RELIEF BOOBS ACTIVATE

Hey Autobots, it was a long day of following news reports about the coaching change and [self congratulatory spiel] we’re pretty happy to say we remained on top of the situation and got out the news as soon as it happened [/spiel].

TB AND TDP PRESS CONFERENCE

In a 5:15 PM press conference yesterday, Terry Don Phillips made it clear that Bowden was not fired, but stepped down after the new mandate was laid on him that he would be fired once the Tigers were mathematically eliminated from Atlantic Division contention. A half million dollars was lobbed off the buyout and Tommy walks away with $3.5 million.

TDP essentially stated what Ron Morris says in his article, that Coach Bowden did everything right but win - the major point of contention being that he had yet to win his division, much less the league title in 9 1/2 years. (Though it must be noted that Morris is trying to take Clemson to task for firing Bowden, but the losses to inferior teams and failing to make the ACCCG while BC and Wake rolled into it are huge, huge issues that he sort of ignores)

Coach Bowden spoke briefly, his statement is below, as reported by The State. We’ve taken our fair share of shots at Bowden, but the time for that is pretty much over. He left Clemson better than he found it, he coached with class, ran a clean program, and showed a lot of character by showing up for the closing press conference. We wish him all the best in whatever endeavors he pursues from this point on.

“(Athletic director) Terry Don Phillips approached me this morning, and we agreed that this is the best solution for the direction of the program. Clemson has been very good to me and my family. Both of our children are Clemson graduates.

“I appreciate the opportunity Clemson University gave me and the support of the administration while I was here. I also want to thank all the players and coaches who worked so hard for this program the last 10 years. I wish Clemson University nothing but the best in the future.”

Image from the Post &Courier

Larry Williams has more info on this particular presser in this post.

Here’s a take on the players’ reactions to the coaching change.

Matt Hayes of The Sporting News on five reasons Tommy Bowden is out.

DABO’S PRESS CONFERENCE

Here’s some info from Coach Swinney’s presser last night. There will be some coaching shifts. Most notably, Swinney and QB coach Billy Napier will handle playcalling. Several graduate assistants will move onto the field. GA Mike Dooley moves to TE coach, GA Jeff Scott (Brad’s son) will work full time with WRs, and video GA Derek Riley will move on field to be a defensive grad assistant.

Yes, EKR fans, Korn is still the starter for GT.

Some choice quotes from Swinney:

“I believe in Willy Korn.”

On what he told the team: “If you can’t do this, this, this, and this, pack up your locker, and get out. We’ll honor your scholarship, but if you’re on that practice field, you better be all in.”

On what he’s most worried about: “The main thing I’m worried about is running down the hill. I’ve never done that since I’ve been here - I’ve been the captains’ coach out on the field. I’m jacked up about that. I’m gonna rub that rock twice.”

Bart Wright of the Greenville News has an article on his impressions from the press conference, which seem pretty positive.

WHO’S NEXT

Just as a new coach is settling in, speculation runs rampant on who will be the coach in 2009.

Spencer Hall of EDSBS and The Sporting News has a list over at TSN, and gives us a shoutout as well. Thanks for that.

Larry Williams has a couple choices over here, they seem to be more informed than the TSN takes, which is understandable since Clemson is LW’s specialty.

They both mention:

- Lane Kiffin, formerly of the Raiders, though Williams hadn’t heard anything specific on him.
- Will Muschamp, BOOM!, who we are personally in favor of.
- Dabo Swinney, interim coach, who is on a 6/7 week audition for the job right now.

Williams also throws in:

- Jim Grobe, Wake Forest HC, who would also be a great choice, IMO.
- Oklahoma DC Brent Venables, TDP loves southwestern guys.
- Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt HC, who I think is a great coach and a Clemson guy, but maybe a tad too old and wouldn’t provide enough of a spark. My gut tells me Clemson is higher on this guy than I’d like them to be.

Hall mentions two guys I don’t think are on Clemson’s radar:

- Skip Holtz, who had a flavor of the month appeal before faltering this season. The fact that he coached at Sakerlina for his dad doesn’t garner him any support among Clemson fans. Plus he wouldn’t give me a discount on my Sakerlina Football Camp payment when my A/C unit broke in my dorm room. So, there’s that. (Summer heat in Columbia after 16 hours of drills, FUN. I went to Clemson, Furman, and other football camps too, so piss off)
- Todd Graham, Tulsa head coach. I don’t know much about this guy, but this is the first I’ve heard his name mentioned. I’ll keep an eye on him in this search.

