For real this time. More news as it develops. Greenville NBC affiliate WYFF is reporting it over at their site. ESPN gets themselves a piece too.
Text of their article:
CLEMSON, S.C. — Tommy Bowden, midway through his 10th season as the head coach of the Clemson University football team, has been fired.
Assistant head coach Dabo Swinney will take over the team for the remainder of the team’s season.The Tigers (3-3, 1-2 in the ACC) face Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Clemson, which was expected to contend for a conference title, has lost two straight games to ACC opponents.The Tigers lost 20-17 at home to Maryland on Sept. 27 and then fell 12-7 to Wake Forest on Thursday night.
“Man I can’t wait to hate the new coach because he won’t play Korn.”
Spence appears gone too.
Bowden was fond of calling coaches for advice during the season, wonder if Mike Shula has gotten a call yet?
And ESPN graces us with one of many ignorant comments on their site:
Cullen Harper was asked about the firing on ESPN and stated “They just told us. It’s what he deserved.” Ouch. Cullen’s father Jeff is also calling it karma in the above linked ESPN article.
Another gem from Tigernet: Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.



1TideDruid
on Oct 13, 2008 at 11:56 am:
WHA?!
Oh well, I hope one of Gene’s boys does well up in Clemson. Dabo powers activate!
2Chili
on Oct 13, 2008 at 11:57 am:
Yeah, Swinney was really who everyone wanted at interim as well. Pretty happy about this.
3Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 13, 2008 at 11:58 am:
HELL F*CKING YES!!!!
4The Human Cow
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:00 pm:
HALLELUJAH
5edbo
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:02 pm:
Good luck Swinney. Good riddance TB
6Lawtonfunk
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:03 pm:
What about Spence? Will Korn still start?
I feel better. We can still lose, and I feel better because things are going to change prior to Tommy tearing the program down slowly.
7Charlie
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:05 pm:
HALLELUYAH HALLELUYAH! MY PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED!
8Tom
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:07 pm:
Thank the Lord.
In other news, I’ll be putting http://www.antibowden.com up for sale to some FSU fans or to the school that Tommy ends up at…
9Daniel
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:10 pm:
Behold the fortune telling abilities of Mickey Plyler!
10huj
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:14 pm:
About fucking time.
11Digital Headbutt
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:17 pm:
So who’s on the wish list, besides Muschamp?
12JasonL
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:18 pm:
America – FUCK YEAH!
i’m soooooo glad. I might buy some tickets to the Duke game now!
13Tully
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:19 pm:
Let’s see how Dabo does first, then we can talk about possible openings. I think the players will be more motivated now that change is occurring. Let’s tar and feather Spence out of town! GL to Tommy in the future btw. It’s been fun.
14Willy Mac
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:22 pm:
jason, if youmake a trip downshootus an email
15Chris
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:25 pm:
I know this is a long shot but what about bill cowher? he went to NC state and he is “retired” now….that would be a cream dream
16Willy Mac
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:30 pm:
Chris, I’d like to punchisize your mouth.
17Chili
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:30 pm:
How about Bear Bryant or John Heisman? They’re out of coaching too.
18edbo
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:32 pm:
Did Spence get shitcanned??? This doesn’t do any good if that moron is still going to call the play’s. What about thr Korn/ Harper situation?
19Kyle
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:36 pm:
Cowher? That’s ridiculous. No Bobby Johnson either.
I think Spence still gets to ride out the season. There’s no way you can replace an OC midseason when you’ve already taken the staff down a man.
20TideDruid
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:38 pm:
Might I suggest Mike Gundy or Bronco Mendenhall?
I mean come on, who wouldn’t want a football coach named Bronco?
21Amanda
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:39 pm:
HALLELUJAH!
It would have been fitting for him to find out that info over the internet or by voicemail like he so tastefully informs his players of lineup changes.
22Daniel
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:40 pm:
Dabo has a golden opportunity to become our next head coach. He’s a great recruiter and now he gets a job interview every Saturday. He’s young, energetic and probably itching to be a head coach. Unless we get waxed by everyone else on the schedule he has to be one of the top candidates.
23Chili
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:41 pm:
Gundy is a douche and is coaching at his alma mater. I’d rather gamble on Muschamp or get Grobe.
24Trey
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:44 pm:
About time! Did they fire Spence as well?
25Daniel
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:45 pm:
If we could get Jim Grobe that would be a dream come true.
26don don don
on Oct 13, 2008 at 12:46 pm:
Well now i can return to being a clemson fan once again. i knew he was the problem right from the start. i would be happy if someone fired me and gave me 4 million….no wonder clemson university is facing economic hard times right now.
27Logan
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:03 pm:
This move was probably the best move the program could make, but wouldnt have had to if they let him go a year ago when Arkansas was going after him. The coaching has hindered our program since i started college at Clemson 4 years ago. We will replace Bowden with a great new coach and hopefully get rid of Spence as well. Our program needed a change and finally did what the fans have wanted for the last few years. CONGRATS CLEMSON. I’m actually looking forward to visiting Tigertown for the game this weekend against GT
28The Legacyx4
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:04 pm:
so what type of 4 worded assistant coaching title does Tammy get at FSU?
29Charlie
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:10 pm:
I’ve been vetting candidates (for my own research) for the last couple weeks on my page, guess i’ll have to ramp it up some. I’m just too elated to think right now!
I can hardly believe the administration sacked up and did something. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the 5:15pm news conference.
I think they made this a financial decision. IPTAY revenue estimates are likely low for ‘09 fiscal year, with the SEP stuff and now the economy and the season. With attendance revenues going down for the rest of the year, they couldnt afford to keep him longer.
30JasonL
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:16 pm:
haha The Legacyx4
“Tammy.”
I never get tired of that…
/sarcasm
31FuFu Lovett
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:27 pm:
Bobby Johnson for head coach.
32huj
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:28 pm:
I hope they fired him via voice mail.
33Digital Headbutt
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:30 pm:
Why would Grobe leave WF at this point, though? the Athletic Department there has been bending over backwards for him since the ACC title.
Also remember that it took him six years to get a winning record at Wake. I realize it’s a completely different circumstance at Clemson, but a key ingredient for Grobe to move would be patience on the part of the Athletic Department.
34Digital Headbutt
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:32 pm:
I take it that Skip Holtz is out of the question at this point.
35huj
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:32 pm:
How about Ozzie Guillen? He would instill toughness.
36huj
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:33 pm:
Seriously, no Gus Malzahn or Kevin Steele?
37Tomahawk Nation
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:35 pm:
Linked: http://www.tomahawknation.com/2008/10/13/634071/tommy-bowden-was-fired-by#comments
Hope you guys make a big day our of this.
38DwightClark87
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:46 pm:
Wow. Really shocking news, but hot damn, I’m glad Bowden is out the door. Thanks for the ace reporting, Chili.
39CUvinny
on Oct 13, 2008 at 1:49 pm:
About damn time