Associated PressCLEMSON, S.C. ó Let the recovery begin. And make sure it starts fast, or Clemson coach Tommy Bowden could face more trouble than expected this season.
Bowden is no stranger to the hot seat or critics in his 10 seasons with the Tigers. Still, armed with a new seven-year contract and favored status in the ACC, Bowden figured to get a break this fall.
Then came Clemson’s horrific 34-10 opening-week loss to Alabama. The team lost its national ranking and its profile as a group chasing a national title. A stumble against The Citadel (1-0), a Championship Subdivision opponent the Tigers have shutout in nine of their last 13 meetings, and Bowden’s untouchable status might disappear, too.
“It starts with the head coach and finding the answers” to the team’s problems, Bowden said.
There were many areas to criticize after the Alabama loss. Bowden was taken to task for letting freshman Jamie Harper get the team’s first carry to honor a recruiting pledge as star backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller stood on the sidelines; for his team’s apparent lack of physical play on the offensive and defensive lines; and then for calling on Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban two days after the loss to seek advice.