Clemson coach Tommy Bowden knew he couldn’t handle his family tragedy alone. So he asked his players for help in his time of grief.
In a meeting with his seniors, Bowden broke the news of the deaths of his former brother-in-law, John Madden, and 15-year-old nephew, Bowden Madden, in a Florida traffic accident related to Hurricane Frances. Bowden then asked their cooperation to keep the team’s focus on football and not the Bowden family.
“I’ve never seen coach Bowden emotional like that,” defensive lineman Eric Coleman said Tuesday. “It took me by shock.”
Bowden said he’ll likely miss practice Thursday to attend the funeral.
Define `opener’
Florida linebacker Channing Crowder and safety Jarvis Herring were suspended in July for the season opener. However, Gators coach Ron Zook said Tuesday that suspension won’t cover the new season opener Saturday against Eastern Michigan, which happens to be one week before a key SEC matchup with Tennessee.
The Gators were supposed to open against Middle Tennessee at home last Saturday, but that game was moved to Oct. 16 due to Hurricane Frances.
Zook argued the suspensions applied only to the Middle Tennessee game, not the new season opener.
“Obviously they’ll miss the Middle Tennessee game. It’s not their fault there was a hurricane,” Zook said.
TEAM, SYNOPSIS
Georgia Bulldogs
Coach Mark Richt couldn’t have picked a better day to make a pitch for an indoor practice field. To get out of the rain, the Bulldogs were forced to make an hour-plus bus trip to the Falcons’ facility in Flowery Branch.
Florida St. Seminoles
Xavier Beitia has tried to stay mum since missing a late field goal in FSU’s 16-14 loss to Miami last year. “If you’re playing, you want to be in that situation, no matter what has happened,” he said Tuesday. “That’s the kind of situation you want to be in.”
Oregon St. Beavers
OSU’s Alexis Serna didn’t hide in embarrassment over his 3 missed extra points in a 22-21 loss to LSU. He was back at work. “Life goes on,” said the redshirt freshman, whose grief was shown on national TV.
S. Carolina Gamecocks
Gone, at least for now, are coach Lou Holtz’s woe-is-me laments. The players like it. “I’m not saying he was the devil,” senior offensive lineman Jonathan Alston said. “But he really has toned down the negatives.”
USC Trojans
While coach Pete Carroll realizes his wideouts are young and inexperienced, he said he expected more from them in his team’s victory over Virginia Tech. “I thought we might be able to do a little better”
Duke Blue Devils
Duke allowed the game’s final 14 points in Saturday’s 27-12 loss at Navy. Coach Ted Roof said he wanted to see his team play looser and more relaxed. “We have to let it go and have some fun,” he said.
