Bowden: ‘I thought that was a new rule?’

Tommy Bowden shows his displeasure in not getting to challenge the fumble.

by Will Vandervort - Correspondent - Sun Sep 03 01:31:39 GMT-04:00 2006

CLEMSON --- Clemson coach Tommy Bowden thought there was a new rule when it came to instant replays this football season. Saturday’s field judge Gorham Wood supposedly does not.

With the Tigers already up 10 points and driving for a second touchdown in their 54-6 victory over Florida Atlantic at Death Valley, wide receiver Rendrick Taylor appeared to have fumbled a completed pass which was recovered by the Owls’ Kris Bartels at the 9-yard line. But replay showed Taylor’s knee may have hit the ground before he was stripped of the football. After being told by his coaches in the press box to challenge the play under a new rule passed by the NCAA this summer, Bowden was told by Wood that he could not challenge the ruling.

“I wanted to call a challenge, but he wouldn’t give me one,” Bowden said. “I thought that was a new rule? I think I was told it was a new rule. I studied it that way. I don’t take test all that well, but…”

After Florida Atlantic ran a play, Bowden called a timeout so he could talk things over with Wood. In showing his displeasure, Bowden threw down his headset, which hit Wood accidentally. First in the arm and then in the leg on its way to the ground.

“I didn’t touch him. The headsets did,” Bowden said. “What does it weigh? Three ounces?”

Bowden also told of his displeasure of another incident in which a Florida Atlantic defensive back came on to the field later in the game wearing a red practice jersey, which Bowden said is a no-no.

Putting the ball on the ground.

After putting the football on the ground just 16 times all of last season, Clemson had four fumbles Saturday, losing three of them. Clemson lost just five fumbles all of last season. Clemson quarterback Will Proctor also threw an interception.

“The turnover that was a concern to me was Rendrick’s fumble,” Bowden said. “This would concern me next week, but we played a pretty clean game I thought.”

Proctor, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 166 yards and three scores, said he was pleased with the offense’s production.

“The goal was not to play down to the competition even though we were obviously a heavy favorite,” he said. “Our goal was to go out and do the things we were supposed to do. I feel like we did that.”

Waters hurt

Clemson linebacker Anthony Waters underwent tests before the end of Saturday’s game after injuring his left knee in the third quarter. The senior, who was trying to tackle FAU quarterback Sean Clayton, might be gone for the season, but tests to confirm the injury will not be reported until Sunday.

“I trust our trainers very much, and I’m not trying to jinx it, but they say it’s very possible it’s an ACL deal,” defensive coordinator Vic Koenning said. “I don’t think anyone wants to jump to any conclusions, but it’s definitely a somber mood, considering how much Anthony means to us as a person and as a captain and as a leader.”

Courtesy of Journal / Messenger