Oh, brother: Terry Bowden says Tommy didn't meet expectations
ESPN.com news services
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When it comes to coaching big-time college football, the expectations are high and the assessments for failure are harsh -- even when it's from your own brother.
In his weekly blog on Yahoo.com, former Auburn coach Terry Bowden, despite his misgivings about criticizing a family member, agreed that it was time to go for his brother, Tommy Bowden, at Clemson.
Tommy Bowden stepped down at Clemson on Monday, after the Tigers started the season 3-3 -- well below expectations.
"So, did Tommy Bowden deserve what happened to him Monday? Unfortunately, yes," Terry Bowden wrote on Yahoo.com. "He deserved it because he, of all people, knew what to expect when he got into this business. We grew up in it.
"He knew what to expect when he went to Clemson. He knew that no matter where you go, there is an expectation of success that must be met. After nine years at Clemson, he knew exactly what those expectations were and he knew they had not been met."
Terry Bowden explained that growing up as the sons of longtime Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, it was clear early on that fans and boosters expect success -- something that has not come to fruition at Clemson, which has stalled at eight or nine wins a season and failed to win a conference championship.
The Tigers, a preseason favorite to win the ACC, suffered a season-opening defeat to Alabama and stumbled to losses against Maryland and Wake Forest.
"Clemson expects to win the conference championship every once in a while -- and they should," Terry Bowden said in his blog. "After 10 years of falling short, they deserve the right to try and find a coach they believe can get them there."
Terry Bowden said it was not easy to reach that conclusion. Tommy Bowden served on his staff at Auburn and allowed him to bask in the glory in 1993, when he led the Tigers to an unbeaten regular season and won coach of the year honors. Then, in 1998, the year Terry Bowden was fired during the season at Auburn, he was able to stand in the background and watch Tommy turn around Tulane, leading the Green Wave to an undefeated regular season.
"None of this makes a bit of difference in the Clemson situation, except to show you how close we are as brothers and how difficult it is for me to write about this," Terry Bowden said. "I can honestly say that I thought Clemson would beat Wake Forest last week and climb back into the race for the ACC Championship Game.
"The Tigers still have as much talent as anyone in the conference, and I surmised that as soon as they had a little success on offense, the confidence would come back and they would get on a roll.
"But they didn't have enough success and the confidence didn't come back. And for the 10th consecutive season, Clemson most likely will not win the conference championship."
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ESPN.com news services
<!-- promo plug -->
<!-- end promo plug -->
When it comes to coaching big-time college football, the expectations are high and the assessments for failure are harsh -- even when it's from your own brother.
In his weekly blog on Yahoo.com, former Auburn coach Terry Bowden, despite his misgivings about criticizing a family member, agreed that it was time to go for his brother, Tommy Bowden, at Clemson.
Tommy Bowden stepped down at Clemson on Monday, after the Tigers started the season 3-3 -- well below expectations.
"So, did Tommy Bowden deserve what happened to him Monday? Unfortunately, yes," Terry Bowden wrote on Yahoo.com. "He deserved it because he, of all people, knew what to expect when he got into this business. We grew up in it.
"He knew what to expect when he went to Clemson. He knew that no matter where you go, there is an expectation of success that must be met. After nine years at Clemson, he knew exactly what those expectations were and he knew they had not been met."
Terry Bowden explained that growing up as the sons of longtime Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, it was clear early on that fans and boosters expect success -- something that has not come to fruition at Clemson, which has stalled at eight or nine wins a season and failed to win a conference championship.
The Tigers, a preseason favorite to win the ACC, suffered a season-opening defeat to Alabama and stumbled to losses against Maryland and Wake Forest.
"Clemson expects to win the conference championship every once in a while -- and they should," Terry Bowden said in his blog. "After 10 years of falling short, they deserve the right to try and find a coach they believe can get them there."
Terry Bowden said it was not easy to reach that conclusion. Tommy Bowden served on his staff at Auburn and allowed him to bask in the glory in 1993, when he led the Tigers to an unbeaten regular season and won coach of the year honors. Then, in 1998, the year Terry Bowden was fired during the season at Auburn, he was able to stand in the background and watch Tommy turn around Tulane, leading the Green Wave to an undefeated regular season.
"None of this makes a bit of difference in the Clemson situation, except to show you how close we are as brothers and how difficult it is for me to write about this," Terry Bowden said. "I can honestly say that I thought Clemson would beat Wake Forest last week and climb back into the race for the ACC Championship Game.
"The Tigers still have as much talent as anyone in the conference, and I surmised that as soon as they had a little success on offense, the confidence would come back and they would get on a roll.
"But they didn't have enough success and the confidence didn't come back. And for the 10th consecutive season, Clemson most likely will not win the conference championship."
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