CLEMSON - While his players and perhaps some assistant coaches were relaxing
in the traditional spring break manner, Clemson head football coach Tommy
Bowden left town for just one day.
And even that was a working trip.
Bowden spent last Thursday in Tuscaloosa, observing Alabama's practice
routine. Such trips are normal for head coaches, who always seem to be
striving to find a better way to do things.
"You look for practice organization and intensity," Bowden said Monday
following his team's first spring practice session since returning from
break. "How much hitting they do, organization of drills, things like that.
The philosophy of practice organization...those are things I like to look
at."
Bowden said his assistant coaches may be making similar trips after the April
6 spring game, though specific destinations were unknown Monday.
The coaching staff also is spending time studying film of other teams, though
Bowden wouldn't identify which schools.
"I'd better not say who we're studying, because we're opening with Georgia
and if add a wrinkle or two (from the films) we don't want them to know who
it is," he said. "We've got some teams we've got all 11 teams and (their)
bowl games. But I'd rather not say who."
As for Monday's practice, the shorts-and-helmets session mostly was spent
working on offensive alignments, while defensive coordinator John Lovett
installed two more fronts.
The only position change noted appeared to be Nate Gillespie moving inside to
work at guard for a portion of the workout.
Clemson will practice at 3:45 p.m. on both Wednesday and Friday, and hold a
noon scrimmage Saturday. All three workouts are open to the public.