Bowden Signing Day Press Conference Notes And Quotes

by Dan Scott - Correspondent - Wed Feb 06 15:59:59 GMT-04:00 2008

Tommy Bowden Press Conference, Windows Media, (23:34)

Billy Napier Press Conference, Windows Media, (15:21)

Expectations and class rankings - From a coaching perspective it's a lot easier to keep it in line, with the true evaluation being three or four years down the road. It's like the preseason polls. They're nice, but insignificant.

A true indicator is who is recruiting a guy. Ten days ago we had seven guys at the top of our recruiting board. We got six of them.

It seems like our recruiting classes have gotten better every year (West Zone). I can't wait until it's finished.

We had a really good class regardless of what happened today...But the last 10 days to have seven (national prospects) on the table and get six, it doesn't happen very often. It happened this year, but it doesn't happen very often...I thought we might get three.

If you go right across the board I'm really pleased with what we got.

Dwayne Allen - visited with him on Friday. Talked to him on Saturday. Talked to him on Sunday. Talked to him Monday morning. I was surprised Monday (that he committed to Georgia), but really I wasn't. After 31 years in this business it doesn't really surprise me.

Why players come to Clemson - It's a pretty attractive place to come...Players like to go where there's a great passion for the sport...The chemistry on the team is pretty good. When players come here they sense something different.

I don't think I've tapped the potential of this school as a coach. And I think once we finish the facilities we can take it to another level.

Last year we had 11 freshmen play. It's going to be close this year. Very similar to how it was last year.

Staff stability is awful important. When you go into a home and talk to a mom about what you're going to do...it's awful important that you're there to do it.

Davis coming back - thought it might make Harper flinch a little bit. But our need for a bigger back didn't change, and our numbers at that position weren't as good as we wanted.

In 10 years this is the most balanced class we've brought in.

One year after the AARC - Pres. Barker, Provost Helms, Terry Don Phillips and the committee who met to make sure we had a level playing field was important for us this year. The study paid off, and I think both sides are happy.

Billy Napier - Blackwell did a good job, too, but has a child now and needed more time. Billy's not married - yet - and with youth comes enthusiasm. You have to tell him "whoa" instead of "giddyup."

Having Mark Richt's son - It will be another phone call from another parent complaining about playing time. I'll send the call to Rob Spence.

Staff movement - One or two things that are probably coming. I'll let you know if a few days. But staff should remain intact.

Contract - Should be signed soon. Think we're done. Just asked Terry Don to hold off on a couple of things until after Signing Day.