Sitting in his office, wrapping up Friday's meeting with the local media, Tommy Bowden smiled as the questions came to an end.
"Now ya'll have something to write about other than me. Go write about them for a while," he said, referring to his players.
Then, as he moved back around behind his desk he looked up with that characteristic grin of his and said, "Then ya'll can go back to writing about me."
Writing about Tommy Bowden has been a full-time job in recent weeks. Since his media golf outing in mid-July, the "hot-seat" stories have come in waves. With the late-season collapse still the last thing most fans remember about 2006, Bowden's job security has popped up again just as sure as SID Tim Bourret goes home to Connecticut every summer for vacation.
But it's not just here.
National sports writers have harped on the theme. Some have taken it to extremes.
Even out in Austin, Texas, where I did a radio interview on Thursday evening, the host wanted to know about Bowden's job security.
It appears to be bothering everyone. Except Bowden.
Oh sure, you know it has an effect on him and his family. But to watch his mannerisms, to listen to him talk, you'd think Bowden was coming off a BCS victory and a large contract extension.
Not in a sense of being cocky or arrogant. More along the lines of being loose, jovial and talkative.
There's no ducking the media. There's no dodging questions. There's no constant frown that would signal a coach with his job security on his mind.
Of course, the games haven't started yet, either. And we all know that his demeanor can change in a New York minute.
But for now, Bowden's outward appearance is relaxed heading into his ninth fall practice at Clemson.
Deep inside, you'd think he's privately hoping there's a 10th.
"Now ya'll have something to write about other than me. Go write about them for a while," he said, referring to his players.
Then, as he moved back around behind his desk he looked up with that characteristic grin of his and said, "Then ya'll can go back to writing about me."
Writing about Tommy Bowden has been a full-time job in recent weeks. Since his media golf outing in mid-July, the "hot-seat" stories have come in waves. With the late-season collapse still the last thing most fans remember about 2006, Bowden's job security has popped up again just as sure as SID Tim Bourret goes home to Connecticut every summer for vacation.
But it's not just here.
National sports writers have harped on the theme. Some have taken it to extremes.
Even out in Austin, Texas, where I did a radio interview on Thursday evening, the host wanted to know about Bowden's job security.
It appears to be bothering everyone. Except Bowden.
Oh sure, you know it has an effect on him and his family. But to watch his mannerisms, to listen to him talk, you'd think Bowden was coming off a BCS victory and a large contract extension.
Not in a sense of being cocky or arrogant. More along the lines of being loose, jovial and talkative.
There's no ducking the media. There's no dodging questions. There's no constant frown that would signal a coach with his job security on his mind.
Of course, the games haven't started yet, either. And we all know that his demeanor can change in a New York minute.
But for now, Bowden's outward appearance is relaxed heading into his ninth fall practice at Clemson.
Deep inside, you'd think he's privately hoping there's a 10th.
No comments:
Post a Comment