October 1, 2008

Pitchforks sighted circling Memorial Stadium, Bowden

Things are getting ugly for Tommy Bowden in Clemson.

One of the biggest Bowden backers, Mickey Plyler of Tigernet and South Carolina's sports radio 104.9 FM, has called for an end to the Tommy Bowden experiment.

However, this is a different time and this is a different place. My opinion might not be worth anything and I am not trying to convince you to change your mind no matter what you think on this subject. But I have concluded that now is the time to make a change.

I am tired of a divided Clemson nation. I am ready to be reunited. I just can't see how he can escape this one. It is about to get really bad around here. I think it will be Hatfield bad. The feeling I get is that people are ticked and are not going to take it anymore.

Clemson has been more than fair to Tommy Bowden. He has had nine plus years to win a title and he may win one this year but I have lost all confidence in that happening. He may not lose again this year and go on to win multiple championships. I would love to be wrong but I can't see that happening.

...

But, Clemson fans have given Bowden nine and a half years. They have been more than fair and he has had more than enough time.

Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley once fired a coach in mid-season and rationalized it by saying, "What should be done eventually, must be done immediately." Foley fired his great friend Ron Zook and hired Urban Meyer.

On Sunday night I made follow up calls to several coaches and informed them of my thoughts and none of them thought it was a bad idea.

So here is my opinion of what Terry Don Phillips should do:
1. Inform Tommy Bowden today that he has been released as the head coach.
2. Name Dabo Swinney as the interim head coach.

Plyler goes on to say that -- in his fairly educated opinion -- AD Terry Don Phillips does not believe in Bowden and he should let Bowden go mid-season to give Dabo Swinney a shot at leading the Tigers before the start of next season.

In my opinion - and this is just my opinion - the Clemson fans have been very patient with Bowden. The CU nation clearly expects a national championship contender.

Whether that is a fair expectation or not, Tommy Bowden has had almost ten years to get the Tigers to the mountain top. In that time, he has failed to win even a share of an ACC division, let alone a conference or national championship.

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.

Comments:

Pitchforks sighted circling Memorial Stadium, Bowden
Things are getting ugly for Tommy Bowden in Clemson. One of the biggest Bowden backers, Mickey Plyler of Tigernet and South Carolina's sports radio 104.9 FM, has called for an end to the Tommy Bowden experiment.
However, this is a different time and this is a different place. My opinion might not be worth anything and I am not trying to convince you to change your mind no matter what you think on this subject. But I have concluded that now is the time to make a change. I am tired of a divided Clemson nation. I am ready to be reunited. I just can't see how he can escape this one. It is about to get really bad around here. I think it will be Hatfield bad. The feeling I get is that people are ticked and are not going to take it anymore. Clemson has been more than fair to Tommy Bowden. He has had nine plus years to win a title and he may win one this year but I have lost all confidence in that happening. He may not lose again this year and go on to win multiple championships. I would love to be wrong but I can't see that happening. ... But, Clemson fans have given Bowden nine and a half years. They have been more than fair and he has had more than enough time. Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley once fired a coach in mid-season and rationalized it by saying, "What should be done eventually, must be done immediately." Foley fired his great friend Ron Zook and hired Urban Meyer. On Sunday night I made follow up calls to several coaches and informed them of my thoughts and none of them thought it was a bad idea. So here is my opinion of what Terry Don Phillips should do: 1. Inform Tommy Bowden today that he has been released as the head coach. 2. Name Dabo Swinney as the interim head coach.
Plyler goes on to say that -- in his fairly educated opinion -- AD Terry Don Phillips does not believe in Bowden and he should let Bowden go mid-season to give Dabo Swinney a shot at leading the Tigers before the start of next season. In my opinion - and this is just my opinion - the Clemson fans have been very patient with Bowden. The CU nation clearly expects a national championship contender. Whether that is a fair expectation or not, Tommy Bowden has had almost ten years to get the Tigers to the mountain top. In that time, he has failed to win even a share of an ACC division, let alone a conference or national championship. 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.