bowl.
In the meantime, Harvey-Clemons is back home in Valdosta, and he is very remorseful.
“He’s OK,” Clemons said. “Obviously he’s very disappointed in himself, but he’s going to be all right. He’s got strong family support and we haven’t given up on him.”
On Friday, Harvey-Clemons took his youngest brother to Lowndes High School to play in a pick-up basketball game. The family will remain in Valdosta and watch the Bulldogs’ New Years Day matchup against Nebraska on television.
“We hate that Josh, the team’s third-leading tackler, is not going to be there playing with them,” Mr. Clemons said. “I was looking forward to being there myself. I probably won’t now. Our holiday spirits have been dampened.”
Harvey-Clemons started all 11 games in which he played at either strong safety or star. He’s third on the team with 66 tackles and also has an interception and five pass break-ups.
Clemons said his family is not at all upset with UGA for disciplining his grandson.
“Georgia’s fine, no problem there,” he said. “It’s just Josh. He’s a young kid, a young man, and he’s having to learn from this.”
