Bowden's big mistake: treating it like a business
By Ken Burger
CLEMSON — To hear Terry Don Phillips tell it, he and Tommy Bowden sat down Monday morning, talked about the football season, decided it would be a good thing if the coach resigned, shook hands and that was about it.
What that version overlooks is the overwhelming negative sentiment that was rising among the Clemson faithful, an ugly, oozing boil that needed to be lanced.
Bowden's 3-3 record, after preseason title talk, only fueled the fire after the Tigers went down without a whimper to Wake Forest on national television last Thursday night.
The pressure was coming from all sides. But mostly from the inside.
Phillips, the school's down-home, good-old-boy athletic director, said it had been a "difficult weekend," that he was aware of some "dissatisfaction and frustration" among Tigers fans, and that he'd "visited with the president" about it on Sunday.
And yet, he insisted, "it was not my intention to fire the head football coach" when he arrived at his office shortly after 6 a.m. on Monday.
The end result of his early-morning meeting with Bowden, however, was that the coach offered to resign, on the spot, for the good of the program.
And, we might add, his bank account.
'The best solution'
Whatever happened in that room Monday morning, who said what to whom and when they said it, the bottom line is that Bowden's 10-year term as coach of the Clemson Tigers is over.
Turns out that a 72-45 record, a good graduation rate and a clean program wasn't enough. After a decade of doing the best he could, his best was not good enough.
Not only did he not win an Atlantic Coast Conference championship, he didn't win the big games when it mattered. Or the hearts and minds of enough Clemson people.
His 43-32 record in the league was nowhere near what millions of these fans had in mind. So now, it will cost them millions to get rid of him. $3.5 million to be exact.
Phillips said this large sum of money was more or less settled in a matter of minutes. That Bowden offered his resignation as an option and the athletic director didn't try to talk him out of it.
At the press conference Monday afternoon, Bowden said it was "the best solution," that Clemson had been good to him and his family, and he "wished (Clemson) nothing but success" and would "be their biggest fan on Saturday."
From afar.
Breaking the fall
News of Bowden's dethroning spread across the Palmetto State like a technological forest fire.
Fanned by Internet postings and text messages, it seemed that everyone heard it simultaneously, about lunchtime.
By late afternoon, people were riding past the Jervey Athletic Center here on the Clemson campus, honking car horns and yelling in support of the decision.
Tommy Bowden, the son of a Hall of Fame coach, had been fired. They can say he resigned and pay him a lot of money to leave, but the bottom line is still the same. He failed. Plain and simple.
That can't be an easy thing for him to swallow. But he comes from a coaching family and knew it was coming. He had to know. He'd seen it happen before.
To believe he fell on his sword for the good of the program is a noble concept. But it's a lot easier to do when there are several million dollars to break your fall.
Crummy business
Honestly, it always surprised me that Bowden didn't click at Clemson.
On paper, he was a great hire. He had the Bowden name, a traditional resume, experience as a head coach, a winning attitude.
But it didn't take long for fans to figure him out. Especially when he kept coming up short, finding ways to lose games he should have won, and then not seeming to care. At least as much as they did.
In reality, he never connected with Tigers fans. He always seemed a little too cool for school, like he knew more than everybody else, that he knew he was wearing a golden parachute and didn't care what people thought.
Bottom line, he treated it like a business. And at Clemson, and many other schools, it's much, much more than that.
Now that the dirty work is done, Clemson must move ahead with the rest of this season, then pay somebody else a whole bunch more money to come in and do what Bowden couldn't do. Win 'em all.
Phillips called the expensive transaction "the nature of the business these days."
Truth is, it's become a pretty crummy business.
Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598.
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moonpie (anonymous) says...
72-45 record I wouldn't say was a complete failure. Hey CU fans quit comparing the ACC to the SEC. It causes you to have extremely high expectations! Had to jab, sorry... Ole ball coach will leave at the end of this season too. He will finally realize he can't win at USC. Unless he moves to the west coast USC! Sorry USC fans had to stay neutral.
myteamsuckstoo! FSU
October 14, 2008 at 5:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tgrfan2 (anonymous) says...
If TB had been in the SEC he would have been gone long ago! Have you checked his SEC record w/o USC?
Too bad this didn't happen in 2003 or at worst when Ken Burger recommended it after Kentucky. What a waste of talent, money and time. We can hire a Chaplain, NCAA rules administrator, and a baby sitter much cheaper than what TB tricked the administration out of with promises. There are many honest, respected, religious coaches out there that can coach without all the drama TB wrought.
October 14, 2008 at 6:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bearsfan88 (anonymous) says...
What will you write about know Burger? I know you hate to see him leave. All those articles that had TB in the plot.
October 14, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I don't think the business is any crummier than ever before now. It has changed, including the cost, for sure. It always has had a seemier side. As for the separation package, it sounds like someone honored their contract. What is wrong with doing what you say you will do.
October 14, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
"In reality, he never connected with Tigers fans. He always seemed a little too cool for school, like he knew more than everybody else, that he knew he was wearing a golden parachute and didn't care what people thought."
Berger hits the nail on the head with that statement.
It pretty much defines the "bowden era vs tigernation".
CU is better off without BOZO Bowden
October 14, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
robbybobby (anonymous) says...