RECRUITS LOOKING ELSEWHERE

As is bound to happen in a coaching change, especially one as abrupt as this one, some recruits have decommitted and are looking elsewhere. Both guys mentioned in this Sporting News article have been known to have backed off their commitments for a while now, and rumors had spread that they were dropping the Tigers as long as two months ago. Sporting Gnomes were on this yesterdee. Some people get all up in arms about this, and while both guys who decom’td were highly ranked guys, I could give two fucks if a 18 year old changes his mind. He’ll probably change it a number of times throughout the year. We’ll get some recruits, we’ll lose some recruits. We’ll make it.

MORE ON CULLEN’S COMMENTS

Cullen Harper has taken a ton of flak for his comment that Bowden “deserved” to be fired yesterday. Harper was understandably pissed after being scapegoated last week. His dad also fired off some parting shots at Bowden. Harper has some more comments in this article in the Greenville News. He says his main beef with Bowden was CTB’s penchant for taking things to the media before dealing with him personally.

“From a personal standpoint, I think that a coach should always deal with issues about the team with the team first,” Harper said. “I think there are just some things that belong inside the locker room. It’s unfortunate that I never got a chance to talk to Coach Bowden about the situation.”

“I wish the best for coach Bowden, and I hate it had to come to this,” Harper said. “But we’re 100 percent behind coach Swinney and we’re still believing. We’re going to do our best to turn this thing around.”

The article has some more insight on different players’ takes on Bowden’s resignation.

Fridge rides his valiant turtle to victory and/or the nearest Krispy Kreme.
I hope to God that turtle’s shell is rated for those kind of live loads.
Also, now you know why the turtle is named Testudo.

Onward to victory, Testudo! Hey, what is that cracking sound?

Emily Stewart ‘07…. any wonder why we’re so happy?

Clemson tops this year’s list of “Top 10 Schools with the Happiest Students” in the recent Princeton Review. So, we’ve got that goin’ for us. The campus will certainly be a lot happier if the football team can meet expectations. The Anderson Independent Mail has it covered.

The Astro III in downtown Clemson is closing today. Carmike Cinemas informed staff at the Clemson landmark just 4 days ago that they would close. For those not familiar with the Astro, it’s a small 30 year old theater that shows second-run movies for $2.50 a pop and is a relief to cash strapped students. There is a Facebook group to save the Astro III that has already attracted thousands of supporters. The likelihood of saving the Astro is not high; Carmike is strapped for cash and the theater sits on a valuable piece of land. This is a sad case of another unique Clemson landmark being swept away for some mass market chain bullshit, or a sub shop, or another block of condos from Tom fuckin’ Winkopp. I remember going to the Astro with Sambo to go see that godawful movie Phone Booth with a coatfull of beers in the middle of the summer. We paid in rolls of pennies. Good times.

PRACTICE NOTES

Will Vandervort has an interesting article on Aaron Kelly and his consistency. I was extremely impressed at how he was able to bounce back from a devastating dropped ball against BC to help the Tigers drive down the field for the victory in Williams-Brice the very next game.

Also from that article - kicking is so bad that Bowden has declared the field goal and punting duties open for the taking. PUT IN WILLY KORNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! HE MAKES LOU GROZA ANDTHE GARBAGE PICKING FIELD GOAL KICKING PHILADELPHIA PHENOMENON LOOK LIKE LITTLE GIRLS. BEAUTIFUL, STRONG LEGGED LITTLE GIRLS. Anyway, kicking and special teams have been sub par for a number of years and this is no indication of improvement.

Corey Lambert seems to be developing into team leader. He came into Clemson with extremely high expectations placed on him as is want to happen to highly recruited in-state athletes who stay in-state. He’s taking his time, and using what he learned from Barry Richardson to help lead the inexperienced line corps.His leadership is desperately needed.

INJURIES

WRs Jacoby Ford and Xavier Dye, TE Michael Palmer, and OT David Smith have all missed some practice due to minor injuries. Ford with a sprained ankle, Dye with a bruised shoulder, Palmer with a pulled hamstring, and Smith with a dislocated toe.

MORE RATIONAL DISCOURSE FROM COLUMBIA

Your Mother Slept With Wilt Chamberlain has the scoop on the senile old Sakerlina trustee who thinks all campus cops are out to get their fine, upstanding football players. It must be a conspiracy by cops with “tiger paws in [their] office.”

IN OTHER NEWS

The greatest headline ever.

NBC THINKS WE’RE THE JAMS

NBC Sports has their preseason top 25 out today. Clemson is ranked #3, behind Georgia and Ohio State. The only people who rank Clemson higher are probably Clemson fans. Take it with a grain of salt, people.

So, I’m embracing the territory, culture, and lifestyle around me known as the Simpsonville area and I am going to purchase a second gun. Chili and I were discussing and I’ve narrowed my selection down to the SIG 9mm or an AR-15 made by either Colt, Rock River, Bushmaster, or again a SIG (even though it’s slightly different). I just happened to throw a few related search terms into youtube and this is what came up. Enjoy.