My Take On Bowden

Upon seeing Tommy Bowden’s comments last week that he was dismissed from Clemson, and says he didn’t step down as was the impression that he and the school gave when he departed October 13th, a few thoughts crossed my mind.

I recently ran into a friend of his who told me, much to my surprise, that Bowden wants to get back into coaching and he’s looking for the right job to open, possibly as early as this year.

This struck me as odd for two reasons.  I, and other media, often heard Bowden say during his time at Clemson that he didn’t want to coach much beyond his mid-‘50s (he’s now 55) and that once he was done at Clemson he’d be done.

I also got the impression over the past few seasons, in working with him closely as I did, that he truly was nearing the end in terms of stamina and interest.  I don’t want to say he was burned out because I really don’t know if anyone can ever determine when an individual reaches that point.  Only they can.

However, that he would now put the word out that he was dismissed (and I believe the account of Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips that all he was trying to communicate that day was that there was a likelihood he’d be ousted if the team didn’t make a run to a divisional title) is simply Bowden’s way of quelling the talk in the industry that he is through with coaching.

Why the change of heart?

Well, I don’t think his impact on TV was what he hoped or desired.

Perhaps his younger brother Terry returning to the sidelines at Division II North Alabama stoked some of the fire.

Or, maybe, several seasons of one or two plays making the different in Clemson playing for the ACC crown and instead going to a mid-level bowl took its toll short term but once he got away for a few months he realized life in coaching for him can go on.

As for his departure, as noted above I don’t think he was forced out when he left.  I do think a move would have been made had things not panned out as Phillips, nor the administration, wanted another 2003 to play out when it took a November run to save his job yet the chance to win the ACC was past.

It did surprise me that he didn’t have at least one season of leeway since he’d just signed a contract extension the previous December.

I also think that, had he stayed following the morning meeting with Phillips, the following game would have been coached so conservatively that the end around to Tyler Grisham, in which Grisham opted to throw and tossed an interception that went for six and provided the points that led to Tech’s win, probably never would have been called.  Clemson probably would have won that game as a result.  Who knows?  Maybe Bowden would have continued the mastery of his Dad’s Florida State program. 

Regardless, as a 5-3 mark was enough for Boston College to earn a spot in the title game that place would have belonged to Clemson.  Bowden would have saved his job and would now be preparing for his 11th season at the helm.