Hurricanes offensive lineman Taylor Gadbois was stunned today when coach Al Golden told him his scholarship is being revoked and he is no longer welcome on the team.
“I don’t know why. It’s surprising to me, too,” Gadbois told the Post when reached by phone.
Golden, who could not be reached for comment, said in a short press release that Gadbois “is a bright young man and we wish him the best in his future academic and athletic endeavors.”
Gadbois, a 6-foot-8, 320-pound redshirt junior, was set to compete for a starting left tackle position when fall practices begin in August. He was also reportedly under review for a possible suspension to start the season, the reasons for which are still unclear.
Last week, he made boastful comments about his role on the team, saying “I’m the best player on our offensive line. It’s not even close,” and saying he would be the starting left tackle. Asked for his opinion on UM’s incoming freshmen O-linemen, Gadbois, not one to regurgitate platitudes, said that none of them impressed him — he would need to see them in pads first.
“They didn’t feel I was being positive enough with the team, with the young guys, which I completely disagree with,” Gadbois told the Post. “I mean, I work with these guys every single day. I’m in a group text with the team and everybody’s just bewildered by it. Everybody’s just blown away.”
A program source said it wasn’t only those comments that got him booted, but they certainly did not help.
This week, Gadbois attended and participated in the Hurricanes’ three-day team-building and conditioning event with a group called “The Program,” which included Marines-style training. Thursday morning, he was called into a meeting with Golden.
“He just basically said, ‘We’re parting ways,’” Gadbois said. “I said ‘What?’ I started [expletive] crying, man.
“I didn’t want to leave. This has been my dream school since I was four years old. I was in my last semester and they wouldn’t let me finish school or nothing. … Without the scholarship, I can’t afford school.
“This is where I want to be. I dunno. I don’t know what to do know.”
He won’t stop playing football.
“No, God no,” he said. “I’ve got to see who wants to take me. Hopefully there are some schools out there.”
Gadbois, who played at Dallas (Ga.) East Paulding High northwest of Atlanta, turned 22 on June 3. In age and playing experience, he was to be one of the senior members of an inexperienced offensive line. He started five games at right tackle last season before suffering a season-ending left knee injury last Sept. 27 against Duke.
He missed spring practices recovering from the injury and was cleared to return in May. He appeared to be one of the pieces UM would rely on to replace multi-year starters in Ereck Flowers, Jon Feliciano and Shane McDermott.
“Will always love you Miami this was not my decision but I am no longer a Miami hurricane,” Gadbois tweeted after the meeting, adding he had “lots of pain in my heart knowing my dream of graduating [college] was one semester short.”
WTF
