In the minds of some Clemson fans, head football coach Tommy Bowden is found lacking when it comes to ACC championships, bowl records, quality out-of-conference wins, etc.

But there is one characteristic in which even the biggest detractors of the 10-year head coach cannot dispute and that is Bowden’s willingness to discipline players, star or otherwise, who run afoul of team rules or, even more importantly, the law.

Former Tiger players Alex Ardley, Travis Zachery, Duane Coleman and Courtney Vincent are just a few who, for various reasons, forced the hand of Bowden and were either subsequently dismissed or suspended – Ardley dismissed for his heated sideline argument with the Clemson coach during the 2001 Gator Bowl loss to Virginia Tech; Zachery and Coleman suspended for their arrests on marijuana charges, prior to their respective bowl games – Zachery in 2001, just weeks prior to the Humanitarian Bowl; and Coleman in 2007, weeks prior to the Music City Bowl debacle, and Vincent dismissed for academic purposes.

The latest Tiger to find himself in hot water is rising sophomore DeAndre McDaniel. McDaniel, a defensive back, was arrested last weekend by Central police and charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature – a misdemeanor that, if convicted, could mean up to 10 years in prison. McDaniel was accused by his girlfriend of beating and choking her and shoving her down a flight of stairs during an argument at University Village Apartments.

Reaction by Tiger fans, as expected, has ranged from banishing McDaniel immediately from the team to proceeding with caution to blaming the media. The latter is a popular, if misguided, hope by many that not reporting such an incident will make it go away. But the fact is that Clemson officials, Bowden included, were already apprised of the situation and braced themselves for the subsequent media firestorm.

The truth of the matter is that McDaniel was arrested, booked and his mug shot taken. A police report made the incident public knowledge and for the media to bury its head in the sand would have been irresponsible, if not immoral. After all, had DeAndre McDaniel’s name been Joe Blow and had he been a Clemson University student, rather than a standout football player, many Tiger fans would have cared less.

While the arrest of a Clemson athlete is undesirable for any orange clad fan, you can rest assured that Bowden will do the right thing. While his legendary father, Bobby, has come under fire over the years for disciplinary actions, or lack thereof, toward certain players, including Peter Warrick, the younger Bowden has proven quite the opposite. But the thing that makes Tommy Bowden so effective is that he doesn’t rush to judgment – he waits until all the facts are in, examines them and then takes action.

Certainly, Bowden’s philosophy of discipline doesn’t make everyone happy. Some feel he should act swiftly and decisively, while others feel it is best to examine all the facts. But you can be sure that when a decision on McDaniel’s future with the football program is made, it will be one to which the Clemson head coach has given careful consideration.

It’s easy to discipline backup players, or those who rarely see the gridiron, hardwood or baseball diamond to name a few sports. However, it takes a coach strong in his principles to suspend, or expel, a talented, if wayward, athlete and that is a character trait that has raised Bowden’s stature considerably. He WILL make a decision, even if it doesn’t fit the preferred time frame of most Tiger fans.

This case is somewhat reminiscent of former Clemson running back Kenny Flowers, an outstanding player in his own right, who faced a rape charge during the mid-1980s. Although that was many years ago, I’m sure the reaction from fans, as to whether he should remain on the team or not, wasn’t much different. However, Danny Ford and the university allowed the situation to run its course, the case was eventually dropped and Flowers was able to continue, and eventually complete, his career in Tigertown.

I truly hope that DeAndre McDaniel is innocent and can remain at Clemson – not only as a football player, but also as a student. However, if guilt is determined, he should be banished from the team and the school since the offense is serious enough to make the actions of Zachery, Coleman and Vincent, as well as even Ardley, seem minor in comparison.

Leaders must make the tough decisions and that’s something Bowden, who will undoubtedly receive criticism no matter what course of action he takes, has never shied away from. Somehow, I get the feeling that he isn’t going to start doing so now.