NCAAbbs

per ESPN The Magazine...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

It might be in the following coaches' best interest to win plenty of games this season ... or else:

Duke's Carl Franks, Baylor's Kevin Steele, Clemson's Tommy Bowden (normally you wouldn't stick Bowden on this list, but in this case you have to allow for the Clemson impatience factor), and Mississippi State's Jackie Sherrill (Bulldog followers are beginning to notice that MSU's win total has decreased in each of the last five seasons -- from 10, to 8, to 7, to 5, to 3).

The weird part about Bowden's situation is that his old man could make things a little dicey for him -- that is, if Bobby Bowden's FSU team beats the Tigers Oct. 3 at Tallahassee. None of this kind of pressure is new to the Bowden boys.

"They've seen me hung in effigy, seen my name on a sheet where it said, 'Bye, Bye, Bobby,'" says the elder Bowden, recalling his days at West Virginia. As for Tommy's fate: "I don't think they're ready to push the button." </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

<small>[ August 21, 2002, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: JoltinJacket ]</small>

We're not ready to get rid of Tommy, he's done a pretty nice job so far. This will be the year that all of the players he actually recruited can shine.

Pressure...I can't recall the last Clemson football coach to lose two in a row to the Gamecocks. I wouldn't push the button just yet either but that game is crucial in my opinion. If Tommy loses to the Cocks this year and goes to no bowl or another mediocre bowl then the pressure cooker will be cut on high. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad-flaming.gif" />

I agree on that one, we can't lose to the cocks again. Then again we do play them in the Valley this year so it's unlikely to be the scenerio. All I'm concerned about is the dawgs for now.

Terry Bowden was in Tallahassee yesterday and was asked if he was worried about his dad. He said No, I'm more worried about Tommy losing his job. I hope he stays.

Have a GREAT Season, Clemson!!! <img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" />

We have a new AD and he's probably not ready to make a drastic move if Tommy has another mediocre season. I think everything will workout and hopefully Tommy can stay a while and keep building.