I think Clemson Joe's selling torches outside the stadium--to all the farmers with pitchforks. IPTAY members get 20% off that and all Clemson gear...
How embarassing. Let the man finish the season. Whatever you do, just don't fly a Lear to Fayetteville, R-Kansas, to talk to Petrino...
Just-a-fan
· 1 year ago
Look Clemson has won 1 National title in what 100 years of football. It's not like the Tigers are Southern Cal, Ohio State, or Notre Dame. For Tommy not to have won the National title in 9+ years does not make him a bad coach. There's 100's of college coaches that didn't win it the last 9 years. BUT with the teams that he has had and playing in the ACC during this time when Miami, Florida State, and the rest of the ACC have been on down years as far as talent, He hasn't even played in the ACC title game. He should have already got the ax. But they AD gave him an extention and pay raise. Go figure
Ziggy
· 1 year ago
No ACC Titles No BCS Bowls games No more!
Clemson has lost its swagger. Who is going to bring it back?
Who we have beat this year. SC State, NC State, and Citadel
Who we have lost to. Bama, Wake Forest, and Maryland
What direction is this team headed?
Where is the Clemson Pride? Where is the swagger? I am embarrassed! Are they? That means coach does not have control over his team. These guys should not be allowed to come down and touch the rock until they decide to play Clemson football the way it should be played. Frank Howard is rolling over in his grave.
Next three games are Ga Tech, At BC, at Fla State. Projected record 3-6 If we can not beat Maryland at home how are we going to beat these teams? Bowden can not lead this team. I like Tommy Bowden but he has lost his team.
Who can lead this team? IPTAY - Do something! Its one thing to lose a game but it is another thing not play with pride, heart, emotion, and resolve. I am not seeing this outside the first five minutes of game.
Come on guys? I know we are better than this. Someone step and bring back the Tigers!
bobby jones
· 1 year ago
I don't see that happening. It is going to tickle my heart when Ole Miss and Arkansas get to gether and Coach Nutt's guys beat you all over the field. Pig-su-WEE will take on an entirely meanining.
sports 4ever
· 1 year ago
After watching Tommy and the tigers sneak by year after year with a just above average season, it becomes extremely frustrating. Any Clemson fan who watched Thursday's game should be completely deflated. The Tigers with 2 star running backs and a senior quarterback should without question be able to produce more yards than lasts nights embarassment. "We're going to go play with no FEAR" was Bowden's wise words right before the demon decons beat the living daylights out of the entire clemson team. Now is the time for Dr. Lou to give some helpful hints which might include Tommy take the money and run!!!!
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Here's an ironic statement if I've ever seen one...
"How embarassing. Let the man finish the season."
Kinda like your OC, right?
OU_Ron
· 1 year ago
For enough $$$$$$, Saban might listen.....
War_Eagle_Atlanta
· 1 year ago
No, Ron. That Hail Mary has been thrown and caught...
Zac
· 1 year ago
If he (TB) would just get rid of those pants...
The_Central_Scrutinizer
· 1 year ago
Heard among Clemson Alumni: "A riot iss an ugly thingk. Undt, I tink, that it iss chust about time ve had vun."
GeauxTigers0107
· 1 year ago
"What should be done eventually, must be done immediately..." That about sums it up for me. One helluva quote there Foley.
Something tells me Clemson Joe is out celebrating with one or two....hundred....cold beers!
Geaux Tigers (of LSU) Geaux SEC
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
LOL. It hasn't happened yet. I'll be happy when it does.
U.of S.C.1978
· 1 year ago
Tiggers with big tears. Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo. Situation normal at Moo U.
Regan
· 1 year ago
Support the coach and team till the end of the season, then make a call one way or the other.
That's my opinion, regardless of circumstance.
Rob Williams
· 1 year ago
"Bowden is a good man and a good coach, but he has failed to live up to Clemson's expectations. Maybe it best for the Tigers to move on."
Exactly.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
I don't think that most Clemson fans/alumni/students expect a National Championship contender, but we do certainly expect an ACC title contender year after year. We want a BCS bowl. It wouldn't break my heart if we don't play for the title, but I'd at least like to go to the Orange Bowl once every few years.
I read this when it broke on Monday, and actually Blackdawg turned me on to it initially. Since then I've corresponded with some around Plyler and I totally agree with him. If it's going to happen, why let it sit until the end of the season? In that case, we have a lame duck coach, will probably lose recruits, and are essentially abandoning the players. At least if we have an interim coach, he will be fired up, and will give the players something to play for. I just really hate this situation for the players and most especially the seniors. Anything that can be done to give them a coach that will be inspired and motivated to give them his all is the best situation. I certainly don't think that the current situation is the way to provide that.
Ur_Drunk_Uncle
· 1 year ago
Your right on Joe. Most CU fans don't expect a national championship. However we do expect to be competitive in a league where the juggernauts aren't as powerful (FSU, Miami, VT). I think this excerpt from ESPN sums it up well why fans are sick of this.
Dud of the month: Clemson (12). From preseason No. 9 to unranked and 3-2, the Tigers have cemented their reputation as serial underachievers. The season-opening rout against Alabama looks a bit more understandable now, given the way the Tide have played -- but to bookend the month with a home loss to Maryland is classic Tommy Bowden. Clemson must feel especially pleased with itself for giving Bowden a contract extension after he flirted with Arkansas in December. What will it be this year, Music City or Chick-fil-A?
Mind-blowing stat of the month: Clemson has been favored in each of its past 11 losses. In the Tigers' past 34 games, they have been underdogs only three times, all of them against Florida State and Tommy's dad, Bobby Bowden. Clemson won all three times. Start the family collusion investigation!
The minute my wife can glance at the game, see the CU formation and know they are running that damn bubble screen is when I knew both the OC and HC had to go.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
My wife is from South America and just started to learn American Football last year, and even she knows the Clemson offense. Before the 4th and 1 play against Maryland where Cullen Harper did a QB sneak and didn't get it, she said to me, "This is stupid, they should give it to #1". She said that before the play had started and #1 (James Davis) was on the field. That's embarrassing.
Tommy_Trojan
· 1 year ago
Clemson_Joe:
She's from South America and watches football? Joe, you are a GOD. How did you ever pull that one off? Don't tell me that you've made a deal - and now you have to watch South American Soccer all day on Sunday's. That would completely shatter my view of you as being an American Icon......
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Well thank you but I'm going to hurt your feelings a little bit. I like soccer a lot, so yes, I watched it before we met and I still watch it. Although I only watch international matches, so I only watch about 1 every month. Actually before this past season she decided that she wanted to try it out and learn the game. So, I took her to 3 games last year (2 home and 1 away @ USC), and we watched games every weekend on TV. She liked it and learned the game and now she watches it. On top of that, some other friends of ours, also from S America but a different country than her, have gotten into it this year and now love it. So, apparently it's actually a pretty likable game for newcomers. Either way, I'm very happy about it, to say the least.
Tommy_Trojan
· 1 year ago
Clemson_Joe:
You almost shattered me, but your revealing that you are now in the process of converting many SA Soccer fans into College football fans, has restored my faith that there really is meaning to life.....You are gonna go down as one of the great ones.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
LOL. Thanks man. It's actually a lot of fun to introduce people to the game.
War_Eagle_Atlanta
· 1 year ago
But on the other hand, Joe, most Clemson fans aren't wishing that they lose the rest of their games, either...
Try yelling that out loud in the ESSO club...
Porcine
· 1 year ago
there's a golden band . .
War_Eagle_Atlanta
· 1 year ago
To remind me of someone, who would not understand...
DO NOT engage me on country lyrics, Porky, even that old school twang stuff. I WILL BURY YOU!!! :-)
Hey, didn't you say that Charlie Rich was like your 5th cousin's babysitter's best friends' step-dad?
