Monday morning brought a bittersweet end for Clemson as head coach Tommy Bowden was fired after a 3-3 start to the Tigers' much-anticipated season. Before the season even began, there were talks that this was the team that would bring the ACC crown to Clemson and possibly run the table and go undefeated.
Take the words of ESPN analyst Mark Schlabach: “On paper, at least, the Tigers look like an overwhelming choice to win their first ACC championship since 1991.”
Unfortunately for Clemson, just the opposite happened, as they were embarrassed by an underrated Alabama team 34-10 in the opening game at the Georgia Dome.
After being eliminated from the BCS title game, many expected the Tigers to bounce back and use the loss as motivation to run through the ACC—but after running through a few unranked teams, they would once again fall to the Terps.
Eventually the last straw was pulled when Clemson dropped to 1-2 in the ACC after Thursday’s loss to Wake Forest.
Tommy Bowden has always had a handful of supporters, but talks of his removal have been going on for the past couple years as Clemson has been so close to Bowden’s first ACC championship but couldn't get past the Hokies and Eagles.
Even after last season's disappointing loss to Kentucky in the bowl game, Clemson still showed their support for Bowden, giving him a contract extension. 2008 was a make or break season, and for Tommy the ice was broken, and the water was too cold and too deep to get out of.
Bowden’s tenure at Clemson ends at 72-45. Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Dabo Swinney will take over as the interim coach for the remainder of the season.
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