Catching Up With Another Bowden

Had a chance to chat with Terry Bowden earlier this week.

Tommy's brother - or Bobby's son, depending on with whom you talk in what part of the country - is on a mission to return to the coaching profession, nine years after his sudden departure from Auburn. In the interim, he is continuing his life as a talk show host and game analyst, all the while visiting various practices and gearing himself up mentally for a return to the grind.

We visited for roughly 20 minutes, which really was barely enough time for this Bowden to get warmed up. But he was very candid about his desire to coach again, his time as a member of the media and the state of coaching around the country these days.

But his most telling comments came when discussing the criticism Tommy has faced at Clemson, as well as that of brother Jeff when he was offensive coordinator at Florida State.

Terry acknowledged the stress, the hurt even, that comes when a member of the family is under such attack. That he has multiple family members in that position makes it even worse.

But to his credit, Terry also admitted that in his role as an analyst, sometimes he is the one doing the criticizing.

"You have to be objective," he said. "When I see things I don't agree with, I call them on it."

He continued.

"When you get paid $1.5 million, $1.2, two million dollars a year, it comes with the territory," Terry said. "I stayed at Tommy's house last night. That's a pretty nice house. That's a nice boat dock he has. Nice boat, too.

"So when you make that kind of money, criticism comes with it. You have to expect it in this profession."

But when push comes to shove, Terry's blood is indeed thicker than water.

He still expects brother Tommy to win big here at Clemson.

"Sometimes it takes a while," he said. "Bobby Bowden didn't win a national championship until he was 63 years old. Sometimes you go along winning eight and nine games year after year, and then suddenly you break through.

"Tommy's a good coach. And it's going to happen for him at Clemson."