TigerEducated
· 1 year ago
If I were to talk about Alabama's Championships, most here on Fanblogs think that:
I'm pickin' up bones/ I'm pickin up bones/ Exuming things that's better left alone/ I'm resurrecting memories of/ A love that's dead & gone/ So tonight I'm sitting alone/ Picking up bones/
The first job I ever got as a mortgage originator, I used to be the "odd guy out". We worked in the veritable cultural mecca of Baton Rouge, but since I'm from a sort've rural suburb called Denham Springs, just outside of BR, I got the whole "redneck bubba" crap. Oh the irony, I know, but anyway, I digress...
I used to play off of that and send about 30 people each morning a, "Country Music Lyrics Of the Day" e-mails...
There was the old standard of If I die before I wake, feed Jake...He's been a good dog...Been my friend, right through it all...If I die before I wake, feed Jake...
There was also The Blues Man (Not that sh!tty remake that Alan Jackson did, either...I'm talking the original Hank Williams Jr. version back when he was an "old" 30!)
I'm just a singer/ A natural born guitar ringer/ Kinda of a clinger/ To sad old songs/
I'm not a walk behinder/ I'm a new note finder/ But my name's a re-mind-er/ Of a blues man that's already gone/
So I started drinkin'/ Took things that messed up my thinkin'/ I was sure sinkin/ Till you came along/
I was alone in the hot light/ Not too much left in sight/ But she changed all that in one night/ When she sang me this song/
Hey baby I love you/ Hey baby I need you/ Hey baby you ain't got to prove to me you're some kinda macho man/
Wasted so much of your life/ Running through the dark nights/ Let me shine some love light/ Down on the Blues Man/
Yeah...I know the rest of it, too...and NO, I do not-nor will I ever-defile myself by singing it or any other song at a karaoke bar!
Porcine
· 1 year ago
That's diggin' not pickin' and My best instead of Been my.
TigerEducated
· 1 year ago
Did you SERIOUSLY look up those lyrics? It was after 1am...I apologize & I promise to do better next time...
Porcine
· 1 year ago
No, I'm just good. I was about to go to work and checked on the net to see if anything happened while I was asleep.
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
TE: Not that old but how bout this one, from DAC, (I lack skills so no Italics)
"Country DJ's knows that I'm an outlaw. They'd never come to see me in this dive. Where bikers stare at cowboys who are laughin at the hippies. Who are prayin they'll get out of here alive.
The loud mouth in the corners gettin to me. Talking about my earrings and my hair. I guess he aint read the sign that says I've been to prison. Someone ought to warn him, fore I knock him off his chair.
Cause my long hair just can't cover up my redneck. I've won every fight I've ever fought. And I don't need some turkey telling me that I ain't country. Sayin I aint worth a damn old ticket that he bought.
Cause I can sing all those songs about Texas, And I still do all the sad one's that I know. They tell me, I look like Merle Haggard, And sound alot like David Allen Coe."
Porcine
· 1 year ago
"DO NOT engage me on country lyrics, Porky, even that old school twang stuff. I WILL BURY YOU!!! :-)"
You just keep telling yourself that. No, but I wonder what my friend John Denvah thought about him.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
What exactly is it that you think would happen if I were to say what I've been saying at the Esso club?
Look, it's like this. Democrats pull for President Bush to falter because they believe that it will increase their chances to have what they want in the White House. It's the same thing.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
So, who do you think would make a good replacement?
Gary Patterson, Bobby Johnson, and Jim Leavitt certainly deserve some serious consideration. I would personally like to have either of the first two.
Tommy_Trojan
· 1 year ago
Clemson_Joe:
The ACC needs somebody to step in and run a "West Coast Offense". Lane Kiffin would be your man.....LMAO
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Yeah, no thanks.
Tommy_Trojan
· 1 year ago
Clemson_Joe:
Heck, we almost would have been related. But, the comedy to me would have been that Kiffen certainly would need a "soul cleansing" (after a year and a half with Al Davis), and the Clemson Administration seemed like a perfect fit for him......We need to all lay hands on Lane Kiffen and offer a moment of silent meditation. I wonder if Pete would take him back? I really think it's way more likely that he ends up either with Gruden in Tampa Bay or with Shanahan in Denver. Either of those two coaches would really love to piss Al Davis off.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Yeah, it's really an unfortunate situation that anyone has to work for Al Davis. Anyone that wants to piss off Al Davis is good in my book.
Oh, I'm also a Chiefs fan.
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
First and foremost, I think its fair to say that Clemson is currently in the process of making itself a relatively unfriendly place to be a coach. Just sayin.
Candidates: Skip Holtz (ECU) Kyle Whittingham - Utah David Cutcliffe - Duke Turner Gill - Buffalo Bronco Mendenhall - BYU Mike Leach - Texas Tech Mike Price - UCF Frank Solich - Ohio George O'Leary - UCF
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
So you don't think Bobby Johnson of Vanderbilt, an alumni and former assistant coach at Clemson, would be interested in coming back as the HC?
Regan
· 1 year ago
Not Mike Leach. He is a bad, bad person. He eats puppies and pops children's balloons for fun.
Clemson won't hire O'Leary because they have always wanted a 'clean' coach.
Skip Holtz would be wierd, but okay I guess.
Cutcliffe, however - that could work really well.
Clemson is still going to be fine this year, and will finish 12-2 until proven otherwise.
Burt
· 1 year ago
still believe that??? Cemson won't be fine until the "Baby Bowden" era is finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich
· 1 year ago
Love the line about Maryland "not being a good football team" - hilarious.
War_Eagle_Atlanta
· 1 year ago
As punishment, Friegden should sit on him...
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Virginia 31 - Maryland 0 with 5:21 left in the 3rd. Maryland is not a good team.
Hotty Toddy Potty
· 1 year ago
Skip Holtz should be looked at. Good name, already recruits in that region, and he has done as much as he can at ECU.
TigerEducated
· 1 year ago
With State grumbling about Croom, hell, Sly might head over there...
I couldn't think of a better coach...That guy simply cannot recruit, and he has still managed to win and stay competitive in the SEC. He's never going to win in the same division as LSU, Auburn, & Bama...
War_Eagle_Atlanta
· 1 year ago
Somebody's getting 'Croomed' this year...
I just haven't figured out WHO yet...
Porcine
· 1 year ago
Right now he is Crooming Nutt in recruiting. Everyone is except Vandy, who just beat them.
Hotty_Toddy
· 1 year ago
Poor Croom...
It's as if last season never happened in Starkville.
Porcine
· 1 year ago
Man this seems familiar.
Kevin @ Fanblogs
· 1 year ago
It should. All that's missing is the cell phone records.
Maybe Clemson can go after Rich Rodriguez! He's coached there before and it's to starting to get cold in Michigan.
brian
· 1 year ago
On 10/1 the espn podcast mentioned that Bobby Johnson could be our next coach. I do not want that at all. If Tommy Bowden can't win with this team, then who can he win with? He let's tiger fans down every year. In a nut shell he has to go. The Alabama game was a first class embarrassment. Not to mention loosing to Auburn in the bowl game. The year before he lost to Kentucky. It comes down to poor coaching. I do not like loosing anymore. I was really hoping that I would be buying a plane ticket to Tampa in December but I do not see that happening anymore. Tommy get your coat, get your hat and get your keys and leave.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
I like Bobby Johnson. I think it would be nice to have a guy with strong ties to the University as the Head Coach. Who would you like to see as the coach?
Keep in mind that Tennessee and Virginia will likely be looking at the end of this year and if we are going to search, we need to get on it to get ahead of them.
Hotty Toddy Potty
· 1 year ago
Bobby Johnson won't leave Vandy.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
He played and coached for Clemson. Why wouldn't he go back to Clemson?
RazzMaTazz
· 1 year ago
Sorry Tiger Fans. Clemson's president and athletic director will not fire Bowden just a few months after foolishly granting Bowden an unnecessary $4M buyout. They would have never granted it to him if they had any intention of firing him. And wasting $4M to fire him would be political suicide, since it would show their incompetence. Ain't gonna happen as long as Bowden goes at least 8-5-- which he will.