CU and BOZO fit so well together in a sentence, don't you agree?? This is a laugh - tammy won 7 games a year, went to 8 bowls, won 4, and beat the cocks regularly. It won't get any better than that tiggers - get your expectations calibrated and get out of denial. You are not, have never been, nor shall ever be anything other than a mediocre program at a mediocre school in the heart of mediocre redneck country. Got to quit reading the pre season sports hpye - you are so easy to spin up it's a natural fit.
October 14, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cw218 (anonymous) says...
Robby- Never been anything but a mediocre program? I think you are talking about your team... It has been a while but Clemson has won more ACC championships than any other team. To say Clemson has never been good is a bit foolish.
October 14, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbird (anonymous) says...
Burger wrote: In reality, he never connected with Tigers fans. He always seemed a little too cool for school, like he knew more than everybody else, that he knew he was wearing a golden parachute and didn't care what people thought.
Great Golden Parachute retirement package @ the expense of the fan who is only poorer because of this.
Ol' TB will be on ESPN w/a six figure salary soon. Life is sweet, isn't it!!!
October 14, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
robbybobby, your talking about the average coast conference. . . not that tough to beat duke, va, NC state and add 3 more creme puffs and guess what and you are already bowl eligible. . . Do the math, its easy, even for a CU grad. . .
October 14, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dogwoodroad (anonymous) says...
my guess is that he was told he'd be fired at the end of the season, and he responded with "how about now"
October 14, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GG (anonymous) says...
In my entire 35 year career as an educator, I never made more than a million dollars total.
To pay "just a football coach" 3.5 million to fire him is obscene and ridiculous.
Our priorities in this country are really screwed when the people that contribute the most make the least, i.e., teachers, policemen, firemen, nurses, etc.
Finally, as a person who earned an M.Ed. and an Ed.D. from USC and who attended many football games there, I can say that the USC fans would still be kissing a coach's feet if he had a record like Bowden did at Clemson. Funny.
October 14, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
Bowden wouldn't even of lasted 3 years in the SEC.
October 14, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
sbs920------allowing you to post on here is like the moderators are trying to prove stupidity is its own virtue.
Firstly---its "wouldn't even HAVE lasted", you illiterate fool......
Secondly, even if it IS true TB wouldn't have lasted 3 years in the SEC, how in the name of the guy upstairs would you explain the fact that usuck has managed to remain the doormat in the SEC without being kicked out in favor of another, more competitive team...........like, say, Trident Tech???........This is, of course, assuming you could explain ANYTHING give your limited grammatical knowledge!!!
I'm tempted to post "This Is Carolina Football" for all the visitors who haven't seen the summary of 110 years of the gigantic joke gamecock fans refer to as "usuck football".......and only because you and the other mental midget RebelYell continuously post your dimwitted drivel on every Clemson post in the Post&Courier.
Do you two have ANY idea exactly how stupid you look constantly??.......rather a moot point considering you two imbeciles are barely able to read and write....wouldn't you agree??
October 14, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sptiger (anonymous) says...
sbs - you've gotten better lately about not posting idiotic statements but i take issue with this...
seems to me that since the A-she-she is such a historical cake walk that the cluckers could've won more than one title while in it. that math wasn't very tough now was it?
bobbin robby - good to see you're scumming around here! leaving your slimy trail like a slug!
October 14, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscsax (anonymous) says...
Hey ashleyriver, if you post this is Carolina football will you promise to post the list of Clemson Violations from the 80's probation?
October 14, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyriver (anonymous) says...
uscsax---why sure and while I'm at it, I'll post details of the FIVE TIMES usuck's BEEN ON NCAA PROBATION and then for good measure I'll throw in the LOOONG list of arrests and dismissals of usc athletes in the last few years..........bet you haven't seen all that.
Tell you what else I'll do since you want to be a wiseacre, I'll even post how usuck CHEATED when they won the one championship in the 110 year history of that miserable, pathetic excuse of a football program----bet your gamecock buddies never told you about that, huh? Or about how when offered the opportunity to reclaim the loss suffered to usuck that year because the gamecocks had cheated, in an incredible display of sportsmanship legendary Clemson coach Frank Howard declined to claim the victory because the Tigers hadn't won the game on the field
Then we can finish it off with a tour of the homosexual exploits of a former usuck president and also a former usuck women's basketball coach both of whom, naturally, were involved with students as victims....say, you never knew Jim Holderman or Pam Parsons, .......or did you?
October 14, 2008 at 7 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
A-she-she! Damm I like that! that is Funny!
ashley/ditch/bitch, still pouting about your pathetic tigger season going, going, going, gone done the drain!
you pathetic moron! Tammy and the tiggers - the ultimate under-achievers of the NCAA! Sad! but True! Go pout and cry someplace else, maybe you and Davis can share a crying towel together! boohoo! Don't make me post the "Sea of Mediocracy" again. . . your little orange boat is sinking fast with no survivors! bon voyage little swab. . .
October 15, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Ok, it is best not to speak ill of the dead - no telling when your demise is coming. Anyway, Tammy gets a buy out for the remainder of his contract and I suspect that his prospects for a big coaching job are slim, but who knows. I suggest that in future contracts, a coach who has received a buyout be barred from employ, of any kind, whether it is a coaching position or a job flipping burgers. Why should a school have to pay for a double dip?
October 15, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
Sorry, should have included "barred for the duration of his contract period"
October 15, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
GG, ever read "1984"?
October 15, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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