Mr. College Football

By KR

December 18, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

IMO, Terry Bowden can do to WVU exactly what he did to Auburn.

Specifically, get good results with someone else’s recruits for the first few years, fail to recruit any good talent on his own, drive the program into the ground and bail out within 5 years at the first sign of personal difficulty.

There are good reasons why he hasn’t had a coaching job in a decade…

WAR EAGLE!

By War Eagle

December 18, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this

Terry Bowden has too much baggage to board the UWV Express. He is best on field coach in Auburn history, but his recruiting runs that afoul because HE CANT RECRUIT.He won big with Pat Dyes recruits, but downhill when they expired. He got his Dads rejects, no communication in recruits homes and other issues. Also, he was a quitter, walked out, but would have been fired soon. I dont think he will be the coach at UWV or any major college unless his Dad pulls the button.

By bamadon

December 18, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

It would be fun to have Buster Brown back on the sidelines. Sorry Tech fans that Saban just stole your 4 star wideout Chris Jackson!! Kirby Brown would be a good oc for the vols!! ROLL TIDE ANF GO DAWGS!!

By Hoopie1

December 18, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

The fact that tater tot Bowden let his interest in UWV be known through his publicist rather a discreet phone call from his agent should be enough to let UWV know to stay away form him. AU plays UWV the 2nd game in 2008 and the national press would of course love it. UWV hiring Terry would take the SEC coaching soap opera from daytime to primetime.

By TDone

December 18, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

Tech got the best recruit in the nation when it hired Paul Johnson as head coach.

All other ground is sinking sand.

By Pat

December 18, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

So Terry wants back in. Does he want back in bad enough to start at a lower level or must it be WVU or some other BCS school? Could that fire in the belly be the need for a big paycheck? Hiring a guy that’s been out that long sounds risky to me, even if he is an alum.

By me

December 18, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

The love fest for the Bowden’s continue. There is no way WVU should hire someone who had not coached in over 10 years.

Tony, I though you were a better writer then that.

By wvufan

December 18, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

Rumors have it that Nick Saban is interested. Possible?1?!?!?!

By Atlanta Gator

December 18, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

For a sympathetic portrayal of Terry Bowden that appeared in the Jacksonville Times-Union during the summer of 2005, here’s a link:

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080105/col_bowden2.shtml

As a Gator alumnus with no direct ties to the Auburn athletic department, I simply pass this along to those of you who might want to get another side of story of Terry’s departure from Auburn.

War Eagle, I would love to hear your insider’s take on the Auburn-Bowden mess, but I suspect that you are too much of a gentleman (and loyal alumnus, former player and fan) to tell what you know or have heard.

By Michael

December 18, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

WV should hire someone proficient in the spread option. If not one of Rodriguez’s current assistants then maybe Rick Trickett the former OL coach that went to FSU. Gary Crowtan, the Oregon & Florida OC’s should be interviewed at as well. If they do go with someone like Terry Bowden or any other CEO type HC it needs to be understood they’ll hire a spread option OC. In that case I’d take a look at Appalachian State’s OC.

Oh Fulmer PLEASE hire Kippy Brown or Trooper Taylor as OC! Why he wouldn’t look outside the UT family I don’t know but as a UGA fan I like what I hear so far.

Tdone, Johnson will have to prove his offense at GT will throw the ball until then expect trouble in recruiting top ranked & quality receivers. Expect for FB\RB I suspect they’ll have trouble recruiting top echelon talent on O until they prove there offense is diverse enough to prepare a kid to get to the NFL. He could have success taking players that were over looked by other DI schools or coaching guys up much like WV & WF have.

GO DAWGS!!!

By TDone

December 18, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Michael,

People believe what they want to believe.

Go Jackets!!!

By goober

December 18, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the reference to David Dean and Chris Hatcher. But it would have been even better if you had mentioned the school that won the Div. II national title. It’s called VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY. It was part of a very special day last Saturday in Winnersville, USA, which saw the VSU Blazers win their national title, and then a few hours later, Lowndes High won the GA big-school state title. Quite a nice little double-win for the Valdosta community … but we’re used to it.

By 4everAuburn

December 18, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

KR, the only thing you left out was Terry quit mid season when it looked like Auburn might fire him when the season was over. I hope he never gets another coaching job.

By gdawginkalamazoo

December 18, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

Atlanta Gator, thanks for the link. 500K on video sales LMAO! Also, a clothing line by Terry? Little Tikes maybe or Lilliputian Wear by Bowden?

By College Football Fan

December 18, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

According to Mike Freeman of The Times Union:

Terry Bowden was not the right man to coach Auburn.

At least that’s what some powerful boosters and other Tigers supporters firmly believed. They saw him as merely a stopgap between Pat Dye, the legendary coach who had stepped down before Terry’s arrival, and another coach who was supposed to lead Auburn after Terry was fired.

