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Jeff Harper unloads on Bowden
Posted October 13, 2008
Just got off the phone with Jeff Harper - father of Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper - who said some verrry interesting things about Tommy Bowden's departure from Clemson.
A sampling: "First of all, I think it was deserved. Not because he benched Cullen (for Willy Korn), he has the right to do that as a head coach. But I had the opportunity to play for Bear Bryant (freshman year at Alabama), Vince Dooley (winning a national title at Georgia) and Bum Phillips (with the NFL's New Orleans Saints), and one thing I saw from great leaders is that they didn't try to displace blame on other people. Coach Bowden tried to reflect that it was the players’ fault, assistant coaches, sacrificed people, in order to save his skin, and I have a feeling you don’t do that. Anybody in leadership role, I own my (construction) company with 200 employees, and if I have problem on the job it's me who accepts responsibility, takes care of it. Anytime you have a coach who doesn't, players and coaches start watching their backs."
Was he surprised?
"I wasn't surprised. Look at the talent Clemson has and the season we're having. I think you have to think long and hard at the guy who is the captain of the team. If you don't do your job, you're going to be fired."
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Posted by ugot2bkiddingme (ed hazel) on October 18, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey slick, teach your son to throw the ball to the guys with the orange on. Maybe you need to worry about the 200 people at your company, and don't worry about your interception throwing sons bench placement. Maybe had Bowden benched him sooner he'd still have a job at Clemson. I guess if "Daddy's opinions" matter then let's see what Tommy's Daddy has to say. I guess you also know more about coaching than him too. Come on Greg, love your writting, but let's leave Daddys trying to still live vicariously, opinions where they, and Cullen, belong, on the sidelines.