CLEMSON, S.C. -- Tommy Bowden is leaving Tulane to become football coach at Clemson, according to a Clemson spokesman today.
Tulane football coach Tommy Bowden gets a laugh from one of the questions during his phone-in radio show Tuesday.Matt Rose, Associated PressSports information director Tim Bourret said plans were being made for a Thursday news conference to introduce Bowden.
The (Columbia) State newspaper said today Bowden was preparing to tell Tulane's athletic director and president he was leaving for the Clemson job. That means Bowden will not coach his 11-0 Tulane team in the Liberty Bowl, The State reported.
Clemson reportedly has offered to pay half of Bowden's $750,000 buyout clause, the newspaper said. Bowden would become the school's 23rd football coach.
Bowden is a son of Florida State coach Bobby Bowden and brother of Terry Bowden who quit as Auburn coach last month
The wait for a decision was hard on Tulane assistants.
"It's just one of those things you go through in coaching," said Tulane offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez. "We're just trying to take care of business and see what happens."
Bowden is replacing Tommy West, who was fired just before completing a 3-8 season last month. The Tigers reportedly are offering Bowden a yearly package of between $750,000 and $800,000.
Bowden, who snapped Tulane's 15-year losing streak last season and led them to a perfect record this year, toured the Clemson campus Monday and met with school President Constantine "Deno" Curris for about two hours.
Tulane players begin practice for the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 9.
"We're pretty helpless," quarterback Shaun King said. "What can we do? I hope he doesn't go."
Freshman Derrick Joseph, a candidate to replace King, said he might consider transferring. "The question is, if he leaves, who's going to take his place?" Joseph said.
Candidates to replace Bowden are said to be Rodriguez and Louisiana Tech coach Gary Crowton.
Bowden also had been under consideration by South Carolina, which is looking to replace Brad Scott, who was fired following a 1-10 season, the school's worst.