Clemson lands Gator bid
Bowl-bound Tigers fire defensive coordinator
Dabomania claimed a broad expanse of new territory Tuesday. Clemson Nation annexed Jacksonville, Fla., taking Gator Bowl prestige from Florida State.
Excitement over Clemson's three straight wins under new head coach Dabo Swinney led Gator Bowl officials to pick the Tigers over Florida State. Clemson will play Nebraska on New Year's Day, facing the Cornhuskers for the first time since the Tigers clinched the 1981 national championship with an Orange Bowl victory.
FILE/STAFF
Clemson's Keith Adams leaps at Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick during the last time the Tigers played in the Gator Bowl in 2001. Virginia Tech, then a member of the Big East, beat Clemson, 41-20.
Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett will officially extend the invitation in Clemson today.
Swinney will take on 8-4 Nebraska with a new defensive coordinator after firing Vic Koenning and adding new assistant head coach, ex-Tiger and old pal Danny Pearman. Officially introduced as non-interim head coach Monday, Swinney on Tuesday dismissed Koenning. The move was not surprising as there was some noticeable tension between the two since Swinney took over as head coach and led Clemson to a 4-2 record after Tommy Bowden was forced out as head coach.
Pearman was hired away from Maryland, where he spent the last year as a tight ends and special teams coach.
Expect more staff changes before Jacksonville, where Clemson fans are expected in big numbers.
The Tigers (7-5, 5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) finished a game behind Florida State (8-4, 5-3) overall and in the ACC Atlantic Division, and lost to the Seminoles in Tallahassee, 41-27, with Swinney at the helm.
They needed a win Saturday over South Carolina to become bowl eligible. The Gator Bowl has the third pick among ACC-tied bowls, behind the Orange Bowl (reserved for ACC Championship game winner Virginia Tech or Boston College) and Chick-fil-A Bowl (which likes Georgia Tech).
Catlett told the Florida Times-Union his board had a "spirited debate" on the Florida State-Clemson decision.
GATOR BOWL
Clemson (7-5) vs. Nebraska (8-4)
WHEN: Jan. 1, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
TICKETS: ($48.75-$73.75); 1-800-Clemson; clemsontigers.com, gatorbowl.com.
The key: Clemson in its last six Gator Bowl appearances has contributed to an attendance average of nearly 74,000. Florida State vs. Colorado in Jacksonville this season drew only 40,000 fans.
"It was an interesting meeting," Catlett told the Jacksonville newspaper. "The end result is that we have great options, no matter which way we move. A Nebraska-Clemson game or a Nebraska-FSU game is still very attractive in terms of tickets sales on the campuses and in Jacksonville, and for TV. Clemson fans weren't sure they were going anywhere at one point. Now, they're excited."
Catlett is just as thrilled about Nebraska.
"When we signed up with the Big 12, we wanted to have the ability to bring Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska to our game," Catlett told the Lincoln Journal-Star. "And we've gotten it with this game. We're ecstatic with the possibility to make Nebraska a selection."
Koenning, in four seasons at Clemson, statistically was one of the most successful defensive coordinators in school history. A former Kansas State player and former Wyoming head coach, Koenning likely will hook on soon with another program, perhaps his alma mater. He was listed Tuesday by the Kansas State Collegian as the top defensive coordinator candidate for Bill Snyder, just starting his second tour as Wildcats head coach.
"I want to thank Tommy Bowden and Dabo Swinney," Koenning said in a prepared statement. "I enjoyed working for coach Bowden the last three and a half years. He brought me to Clemson and I appreciate the opportunity. And, it was a great run with coach Swinney the last seven weeks. He will do well at Clemson.
"It was a great experience here, but I was not certain of my role past the bowl game, so I think this is a good time for me to pursue other coaching opportunities."
Swinney's first act as interim head coach two months ago was dismissing offensive coordinator Rob Spence.
Pearman was a Clemson tight end from 1983-87 and coached with Swinney at Alabama. Pearman was a graduate assistant under Danny Ford at Clemson in 1988-89 and coached at North Carolina and Duke, but his longest tenure was at Virginia Tech (1998-2005).
Ralph Friedgen hired him at Maryland to replace Ray Rychleski, who left for South Carolina.
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Comments
superstar90 (anonymous) says...
Is that three stories in one? Did a clemson grad write this? :)
December 3, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Yeah, it was little rambling, but it did have some meat in it. I've always liked the Gator Bowl; it's about as near a home game that is actually away...except for Williams-Bryce.
December 3, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nonsense (anonymous) says...
I guess there won't be a coach running off at the mouth about the Escalades being driven by Alabama players!!!!
December 3, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Super
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones - Clemson is a proper noun and the "C" should be capitalized.
December 3, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscsax (anonymous) says...
I think the big problem lc is that we'd seen what Smelley could do repeatedly, that was his second 4 int game of the year and only in one game did he throw no interceptions and that was against Arkansas. I agree completely if that had happened the mood would have been different but I think most people realize Garcia is the future at QB for SC not Smelley and would have liked to atleast seen him come in the game after 3 picks to see what he could do. I do have the feeling his illness was still the main reason Garcia didn't come in the game.
Being in florida for New Years is always huge, especially for recruiting in that state. Getting kids away from Florida, FSU, Miami, and now South Florida is hard already, a little extra exposure can only help.
December 3, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscsax (anonymous) says...
I was saying I wish we still had Phil Petty two years ago, unfortunately Smelley can't do that and I think with Garcia's ability to move he can keep himself from forcing balls and possibly turning it over, would have been very helpful the last two games for sure. I like where our RB recruiting is taking us, I think MAddox is done, might transfer, I see good things with Baker, Miles has some talent and much needed speed in the backfield. If we can close this year with Axon and Giles, then add to that Lattimore next year, that's a very solid stable to work with. The O-line will remain the key and the problem. I'd like to see Robbie Caldwell from Vandy get brought in to replace Hunt, he's done good things there with their line, even sending a couple players to the NFL. No thanks on the Brad Scott, the local Shoney's and Ryan's are just now recovering.
December 3, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
Ryan's Buffet Death Match: Ralph Friedgen vs Mark Mangione..........Brad Scott will be the official of record
December 3, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscsax (anonymous) says...
lc I have the feeling Clemson is going to go after Chavis hard, if Chavis backs away from an offer I'd say that's an indicator that Fulmer might be going somewhere else. I could see him sticking along side fulmer. So you think Dabo's going to go get an OC or take over the duties?
December 3, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscsax (anonymous) says...
I agree to a point, I definitely thing the HC has to be involved in atleast one side, O or D, I don't necessarily think they need to be the end all be all of that though. I often wonder if Spurrier wouldn't be better served taking less of a roll in the offense so he could have a bigger view of what's going on.
December 3, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
The best game on Jan 1st will be the Rose Bowl with Penn State and the "real" USC.
December 3, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chs294 (anonymous) says...
Yea, this story is all over the place. Why the sub-story of Koenning leaving? That's already been reported. This is what you get when a paper wants to be the first to announce something. Could've stopped after the headline.
December 3, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
softbatch (anonymous) says...
think the SEC championship game might be better than any bowl game we see this year.
December 3, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
robbybobby (anonymous) says...
the tiggers and the cocks, arguably two of the suckiest teams on the planet, barely bowl eligible, both playing on new years day. Does anyone doubt we need a playoff? Joke.
December 4, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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