CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Swinney discusses his relationship with Tommy Bowden


by - Assoc. Editor -

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was asked on Tuesday morning during the 2015 ACC Football Kickoff about his relationship with former Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden.

"First of all, I love Coach Bowden," Swinney said. "I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for Tommy Bowden. He was my first position coach at Alabama. A lot of people don't know that. When I first joined the team in the fall of '88, spring of '89, fall of '89, he was the receiver coach. I really liked him as a coach. He was an excellent receiver coach, a lot of energy. Then right after my redshirt freshman year he left for Kentucky. But we always kind of maintained a relationship. He was only at Kentucky for like a year, then he was at Auburn. As I finished my playing career, I would see him before the games. We would always talk. Then I got right into coaching. So I'd see him on the road all the years that I was at Alabama and he was at Auburn. Then obviously he got the Tulane job. I was still at Alabama coaching receivers then. So always communicated with him. Even when he went to Clemson. Just a real blessing."

Swinney said he was excited to get back into coaching when Tommy Bowden called him in 2003.

"He literally called me out of the blue on a Friday," Swinney said. "I coached eight years at Alabama, then got out of coaching '01 and '02, those two seasons. He just called me in February of '03, asked me if I was interested in getting back into coaching. I said, Absolutely. Had it not been for that relationship, just that seed that was planted years ago when I was just a young player, probably wouldn't have had that opportunity. So very fortunate that he gave me a chance to come to Clemson. We have a great relationship. In fact, that was my very first interview was Coach Bowden. What a way to start the day off. But he's been incredibly supportive. In fact, when they made the change at Clemson, Terry Don Phillips, I'll never forget it, that day, his exact words to me were, That was Coach Bowden's suggestion, would he give me a shot to be the interim. I'm very much indebted to Tommy BowdenTommy Bowden
Head Coach
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. He's as good as it gets as far as a person.

Swinney joked that Bowden might not be as well suited for the media side of football than as a coach.

"I'm not sure he's quite all into this media stuff, but he's getting better. I think he's getting more entrenched."

Tommy Bowden

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Subject (Replies: 25) Author
spacer FB Update: Swinney discusses his relationship with Tommy Bowden
TigerNet News®
spacer I don't think that CTB gets the appreciation . . .
Surf Cat®
spacer CTB IS A GOOD CHRISTIAN MAN!***
GWPTiger®
spacer Re: I don't think that CTB gets the appreciation . . .
Rock31
spacer TB also brought B Scott,J Scott & Tony Elliott to Clemson.
MRTTMT
spacer Well, according to South Park 1/4 people are retarded.
tigerdrummer®
spacer Re: I don't think that CTB gets the appreciation . . .
Splode
spacer Re: I don't think that CTB gets the appreciation . . .
reynolds357
spacer Tommy Bowden was a class act suggesting Dabo
HumbleServant®
spacer Re: Tommy Bowden was a class act suggesting Dabo
jerseytiger1980
spacer That's a stretch
sbrooks
spacer Im wondering if people can quite remember the low times
morris
spacer Are you a coot? You sound like a coot
tigerdrummer®
spacer Re: Im wondering if people can quite remember the low times
reynolds357
spacer Low times, you are talking about low times??
orangecrushed
spacer Re: Low times, you are talking about low times??
nothinman72
spacer Re: Low times, you are talking about low times??
agcflash
spacer Give it up. You know who rips on Bowden?
tigerdrummer®
spacer Coot? Good one. Guy was a bum coach. Sorry, I don't
morris
spacer Re: Tommy Bowden was a class act suggesting Dabo
reynolds357
spacer When I was an undergrad at Clemson I worked at an academic
tigerdrummer®
spacer So he was a great coach b/c you witnessed him take time
morris
spacer Where in my post did I say he was a great coach?
tigerdrummer®
spacer Then remind me what your argument was dummy?
morris
spacer thanks, fan.***
tigerdrummer®
spacer We shall agree to disagree. I apologize for name calling. My
morris