Alabama playmaker takes the high road after South Carolina star Dylan Stewart punches him multiple times with no repercussions
Dylan Stewart’s meltdown against Alabama included refusing to listen to coaches, getting kicked off the field, and throwing punches at a Crimson Tide tight end — and Josh Ford’s postgame response said everything about the culture difference between these two programs.
South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Dylan Stewart, a potential top-5 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, had a night to forget against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Stewart not only struggled on the field but lost his composure entirely, refusing to listen to coaches, getting visibly upset on the sideline, and punching Alabama tight end Josh Ford multiple times during the game. The incident is a significant blow to Stewart’s draft stock, and the reactions from both sidelines tell a compelling story about two programs heading in very different directions.
Shane Beamer rips Stewart’s behavior, suspends him
The issues started early. Stewart was visibly frustrated on the sideline, refusing to listen to South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer. Beamer told Stewart to get off the field, and Stewart continued walking. Beamer eventually told him to get out entirely. There was confusion about whether Stewart was on the field or off the field. The whole situation was a mess.
Then, later in the game, Stewart decided to punch Ford.
Beamer addressed the situation after the game and didn’t mince words.
“That’s unacceptable, and that’s not how we do things around here. I’m embarrassed to see that because that’s not what we are about,” Beamer said via the South Carolina YouTube channel. Well, he proved that actions are bigger than words after suspending him on Sunday Evening.
Josh Ford takes the high road
The best part of this entire situation was Ford’s reaction. Ford was asked about the interaction with Dylan Stewart after the game, and he said, “Man, he’s a great player. We had a lot of fun today. I think he punched me 3 times, but it was awesome, a good battle.”
Ford was laughing the entire time. He made light of the situation. He didn’t even seem to care that Stewart punched him three times. And that reaction speaks volumes.
The culture difference between Alabama and South Carolina
Ford’s response highlights the culture gap between these two programs right now. Alabama is putting up nearly 50 points a game, and its best players are rallied around each other. South Carolina’s best defensive player isn’t listening to his coaches, is punching opposing players, and is tanking his own draft stock in the process.
Ford took the high road in what could have turned into a messy, ugly situation. Alabama was kicking down the doors of the Gamecocks’ defense, and yet South Carolina’s defenders were throwing punches. Ford’s response was the perfect way to handle it, and it really shows the high-character players Alabama has in its locker room.
The bottom line is this: Stewart entered the season as a potential top-5 pick, and that status is in serious jeopardy. Not because of his talent, but because of his behavior. The way you handle adversity says far more about your draft stock than any sack total or pressure rate. Stewart had a chance to respond with maturity, and he chose the opposite. NFL teams will remember that.
