Tommy Bowden was the Lifetime movies of college football: each and every year it was the same plot. Season after season Clemson had plenty of hope, but could never meet expectations.In the midst of another season defined by that inability to deliver on the hype, Bowden beat athletic director Terry Don Phillips to the punch as he walked into Phillips' office Monday and resigned, effective immediately.
This season was supposed to be the one where the Tigers turned the corner under their beleaguered coach and with a potent and experienced lineup led by Cullen Harper, James Davis and C.J. Spiller, the Tigers were the runaway favorites to win their first ACC crown in 17 years and entered the season ranked ninth. Bowden was even given a contract extension based on the potential of the squad (though it also had a little to do with keeping him from jumping to Arkansas).
Fittingly, the highest expectations of Bowden's tenure could only end one way: with arguably the most embarrassing loss of his career. The Tigers were manhandled 34-10 by Alabama in Atlanta and in a show of just how fragile Bowden's confidence was in himself called Nick Saban (and Mark Richt and Frank Beamer and dad Bobby) the next day to ask how the Crimson Tide knocked them off. This was clearly a man struggling to find answers and a man who knew he was losing his players after a program-rattling loss.
The Tigers fell to 3-3 after close losses to Maryland and Wake Forest, after which Phillips told Bowden that he and his staff would be fired if they didn't win Saturday at home vs. Georgia Tech, a loss that would effectively take Clemson out of the Atlantic Division race.
Harper, who was benched in favor of sophomore Willy Korn after the loss to the Demon Deacons, told ESPN: "It's what he deserved." He later elaborated on his initial reaction, saying "[Bowden] tried to motivate us but guys were off the bandwagon. There were things I disagreed with and that my teammates disagreed with. I didn't appreciate it when he would say some off-the-wall things about me to the media. I guess one thing I can say is he gave me an opportunity to come to Clemson and play."
Despite going 72-45, 43-32 in the ACC and going to eight bowls in nine years, Bowden will be remembered for what he didn't do at Clemson -- and in the end, the controversial way he walked away. The timing may have been surprising, but this is a program is in need of a change, and so is Bowden, who no longer has to deal with the yearly questions about his future.
This season was supposed to be the one where the Tigers turned the corner under their beleaguered coach and with a potent and experienced lineup led by Cullen Harper, James Davis and C.J. Spiller, the Tigers were the runaway favorites to win their first ACC crown in 17 years and entered the season ranked ninth. Bowden was even given a contract extension based on the potential of the squad (though it also had a little to do with keeping him from jumping to Arkansas).
Fittingly, the highest expectations of Bowden's tenure could only end one way: with arguably the most embarrassing loss of his career. The Tigers were manhandled 34-10 by Alabama in Atlanta and in a show of just how fragile Bowden's confidence was in himself called Nick Saban (and Mark Richt and Frank Beamer and dad Bobby) the next day to ask how the Crimson Tide knocked them off. This was clearly a man struggling to find answers and a man who knew he was losing his players after a program-rattling loss.
The Tigers fell to 3-3 after close losses to Maryland and Wake Forest, after which Phillips told Bowden that he and his staff would be fired if they didn't win Saturday at home vs. Georgia Tech, a loss that would effectively take Clemson out of the Atlantic Division race.
Harper, who was benched in favor of sophomore Willy Korn after the loss to the Demon Deacons, told ESPN: "It's what he deserved." He later elaborated on his initial reaction, saying "[Bowden] tried to motivate us but guys were off the bandwagon. There were things I disagreed with and that my teammates disagreed with. I didn't appreciate it when he would say some off-the-wall things about me to the media. I guess one thing I can say is he gave me an opportunity to come to Clemson and play."
Despite going 72-45, 43-32 in the ACC and going to eight bowls in nine years, Bowden will be remembered for what he didn't do at Clemson -- and in the end, the controversial way he walked away. The timing may have been surprising, but this is a program is in need of a change, and so is Bowden, who no longer has to deal with the yearly questions about his future.
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