Except for Clemson's offensive coordinator (Rob Spence) Bowden & staff have recruited very well and they've run an admirable, clean, academically sound program, except for one thing... winning the big ones (which isn't something that Clemson's president cares about). For the last few years, Clemson's defense has played well enough to win the ACC (not the SEC), but the offense has not-- despite having an outstanding array of skill players. If Bowden had hired a great OC after Rich Rodriguez left for WVU, Clemson would have won a few ACC titles, Bowden's mediocrity would have been masked, most Clemson fans would be content, and Clemson's president would be thrilled.
Spence has great stats if you include putting 70 points on cupcakes like C-Mich. (Big deal. Even E-Mich put 48 points on C-Mich.) But Spence (formerly with Toledo) is not competent to be a BCS conference OC. As Clemson fans know, all too often Spence fails against tough teams (e.g. 3 points vs GT last season) and he fails to make meaningful adjustments to his predictable run & screen offense. He doesn't stretch the field and keep defenses honest. All you have to do to beat Clemson is load up the box and sell out for the run. Spence doesn't have the guts to throw past the chains unless he's way behind or way ahead. (He only did so ONE TIME in the 2nd half meltdown against UMD.) This despite having a bevy of star receivers, including future NFLers like Kelly, Ford, & Spiller (as a slot receiver). It's mind boggling to watch, and unlike any other D-1 offense. After the UMD debacle, I'll be shocked if Bowden actually lets Spence call the plays anymore (although Clemson may not make it public). Then again, Bowden is so complacent and such a nice guy, I guess I wouldn't be shocked.
I've never seen Clemson fans so angry and so united in calling Bowden to be fired. Even the most ardent Bowden supporters are, at best, silent. But the president and the AD won't commit political suicide by firing Bowden after the season (let alone now). But they will FORCE Bowden to fire his best buddy Spence at the end of the season in order to placate fans and keep the money coming. That might not be so bad— unless the rest of the ACC improves enough to offset Clemson's OC upgrade (which seems likely), or unless Clemson has to play a top tier team from another conference.
So don't waste your time suggesting new head coaches. Waste your time suggesting new OCs.
Regan
· 1 year ago
I agree with most of this, Raz.
Clemson's offensive Play-Calling has been predictable, and when it is successful it seems that it is the superior athletes the Tigers have like Davis, Spiller, Kelly, and Ford that make it happen.
The most frustrating thing I see when I watch Clemson (and has been for some time) has been the absolute lack of [effective] 2nd Half Adjustments.
I mean I HATE those stupid Bubble-Screens. They need to do more Slants and less Bubble-Screens. Slants are better. Bubble-Screens can be effective with superior athleticism in one-on-one covereage for 5-10 yard gains, but Clemson runs them so often they're ineffective.
WHAT IS HURTING CLEMSON THE MOST ON THE FIELD: Part of Clemson's woes stems directly from the O-Line, which is the MOST IMPORTANT UNIT ON THE FIELD (of the seven elements: QB, RB/TE/WR ['skill players'], OL, DL, LB, DB, K/P)
On Defense, if you have a good D-Line and good LB's, they can help out a weak DB squad. Strong DB's and LB's can creep up to help out a weak D-Line. Weak LB's (which have really hurt Clemson this year) can be helped by good DB's and DL guys, but essentially - one weak area on Defense can be overcome by two above-average units.
On Offense, you could have: > Peyton Manning at QB > Walter Payton & Gale Sayers at RB, > Jerry Rice & Lynn Swann at WR, and > John Mackey at TE
...but if you have a weak O-Line you cannot field a dominating team.
If Clemson had the same OL and LB corps that they did last year, was able to make proper adjustments and used more innovative Play-Calling, they would be both Undefeated and dominating...IMHO.
RazzMaTazz
· 1 year ago
Obviously the O-line is crucial. But I think Clemson's O-line was good enough to beat Maryland and is good enough to win the ACC-- but only if the OC calls a good game. In the first half of the UMD game, Clemson's O-line was good enough to enable Clemson to run ALL OVER the Terps. But once UMD loaded the box, Clemson's OC refused to adjust and throw downfield (as you pointed out Regan).
Clemson's O-line isn't great, but they've also proven that they're not bad. I doubt that UVA's O-line is better than Clemson's, but UVA put 31 points on Maryland with their 3rd string sophomore newbie QB because UVA's OC stretched the field and ran a wonderful balance of runs, short passes, medium passes, and long passes to keep UMD's defense honest. They ran several slants, and hammered UMD's 102nd ranked pass defense with quick, short & intermdiate passes. I can only imagine what UVA's OC could do with Clemson's bevy of future NFLers.
brian
· 1 year ago
first off due pick a school, you have 4 icons. who do you support. a true fan picks one team and thats it. anyways it comes from mgt and coaching in which clemson does not have. channel up and you get to tommy bowden. he has to go.
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
After Bowden's hiring then firing O'Cain, then bringing Spence to Clemson and firing him, why would a good O.C. want to go Clemson just to prop up Bowden? You just can't keep replacing assistant coaches. If he does well, Bowden will get more security, if he doesn't Bowden will blame him and he'll be out of a job. You are never going to get a seasoned O.C., it's a dead end at this point. If Clemson replaces Spence they will hire an O.C. who will have very few options and they will get the same result. The ACC is wide open right now but you wait too long that door is going to close. Miami and Florida State want stay down forever.
Clemson has more talent than anyone in the ACC right now, yet their fans have watched Wake Forest go to the flipping Orange Bowl. How can Clemson allow that? That blows my mind, and people are still making excuses for Tommy. Look at GA Tech, who played in an ACC Championship game still got rid of Gailey and got a coach. How long will the players keep coming, if they know that they're going to play in the Peach, Champ Sports Bowl, Humanitarian Bowl, or Music City Bowl every year.
If they only win 8 games and Terry Don Phillips doesn't fire Bowden, well all I can say is, I would not want to be him. And that's from a Dawg ..........
Regan
· 1 year ago
The first thing is money - firing Bowden this year would cost a chunk of change. It could happen, but won't unless Clemson has a losing record (I thimk).
As far as OC's go, Spence is in his 4th year as Clemson's OC. OC's and DC's are fired after 1 year if their unit's performance isn't up to snuff, while HC's get at least 4 years (3 at Notre Dame).
OC's come and go much easier than HC's. Also, an OC will have lots to work with due to the talent Clemson has on hand at all the skill positions & backups.
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
That may be true, but life in Clemson will not be fun for Terry Don Phillips or Tommy if they don't live up to expectations this year.
If they get lucky and find an O.C. similar to Rodriguez , he has success, what happens when that O.C. gets a head coaching job offer? Will Clemson fire Tommy and then promote the O.C. If I were Phillips I would start looking for another job, now. I would not want to be the A.D. under those circumstances.
You know yourself how Fulmer has struggled without Cutcliff, but Fulmer has a great record to fall back on. Tommy hasn't the same resume' . I know Tommy is a great guy but Clemson has done their part and made him a wealthy man. He has had reasonable success but Clemson is still underachieving, and everybody there including Tommy expects an ACC championship occasionally. Clemson can do better, even an average Coach with good talent should stumble into a division championship at least once.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
"Clemson can do better, even an average Coach with good talent should stumble into a division championship at least once."
Exactly.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Money isn't as big of a deal as people are making it.
Increase 10 home games ticket prices by 5 dollars, and you have it.
85,000 x 10 x 5 = 4,250,000
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
CJ read the article linked below. Fulmer, ESPN is saying, has a 6 million dollar buyout, his staff has 3.55 million dollar buyout. I would be suprised if it came down to money in Tennessee, but if they fire him they'll be raising ticket prices for 107,000 fans. I might watch that one on T.V. next year.
I'm hatin' it for 'em. That 3.55 seems to only come into play if they don't get hired elsewhere, which they almost certainly would get hired somewhere.
