SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY HARLY KANSAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2008
5B
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Bowden, Clemson University part ways Renewed calls for coach's resignation surfaced after recent losses
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tommy Bowden is out as Clemson's football coach.
Bowden and the school split Monday in the middle of his 10th season, which started with the Tigers ranked No. 9 and picked to win the Atlantic Coast Conference. But an opening 34-10 rout by Alabama and recent losses to Maryland and Wake Forest raised calls again for Bowden's ouster despite a recent contract extension.
The school appointed receivers coach Dabo Swinney the interim head coach. A news conference was scheduled for Monday afternoon.
"I appreciate the opportunity Clemson University gave me and the support of the administration while I was here," Bowden said in a statement released by the school.
"I also want to thank all the players and coaches who worked so hard for this program the last 10 years. I wish Clemson University nothing but the best in the future."
He did not immediately return a message.
Clemson went 72-45 (43-32 ACC) and made eight bowl appearances under Bowden, who was honored as ACC coach of the year in 1999 and 2003. But the son of storied football coach Bobby Bowden seemed unable to meet expectations.
Bobby Bowden said Monday his son "felt like it was fixin' to happen; he felt like it was inevitable."
On Monday, Tommy Bowden had two meetings with athletic director Terry Don Phillips and "we agreed that this is the best solution for the direction of the program," Bowden said in the statement.
An athletic department official told The Associated Press that
Phillips first told Bowden that he expected the Tigers to play in the ACC title game, or changes would be made at the top of the football program. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity before the announcement, said Bowden met again with Phillips and told the athletic director that he should make the change now.
It was not immediately clear whether the school will have to buy out Bowden's contract. Under the extension Bowden signed this year, which tied him to the school until 2014, Clemson would have to pay him $4 million if he was fired.
The departure ends a season of harsh criticism for Bowden, who on Friday announced he was switching quarterbacks from Cullen Harper to Willy Korn. The displeasure of the Tiger faithful was familiar.
In 2000, the Tigers started 8-0 and rose to fifth in the country, only to lose three of their final four
games. Four years later, Clemson followed its nine-win 2003 with a 1-4 start.
Two years ago, the Tigers looked like the class of ACC. They opened 7-1, only to go on a 1-4 closing slide that included an unexpected, 13-12 home loss to Maryland.
Clemson won nine games last season and, with experienced skill players on offense, figured to be the league's powerhouse this fall. Harper was picked this summer as favorite to win the ACC player of the year and the Tigers to win their first league crown since 1991.
"He's thankful for the experience he got there at Clemson," Bobby Bowden said. "He has no hard feelings towards them. This is just the nature of this game right now. He's disappointed but he's got his priorities in order in his life so he'll move on and won't lose a minute of sleep over it. At least I don't have to worry about him beating me again."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Clemson head football coach Tommy Bowden has left his position at the university. Clemson had signed a contact extension that tied him to the school until 2014, but it's not clear whether the school will have to buy out the contract. Bowden's father said his son had no hard feelings toward the school.
MLB
Pujols undergoes elbow surgery 2005 MVP should recover in time for 2009 spring Cardinals training
BY R.B. FALLSTROM ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols had elbow surgery Monday and the St. Louis Cardinals star is expected to be ready for spring training.
The 2005 NL MVP underwent a 25-minute outpatient procedure to relieve nerve irritation in his right elbow, which had led to numbness, tingling in his ring finger and pinkie, weakness in his grip and pain along the inside of the forearm. Dr. George Paletta, the team physician who performed the surgery, said Pujols experienced those symptoms over the last month of the season.
The surgery Pujols had was not the reconstructive procedure that has long been discussed. Such an operation might have sidelined Pujols, whose .357 average ranked second in the major leagues last year, for the first half of next season. Now it is hoped the 28-year-old slugger won't require that procedure.
"My opinion is we've managed this thing quite successfully," Paletta said on a conference call. "I'm still optimistic that we can manage this thing without surgery for the remainder of his career.
"I would not describe this as a big-deal procedure, no"
Paletta described the surgery as "a relatively minor procedure" to relieve compression on the nerve and irritation of the nerve. Pujols is scheduled to begin physical therapy this week and strength training in six weeks, and is expected to resume full baseball activities in
three months.
A follow-up MRI scan on Pujols' elbow after the season showed no change in the ligament and indicated that the nerve was the source of his complaints, Paletta said. Studies were sent to specialist Dr. James Andrews in Alabama, who concurred with Paletta's diagnosis.
Pujols has played for several seasons with a partially torn ligament in the elbow and isn't able to fully extend his arm, but Paletta said that's not unique. The doctor added that Pujols' range of motion was much better last season than in 2007.
Pujols hit .321 with eight homers and 27 RBIs in September, his second-lowest monthly average, although he finished with eight hits in his final 12 at-bats. He totaled 37 homers and 116 RBIs.
"Albert's performance is remarkable day in and day out, regardless of what's going on." Paletta said. "Certainly, what he did over the course of the last month makes it even more remarkable."
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Browns beat Giants
HOBO INTERNATIONAL
Cleveland Brown's running back Jamal Lewis runs past New York giants safety Kenny Phillips for a first down late in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Monday in Cleveland. The Browns beat the Giants 3-14.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Etc. Shop
Cleveland Brown's wide receiver Braylon Edwards runs with a pass reception for 49 yards in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday in Cleveland. Among the Giants defenders are Aaron Ross and Antonio Pierre.
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