Archive for the Tommy Bowden had a bitch mentality Category
As Tom predicted over at Anti-Bowden, Cullen Harper has been thrown under the bus by Tommy Bowden. This article from the Anderson Independent details how Harper is being made the scapegoat for the season’s troubles. Naming Korn starter was a shallow move by Bowden designed to deflect criticism off himself for a second and remedy what is almost sure to be poor attendance for the GT noon game. So sayeth the article:
Harper has struggled with downfield passing, throwing four touchdowns against six interceptions (as many as he had in 13 games last season) in six games.
However, those problems seem far more connected to offensive line instability. It is inconceivable that a quarterback who threw for 28 touchdowns against six interceptions as a junior and had NFL first-round talk floating around him this summer suddenly lost those abilities.
He has become a scapegoat for the larger problems surrounding him.
So, at first I (Chili) was a bit conflicted about the situation. I’m in agreement that Korn’s scrambling ability could be better with the offensive line playing as poorly as they are. There have been a small handful of designed QB scrambles this season and everytime I see one I know Korn would be better suited for that play. However, it can be argued that most of Cullen’s troubles this season are due to poor protection and playcalling. As a senior and captain of the team, I don’t think Harper has done enough to merit being benched. Maybe Korn could have been integrated into games a bit more, I think that would’ve been understandable to most.
The thing that really irks me is the way Bowden apparently handled the situation - delivering the news to Cullen via voicemail (or text message, there are conflicting reports) and reportedly not getting in touch with Korn before announcing the change to the media - not to mention announcing the QB change a week in advance when it’d be a smart strategic move to hide it and keep GT guessing. Larry Williams with the Post & Courier has an article about how icy the mood is on the practice fields. I feel that this move, which was designed to help turn things around, may ultimately plunge the team further into the abyss. A much smarter move would’ve been the firing of Rob Spence, but that would probably make too much sense. (See what I did there, I implied that Bowden’s moves make little sense)
Brief bit of info coming from this afternoon’s teleconference. Nobody is fired, but Willy Korn has been named starter at QB for the GT game.
Baby steps.
Putting in Korn won’t help that much if Spence is still calling plays. Fans should revolt if he is not fired before the GT game. His staggering ineptitude the past two games and post game quote when asked what was going on with his offense, “I don’t understand that, okay?” should be more than enough grounds for dismissal.
***UPDATE***
More probably completely unfounded rumors are saying that an announcement will be made Monday that Bowden and/or Spence have been fired. I don’t really believe that, but we’ll see come Monday.
What do you think will happen today/this weekend?
- Nothing (68%, 171 Votes)
- Spence will be fired (17%, 43 Votes)
- Tommy will be fired (15%, 39 Votes)
Total Voters: 253
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HT: Huj
According to Mickey Plyler and a number of other independent sources, things are brewing in Clemson today and Tommy Bowden is expected to finally be shitcanned in a press conference this afternoon in Clemson. Mickey is reporting the following bits of conjecture on his blog.
Here is what I know at this point:
*Several key players in this decision understand that a change has to be made. It is now not a matter of if but has now become a matter of when.*I was told by a very good source that one of the board of trustees cancelled an important business meeting this morning because he had to head to Clemson. I do not know the nature of his visit to Clemson and it may be a sheer coincidence. It is not fair to assume that this concerns football but I think it is fair to be intrigued by the timing.
*I have some information about Clemson’s interest in replacement candidates and information about potential candidates’ interest in Clemson. However, until a change is made I think it is inappropriate to discuss. I hope you will agree on this policy. Believe me, the blog will discuss in detail potential candidates as soon as an opening occurs but this is not the appropriate time.
*I have been told that several key boosters, former members of the board and top university officials have been in contact with the athletic department. These contacts obviously started last week but have continued throughout the early part of this morning and more are scheduled this afternoon.
I’ve (Chili) had several other trusted sources contact me today and tell me some of the same things.
Somewhere…. a lip is beginning to quiver.
Although a source from another site is standing firm that TDP will not be announcing anything today and has stood firm that he does not discuss personnel issues during the season. They claim that there is a slight possibility of an announcement to clear the air but no reason to speculate that TB will be fired.
So I just want to make it perfectly clear that this is RUMOR and speculation.
***UPDATE***
Plyler reporting that Bowden’s regularly scheduled teleconference is still on for this afternoon. Other sources are telling me that Spence could be the one fired today, ala Auburn’s situation, and that Bowden might be sticking around. Of course, nothing out of the ordinary could (and probably will) happen, so hang tight.
Cheer up
Clemson lost to Wake Forest last night, 12-7. I am not nearly as angry after this game as acceptance has set in at just how bad the coaching is and how it has trickled down to the team (mostly the offense). I think it’s sort of like pissing yourself and being all angry and confused at first and then just settling into resigned melancholy, being like “Hey, yeah, I pissed myself. Oh, well. Here I am, all pissy and smelling vaguely of popcorn. Aw, now it’s starting to get cold. Well, here I am.”
The Sporting Gnomes have a pretty much perfect take on things up at their site. They claim the team has gone full retard. Yes.
Gene Sapakoff of the Post & Courier, who picked Clemson to run the table this season, says he won’t be fooled again. (yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah) I can’t think of a fan who could still have any enthusiasm for this team.
Random thoughts.
- Jessie Palmer looks like Ed Helms’ character from The Office with an abnormally swollen head.
- Craig James, while at times right about the Tigers, is still a douche.
- Was there enough coverage of the state fair?
- I don’t recall ever watching a Clemson team that’s injured as easily as this one. Not sure what the cause of that is, exactly. Maybe it’s less embarassing not being on the field.
- Rob Spence had 10 days to prepare his offense and couldn’t have done much worse. If he still has his job by the time the GT game rolls around I’ll not be surprised, but I will be incensed.
- You know what we should have done more of? Running James Davis into a big pile of Wake Forest defenders.
- Cullen Harper made more poor decisions than he did good ones for the most part. Overthrown passes, hanging receivers out to dry, throwing the ball out of bounds on that end of the half Hail Mary, throwing the ball out of bounds on third and long late in the fourth, running out of bounds instead of trying to gut it out for another couple yards for a first down. Sure he had poor protection, but not all of his mistakes had to do with protection. Korn should get a shot. Worst case scenario: he doesn’t do any better and the coaches are proven right. Best case: we might win a fucking game.
- With the exception of the first two Wake drives, the defense did a good job. It’s hard to operate when your offense is so shitty that it keeps you on the field the whole game, however. Blackwell has got to hate Spence.
“Tommy Bowden got a bitch mentality.”
Read it and understand our newest category/tag.
