A Sea Of Red

Tommy Bowden
Former Tulane & Clemson Head Coach

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Bowden

90-49 in his head-coaching career. Head coach at Tulane and Clemson. He's also never had a losing season as a head coach. Personally, I was a big fan of his dad and I think Tommy has a proven record. We probably have to show some signs that we're moving to FBS in the near future but I think we can be attractive enough to reel him in.

Thoughts?

What is it with this ACC defects. The ACC is a crappy Football Conference. I would say the worst in the nation on that level. So why would we won't a coach from there. Maybe I am being to harsh. I grew up in a UNC House and we watched college bball, and Pro football because Carolina Sucked sucks and will suck. Along with most of the ACC teams, most of the time. At least in my life time.

D-ZasterLU wrote:What is it with this ACC defects. The ACC is a crappy Football Conference. I would say the worst in the nation on that level. So why would we won't a coach from there. Maybe I am being to harsh. I grew up in a UNC House and we watched college bball, and Pro football because Carolina Sucked sucks and will suck. Along with most of the ACC teams, most of the time. At least in my life time.

I agree that the ACC has sucked over the years. However, Tommy Bowden took Tulane to an undefeated season and they finished in the top 10. He made a bowl game every year he was at Clemson and we all know the success his dad had. I'm not sure exactly how the whole coaching thing is going to affect our FBS future, but I think hiring Bowden would help. Furthermore, even though the ACC is terrible, we're not going to land an SEC head coach or a Big12 head coach. We have to take what we can get and if we have any shot at Bowden, I think we have to give him an interview.

D-ZasterLU wrote:What is it with this ACC defects. The ACC is a crappy Football Conference. I would say the worst in the nation on that level. So why would we won't a coach from there. Maybe I am being to harsh. I grew up in a UNC House and we watched college bball, and Pro football because Carolina Sucked sucks and will suck. Along with most of the ACC teams, most of the time. At least in my life time.

It worked out well the last time we hired a coach with an ACC background.

It may be a good idea. My only concerns are that he didn't seem to win the big game at Clemson and there was the brawl with SC. Still could be a good hire and he certainly has a large body of work to draw from, significant name recognition, and hopefully the sway to increase recruiting to the next level.

If this were to happen, it would be certainly be interesting.

Liberty: Keep an eye on former Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden.

http://www.coachingsearch.com/coaching- ... icker.html

As good or bad as you think the ACC is, this is ACC territory. Would you want a coach from UCLA that has only ever recruited California? Naturally, folks that have inroads in the mid atlantic on the FBS level are normally in the ACC

This would be a great hire

If we ever needed a coach to lead us into FBS, Tommy Bowden seems to be the man.

Plus, if you look at his Wiki pic, he already looks great in a red tie. Having coached at Duke and Tulane, he's also used to coaching "smart students".

Check out this interview from back in October that gives a good perspective on Tommy today ...

Birmingham (AL) Times wrote:Q&A with former Clemson coach Tommy Bowden
Published: Thursday, October 13, 2011, 11:00 AM
By Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News



BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Former Clemson coach Tommy Bowden spoke at the Over the Mountain Touchdown Club this week in Birmingham. These days, Bowden, a Birmingham native and former Alabama and Auburn assistant, works as an analyst for Fox Sports South and gives faith-based speeches.

Here is the portion of most interest to us ...

"If a situation came up that I could financially hire a good staff -- more so than how much they pay the head coach -- and retain them. And then facilities where you can recruit and a very good place geographically. If something like that came open, I might look at it. You know, when I got out of coaching, within two months I had met with an AD in the SEC, talked with presidents or ADs in the Big 12, Conference USA and Big East, and nothing really came up. I don't know if I would have gotten any jobs. But I wasn't really excited at that point in time."

Do you still have that fire to coach?

"If I got the right call? I might. But right now, there's just nothing going on. I've got three more years being paid by Clemson, but that wouldn't be why I would or wouldn't get in. I've had some nice jobs with a million or more dollars. I could have jumped back in and done doubly well and gotten paid by them and a new school. I've been fortunate where I don't have to."

You've been out three years. In terms of your marketability, how much longer can you afford to stay out if you want to return?

"Oh, I'd say my window is closing. I'm losing my marketability every year you stay out. I realize every year you stay out and every year you say no, ADs or presidents say, 'Well, I talked to him and he ain't getting back in coaching. He doesn't have the fire. ...

Click Here for Full Story

I had a feeling that someone from the Palmetto state would make our list. I'd love to see Bowden wearing some red and blue!

If I'm not mistaken, he was at TRBC Sunday.

Good sense of humor.
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But he's got a serious side, too.

Where did you hear that?

flamerbob wrote:If I'm not mistaken, he was at TRBC Sunday.

You don't even go there!

Bowden would be a pipe-dream candidate. A coach with a high-major success and an outspoken faith would be a welcome addition to the Flames.

We could do worse.

Anybody know what kind of Offense or Defense he normally runs? I know when they went undefeated at Tulane they were scoring tons of points, but that may have had a lot to do with Rich Rodriguez being the OC. That's pretty much the only thing I know about Tommy Bowden. Which is actually more about Rodriguez.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure he runs something similar to a Spread. As far for defense, I haven't a clue.

He would be the home run hire, IMO. Guaranteed sell out for the first home game of the season. We keep winning, and I could see a sell out for every home game. He would bring instant credibility/marketability to the program and could take us to the next level, be it the FCS playoffs and/or becoming an FBS team.

cjsweat wrote:

D-ZasterLU wrote:What is it with this ACC defects. The ACC is a crappy Football Conference. I would say the worst in the nation on that level. So why would we won't a coach from there. Maybe I am being to harsh. I grew up in a UNC House and we watched college bball, and Pro football because Carolina Sucked sucks and will suck. Along with most of the ACC teams, most of the time. At least in my life time.

I agree that the ACC has sucked over the years. However, Tommy Bowden took Tulane to an undefeated season and they finished in the top 10. He made a bowl game every year he was at Clemson and we all know the success his dad had. I'm not sure exactly how the whole coaching thing is going to affect our FBS future, but I think hiring Bowden would help. Furthermore, even though the ACC is terrible, we're not going to land an SEC head coach or a Big12 head coach. We have to take what we can get and if we have any shot at Bowden, I think we have to give him an interview.

Thanks for the correction. I will be honest I am not as up on my coaches, as the rest of you guys. That being said its seems that several of you are right this is ACC country, I guess like I said I am a bit biased.
So I did some research and I am ON BOARD!!! Sign him up. I know very little but he seems great, a winner, a recruiter, and southern, which is always good.
Feel free to correct any of my above statments.

My only caution on him is he is 57. Does that matter to us? Do we just ask him for 5-10 years putting everything into us and our transition to FBS and then be fine to move on?

jcmanson wrote:My only caution on him is he is 57. Does that matter to us? Do we just ask him for 5-10 years putting everything into us and our transition to FBS and then be fine to move on?

I get what you're saying but having a coach for 7-10 years, these days, is pretty good.

This would be an awesome hire! The Bowden name has recognition throughout the entire country. It would help with recruiting and attendance.

sign me up...I would love to get him

I would be ecstatic if Liberty hired Tommy Bowden. However, I'm not so sure he'd be interested in leading a team through what is a likely FBS transition at the age of 60. I would love to be wrong though!