Tennessee could handle it though. If they raise ticket prices by 6 dollars for 10 home games they'd have it. I think the Volunteer fans would pay to have the coach that they want.
Personally I'd mail in my 50 dollar share the day that they fired Bowden if they wanted me to. Heck, I'd throw in more and help cover for a few other folks.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Great point. I agree 110%.
RazzMaTazz
· 1 year ago
I think the OC job at Clemson is very appealing, and Clemson should have no problem hiring a good OC. There will be plenty of talent in Clemson's offense over the next few years including (possibly CJ Spiller & Jacoby Ford if they don't leave for the NFL) future NFL QB, Willy Korn, and some likely NFL talent at in both skill positions and non-skill positions. And the ACC is still relatively weak, so a new OC should have a great chance to look like a superstar. A successful stint as Clemson's OC could lead to a head coaching position-- either at Clemson or elsewhere. (Just like Rich Rodriguez moved from Clemson OC to WVU HC.) Besides Clemson is a lovely, lakeside, warm-weather, family-friendly, place. Easy to live there. Easy to recruit there.
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
A good O.C. wouldn't look in Clemson's direction right now. A good O.C. would want job security and Clemson is in no position to promise that. Tommy is in a precarious situation and whom ever he hires is going to be brought into that same situation. I don't see anybody, who is good and not desperate for a job, that will move his family to Clemson with a good chance that they will be looking for another job in one or two years. Anyway the time for a good O.C. was when Rodriguez left, not now. You are settling, big mistake.
RazzMaTazz
· 1 year ago
Good point about the stability, but guaranteed money can solve that problem. For the record, I want them to fire Bowden, not just hire a new OC. I just don't think that POLITICALLY the president and AD can fired Bowden a few months after foolishly, needlessly giving him a $4M buyout. Political suicide.
clemson1981
· 1 year ago
I don't think that the goal for Clemson is a National Title......for now.The goal has been an ACC Title which TB has yet to get. Clemson has more ACC titles than any other ACC school, we are the premier team in the ACC (historically). My vote is let Bowden finish his contract and go after Bobby Johnson at Vandy. This is a guy who went to Clemson, coached at Furman, is from South Carolina, and he knows not just Clemson football but football all together. He coached Furman to a national title appearance (granted in 1-aa) but he is smart and has done a great job at Vandy. Consider that Johnson is 20-50 at Vandy, but look at the talent he has produced, and I think we can all say Vandy is better now than they were before Johnson. Bobby Johnson-Head Coach Clemson Tiger Football
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
Johnson would be a good choice, according to the Coaches Hot Seat web site he has a million dollar buy out. I'm not sure if thats right because they have the wrong amount for Tommy. They do have Tommy B's contract and I believe it reads a payment around $333,333 twice a year for six years as his buy out.
That site seems legit well besides the 1.5 million they missed on Bowden's buy out haha. But overall I don't think money is nearly as big of an issue as people make it. I think that TDP could work his way around from having to pay that buy out or something, you know how athletics are. Overall I would do anything to have Bobby Johnson as our HC......Bobby Petrino wouldn't bother me either.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
I'd love to have Johnson back. I think it'd be wonderful to have him back in Clemson orange, and to have a Clemson guy running our program.
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
Jim Donnan went 10-2, 9-3, 8-4, 8-4, his last 4 years at UGA. Richt's second year, he went 13-1, won an SEC championship, Sugar Bowl win, 3rd and 4th in country with mostly Donnan's players. Donnan could out recruit most just couldn't get everything out of them. David Green and David Pollack were Donnan recruits. You guys have the players you just don't have the staff to match the talent. The Davis's and Spiller's are hard to come by. We know as well as anybody, we had Terrell Davis at GA and Goff never utilized him, Shanahan did though.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
You're exactly right and those are the guys that I hate it the most for. I can only hope that we make a smooth transition and take a step in the right direction. Bobby Johnson interviewed for the Duke job over the offseason. I'm sure he'd be interested in Clemson. If we are able to make the transition and maintain not only the recruits but also retain Swinney, Blackwell, and Napier it would be ideal. I wouldn't mind hanging onto Koenning either. Although, Johnson seems to ride with his boys all the way back from his Furman days, and you really can't fault him for that.
clemson1981
· 1 year ago
I think if Johnson came he would no doubt keep Swinney at the least, anybody knows that Swinny is possibly one of the top recruiters in the nation, he would be out of his mind to not keep him. I like Koenning but I don't think he would be invited back, which is unfortunate because he has produced great talent in his time in Tiger Town. But before Johnson can ever be considered Bowden has to go and the only way that happens is if he only wins 7 games and loses the bowl game. That wont happen. But back to Johnson. This is a guy from South Carolina, who played for Clemson, understands Clemson football and what it is about and is a homegrown guy. What coach doesn't dream of coaching his Alma Mater? Ok well maybe Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino but other than them who? Hes the only realistic coaching hire for Clemson, a year ago I would have said Paul Johnson but he seems to be having a great time in Atlanta right now. But Bobby is the man for the job and hes a guy we all know! Get Bowden out and put him on his daddy's pay roll.
blackdawg
· 1 year ago
Johnson just beat Tuberville...Vandy 's 5-0 in the SEC East. Virginia's beating Maryland 31-0......
clemson1981
· 1 year ago
By far I think Johnson has proved he is the best "Do less with more" coach in the nation besides maybe someone like Rich Brooks. That win goes a long way and to top it all off Vandy just took down one of the BIG 5 in the SEC (LSU, AU, UF, UGA, and UT)
RazzMaTazz
· 1 year ago
Financially, Clemson can afford to pay Bowden's $3.5M buyout. But POLITICALLY the president and AD can't afford to pay Bowden a $3.5M buy-out just a few months after they foolishly, needlessly signed the buy-out-- because doing so would show just how incompetent the president and AD are. (By the time they granted the buy-out, ESPN had already reported that Arkansas board of trustees had rejected Bowden as head coach because Bowden is too mediocre. So Bowden had no options.) Clemson's administration didn't grant Bowden the buyout because they were certain that he'd win the ACC this year. They granted it to him because they like the kind of clean, winning (if not championship) program that he runs. Clemson going 8-5 with a toilet bowl is good enough for them. And until now, it's been good enough for most fans. The adminstration wouldn't have granted Bowden such a big buyout if they thought that there was even a chance that they'd can him in the next few years, because they didn't NEED to grant him a big buyout. However, they may have underestiimated how quickly and how dramatically alumi support would turn against Bowden this season when he disappointed them despite having the most talented team in the ACC.
Inside sources say that the AD didn't necessarily want to keep Bowden-- let alone grant him a big buy-out-- but Clemson's president forced the AD to do it because the president likes Bowden. However, at this point, firing Bowden would be political suicide for both of them. So I predict that they'll simply try to placate fans by forcing Bowden to fire his incompetent OC. They'll also launch a propaganda campaign extolling Bowden's accomplishments on and off the field. After that, the fans will still be unhappy, and the administration will still feel a lot of heat, but the move will be just enough to temporarily placate fans and keep the money coming for another couple years. Most fans will grumble, but they'll still pay big bucks to see what a new OC, and their local hero, QB Willy Korn can do. However, even if there's a drop in donations or ticket sales, it will be less than the cost of Bowden's buyout + new coach's buyout & salary. But more importantly, whether it's plus or minus a million dollars or so, the president and AD will view keeping Bowden as safer POLITICALLY for themselves. They'll feel that even if they still have to fire Bowden in a few years, it will be politically safer to do so then. Just my guess.
As far as the Bobby Johnson discussion goes, he seems like a good coach, and certainly better than Bowden. But I'd hate to see Clemson hire a relatively unproven coach again (unless Vandy continues its success). Nonetheless, Johnson is exactly the kind of coach that Clemson would hire. In order to placate old-boy, big-time football donors, Clemson would undoubtedly give unspoken preference to hiring a homegrown southerner like Johnson, rather than, say, a proven championship-winning yankee like Chris Peterson.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
How is a guy from California a yankee? Petersen would be fine, but Johnson is already very familiar with the school and the program. Johnson beat Auburn with a less talented team than Bowden lost to them with. He is also looking at a 9 win season in the SEC with Vanderbilt, which I think is pretty incredible. There are quite a few solid options out there right now, but if we make the right move and get into the market, we'll more than likely be competing with Virginia and Tennessee. So, a move sooner than later is much more favorable.
