The Tiger

Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Sports

As long as Tommy Bowden has been at the reigns for the Tigers, the annual Florida State-Clemson matchup has changed from a Seminole beat-down, to a yearly conference victory for the Tigers. Bobby Bowden has been at the helm in Tallahassee, Fla. since Gerald Ford was in the oval office and has grown accustomed to winning games. Bowden still holds a slim one-game lead over Coach Joe Paterno of Penn State for the prestigious honor of most career wins in D-1, but Tommy's annual victory in the Bowden Bowl as been costing Bobby precious victories. Tommy's Tigers have taken four of the last five meetings. Tommy Bowden has begun referring to the yearly game as a "warm-up for the rest of the ACC schedule." "Whatever happened to respecting your elders?" asked the elder Bowden. "I taught Tommy everything he knows! Doesn't he know that I'm trying to hold off Joe Paterno?"
Another issue of controversy that has stirred a few pots has been the recruiting line into Florida's best prospects that Tommy has not only tapped, but has flat out stolen from his father. Out of the 25 latest additions to Clemson's football team this fall, eight are from the Sunshine State with the majority of them choosing the Tigers over the Seminoles. No one is really sure when Bobby Bowden will retire, but with this current trend of Tommy getting the best of his father, it may be sooner rather than later.

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