From the University of Wisconsin-Madison Athletic Department, star running back Corey Clement will be out 4-6 weeks with sports hernia surgery, it was announced today.

Clement, who has not played since Alabama and was expected to rest until next weekend’s game against Iowa, will miss a good chunk of the rest of the team’s schedule, including important Big Ten games against Iowa and Nebraska. This is a crushing blow to an already frustrating season for Clement, who backed up Melvin Gordon last year and had waited two years to get his chance at being the starter.

In his 3:15 PM media availability, head coach Paul Chryst said Dare Ogunbowale and Taiwan Deal will continue to carry the load in the backfield for the Badgers. Freshman Alec Ingold, who was recently switched from inside linebacker to running back, will also see some time. Chryst affirmed that Clement will be heavily involved in working with the running backs. He did not specify more about the injury, noting that the medical staff is more on top of that stuff than he is and he trusts their call. Clement was not able to get over the hump back to recovery, and this was ultimately the decision that was made, Chryst explained.

After Chryst spoke to the media, Clement did as well. When asked how he was doing, Clement said, “Bummed. I’ve got to get the surgery and do what it takes to get back on the field.” He told the media that he had an ultrasound yesterday that showed he had two hernias, and claimed that he took a fall during practice at one point that made it worse. “I could get to my third gear, but it was really a struggle to get to fourth gear and open up my stride,” Clement said.

Clement also said he talked to both Ogunbowale and Deal about his injury and what he hopes for them to do out there. “Coach Settle gave me the opportunity to talk to the guys. I’m happy to watch these guys and cheer them on,” Clement told media.

When asked about redshirting and coming back to play later in the season, Clement told reporters he will talk to Chryst and running backs coach John Settle and see where the team is at. He noted that where the team is at as the season goes on toward winning the Big Ten and playing in the Championship game will impact his decision to redshirt or come back and play. If the team does not look like it will make the B1G Championship, he may “tone it down” and take a redshirt.

He would have to be granted that redshirt from the NCAA, which he would be only if he sat out 30% of the team’s games. If Clement does not play again for the Badgers this season, he would qualify as far as I know. You can read the NCAA by-laws here on “medical hardship” redshirt eligibility: http://web1.ncaa.org/LSDBi/exec/bylawSearch.

Of course, we all want him to play again because that will signal he is healthy and the team is winning.

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