How’s That Raise Looking Now?

As totally craptacular as the University of South Carolina’s football team is this year, the good news is that the Clempsun Tigers are just as bad … if not worse.

Frustration levels are certainly high here in Columbia, but they’re off the charts up in Farmertown, S.C., where Clempsun head coach Tommy Bowden began the season with the No. 9 team in the nation and a huge salary increase after he successfully “milked” Clempsun for a $600,000 a year raise last December.

In his tenth season at Clemson, Bowden is 72-44. Previously, he was 18-4 in two seasons at Tulane, including an undefeated 11-0 mark in 1998.

After a season-opening humiliation against Alabama and last week’s second-half collapse against Maryland, Clempsun fans are once again howling for Bowden’s head.

One S.C. Website, Palmetto Scoop, is already speculating as to whether or not Bowden will be fired as early as this week – basing that speculation on reports that Clempsun Athletics Director Terry Don Phillips has already been in talks with several potential replacement candidates.

Incidentally, how great is it that Clempsun’s Athletic Director is named “Terry Don Phillips.” Betcha that guy can milk a cow.

Anyway, the Tigers would be wise to end the suspense and just get rid of Bowden. Seriously, everybody at Clempsun has hated him from the get-go – sort of like they hated Ken Hatfield and Tommy West before him.

In the eyes of Tiger fans, nobody will ever measure up to Danny Ford, who won a national championship but also got caught on two separate occasions violating NCAA rules against paying athletes.

Anyway, we’re looking forward to hearing y’alls thoughts on Bowden’s status …

Photo of Tommy Bowden courtesy of Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina.

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