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Bye Bye Bowden

By Pete Yanity, WSPA

Published: Mon, October 13, 2008 - 11:59 am Last Updated: Mon, October 13, 2008 - 4:59 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/19939/

4:45 p.m.

Terry Bowden made the following brief statement at today's news conference before he walked off the stage.

"Terry Don approached me this morning and we both agreed that this is probably the best solution for the program at this time. Clemson has been very good to me and my family. Both of my children have degrees from here. I'm very appreciative of the opportunity Clemson gave me and the support the administration gave me while I was here. I also want to thank the players and the coaches that worked so hard. I wish them nothing but success and I will be their biggest fan on Saturday."

11:59 a.m.
Clemson head football coach Tommy Bowden has resigned effective immediately midway through his 10th season, according to Clemson senior associate athletic director Bill D’Andrea.

Bowden made the announcement Monday morning.

Wide receivers coach Dabo Swinney will reportedly guide the team for the remainder of the season.

The Tigers are 3-3 in a season in which they were rated as high as ninth in the pre-season national rankings and picked to win the ACC. A loss Thursday night at Wake Forest made them 1-2 in the conference and likely ended their hopes of a league title.

Bowden posted a 72-45 record as the Tigers head coach and signed a multi-year contract extension last December, when he was reportedly courted by Arkansas for their top job. His overall mark as a college coach is 90-49 and he has not had a losing season as a college head coach.

The Tigers started the 2008 season with a 34-10 defeat against Alabama at The Georgia Dome. Clemson won their next three contests - all at Memorial Stadium - against The Citadel, N.C. State and South Carolina State.

Clemson returned to conference play on September 27 and lost to Maryland 20-17. The Tigers let a 17-6 halftime lead slip away against the Terrapins. “We self-imploded today,” said Bowden after the game, “we didn’t play sharp today and that was the reason we lost.”

Tweleve days later the Tigers fell to ACC rival Wake Forest before a national cable television audience on October 9. Clemson scored once in the game, but led the Demon Deacons 7-3 before Wake Forest scored the game-winning touchdown with 5:28 to play.

Bowden tried to give his struggling offense a spark by naming former Byrnes High School star Willy Korn to start at quarterback for Saturday’s home game against Georgia Tech. “We need to find a spark offensively,” said Bowden. “With the injuries we have on that side of the ball, we need to reevaluate our plan. A more mobile quarterback gives us more options.”

That option won’t be exercised by Bowden, who is out of the job after 117 games on the Clemson sideline.

Tommy Bowden’s Record at Clemson

1999 6-6 5-3 (in ACC) 2nd place in conference Peach Bowl bid
2000 9-3 6-2 (in ACC) 2nd place in conference Gator Bowl bid
2001 7-5 4-4 (in ACC) T-4th place in conference Humanitarian Bowl bid
2002 7-6 4-4 (in ACC) T-5th place in conference Tangerine Bowl bid
2003 9-4 5-3 (in ACC) 3rd place in conference Peach Bowl bid
2004 6-5 4-4 (in ACC) T-6th place in conference (self-imposed bowl suspension)
2005 8-4 4-4 (in ACC) 3rd place in conference Champs Sports Bowl bid
2006 8-5 5-3 (in ACC) 2nd place in conference Music City Bowl bid
2007 9-4 5-3 (in ACC) 2nd place in conference Chick-fil-A Bowl bid
2008 3-3 1-2 (in ACC)