You might be right in your political assumptions. However, both Barker and Phillips could save face by making the right move now. The money isn't going to be fun to pay out, but it isn't nearly as big of a deal as some are making it. Fans will overlook the debacle by Philips and Barker if they right the ship now. If they don't, then it'll be another year of complaints, anger, and withdrawn donations to further amplify the mess that they've created. That is certainly not what they want.
RazzMaTazz
· 1 year ago
Yeah... I know that Peterson is technically not yankee. He's a left coaster. That may be marginally better, but not nearly as preferable to the good old boys as hiring a southerner.
clemson1981
· 1 year ago
First and foremost Barker and Phillips both pail in comparison to the mighty organization of IPTAY. If IPTAY comes knocking on the door, then Bowden's gone no matter what. IPTAY lost around 800 donors last year alone. I don't think thats any fluke. Bowden's biggest issue is he doesn't understand Clemson football. He is not a Clemson kinda guy, he doesn't understand the history, the fans, and what Clemson football is about (which is winning ACC Titles). Bobby Johnson does. To ever think Chris Peterson could be the HC at Clemson is a pipe dream, he will wind up going to some Pac-10 school like Washington once Willingham is fired, no way he moves his family across the country. Bobby Johnson also is a proven HC, his biggest issue is he took over the SEC all-time doormat program in America's toughest conference. If he can get wins over Spurrier at Carolina, wins against Auburn, close games against UGA and UF, and even beating UT, just think about that. Johnson could come into the ACC with that experience alone and be perfectly fine.
RazzMaTazz
· 1 year ago
I'd rather see Clemson hire a guy who's proven that he can win a championship, like Jim Grobe or Chris Peterson. Clemson wouldn't hire Peterson. But if Rich Rodriquez can move from Tulane to Clemson to WVU to Michigan, then I think there's some reasonable amount of money that would move Peterson to Clemson.
Porcine
· 1 year ago
How about Spurrier? That would spice the rivalry up, not that it needs it.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
No thanks.
brian
· 1 year ago
with all respect bobby johnson would be a good choice with the exception that he is at the end of his career. i want someone who is in for the long haul and establish a program.
clemson1981
· 1 year ago
Ok first a foremost:
RazzMaTazz:
Rodriguez went to Clemson from Tulane as an ASSISTANT. Not a head coach. He went from OC to Head coach at WVU, who at the time of his hire was mediocre at best. Second Jim Grobe has gotten offers from Michigan, and Arkansas, with lots of money thrown in there. He didn't take the job and he won't be leaving Wake Forest anytime soon. Chris Peterson will NOT let me say that again will NOT leave Boisie State for Clemson. He won't move all the way across the country to take over a team that continues to struggle when he knows he has a better chance of winning at BSU. On top of that he will be coaching at Washington in a year or two depending on when Tyrone Willingham gets fired.
Now Brian:
Johnson is only 57. Thats not very old, when you consider that a guy like Spurrier is 63. Tommy Bowden is 54 thats only a three year difference between him and Johnson and nobody is saying Tommy is in his final years, nor is that being said about Spurrier. So Johnson is not too old.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Goodbye, Tommy Bowden. Good luck at your next job.
clemson1981
· 1 year ago
Ladies and Gentlemen join me as I personally go to Tommy Bowden's house with 5 U-Haul trucks and 18 for sale signs and pack his belongings in the trucks and have an open house. The highest bidder gets the home!! For one day only!!!
Hers my plan: TT at Auburn get's fired we hire him!
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
So, Auburn doesn't want him, and now you do!?
No thanks.
Nate
· 1 year ago
Seeing the game last night, Tommy reminded me of Tubby Smith at Kentucky. No enthusiasm, no filed leadership - stands off to himself most of the game. Clemson needs a blue-collar mentality coach in which players and coaches can feed off of the true grit and heart. Clemson is ranked as the seventh favorite place to watch a college footbal game. Season tickets and tickets have sky-rocketed. Phillips needs to return some of the money to the season ticket holders because they are definitely being short-changed. There is someting terribly wrong in Clemson. The prgnasticators could not have all been wrong - Clemson pre-season # 9.
Time to inject a new wave of energy - fire Tommy, bring in Korn!
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Agreed. When you have an offensive line that's struggling, you'd think that you would see the mobile blue chip QB in the game to make up for it. However, that would require coaches far superior to the ones that we have.
URANGE TIGRE
· 1 year ago
IT IS TIME WE AS CLEMSON FANS GET OUR DUE.. I AM FED UP WITH THE BOWDEN ERA.. IT IS SHAMEFUL WHAT WE ARE DOING TO THE CAREERS OF THESE YOUNG T-A-L-E-N-T-E-D ATHLETES..ALL THIS TALENT AND WE WASTE IT ON SCREEN PLAYS AND BUBBLE PASSES..IVE SEEN BETTER PLAY CALLING AT A HIGH SCHOOL GAME. THE TIME IS NOW TERRY DON ..THE TIME IS NOW YOU STEP UP AND BECOME THE LEADER WE PAY YOU TO BE..NO MORE BOWDEN.. IF YOU WANT AN AVERAGE FOOTBALL TEAM BECOME A CAROLINA FAN BUT AT CLEMSON WE ESPECT CHAMPIONSHIPS WHEN YOU HAVE THE TALENT WE HAVE. TOMMY BOWDEN DOESNT HAVE WHT IT TAKES TO COACH REAL FOOTBALL. FIND US A COACH THAT DOES..
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
I agree. However, please don't use all caps. It's painful to read.
Who would you like to see as the new coach? I'm curious to hear peoples' opinions on who the new guy should be. I've heard some interesting recommendations already.
If you really want to see a good offense with great coaching, and just a fantastic team all around, go to a Byrnes High game on a Friday night up in Duncan, SC. Those boys are #1 in the nation (in some polls). One poll actually has Byrnes, South Pointe, and Dorman all ranked in the national top 15. At least there's solid high school ball being played in SC. Anyway, go to one of their games instead of Death Valley. There's not much that will get a coach fired faster than 40,000+ empty seats in Death Valley.
Justin
· 1 year ago
Hey don't get mad at me but Clemson is an average football team and has been for years. The great Frank Howard had a winning percentage of 58% and had 14 (of 29) non-winning seasons. Clemson dominated the ACC in the 80's but other than the Ford years they were average. Those are the facts. The only thing that has kept Bowden's job is 7-2 record against the boys from Columbia. Clemson is not and has never been like UNC in basketball where championships are expected every year.
electric city fan
· 1 year ago
Its time for a change, if the trustees , phillips and barker are satisfied with the way things are going it won't change, however tommy you've had your chance you can't ge the job done. do we want to be a football contendor or do we just want to compete? keep bowden and his clonies to compete put up what it takes to get to the next level, upper decisions the choice is yours.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
Willy Korn has been named starting QB. At least our coach is doing something right...
clemson1981
· 1 year ago
Joe:
Im not in favor of Tuberville just throwing things out, almost as a joke.
Now Razz Mazz: Ive sat here and talked to some good friend over in Clemson and some people in IPTAY, and right now I am not going to lie Peterson is sounding like a good idea.
Now to my main point:
Im not going to say im some Clemson insider, but a good friend of mine Rodney Quick in Seneca, SC who use to play for Ford and Clemson talked to Jeff Davis on Friday. Davis said that there will be "massive changes" in the upcoming week, and the words "interim" were mentioned and so was Dabo Sweeny's name along with Bobby Johnson. Right now nothing is official and like I said im no Clemson insider, but when the word comes from Jeff Davis, Head of IPTAY, the most powerful organization in college athletics speaks, the university listens and so does every other Tiger Fan.
