October 13, 2008

Tommy Bowden fired at Clemson

Rivals site Tiger Illustrated has reported that Tommy Bowden has been fired as head coach of the Clemson Tigers.

Tommy Bowden has been relieved of his duties as Clemson's head football coach and Tiger Assistant Head Coach and Wide Receivers Coach Dabo Swinney has been promoted as interim head coach, Tigerillustrated.com has learned. Bowden told assistant coaches moments ago in a staff meeting.

The buyout clause from Tommy Bowden's contract:

Four Million ($4,000,000) Dollars if there are five (5) or more years remaining on the term of this Employment Agreement (or any extension thereto) on the effective date of the termination. This amount will be paid in equal semi-annual payments over six (6) years with the first payment due sixty (60) days after the effective date of termination and subsequent equal payments due every six months thereafter until all payments have been made.

Coach Bowden's Statement:

"Terry Don Phillips approached me this morning and we agreed that this is the best solution for the direction of the program," said Bowden. "Clemson has been very good to me and my family. Both of our children are Clemson graduates.

"I appreciate the opportunity Clemson University gave me and the support of the administration while I was here. I also want to thank all the student-athletes and coaches who worked so hard for this program the last 10 years.

"I wish Clemson University nothing but the best in the future."

HT: Jeff Quinton

Another update: Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips says that Bowden resigned his position and was not fired.

Tommy Bowden was not fired, Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips said at Monday's press conference. He met with Bowden this morning and said "it was coach Bowden that put this on the table."

"He said, 'Well, in looking at things and the cloud that is over the program now, we've got recruiting issues, we've got morale issues,'" Phillips said. "He said there just comes a time when the time is probably right to step aside. He put that on the table, we discussed that and he made the offer to step aside for the good of the program. I accepted that offer and that's why we're in here today."

Phillips said his intention was not to ask for Bowden's resignation at their meeting this morning and "certainly not to fire our head football coach."

But that doesn't quite jive with the story coming out of Tallahassee.

Tommy Bowden called his father, Bobby, early this morning.

"Said he thought he was going to get the axe around 10 or something like that," Bobby Bowden said today after his Florida State team practiced.

...

Bobby Bowden said Tommy told him that he'd meet with his staff in the afternoon, and then his players, "and then take off." The elder Bowden predicted that his son would be at the Bowdens' beach place in Panama City by tomorrow.

Then the father joked about his son's golf game, and the unceremonious end to the Bowden Bowl.

"I don't have to worry about him beating me no more, I know that," Bobby Bowden said. "Unless he gets a golf game a little bit sharper, which he'll have time to do now, you know. But you know, that's just the nature of our job...

"I've talked to our kids about that - that's the way this profession works. There ain't but one answer and that's winning."

Posted by Kevin Donahue

Comments:

Tommy Bowden fired at Clemson
Rivals site Tiger Illustrated has reported that Tommy Bowden has been fired as head coach of the Clemson Tigers.

Tommy Bowden has been relieved of his duties as Clemson's head football coach and Tiger Assistant Head Coach and Wide Receivers Coach Dabo Swinney has been promoted as interim head coach, Tigerillustrated.com has learned. Bowden told assistant coaches moments ago in a staff meeting.

The buyout clause from Tommy Bowden's contract:

Four Million ($4,000,000) Dollars if there are five (5) or more years remaining on the term of this Employment Agreement (or any extension thereto) on the effective date of the termination. This amount will be paid in equal semi-annual payments over six (6) years with the first payment due sixty (60) days after the effective date of termination and subsequent equal payments due every six months thereafter until all payments have been made.

Coach Bowden's Statement:

"Terry Don Phillips approached me this morning and we agreed that this is the best solution for the direction of the program," said Bowden. "Clemson has been very good to me and my family. Both of our children are Clemson graduates. "I appreciate the opportunity Clemson University gave me and the support of the administration while I was here. I also want to thank all the student-athletes and coaches who worked so hard for this program the last 10 years. "I wish Clemson University nothing but the best in the future."

HT: Jeff Quinton Another update: Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips says that Bowden resigned his position and was not fired.

Tommy Bowden was not fired, Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips said at Monday's press conference. He met with Bowden this morning and said "it was coach Bowden that put this on the table." "He said, 'Well, in looking at things and the cloud that is over the program now, we've got recruiting issues, we've got morale issues,'" Phillips said. "He said there just comes a time when the time is probably right to step aside. He put that on the table, we discussed that and he made the offer to step aside for the good of the program. I accepted that offer and that's why we're in here today." Phillips said his intention was not to ask for Bowden's resignation at their meeting this morning and "certainly not to fire our head football coach."

But that doesn't quite jive with the story coming out of Tallahassee.

Tommy Bowden called his father, Bobby, early this morning.
"Said he thought he was going to get the axe around 10 or something like that," Bobby Bowden said today after his Florida State team practiced. ... Bobby Bowden said Tommy told him that he'd meet with his staff in the afternoon, and then his players, "and then take off." The elder Bowden predicted that his son would be at the Bowdens' beach place in Panama City by tomorrow. Then the father joked about his son's golf game, and the unceremonious end to the Bowden Bowl. "I don't have to worry about him beating me no more, I know that," Bobby Bowden said. "Unless he gets a golf game a little bit sharper, which he'll have time to do now, you know. But you know, that's just the nature of our job... "I've talked to our kids about that - that's the way this profession works. There ain't but one answer and that's winning."