Terry, a warp-speed-talking lawyer who had studied at Oxford, did not fit the mold of what those boosters believed an Auburn coach should be. Ironically, they wanted a Bear Bryant clone — genteel to the public and ruthless behind the scenes.

“They wanted to move Terry out and get a slow-talking, good old boy in there,” one former athletic department official said.

That official and another, who both worked during Terry’s tenure, requested anonymity for fear of retribution from Auburn boosters and current athletic department officials. Both former officials say they don’t have any ill feelings toward current or former Auburn employees or people close to the athletic program.

When Terry began winning and no death penalty sanctions were handed down from an NCAA probation that he inherited, critics could do little to hurt him. Yet that did not mean that influential men surrounding the Auburn program were powerless, or that Terry did not anger them if they believed they had been outsmarted. Athletic department officials and boosters did not object when Terry inserted into his contract a clause that he would receive 50 percent of all football video sales. When the team went 11-0 and 80,000 videos were sold, Terry made $500,000.

Late into his second year, Terry developed his own clothing line, Bowden Sportswear, and there was criticism that he had became too interested in self-promotion. The former officials said that as much as they liked Terry, they believed he had become too cocky and wasn’t putting in the hours he once did. They also heard the same complaints from others. And, they said, Terry told anyone who would listen that he was running a clean program unlike past coaching regimes, which irritated longtime loyal Auburn fans.

When star wide receiver Robert Baker was accused of trafficking cocaine, Terry stood by him.

“You just don’t understand the background some of these kids come from,” Bowden told people in the athletic department.

“What would you do if he sold drugs to your kids?” one of the former Auburn officials asked. Terry just shook his head and walked away, the former official said.

After winning his first 20 games, Terry’s record by 1998 had slipped to 26-12-1, which included a 5-11 record against SEC giants Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU and Tennessee.

The people who did not want Terry at Auburn believed he was slipping. And one of those people was Bobby Lowder, a powerful Auburn trustee.

Lowder’s influence on the football program has been well-chronicled by news organizations and Auburn faculty but tolerated because of his deep pockets and power. The New York Times reported that Lowder gave a one-time donation of $4.2 million to the athletic department. In 2003, he donated $600,000 to Auburn’s booster club.

Six of the 14 Auburn trustees have financial ties to Lowder or his business, Colonial Bank, according to the New York Times. Tired of what that newspaper described as “obsessive meddling”, Auburn faculty in December 2004 overwhelmingly passed a resolution asking Lowder to resign over conflict of interest issues. He has remained on the board.

Wayne Flynt, an Auburn history professor, wrote in an op-ed piece for The Decatur (Ala.) Daily: “Whether because of his obsession with football — as some critics claim — or his determination to recast the school according to his own inaccurate and myopic understanding of a what a land grant university ought to be, Lowder has used his political influence to pack the board with trustees beholden to him.”

Lowder did not return several requests through a Colonial Bank spokeswoman to be interviewed.

Terry’s relationship with Lowder began amicably. “The benevolent dictator,” Terry says. He initially returned Lowder’s phone inquiries about how practice went and complied with his desire to hear from Terry on a regular basis, the former athletic department officials said.

But things changed when Lowder demanded Terry not speak to certain high-ranking university officials about football matters, one of the former officials said, a request the coach ignored. Lowder also wanted a say in who Terry could hire and fire, the former official said. Terry again refused to comply, and he soon stopped the practice updates and daily communication.

Suddenly, Terry could not have the simplest things done. His request for $25,000 to upgrade the weight room was declined by the administration, according to the former official.

Things deteriorated from petty to frightening. A photo was circulated among fans and media showing Terry sitting closely with another woman. One of the former officials and media members who saw the photo say it had been cropped so Terry’s wife — and the woman’s husband — were out of the picture.

Various athletic department employees were asked if Terry used illicit drugs, according to one of the former officials, who said he received at least one of those phone calls.

And the former official said university and athletic department employees believed listening devices had been installed in their offices and Terry’s home. The former official says he believed Terry and his staff were being spied upon.

The other former official said he hired a private-investigating firm to search his office for listening devices. That former official alleged that one eavesdropping piece of equipment was found and removed. Both officials declined to say on the record who they believed might have planted any devices. Terry declined to comment publicly.

A telephone message and an e-mail request to the current Auburn administration for comment about the Terry Bowden situation were not returned.

But an indication of some of the sordid allegations that surrounded Auburn at the time came to light in 2003 when taped comments by Terry two years before were published in the Opelika-Auburn News. The tape also was reviewed by The Associated Press.

The columnist who taped the comments was quoted in an AP story as saying the two-year lag time was because there had been concern that Terry’s remarks were off the record. The columnist said Terry had e-mailed him, encouraging their publication, the AP story said.

