Tigers' Bowers following a different script

CLEMSON -- You've probably never heard of Jess Bowers. He's never played a snap. But like the other Clemson seniors, No. 91 will enter Death Valley today by running solo down the hill.

Dabo Swinney said he's Clemson's Rudy.

The 6-4, 260-pounder appeared at walk-on tryouts this spring, persuaded by his performance as a football-playing extra in feature films "Radio", "Leatherheads" and "We Are Marshall."

"He was the best looking guy so he

made it," Swinney said.

The Walhalla High product went through spring and summer workouts. He knew Swinney walked on at Alabama. He knew Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger's story of walking on at Notre Dame. Bowers followed Clemson since childhood. His grandfather, James H. Bowers, was a Clemson team doctor in the 1960s.

"I figured (Swinney) must have a soft spot for walk-ons," Bowers said.

Unlike Ruettiger -- whose story was made into the film "Rudy" -- Bowers will never play a snap. He's ineligible.

He arrived at fall camp shocked to learn his NCAA clock had expired, shocked to learn such a thing existed. Bowers, 26, took classes at Tri-County Tech following high school prior to transferring to Clemson. Per NCAA rules, students have five years to compete once enrolled.

"I called him in because I wanted to talk to him, because dressing out is what these guys live for," Swinney said. "I told him 'I'm sorry. I wish I knew earlier.'

"I told him he could be in a jersey on the sidelines. He just smiled and grinned and took it in stride."

Bowers elected to stay on as a scout-team defensive tackle, a grueling task against first-team guards like Antoine McClain.

"They said I was crazy," Bowers said.

He arose battered and blackened each morning, yet, he continued "wanting to be a part of something."

He had given up on football coming out of Walhalla High until one morning in 2002, when his mother said they were looking for ex-football players for the movie "Radio" being shot at Walterboro High.

"There were about 1,000 guys trying out," Bowers said. "They had an actual football tryout. You had to run the 40."

Bowers won over Mark Ellis, a Hollywood sports coordinator. Filming took three months and Bowers walked away with $5,000, hanging out with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris in the process.

"The wrap party was awesome," Bowers said.

Ellis invited Bowers back for "Leatherheads" and "We Are Marshall." Again, Bowers made the cuts. He saw actor George Clooney take a "pretty good hit" filming "Leatherheads," and was in the plane scene, recreating the tragic Marshall team flight.

As he kept earning roles he thought, 'Hey maybe I can play as an actual football player.'

He likes to think he helped the Clemson rush offense this season. Tigers guard Thomas Austin even approached Swinney about donating travel money so Bowers could go to the bowl game.

Though he can't play, Bowers will enter Memorial Stadium like the other seniors today. He also might be a part of the Tigers' first ACC title team since 1991, when Swinney jokes "most of the Tigers were four, except Bowers, he was like 10."

For a walk-on from Walhalla, it's quite a script.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.