As for Korn starting:
Tommy might not even be making that call next week. Trust me he wont last all year.
Justin: As for the history. Clemson may not be a national historic power, but a historic ACC power, yes! There is no reason Clemson should not have won a championship in 17 years. No matter who the coach is. Right now Bowden could be 9-0 vs. Carolina and people would be calling for his neck. Yeah the wins against USC are great but I and all Clemson fans want ACC titles and BCS games with those wins.
Thomas
· 1 year ago
Anyone hear that Willy Korn will start against GA tech - weird huh - i dont blame cullen harper i blame the offensive line at this point. they are young and they need time to develop right. we cant completely blame Tommy we have to plcae blame on rob spence as well. defense did their job as far as i could tell. I do agree that we need a new route in head coach, I will also say that he should go somewhere else now.(as well just my opinion). Clemson's team this year should have been phenominal but instead we got junk at this point. The loss to maryland blew it for me, Tommy cannot beat maryland at all - he never has i dont think (not exactly sure). I will wave to him when he goes - lets get lane kiffin he can do it (mabye??????) thoughts.
Clemson_Joe
· 1 year ago
I don't think that Cullen Harper is the problem, and I agree that the offensive line is largely the problem. However, we have a QB who in my opinion is better anyway, that is mobile. Harper is not at all mobile. A mobile QB can bring success even when the OL isn't playing well.
As far as a new coach goes, I really feel that the administration has their jobs riding on this new selection, and I actually have faith in them to make the right decision.
Bev
· 1 year ago
The problem with Clemson is the continuous old southern boy network---southern mentality infusion-----to make powerful teams you need some diversity. You want the same old southern--coaches - players -- all down the line. That is why Clemson football is DULL. I'm not a Spence fan but he was probably limited to what he could do anyway--plays are designed to suit the talent on the team--QB and OL. The whole program reeks of where the money comes from-- not fair opportunity for ability or talent. I say bring in a YANKEE -oh Spence is the YANKEE-- I guess he needs to go. Someone on another blog said play the second string which may not be a bad idea considering there is no TEAM EFFORT - here. --maybe the CU talent does not have anything to prove-we all think they are great. WINLESS BUT GREAT..
scdavid1969
· 1 year ago
Everyone wants success at Clemson. This was done under Danny Ford and Howard among some of the coaches. The rest were just living off the Ford recruits most of which retired or are now in the NFL. If you want a Ford team hire him back. He was awesome and a good coach. I dare say under Ford he would never allow three half time outs to be used within the first two minutes of the second half. Clemson had no times outs and don't blame it on the new clock this isn't the first game. However other than the little wins against no name teams ok the Citidal and NC State. Wow. Lastly Harper is an awesome QB who has broken lots of Clemson records. Korn will have to live up to the hype mid season. The problem with Harper rests with the O line and probably the coaches who decided to do just that put their two cents in and if it isn't broke don't fix it. This happened to Whitehurst and other QBs who finally break records then the next season nothing. Keep your head up Harper. Not yout fault. Where is Coach Ford.
scdavid1969
· 1 year ago
I must add. Thunder and lighting weren't present. Lightening for someone to be hurt as soon as you started cheering you did more running without a limp than a cheerleader. Thunder I won't even begain to well guess I will. You don't stop running when the line hasn't oopen a hole for you. Herchal Walker wouldn't nor former runningbacks to name a few such as Kevin Mack or Flowers, Flagler, Driver, Allen etc. You keep driving legs until you open the line. You looked scared. I know without your buddy and team mate it was tough but hey that is the name of the game. Not only to blame as fundementals other players and coaches need to return to class. This is like a JV football team not Varsity and certinaly not the top twenty or ten team that you were suppose to have. Bowden retire. Bring Ford back. Let him bring football back to Clemson for the next 8 years.
pensive1
· 1 year ago
...got the educated football fan, the successor should be Troy Calhoun at Air Force...a Jim Grobe disciple and look what he has done since he has been there.
PACK BOWDEN NOW
· 1 year ago
As a long time clemson fan, I'm taking a hell of a ragging from these gamecluck fans. I think Adam Sandler can do a better job than Bowden right now. The players deserve so much better. Only a matter of time before this really starts hurting our recruiting.
All Comments
How embarassing. Let the man finish the season. Whatever you do, just don't fly a Lear to Fayetteville, R-Kansas, to talk to Petrino...
No BCS Bowls games
No more!
Clemson has lost its swagger. Who is going to bring it back?
Who we have beat this year.
SC State, NC State, and Citadel
Who we have lost to.
Bama, Wake Forest, and Maryland
What direction is this team headed?
Where is the Clemson Pride?
Where is the swagger?
I am embarrassed! Are they?
That means coach does not have control over his team.
These guys should not be allowed to come down and touch the
rock until they decide to play Clemson football the way it should be played.
Frank Howard is rolling over in his grave.
Next three games are Ga Tech, At BC, at Fla State.
Projected record 3-6
If we can not beat Maryland at home how are we going to beat these teams?
Bowden can not lead this team. I like Tommy Bowden but he has lost his team.
Who can lead this team? IPTAY - Do something! Its one thing to lose a game but it is another thing not play with pride, heart, emotion, and resolve. I am not seeing this outside the first five minutes of game.
Come on guys? I know we are better than this. Someone step and bring back the Tigers!
Now is the time for Dr. Lou to give some helpful hints which might include Tommy take the money and run!!!!
"How embarassing. Let the man finish the season."
Kinda like your OC, right?
That about sums it up for me. One helluva quote there Foley.
Something tells me Clemson Joe is out celebrating with one or two....hundred....cold beers!
Geaux Tigers (of LSU)
Geaux SEC
That's my opinion, regardless of circumstance.
Exactly.
I read this when it broke on Monday, and actually Blackdawg turned me on to it initially. Since then I've corresponded with some around Plyler and I totally agree with him. If it's going to happen, why let it sit until the end of the season? In that case, we have a lame duck coach, will probably lose recruits, and are essentially abandoning the players. At least if we have an interim coach, he will be fired up, and will give the players something to play for. I just really hate this situation for the players and most especially the seniors. Anything that can be done to give them a coach that will be inspired and motivated to give them his all is the best situation. I certainly don't think that the current situation is the way to provide that.
Dud of the month: Clemson (12). From preseason No. 9 to unranked and 3-2, the Tigers have cemented their reputation as serial underachievers. The season-opening rout against Alabama looks a bit more understandable now, given the way the Tide have played -- but to bookend the month with a home loss to Maryland is classic Tommy Bowden. Clemson must feel especially pleased with itself for giving Bowden a contract extension after he flirted with Arkansas in December. What will it be this year, Music City or Chick-fil-A?
Mind-blowing stat of the month: Clemson has been favored in each of its past 11 losses. In the Tigers' past 34 games, they have been underdogs only three times, all of them against Florida State and Tommy's dad, Bobby Bowden. Clemson won all three times. Start the family collusion investigation!
The minute my wife can glance at the game, see the CU formation and know they are running that damn bubble screen is when I knew both the OC and HC had to go.
She's from South America and watches football? Joe, you are a GOD. How did you ever pull that one off? Don't tell me that you've made a deal - and now you have to watch South American Soccer all day on Sunday's. That would completely shatter my view of you as being an American Icon......
You almost shattered me, but your revealing that you are now in the process of converting many SA Soccer fans into College football fans, has restored my faith that there really is meaning to life.....You are gonna go down as one of the great ones.
Try yelling that out loud in the ESSO club...
DO NOT engage me on country lyrics, Porky, even that old school twang stuff. I WILL BURY YOU!!! :-)
Hey, didn't you say that Charlie Rich was like your 5th cousin's babysitter's best friends' step-dad?
