QB shuffle: Harper benched for Korn

CLEMSON — Tommy Bowden is hoping Willy Korn can save Clemson's season — and maybe even the coach's job.

A day after Clemson suffered its second consecutive loss in a 12-7 defeat at No. 21 Wake Forest, Bowden announced that Korn, a redshirt freshman, has supplanted fifth-year senior Cullen Harper as the team's starting quarterback.

Bowden, who's under considerable heat with his Tigers (3-3, 1-2) falling woefully short of expectations, said Korn's mobility might be able to inject life into an injury-ravaged offense that's scored one touchdown in the past six quarters.

Clemson plays host to Georgia Tech a week from today. Harper, who beat out Korn in the spring and summer of 2007, has started 19 straight games for the Tigers.

"We need to find a spark offensively," Bowden said. "And we need to evaluate our plan of attack. A more mobile quarterback gives you more options.

That's why I made the decision. (Cullen) has been a pretty productive quarterback but has struggled some this year."

Until Friday, Bowden and offensive coordinator Rob Spence steadfastly stood behind Harper. But the Tigers' offense often looked inept against the Demon Deacons, mustering 198 total yards and 21 rushing yards on 23 carries.

This came after the offense produced 112 yards and zero points in the second half of a 20-17 home loss to Maryland.

Harper, the preseason player of the year in the ACC, was sacked four times at Wake Forest. He was operating behind an offensive line that was alarmingly thin after first-half injuries to starting guards Cory Lambert and Mason Cloy.

Also, tailback C.J. Spiller suffered a hamstring injury with less than seven minutes left in the second quarter and didn't return. Bowden had no update on Spiller's status Friday.

"We've got some injuries that we need to evaluate," he said. "A more mobile quarterback gives you different and more options. (Korn) runs better. He gives us more options. If protection breaks down, you have a chance to make a positive play. That's why we've got to find a spark."

Bowden continued to stand by Spence, who's in his fourth year with the Tigers. In four games this season against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision, Clemson has scored six touchdowns while averaging 296 yards per game (102 rushing, 194 passing).

In 35 games against FBS competition under Spence, his offense has scored no touchdowns or one touchdown on nine occasions.

"He has had a pretty productive track record," Bowden said. "I think over the last couple of years we have had a couple of lapses in productivity. He didn't forget how to coach or call plays or coordinate an offense in six games."

Clemson's offense won't have it easy in the next three games. Georgia Tech, Boston College and Florida State rank in the top 15 nationally in total defense.

Bowden's team entered the season ranked No. 9 nationally and an overwhelming favorite to win its first ACC title since 1991. The Tigers are now facing national ridicule for being the biggest flop in college football.

That's not good news for Bowden, whose administration expected him to take the program to the next level after giving him a contract extension last December following his flirtation with Arkansas.

Bowden, who is 10-11 in his last 21 games against FBS competition, said his superiors did not order him to make the quarterback change. He said Spence, who'd stressed multiple times recently that a change wasn't being pondered, "is in full agreement" with the decision.

Harper was 15-of-35 passing for 177 yards at Wake Forest. He threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Ford to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead late in the third quarter, but he tossed an interception deep in his own territory on the next possession that the Demon Deacons turned into a field goal.

Harper set 22 school records last season and led the ACC in passing efficiency. He's thrown four touchdowns and six interceptions this season after tossing 27 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2007.

Harper suffered a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder in an opening defeat against Alabama but had said in recent weeks the shoulder was fine. He injured his other shoulder in the third game against N.C. State, and Bowden said Friday that Harper's health might have affected his "whole mental makeup and chemistry."

In mop-up duty this year against The Citadel and South Carolina State, Korn completed 14 of 18 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown while rushing five times for 18 yards and a score. Bowden said Korn will play the entire game as long as he stays healthy.

"Surely you can't ask a redshirt freshman to go in against a team like that and not make a mistake," said Bowden, whose team resumes practice Sunday. "If he goes in there and is afraid to make a mistake, it defeats the purpose of having him go in. We need to make sure mentally he can execute what we're asking him to do."

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks.