TheState: Clemson’s Boulware Denies Being Dirty

Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware is a key cog on the defense of one of the nation’s top teams. He’s also stirred the pot a few times this season with aggressive hits on Louisville QB Lamar Jackson and, most recently, hammering Patrick Towles on Friday night in a hit that was initially called targeting but later overturned:

At Clemson’s media availability, Boulware denied playing dirty, saying he “[plays] the game in an intense way. It’s an intense game. I play the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” according to an article posted by Matt Connolly in The State.

From the article:

Even though some people might not like the way Boulware plays, he has no plans to change.

“If you watch the 2,000 snaps that I’ve played in my career, you won’t find three dirty plays out of 2,000 snaps,” he said Monday. “They try to make the game so soft. That’s not how I’m brought up. I don’t play the game that way. I never have and I never will.”

Boulware added he’ll continue to make plays however he has to make them within the rules.

While there’s no doubt the call made no difference in the eventual outcome of the game - a Clemson blowout win - there’s certainly question as to whether overturning the targeting call, which ended up handing Clemson the ball back on a fumble, was the right call.

What do you think?