I'm pickin' up bones/
I'm pickin up bones/
Exuming things that's better left alone/
I'm resurrecting memories of/
A love that's dead & gone/
So tonight I'm sitting alone/
Picking up bones/
The first job I ever got as a mortgage originator, I used to be the "odd guy out". We worked in the veritable cultural mecca of Baton Rouge, but since I'm from a sort've rural suburb called Denham Springs, just outside of BR, I got the whole "redneck bubba" crap. Oh the irony, I know, but anyway, I digress...
I used to play off of that and send about 30 people each morning a, "Country Music Lyrics Of the Day" e-mails...
There was the old standard of If I die before I wake, feed Jake...He's been a good dog...Been my friend, right through it all...If I die before I wake, feed Jake...
There was also The Blues Man (Not that sh!tty remake that Alan Jackson did, either...I'm talking the original Hank Williams Jr. version back when he was an "old" 30!)
I'm just a singer/
A natural born guitar ringer/
Kinda of a clinger/
To sad old songs/
I'm not a walk behinder/
I'm a new note finder/
But my name's a re-mind-er/
Of a blues man that's already gone/
So I started drinkin'/
Took things that messed up my thinkin'/
I was sure sinkin/
Till you came along/
I was alone in the hot light/
Not too much left in sight/
But she changed all that in one night/
When she sang me this song/
Hey baby I love you/
Hey baby I need you/
Hey baby you ain't got to prove to me you're some kinda macho man/
Wasted so much of your life/
Running through the dark nights/
Let me shine some love light/
Down on the Blues Man/
Yeah...I know the rest of it, too...and NO, I do not-nor will I ever-defile myself by singing it or any other song at a karaoke bar!
"Country DJ's knows that I'm an outlaw.
They'd never come to see me in this dive.
Where bikers stare at cowboys who are laughin at the hippies.
Who are prayin they'll get out of here alive.
The loud mouth in the corners gettin to me.
Talking about my earrings and my hair.
I guess he aint read the sign that says I've been to prison.
Someone ought to warn him, fore I knock him off his chair.
Cause my long hair just can't cover up my redneck.
I've won every fight I've ever fought.
And I don't need some turkey telling me that I ain't country.
Sayin I aint worth a damn old ticket that he bought.
Cause I can sing all those songs about Texas,
And I still do all the sad one's that I know.
They tell me, I look like Merle Haggard,
And sound alot like David Allen Coe."
You just keep telling yourself that. No, but I wonder what my friend John Denvah thought about him.
Look, it's like this. Democrats pull for President Bush to falter because they believe that it will increase their chances to have what they want in the White House. It's the same thing.
Gary Patterson, Bobby Johnson, and Jim Leavitt certainly deserve some serious consideration. I would personally like to have either of the first two.
The ACC needs somebody to step in and run a "West Coast Offense". Lane Kiffin would be your man.....LMAO
Heck, we almost would have been related. But, the comedy to me would have been that Kiffen certainly would need a "soul cleansing" (after a year and a half with Al Davis), and the Clemson Administration seemed like a perfect fit for him......We need to all lay hands on Lane Kiffen and offer a moment of silent meditation. I wonder if Pete would take him back? I really think it's way more likely that he ends up either with Gruden in Tampa Bay or with Shanahan in Denver. Either of those two coaches would really love to piss Al Davis off.
Oh, I'm also a Chiefs fan.
Candidates:
Skip Holtz (ECU)
Kyle Whittingham - Utah
David Cutcliffe - Duke
Turner Gill - Buffalo
Bronco Mendenhall - BYU
Mike Leach - Texas Tech
Mike Price - UCF
Frank Solich - Ohio
George O'Leary - UCF
Clemson won't hire O'Leary because they have always wanted a 'clean' coach.
Skip Holtz would be wierd, but okay I guess.
Cutcliffe, however - that could work really well.
Clemson is still going to be fine this year, and will finish 12-2 until proven otherwise.
Maryland is not a good team.
I couldn't think of a better coach...That guy simply cannot recruit, and he has still managed to win and stay competitive in the SEC. He's never going to win in the same division as LSU, Auburn, & Bama...
I just haven't figured out WHO yet...
It's as if last season never happened in Starkville.
This kind of stuff is not helpful to a program.
Keep in mind that Tennessee and Virginia will likely be looking at the end of this year and if we are going to search, we need to get on it to get ahead of them.
Except for Clemson's offensive coordinator (Rob Spence) Bowden & staff have recruited very well and they've run an admirable, clean, academically sound program, except for one thing... winning the big ones (which isn't something that Clemson's president cares about). For the last few years, Clemson's defense has played well enough to win the ACC (not the SEC), but the offense has not-- despite having an outstanding array of skill players. If Bowden had hired a great OC after Rich Rodriguez left for WVU, Clemson would have won a few ACC titles, Bowden's mediocrity would have been masked, most Clemson fans would be content, and Clemson's president would be thrilled.
Spence has great stats if you include putting 70 points on cupcakes like C-Mich. (Big deal. Even E-Mich put 48 points on C-Mich.) But Spence (formerly with Toledo) is not competent to be a BCS conference OC. As Clemson fans know, all too often Spence fails against tough teams (e.g. 3 points vs GT last season) and he fails to make meaningful adjustments to his predictable run & screen offense. He doesn't stretch the field and keep defenses honest. All you have to do to beat Clemson is load up the box and sell out for the run. Spence doesn't have the guts to throw past the chains unless he's way behind or way ahead. (He only did so ONE TIME in the 2nd half meltdown against UMD.) This despite having a bevy of star receivers, including future NFLers like Kelly, Ford, & Spiller (as a slot receiver). It's mind boggling to watch, and unlike any other D-1 offense. After the UMD debacle, I'll be shocked if Bowden actually lets Spence call the plays anymore (although Clemson may not make it public). Then again, Bowden is so complacent and such a nice guy, I guess I wouldn't be shocked.
I've never seen Clemson fans so angry and so united in calling Bowden to be fired. Even the most ardent Bowden supporters are, at best, silent. But the president and the AD won't commit political suicide by firing Bowden after the season (let alone now). But they will FORCE Bowden to fire his best buddy Spence at the end of the season in order to placate fans and keep the money coming. That might not be so bad— unless the rest of the ACC improves enough to offset Clemson's OC upgrade (which seems likely), or unless Clemson has to play a top tier team from another conference.
So don't waste your time suggesting new head coaches. Waste your time suggesting new OCs.
Clemson's offensive Play-Calling has been predictable, and when it is successful it seems that it is the superior athletes the Tigers have like Davis, Spiller, Kelly, and Ford that make it happen.
The most frustrating thing I see when I watch Clemson (and has been for some time) has been the absolute lack of [effective] 2nd Half Adjustments.
I mean I HATE those stupid Bubble-Screens. They need to do more Slants and less Bubble-Screens. Slants are better. Bubble-Screens can be effective with superior athleticism in one-on-one covereage for 5-10 yard gains, but Clemson runs them so often they're ineffective.
WHAT IS HURTING CLEMSON THE MOST ON THE FIELD:
Part of Clemson's woes stems directly from the O-Line, which is the MOST IMPORTANT UNIT ON THE FIELD (of the seven elements: QB, RB/TE/WR ['skill players'], OL, DL, LB, DB, K/P)
On Defense, if you have a good D-Line and good LB's, they can help out a weak DB squad. Strong DB's and LB's can creep up to help out a weak D-Line. Weak LB's (which have really hurt Clemson this year) can be helped by good DB's and DL guys, but essentially - one weak area on Defense can be overcome by two above-average units.
On Offense, you could have:
> Peyton Manning at QB
> Walter Payton & Gale Sayers at RB,
> Jerry Rice & Lynn Swann at WR, and
> John Mackey at TE
...but if you have a weak O-Line you cannot field a dominating team.
If Clemson had the same OL and LB corps that they did last year, was able to make proper adjustments and used more innovative Play-Calling, they would be both Undefeated and dominating...IMHO.
