Clemson Football

Clemson stadium expansion cost up $30M

noreply@blogspirit.com (Michelle) — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 00:14:09 +0200

The current cost of Clemson's West End Zone project has risen to $40 million, up from an original estimate of $27 million.
A second phase that would create a new home for football operations would cost almost another $20 million while a history and museum area would cost from $8 million to $10 million.

That would mean the school would've spent a total of almost $70 million, nearly double the original total amount of $40 million, according to figures from The Greenville News.

"We've got to get this thing done because we're behind," Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips said. "We can't let too much time drag on before we start construction because every year we don't recruit effectively, it starts a terrible cycle."

Clemson football coach Tommy Bowden asked school leaders for improved facilities within weeks of his hiring in December 1998.

"It's been six, seven years," Bowden said this week. "I think I understand, but I'd like them to have patience, too, as I patiently wait."

When Phillips was hired in June 2002, he suggested putting the football operations offices into a West End Zone project that would also create premium seats and bring in about $1.3 million in additional revenue each year.

"It just seemed to be that we could develop the club seat concept, develop the footprint for the football facility and create a revenue stream that would support the project," Phillips said.

The current phase of the project at Memorial Stadium will include completion of the north and south concourse, a new end zone concourse, a club-seating level, an indoor lounge and a locker rooms.

Phillips said that part should be ready to go when Clemson opens the season against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 2.

The school says the first phase was funded through donations, bonds and a loan from the endowment fund of the school's athletic booster group, IPTAY. The loan was repaid by the athletic department from the sales of more than 400 premium seats and nearly 1,000 club seats.

The school borrowed $6 million of the $16 million raised for the football component of the project on the first phase. Phillips has said he won't start future construction until all necessary money is secure.

Bowden says he mentions the construction and what it could mean to football success at IPTAY gatherings.

"They want me to stay actively involved to raising funds," Bowden said.

Bowden will start his eighth season at Clemson this fall. He hopes to see the full project finished as soon as possible.

"I'd like to be in it, I really would," he said.

Clemson vs. Temple Game Moved to Charlotte

noreply@blogspirit.com (Michelle) — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:21:20 +0200

Temple has announced that its game against Clemson will be played in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, on Thursday evening, October 12. The exact kickoff time will be announced at a later date. The announcement was made Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the entire Mid-American Conference schedule.

"Both administrations have been in contact concerning the site of this game, and I have discussed it with Temple Head Coach Al Golden," said Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden. "Both of us are in favor of the move.

"From our standpoint, It gives our fans, especially those in the Charlotte area, a chance to see us in an outstanding NFL facility. This is another testimony to our great fan support," said Bowden.

This will give Clemson two Thursday night games on its 12-game regular season schedule, the first time that has happened since 2002. The other Thursday night game is at Virginia Tech on October 26. The Virginia Tech game will be televised by ESPN, but there are not plans for a live broadcast of the Temple vs. Clemson game at this point.

Clemson will play at Wake Forest the previous Saturday, giving the Tigers just four days to prepare for Temple. That will also be the case when Clemson meets Virginia Tech on Thursday, October 26 as the Tigers will have played Georgia Tech the previous Saturday. But, In both instances, the opposition will have played a game the previous Saturday, as well, giving both teams the same preparation time.

Temple has announced that its game against Clemson will be played in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, on Thursday evening, October 12. The exact kickoff time will be announced at a later date. The announcement was made Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the entire Mid-American Conference schedule.

"Both administrations have been in contact concerning the site of this game, and I have discussed it with Temple Head Coach Al Golden," said Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden. "Both of us are in favor of the move.

"From our standpoint, It gives our fans, especially those in the Charlotte area, a chance to see us in an outstanding NFL facility. This is another testimony to our great fan support," said Bowden.

This will give Clemson two Thursday night games on its 12-game regular season schedule, the first time that has happened since 2002. The other Thursday night game is at Virginia Tech on October 26. The Virginia Tech game will be televised by ESPN, but there are not plans for a live broadcast of the Temple vs. Clemson game at this point.

Clemson will play at Wake Forest the previous Saturday, giving the Tigers just four days to prepare for Temple. That will also be the case when Clemson meets Virginia Tech on Thursday, October 26 as the Tigers will have played Georgia Tech the previous Saturday. But, In both instances, the opposition will have played a game the previous Saturday, as well, giving both teams the same preparation time.

Ticket prices for the Temple vs. Clemson game will be announced at a later date.

Clemson 2006 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Designation
Sept. 2 Florida Atlantic IPTAY/Hall of Fame Day
Sept. 9 at Boston College
Sept. 16 at Florida State
Sept. 23 North Carolina Family Weekend/1981 Championship Reunion
Sept. 30 Louisiana Tech Youth Day
Oct. 7 at Wake Forest
Oct.12 at Temple*
Oct. 21 Georgia Tech Homecoming
Oct. 26 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 4 Maryland
Nov. 11 NC State Military Appreciation Day
Nov. 25 South Carolina One Clemson - Solid Orange

* Game to be played in Charlotte, NC
All Times TBA
Home Games in Bold
Note: Spring Game at Death Valley, April 8, 1:00 PM

Clemson Football Ready For Spring Practice

noreply@blogspirit.com (Michelle) — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:58:13 +0100

To a large degree, the Clemson University football team that returns to work Saturday will look much like the one that took the field 10 weeks ago in Orlando, Fla.

The most evident changes are at quarterback and on defense, where the depth chart was tweaked, but a couple subtle adjustments on offense are stirring interest.

Receiver Rendrick Taylor will work at a hybrid fullback/tight end position to exploit his size and skills, and Jacoby Ford, a mid-year freshman transfer, is regarded as a potential big-play receiver with the speed to stretch the field.

"We do have more weapons," coach Tommy Bowden said Thursday, "on both sides of the ball."

Even so, with 17 starters returning from last season Bowden said things are far from settled because Charlie Whitehurst won't be at quarterback.

"Our biggest question mark is probably the most important question mark," Bowden said. "We're unsettled at probably the most important position on the team."

Unsettled in that Will Proctor, who served as Whitehurst's backup for three seasons, has minimal though meaningful experience.

"He's probably the least experienced of all the starters," Bowden said of Proctor.

Last season, Proctor came off the bench to finish off a win against Texas A&M, then started and beat Duke University while Whitehurst nursed a shoulder injury.

Proctor completed 18 of 31 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown in four appearances.

"The opportunities he had to perform, he performed well," Bowden said. "Those tests he passed, but that's not a lot of tests in this conference at that level of competition."

Proctor is clearly the No. 1 quarterback, with Cullen Harper and Tribble Reese next on the depth chart. "It's really not open," Bowden said. "Those guys are battling for No.2."

The depth chart lists eight returning starters on offense, seven on defense, plus the kicker and punter.

C.J. Gaddis moves from cat safety to cornerback, replacing Tye Hill. Duane Coleman steps ahead of Sergio Gilliam at the other corner. Antonio Clay moves from middle linebacker to compete with Tramaine Billie at strongside linebacker. "I think that's going to be a good battle," Bowden said and Cortney Vincent moves from bandit end to middle linebacker behind Anthony Waters. Chris Clemons is listed as the starter at free safety, and Phillip Merling replaces Charles Bennett at end.

Also returning, as tight ends coach, will be Billy Napier, the former Furman University quarterback who spent a season as an offensive assistant at South Carolina State following a stint as a graduate assistant at Clemson.

Bowden hopes to have his new defensive line coach officially in place soon, but former University of Memphis assistant coach Chris Rumph has been working out of Marion Hobby's old office.