Shane Beamer details Dylan Stewart suspension, status with South Carolina team

The South Carolina Gamecocks will be without EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart for the foreseeable future, according to head coach Shane Beamer. During his weekly press conference on Tuesday Stewart discussed the decision behind Stewart's suspension, his status with the team and more. 

First and foremost, Beamer stated that Stewart is currently not with the team, as expected. Beamer announced on Sunday that he was suspended indefinitely from the team. On Tuesday, the Gamecocks coach added that whether or not Stewart continues on with the team at a later date will be decided by Beamer alone.  

“No, he’s not with the team right now,” Beamer said. “And to answer your question and (as for) Jordan’s question, his role or involvement on this team will be decided, you know, going forward by me. But right now, he’s not with the football team this week.” 

Stewart was seen late in the game against Alabama throwing a punch at Tide tight end Josh Ford following an Alabama score. Stewart was assessed a personal foul penalty from the refs in the game, but he did not get ejected from the game. The incident occurred midway through the fourth quarter. He was suspended indefinitely by Coach Beamer on Sunday. 

Beamer added in his press conference about how he explained his decision to his team. 

“He wasn’t in the team meeting this morning," Beamer said via Gamecock Central. "And when I talked a little bit more about it … it’s just trying to explain what my thinking is, and that there’s a standard of how we do things on and off the field in this program, and there is a accountability level that is demanded, regardless of who you are and how good a player you are. The accountability can’t be a pick and choose, and the standard of how we do things it can’t be a pick and choose. And that’s what I’ve just conveyed to the team, and that’s what I convey to Dylan, and the players have been awesome."

In addition to the separate indefinite suspension, Stewart was suspended by the SEC for one game, for what the conference described as "egregious contact against an opposing player." 

Also during the game, Stewart was seen having a heated conversation with Beamer: 

Later, in the game, he also refused to come out of the game despite the coaches asking him to:

Stewart was expected to be one of the leaders of this South Carolina team. Across his last three seasons with the team, he has accounted for 57 total tackles with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. He missed South Carolina's first two games against Kent State and Towson as he rehabbed back from a back injury he played through last season. 

When will Stewart return to the team? 

It appears that the answer to that question appears to be unclear. Beamer quickly answered "me" when he was asked who determines when he will return to the team:

But Beamer also made it clear that he wants to support his player. 

"I mean they care about Dylan," Beamer said of his players via GC. "I care about Dylan. Dylan, I know, is getting butchered I’m sure right now, nationally, and I hurt for him because Saturday night was not acceptable. But he’s a good kid, and it it breaks my heart, and I hurt for him, and we’re trying to help him through this situation. But I think that’s what our players understand: is you know they care about Dylan. We all care about Dylan, but we also care about the team and what we look like when we’re out there on the field and performing.”

South Carolina is set to take on Kentucky at home on Saturday, and Stewart is not expected to be with the team as he serves his suspension. 

He is also projected to be a top-10 NFL Draft pick next season. 

It sounds like for now, Stewart will be away from the team for at least this week, and perhaps even longer.

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