Associated Press
The college football notebook…
SUNSET, S.C. ó With a new, long-term contract and nearly every offensive impact player back, it sounds like a carefree summer for Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.
“Never,” Bowden said Tuesday. “You’re never relaxed before the season.”
Still, there are many in Tigertown excited about Clemson’s prospects for an ACC championship and beyond in Bowden’s 10th season.
The Tigers went 9-4 a year ago and featured a multifaceted attack with record setters in quarterback Cullen Harper and receiver Aaron Kelly. If that wasn’t enough, the team’s “Thunder and Lightning” duo of James Davis and C.J. Spiller was there to control the clock and strike for long, stunning touchdowns.
Despite missing out on the ACC title game because of a 20-17 November loss to Matt Ryan and Boston College, Bowden was rewarded with a raise and a deal that ties him to the Tigers through 2014.
Things continued to go Clemson’s way after the season ended.
Harper and Kelly quickly turned aside notions of leaving after their junior years. Davis, who initially declared for the NFL draft, changed his mind a week or so later and returned to the team.
On defense, standouts in safety Michael Hamlin and lineman Dorrell Scott also chose to play one final season.
HARPER SPEAKS
CLEMSON, S.C. ó Harper says even if the Tigers had made the ACC title game, he may not have been able to play.
Harper said Wednesday a painful shoulder injury suffered in a 20-17 loss to Boston College last season probably would’ve kept on the sidelines.TOUGH SCHEDULE
GREENVILLE, S.C. ó Furman is bulking up its Football Bowl Subdivision schedule with a game against SEC member Auburn in 2009.
Athletic director Gary Clark said Wednesday the Paladins will face the Tigers on Nov. 7, 2009, at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
That means Furman, members of the Southern Conference and the Football Championship Subdivision, will have three straight years of SEC opponents. The Paladins play South Carolina in 2010, then play at Florida in 2011.
TENNESSEE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó If the Tennessee athletic department decided to replace the 87-year-old Neyland Stadium with a new one, it might cost up to $800 million.
So by comparison, the $200 million transformation the existing stadium is undergoing is a bit of a bargain.
“We’re getting good bang for our buck,” Tennessee senior associate athletic director for external operations John Currie said.
TRANSFER
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Terence Jeffers, who started 21 of 25 games while at Connecticut, has enrolled at Vanderbilt and is joining the Commodores’ football team despite having to sit out the 2008 season.