New Bowden Contract Ends Alabama Rumors |
CLEMSON — The much-rumored new contract for Clemson coach Tommy Bowden
finally came to fruition Friday afternoon, putting to rest any ideas of his leaving the school for Alabama. Bowden signed a seven-year deal, which now runs through the 2007 season and will pay him a minimum of $1.1 million per season. With bonuses and incentives, the contract could be worth $1.5 million per year, depending on number of regular season wins and postseason performance. The basic compensation package is funded through revenues generated by the athletic department, as well as outside radio/TV money, endorsements and speaking engagements. For Bowden, the timing couldn't have been better. "This is the place I'd like to spend the rest of my career," he said in a hastily-called teleconference late Friday afternoon. "It doesn't take long to realize this is a special place. I like to work, have a hamburger and go home in a small-town atmosphere. That might not appeal to all coaches, but it does to me." Obviously having Bowden around appeals to the Clemson administration, too. Though both Bowden and Athletic Director Bobby Robinson Friday said talks to extend the contract initially began after the third or fourth week of the season, the heat obviously turned up when Alabama expressed an interest in the second-year coach. Bowden never publicly acknowledged whether or not Alabama had contacted him at any time in recent weeks, and continued to downplay the issue Friday. "All I can say is I was not contacted by the Alabama athletic director," Bowden said. Asked if Crimson Tide officials had contacted him, Robinson sidestepped the issue. "I could (elaborate), but I won't," he said. "If someone from Alabama wants to talk about it, that's fine." Bowden took over the Clemson program following the 1998 season, which saw the Tigers finish 3-8 under Tommy West. The team finished 6-6 in his first year, including a loss to Mississippi State in the Peach Bowl. Clemson started this season 8-0 and was ranked as high as No. 4 in the country, before consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and Florida State. The Tigers close out the regular season next Saturday by hosting South Carolina, and appear to be headed to a New Year's Day date with the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. All this proves, Robinson said, that the program is headed in the right direction. "We're convinced this is the right person for Clemson University," Robinson said. "That's why we pursued (the new contract)." The deal was rumored to be ready to sign as early as Monday of this week, but Bowden said the schedules of himself, Robinson, Clemson University President James Barker and the school's legal counsel kept the final details from being worked out until Friday. "There was no snag in the deal," Bowden said. Terms of the contract include: — Contract ends January 1, 2008 — Base Salary: $ 165,500/year (effective January 2001) — Annuity: $ 30,000/year — Radio/TV: $ 554,500/year (effective Fiscal Year 2001-2002) — Endorsement/Speaking Engagements: $ 350,000/year (effective Fiscal Year 2001-2002) REGULAR SEASON INCENTIVES — Payable each year, but added to $ 25,000 for 8 regular-season wins buyout that Coach Bowden has to $ 50,000 for 9 regular-season wins pay should he leave for another school $ 75,000 for 10 regular-season wins (effective Fiscal Year 2000-2001) $ 100,000 for 11 regular-season wins CHAMPIONSHIPS/POSTSEASON INCENTIVES — For winning a regular season Atlantic Coast Conference Championship: $ 25,000; — For participation in a postseason bowl game: 1/12 of annual base salary; — For participation in a BCS Series game: an additional $ 25,000; — For winning a National Championship: an additional $ 100,000; ANNUAL COMPENSATION INCENTIVES Wins/Year Compensation Increase — 5 wins Discretion of the Athletic Director within normal University guidelines — 6 wins 6% increase of base salary — 7 wins 7% increase of base salary — 8-9 wins 10% increase of base salary — 10 wins 10% increase of base salary, plus 5% increase in remaining package — 11-12-13 wins 10% increase in overall package CONTRACT TERMINATION TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE BY UNIVERSITY — If the University terminates Coach Bowden without cause, the University would fulfill the following buyout schedule. Number of Year Remaining on Contract Buyout — 7-6-5 Years $ 1,000,000 — 4-3 Years $ 750,000 — 2-1 Years $ 500,000 TERMINATION OF CONTRACT BY COACH BOWDEN — Existing contract/agreement remains in force, plus the total amount of regular season incentives (Number of years remaining on the contract multiplied by the base salary, plus $ 1.2 million, plus the regular season incentives accumulated during the years of the contract.)
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