A Snag in the Plan? Muschamp Reacts to Bowden’s Resignation

Special Commentary

Yesterday was a big move forward for Clemson. By all authoritative accounts, a coach who was heavily entrenched in a stagnant program by an overall winning record and millions of dollars in buyout money calmly stepped aside to let someone else write the next chapter of the football program’s history. What happens over the next few weeks will be crucial in whether Clemson will be able to build on Bowden’s decade and finally get back to winning bowl games and conference titles.

Which is exactly why Terry Don Phillips needs to call Will Muschamp today and clear some things up.

Some time around 2:00 p.m. yesterday—when the internet and cell phones were buzzing with third-hand conclusions that Bowden had been fired, and several hours before Phillips, Swinney, and Bowden himself set the record straight that Bowden resigned—sports reporters apparently relayed the erroneous firing story to Muschamp and asked for his comments. Depending on which source you read, Muschamp found the news shocking, awful, or upsetting. He replied, “[t]hat’s the way college athletics is going, I guess.”

Obviously, these comments are troubling to anyone who wants Muschamp at the reigns in Death Valley. For all we know, Muschamp thinks Clemson kicked Bowden to the curb, and did so simply because he went 3-3 this season. Muschamp needs to know the truth. He needs to know that Bowden decided to leave because he finally accepted the writing on the wall: after achieving high graduation rates, improvements to facilities, remarkable increases in funding, and periodic wins—things for which he should be commended—he could not take things any further. More importantly, if Dabo Swinney can’t make things happen (and i'm not saying he can't), Muschamp needs to know that he is exactly what Clemson football needs.

Phillips should call Muschamp immediately to clear the air, before misinformation leads Muschamp to totally rejecting the idea of coming to Clemson. Even if Phillips isn’t interested in Muschamp for the position, he should still let him know what happened for the sake of their mutual friend Tommy Bowden’s good name.

Let's hope Dr. Phillips will make that call before it’s too late. And that he will make sure to hold the receiver far away from his ear:

PHILLIPS: Hello, can I please speak to Wi—

MUSCHAMP: BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!! Will speaking. Hello? Anyone there??

PHILLIPS: [lies on floor convulsing, blood pouring out of ears]

ZombieJohnCCalhoun rose from the dead after 158 years just to watch Will Muschamp coach at Clemson. However, in the mean time, he does want to find out why Tom Winkopp built so many sub sandwich shops and gated condominium communities in his yard.