Clemson's O-line isn't great, but they've also proven that they're not bad. I doubt that UVA's O-line is better than Clemson's, but UVA put 31 points on Maryland with their 3rd string sophomore newbie QB because UVA's OC stretched the field and ran a wonderful balance of runs, short passes, medium passes, and long passes to keep UMD's defense honest. They ran several slants, and hammered UMD's 102nd ranked pass defense with quick, short & intermdiate passes. I can only imagine what UVA's OC could do with Clemson's bevy of future NFLers.
Clemson has more talent than anyone in the ACC right now, yet their fans have watched Wake Forest go to the flipping Orange Bowl. How can Clemson allow that? That blows my mind, and people are still making excuses for Tommy. Look at GA Tech, who played in an ACC Championship game still got rid of Gailey and got a coach. How long will the players keep coming, if they know that they're going to play in the Peach, Champ Sports Bowl, Humanitarian Bowl, or Music City Bowl every year.
If they only win 8 games and Terry Don Phillips doesn't fire Bowden, well all I can say is, I would not want to be him. And that's from a Dawg ..........
As far as OC's go, Spence is in his 4th year as Clemson's OC. OC's and DC's are fired after 1 year if their unit's performance isn't up to snuff, while HC's get at least 4 years (3 at Notre Dame).
OC's come and go much easier than HC's. Also, an OC will have lots to work with due to the talent Clemson has on hand at all the skill positions & backups.
If they get lucky and find an O.C. similar to Rodriguez , he has success, what happens when that O.C. gets a head coaching job offer? Will Clemson fire Tommy and then promote the O.C. If I were Phillips I would start looking for another job, now. I would not want to be the A.D. under those circumstances.
You know yourself how Fulmer has struggled without Cutcliff, but Fulmer has a great record to fall back on. Tommy hasn't the same resume' . I know Tommy is a great guy but Clemson has done their part and made him a wealthy man. He has had reasonable success but Clemson is still underachieving, and everybody there including Tommy expects an ACC championship occasionally. Clemson can do better, even an average Coach with good talent should stumble into a division championship at least once.
Exactly.
Increase 10 home games ticket prices by 5 dollars, and you have it.
85,000 x 10 x 5 = 4,250,000
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sec/0-1-522/Fulmer-s...
Tennessee could handle it though. If they raise ticket prices by 6 dollars for 10 home games they'd have it. I think the Volunteer fans would pay to have the coach that they want.
Personally I'd mail in my 50 dollar share the day that they fired Bowden if they wanted me to. Heck, I'd throw in more and help cover for a few other folks.
http://coacheshotseat.com/BobbyJohnson.htm
http://www.coacheshotseat.com/TommyBowden.htm
Virginia's beating Maryland 31-0......
Inside sources say that the AD didn't necessarily want to keep Bowden-- let alone grant him a big buy-out-- but Clemson's president forced the AD to do it because the president likes Bowden. However, at this point, firing Bowden would be political suicide for both of them. So I predict that they'll simply try to placate fans by forcing Bowden to fire his incompetent OC. They'll also launch a propaganda campaign extolling Bowden's accomplishments on and off the field. After that, the fans will still be unhappy, and the administration will still feel a lot of heat, but the move will be just enough to temporarily placate fans and keep the money coming for another couple years. Most fans will grumble, but they'll still pay big bucks to see what a new OC, and their local hero, QB Willy Korn can do. However, even if there's a drop in donations or ticket sales, it will be less than the cost of Bowden's buyout + new coach's buyout & salary. But more importantly, whether it's plus or minus a million dollars or so, the president and AD will view keeping Bowden as safer POLITICALLY for themselves. They'll feel that even if they still have to fire Bowden in a few years, it will be politically safer to do so then. Just my guess.
As far as the Bobby Johnson discussion goes, he seems like a good coach, and certainly better than Bowden. But I'd hate to see Clemson hire a relatively unproven coach again (unless Vandy continues its success). Nonetheless, Johnson is exactly the kind of coach that Clemson would hire. In order to placate old-boy, big-time football donors, Clemson would undoubtedly give unspoken preference to hiring a homegrown southerner like Johnson, rather than, say, a proven championship-winning yankee like Chris Peterson.
You might be right in your political assumptions. However, both Barker and Phillips could save face by making the right move now. The money isn't going to be fun to pay out, but it isn't nearly as big of a deal as some are making it. Fans will overlook the debacle by Philips and Barker if they right the ship now. If they don't, then it'll be another year of complaints, anger, and withdrawn donations to further amplify the mess that they've created. That is certainly not what they want.
RazzMaTazz:
Rodriguez went to Clemson from Tulane as an ASSISTANT. Not a head coach. He went from OC to Head coach at WVU, who at the time of his hire was mediocre at best. Second Jim Grobe has gotten offers from Michigan, and Arkansas, with lots of money thrown in there. He didn't take the job and he won't be leaving Wake Forest anytime soon. Chris Peterson will NOT let me say that again will NOT leave Boisie State for Clemson. He won't move all the way across the country to take over a team that continues to struggle when he knows he has a better chance of winning at BSU. On top of that he will be coaching at Washington in a year or two depending on when Tyrone Willingham gets fired.
Now Brian:
Johnson is only 57. Thats not very old, when you consider that a guy like Spurrier is 63. Tommy Bowden is 54 thats only a three year difference between him and Johnson and nobody is saying Tommy is in his final years, nor is that being said about Spurrier. So Johnson is not too old.
Hers my plan:
TT at Auburn get's fired we hire him!
No thanks.
Time to inject a new wave of energy - fire Tommy, bring in Korn!
Who would you like to see as the new coach? I'm curious to hear peoples' opinions on who the new guy should be. I've heard some interesting recommendations already.
If you really want to see a good offense with great coaching, and just a fantastic team all around, go to a Byrnes High game on a Friday night up in Duncan, SC. Those boys are #1 in the nation (in some polls). One poll actually has Byrnes, South Pointe, and Dorman all ranked in the national top 15. At least there's solid high school ball being played in SC. Anyway, go to one of their games instead of Death Valley. There's not much that will get a coach fired faster than 40,000+ empty seats in Death Valley.
Im not in favor of Tuberville just throwing things out, almost as a joke.
Now Razz Mazz:
Ive sat here and talked to some good friend over in Clemson and some people in IPTAY, and right now I am not going to lie Peterson is sounding like a good idea.
Now to my main point:
Im not going to say im some Clemson insider, but a good friend of mine Rodney Quick in Seneca, SC who use to play for Ford and Clemson talked to Jeff Davis on Friday. Davis said that there will be "massive changes" in the upcoming week, and the words "interim" were mentioned and so was Dabo Sweeny's name along with Bobby Johnson. Right now nothing is official and like I said im no Clemson insider, but when the word comes from Jeff Davis, Head of IPTAY, the most powerful organization in college athletics speaks, the university listens and so does every other Tiger Fan.
As for Korn starting:
Tommy might not even be making that call next week. Trust me he wont last all year.
Justin:
As for the history. Clemson may not be a national historic power, but a historic ACC power, yes! There is no reason Clemson should not have won a championship in 17 years. No matter who the coach is. Right now Bowden could be 9-0 vs. Carolina and people would be calling for his neck. Yeah the wins against USC are great but I and all Clemson fans want ACC titles and BCS games with those wins.
As far as a new coach goes, I really feel that the administration has their jobs riding on this new selection, and I actually have faith in them to make the right decision.
I dare say under Ford he would never allow three half time outs to be used within the first two minutes of the second half. Clemson had no times outs and don't blame it on the new clock this isn't the first game. However other than the little wins against no name teams ok the Citidal and NC State. Wow. Lastly Harper is an awesome QB who has broken lots of Clemson records. Korn will have to live up to the hype mid season. The problem with Harper rests with the O line and probably the coaches who decided to do just that put their two cents in and if it isn't broke don't fix it. This happened to Whitehurst and other QBs who finally break records then the next season nothing. Keep your head up Harper. Not yout fault. Where is Coach Ford.