On the tape, Terry says that before he arrived at Auburn, players were paid thousands of dollars and a monthly stipend in a pay-for-play scheme allegedly set up by boosters. Terry says on the tape that he stopped the payments.

Auburn released a statement at that time saying Terry had repeatedly certified to the NCAA from 1993 through 1998 that “he was unaware of any unreported violations of NCAA rules by anyone involved with the Auburn football program,” the AP story said.

The AP reported that university president William V. Muse had said in transcripts for a book that he had heard the pay-for-play rumors, but they were never verified by the NCAA. The transcripts were for a book by Auburn history professor Flynt and made public by the university archives, the AP story said.

Muse was quoted as saying that he had heard of “a network of alums who each had agreed to provide X number of dollars per year for a particular player and that there was a book that listed all of these individuals and the amounts they paid. There was even a rumor that, at one time, [an assistant coach] was the keeper of the book. In fact, after he left Auburn, Terry even told me that. But that has never been verified. In the NCAA investigation, there didn’t turn out to be any evidence of that.”

The Opelika-Auburn News published Terry’s taped comments after Muse’s remarks were made public.

Muse, most recently with East Carolina University, was on vacation according to his assistant and could not be reached for comment.

It was not a surprise to Terry that after his Auburn team started 1-5 in the fall of 1998, athletic director David Housel informed him he would have to win four of his final five games to keep his job, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

When Terry spoke to his father, Bobby Bowden had one piece of advice. “I think you should leave now,” he said.

Terry then remembered what his father had told him so many times. “Dad,” he said, “you were right about how nasty this business can get.”

By Michael

December 18, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this

TDone,

LOL there’s nothing to believe it’s a fact GT has already lost 2 top offensive recruits so far over concerns of how Johnson’s passing offense will be. There’ probably more to come which might not be a bad thing because it will free up scholarships for players that better fit his system. I’m not saying Johnson won’t be successful but it obvious that Tech’s days of commitments from top ranked passing qb’s & wr’s ala Calvin Johnson are over for the immediate future. That might change if they have a passing game outside of play action stuff & only dictated by necessity.

By jb

December 18, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

Terry B…. come on, he hasn’t been in coaching since 1998… i don’t care if he has been ‘involved’ with the game.. making saturday afternoon comments and writing articles for yahoo (i forgot that that was such a reputable college fb source) are alot different than actually being on the sidelines or in a recruits home with his parents… go be a wr coach first somewhere again, prove you want to be a coach… then come calling… TB, get a clue

By GT

December 18, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this

Tech will make an offense that wins, something we could barely do with Calvin Johnson. If Tech needs a Calvin Johnson to win they will recruit one. It will become an easy explanation in the living room that we are not winning this way we need to go that way and you won’t have to sit on the bench if you come with us because we are not stockpiling any receivers and the ones we have we use. If they are winning with the run we don’t need the receivers. I would have thought having the worse quarterbacks in the ACC would have dampened the recruiting more than Johnson. Reggie Ball may be the only quarterback that could make Calvin Johnson look human. Why would any other great receiver want to subject himself to that?

By War Eagle

December 18, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this

Atlanta Gator, nice post, its more to the story about Terry, but to be real honest, he`s history at Auburn, I expressed a short post on my feelings and opinion about his WVA exploration and better move on before these dawgs fans RUN me and your butt off this blog…enjoy your post… good luck against Michigan>>> predict, Florida embarrassing- Michigan 13.

By gdawginkalamazoo

December 18, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Terry should have taken one of those other jobs coaching he had been offered. Work your way back into the game a little. That way he might have been considered for the WVU job. Recent job performance, “Hey I am very prolific at NCAA Football 2007. I can run the spread, select the play on the right. It goes like this: X, A button, right trigger, B button, toggle, release. Joystick the receiver on a post pattern and bam Touchdown!

By Frustrated, Inc.

December 18, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this

It seems that Terry Bowden liked the sauce and college coeds too much to survive a 1-5 start to the 98 season. When you’re winning, you can act like a jackarse. When you lose, you become expendable. Terry should have stuck it out that season and he would have been back roaming the sidelines in 99. But he decided to be a coward and quit on his players and coaches. That, and only that, is why Terry hasn’t sniffed a coaching job since he quit.

By ghgh

December 18, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

A “little risky” to hire Bowden? If I were a WVU fan, I would be VERY nervous if Buster Brown was the hire. Almost 10 years out of coaching!! You would think they could do better than Bowden.

By KR

December 18, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

I see that 7 years after he abandoned his team in mid-season, Bowden was still claiming to be the victim.

He didn’t turn Auburn’s program around, he simply took over a well developed program.

The only reason he was going to be fired was because he was 1 and 5 to start the season. Each of his seasons at AU got progressively worse than the previous one.

