Tommy Bowden Steps Down as Clemson's Football Coach

The long national nightmare is over. Tommy Bowden decided to finally step down as head football coach for the Clemson Tigers. The reason was that there was so much hype to start the season and the team would take the ACC easily, but that didn't happen and now after a disastrous start of 3-3, Bowden decided it was time for him leave Clemson.

The action took place shortly before noon Monday. Bowden will be replaced on an interim basis by receivers coach Dabo Swinney. 

Speculation of a permanent replacement has run the gamut from local farmer Danny Ford, who once led the Tigers to a national championship in 1981, to Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster.

Interest has centered upon one of the Tigers' own, former Clemson player and current Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson. It is believed the job is Johnson's for the taking.

According to a poll on Bleacher Report last week, the overwhelming majority of voters felt that it was time for Bowden to go.

Bowden was never able to repeat the success he and then-assistant Rich Rodriguez had at Tulane in 1998. His 3-3 record this season is as good as any of his at Clemson from a loss standpoint. He has never lost fewer than three games in any season.

Clemson sports information sources advise that "further details will be forthcoming."

Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips added that he "did not fire Bowden" but that "Bowden put it out there on the table" and Phillips accepted his resignation.

Phillips added that "Clemson can still win the ACC this season and go to the Orange Bowl."

Some afternoon classes at Clemson were cancelled as a result of the football coach leaving.