Ten months after he left Clemson at mid-season, former Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden said Tuesday that he was dismissed and did not resign.
"I kind of anticipated it," Bowden told reporters in Alabama Tuesday. "I was not naive to the expectations."
Bowden's statement at a news conference October 13th, his final day on the job at Clemson, included this line regarding his exit: "We (he and athletic director Terry Don Phillips) both agreed that it's the best solution for the program at this time."
Phillips indicated at the time that Bowden was not fired nor was such a move imminent.
Bowden spoke to reporters while attending a fund-raising function in Florence, Alabama, where his brother is now head football coach at North Alabama.
The State newspaper quotes Bowden saying Tuesday that Phillips broached the subject of contract termination and with it apparent that he lacked the administration's support, Bowden opted to negotiate terms of a buyout instead of trying to extend his stay as head coach.
Clemson named then-wide receivers coach Dabo Swinney its interim head coach that day. Swinney posted a 4-3 record in that role and was given the top job full-time December 1.
A Clemson spokesman said Tuesday evening that Phillips stands by his comments from that day in October and that Bowden was not fired.
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