He claims he could have been a head coach if he wanted, yet no one can identify even one team who interviewed him for a job. In an era where every move a school makes is documented on the internet and through various media outlets, how do you suppose everyone missed that?

WAR EAGLE!

By Bill

December 18, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this

First is is definitely NOT UWV, it is West Virginia University WVU. Bowden did not bail out at Auburn, he had a great wining record. One of Auburns money man decided he wanted a new coach and he got him and he hasn’t performed. WVU would do great with Terry

By War Eagle

December 18, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

Hey zoo, I read on another blog about your Schedules. Hawaii played a s0-s0 schedule, but look at La Monroe beat Bama and UGA beat Bama in overtime.UGA-Troy, In the past you could say “we will win this one and that one”, too much PARITY today look out for Central Michigan…Auburn`s first five games 2008:(La MOnroe)beat Bama, (UWA)-Fiesta Bowl, (Miss State), beat Auburn, Bama, Music Bowl, (LSU), NC game, (Tenn), SEC runner-up, Outback Bowl.It gets no better with Vandy, Ark., UGA, Bama, Miss Mouthern.Auburn better run some REAL SPREAD offense.

By gdawginkalamazoo

December 18, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this

War Eagle, I don’t like to compare the SOS’s at all but somebody mentioned it and I though I would run it down for them (I had a spare minute and was interested to see who Hawaii had played). I always quantify those things with my true belief that “it doesn’t matter come game day”. I am a firm believer in the “on any given Saturday/game day” any team can beat any other team. Witness Boise State & OK last year, and the most famous of all App State v Michigan. Hawaii’s offense is frighteningly quick and can score on short notice. If our LB’s, DB’s aren’t spot on they will be looking at the backside of a hula skirt heading for the endzone. Then again maybe 5000 yards passing and 38 TD’s won’t mean much either if Martinez can come up with something. Smashmouth can carry you so far, about as far as finesse.

Yeah, Auburn and UGA are going to see some tough schedules next year. Everybody has been pumping 2008 and I look at that schedule and pray.

By the ritz blitz

December 18, 2007 8:45 PM | Link to this

better watch out Hatcher is a coach on the rise…

By War Eagle

December 18, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this

zoo, I believe Hawaii will give dawgs all they can handle…UGA 42 Hawaii 38, Auburn will play Clemson tough, but probably not good enough, Clemson 24 Auburn 13, hope I am wrong here, but Cox is CTT man, not mind..

By Hoopie1

December 18, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this

IMO UGA will have a pass rush like Colt Brennan has never seen. I watched Hawaii almost lose to San Jose St. Hawaii’s speed will equal UGA at most positions, but strength, stamina and SEC hitting will overwhelm them. They will be fired up for a while, but will make mistakes and wilt.

Clemson will be missing 3 starting Lbs and 1 starting OL. They have good backup lbs, but now have no depth. At some point in the game, AU will get the Clemson D tired, have several drives and score. I can’t see Clemson scoring 24 points on a Will Muschamp/AU defense. The front 7 is too strong to allow that. The UGA game doesn’t count b/c the D was worn out from 11 straight weeks of bailing out the O in SEC football. You could see the gas drain out of them in the 3-4th qtr at UGA. AU 24..Clem 14

By Oh Please

December 18, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this

TDone, you said that Tech got the top recruit in Paul Johnson. What position will he play? You all got a good coach, but not one that the big name programs (Michigan, UCLA, Texas A&M) beat a path to try and hire. Yes, Tech got a good coach but they didn’t get Vince Lombardi. Johnson should win more than he loses but no coach can make a consistent national power out of Tech. Limited curriculum, limited facilities, wishy washy fair weather fans, no money, and a group of alumni who won’t pony up for what is needed. Enoy your continued success in the Blue Rug Bowls, Nut Bowls, etc, and occasional mid level bowls like the Liberty and the Gator.

By gdawginkalamazoo

December 19, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this

Thank God we aren’t FSU fans. How would you like to have that bowl package booked? Maybe Jimbo should reconsider that 2.5M clause and see what is out there. There will be a few years of probation plus the suspension of the cheaters more than likely.

By UKball123

December 20, 2007 1:46 AM | Link to this

I don’t know where to begin. Terry Bowden did a stellar job with a violation riddled program. Look the stats up yourself. Anyone who says he has been out too long, do you think he was on the moon, in a cave, with a blindfold on, and earmuffs? NO, he was calling and watching EVERY game in college football. He recruited every coach to help “daddy” in his program. Dick Rod’s program was failing, USF and, God knows, Pitt, figured it out.. Programs can learn five plays of a spread option without too much ingenuity. Do you want to bring back Trickett, NO. DO you want to try for Jimbo, Lord NO. Holliday, a Nehlen protege?, ok. Someone from Tech…can’t even come up with anything for that. Bowden can take the program to pinnacles that duesh rod couldn’t imagine.