Bowden Hedges on Announcing WR Coach Hire

by Dan Scott - Correspondent - Wed Mar 12 20:25:35 GMT-04:00 2003

CLEMSON - To announce Dabo, or not to announce Dabo? That appeared to be the question lingering over Wednesday's spring practice session.

While a statewide radio program was reporting Dabo Swinney's wife had confirmed his hiring as Clemson's new wide receivers coach, head coach Tommy Bowden was busy insisting no such deal was done.

At least not yet.

When asked if he could comment on Swinney, Bowden responded, "No."

"We haven't hired a guy yet, to my knowledge," he said. "Unless you know something I don't."

The timetable for announcing Swinney, or whomever might be Bowden's choice, will come "in the next couple of days," he said. "It's getting down to the finals. We'll try to get him (hired) by the end of spring break if we can."

Meanwhile, Wednesday's practice was a full-pad session featuring quite a bit of hitting, both in individual drills and in a team setting.

Both sides of the ball appeared to have their moments during the scrimmage session. The offensive was effective on early downs (first-and-10, etc.), while the defense seemed to respond in short-yardage situations.

The test, Bowden said, will be how his players react to consecutive rough days.

"It will be interesting to see who steps up and responds to another long practice," Bowden said. "We hit pretty hard (Wednesday), and we're going to hit pretty good again (today). It will be interesting to see who responds with two good, hard days back-to-back."

NOTES

- Starting guard Jermyn Chester tweaked a knee halfway during practice and was pulled from further action. He remained on the sidelines and walked off the field after the workout was completed.

- While his teammates practice, Brandon Jamison ran. And ran. And ran.

Jamison is being held out of spring practice because of poor grades. Whether he rejoins his teammates for workouts remains to be seen.

"It was disciplinary action," Bowden said. "Right now it's just discipline. We've got a little school left, and then we'll evaluate things over spring break."

- Defensive end Todd McClinton (hamstring) and rover Gerald McCloud (thumb) did not practice again Wednesday. When either will return remains a mystery.

- The team will practice again Thursday, then be excused for spring break.

Dan Scott covers Clemson University for the Florence Morning News. He also hosts SportsTalk from 9 a.m.-Noon, Monday-Friday, on WCCP-Fm, 104.9. Click here for Dan Scott's SportsTalk discussion board.