Earlier this season, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden publicly took his university president to task for setting academic standards that were supposedly too tough for the football players he was attempting to recruit.
Clemson University and its fans must love such a class act—especially one who folds like a cheap lawn chair in big games.
Tommy Boy did it again in Monday's Chick-Fil-A Bowl, as Clemson fell to Auburn 23-20 in overtime. You really have to wonder about Tiger loyalists who are apparently satisfied with a guy who's yet to win an ACC championship.
In nine years at Clemson, Bowden has failed to win a single conference title—despite having recruited decent players. What's more, Tommy Boy has won only three bowl games with the Tigers, and has now lost two postseason contests in a row.
And still Clemson recently gave him a huge raise and contract extension.
And the only one smiling is Tommy Boy—on his way to the bank.
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9 months ago
He's actually been there 9 years, not 8, making it even worse (or better, as I see it).
He still hasn't even had a team finish in the rankings higher than Lou did at Carolina (13th after the 2001 season).
9 months ago
I can understand the disappointment but realistically Harper recently had shoulder surgery and the defense had to play a lot of underclassmen due to injuries. If you look at the stats over the last 2 years this is a team that is going in the right direction, offensively and defensively. In reference to the comments regarding Tommy's salary, lets not forget the football program brings in more money than research grants and tuitions to the university and community on whole so from a relative basis its appears justified. And yes, Tommy is a "class act". The high percentage of players that actually graduate with degrees supports that statement.
from 9 months ago
I did some research earlier on the topic of college football graduation rates and was pleasantly surprised to see that Tommy Bowden graduates something like 75-80% of his players - a statistic significantly higher than the average and higher than most D I-A programs.
So his teams have choked at the end of the season. Well, he can rectify that. At least he's got his values in order. Just, is being a class act worth millions of dollars?
9 months ago
Poor Stan,
Tommy doesn't walk on water!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clemson Got their chance with one of the worst teams in the SEC and blew it.
Whay Whay Whay
Typical cry and justify Cemson fan
9 months ago
63-17
9 months ago
And yet he was 5-1 against ole Lou and is 2-1 against Steve.
One of the worst teams in the SEC? He actually beat that team 23-21. If Auburn is one of the worst teams in the SEC (as you say), then how did they beat UF in Gainesville, take LSU to the wire, and finish second in the SEC West?
It must really suck to be a Carolina fan and have to deal with losing to Clemson year-in and year-out. That's why most Carolina fans are head cases...they just can't fathom how they continue to be dominated by Clemson (for those of you that don't know, Clemson leads the all-time series 64-37-4, with the first 60 games played in Columbia on Carolina's home field) when in their minds their SEC affiliation should make them superior and invicible.
I'm not happy with TB's progress, but he's our coach. We certainly could do worse (like having a washed up coach skulk out the door to go blab on ESPN).
9 months ago
You are a loser.
9 months ago
hah, thats a great comeback, anonymous. calling someone a loser because he outwitted you and your arguments.
Gamecock fans don't have much to be proud of, nor do they have any justification for their arguments against Clemson.
Most of you probably weren't even alive the last time the gamecocks beat Clemson two consecutive years. You'd have to go all the way back to 1969 for that one.
I certainly don't think that Tommy walks on water, but he has done better in his nine years at Clemson than all of the combined coaches of Carolina over that time period.
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