QB Korn getting his shot to start amid uncertainty among TigersBy Larry Williams (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, October 13, 2008
CLEMSON — As Willy Korn waited for Tommy Bowden to finish up his media session outside the practice fields Sunday night, Cullen Harper walked by. Not a word was spoken between the two, nor a glance exchanged. Bowden's decision to elevate Korn to the starting quarterback role was intended to create a spark for an anemic offense as the Tigers' season spirals to depths that were not envisioned before the season. 
FILE/AP Clemson quarterback Willy Korn will start in place of Cullen Harper on Saturday against Georgia Tech. But Bowden's demotion of Harper could also create the wrong kind of spark in a potentially combustible situation. "It's not an easy situation to deal with," said junior tight end Michael Palmer. "Cullen has done a great job, and he hasn't necessarily played bad by any means." Harper's teammates — and particularly the teammates closest to him — chose their words carefully after Sunday's practice. They appeared shocked at the decision to promote Korn, a redshirt freshman who practiced with the first team three days after Clemson's 12-7 defeat at Wake Forest. "I don't know how to feel," said senior tailback James Davis. "But they made the change, and it's something you've got to deal with. They did it. … But chemistry-wise right now, it's kind of really quiet. Nobody knows what to expect." Senior receiver Aaron Kelly, who's been good friends with Harper since they roomed together on their recruiting visit, was uncomfortable talking about the quarterback situation. "I think a lot of things are beyond his control," he said of Harper. At 3-3 and 1-2 in the ACC, the Tigers appear in disarray after starting the season ranked No. 9. And the quarterback news wasn't the only development that had the Tigers dazed as they returned to practice. Clemson is hobbled heading into Saturday's home game against Georgia Tech. Davis said his backfield mate, junior C.J. Spiller, is not expected to play against the Yellow Jackets because of a pulled hamstring suffered against the Demon Deacons. Offensive line coach Brad Scott said left guard Cory Lambert will definitely miss the game with a mid-foot sprain. Right guard Mason Cloy is "day-to-day" with a sprained knee, Scott said, and another guard — redshirt freshman David Smith— isn't expected back after missing the past two games. Scott said he's not optimistic Smith will be back for the Tigers' Nov. 1 game at Boston College. "We need a win to stop the bleeding," Bowden said. Bowden and his staff are hoping Korn can help apply a bandage. Bowden said the decision was made because Korn's mobility can help offset the problems on the offensive line. Scott has sent out five different starting line combinations thus far, and there'll likely be a sixth in Saturday's noon game against the Yellow Jackets (5-1, 2-1). Harper, the preseason player of the year in the ACC, set 22 school records last season and has been invited to the Senior Bowl. He's thrown for four touchdowns and six interceptions this season after tossing 27 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2007. He was sacked four times against Wake Forest and threw a fourth-quarter interception that the Deacons turned into a field goal. He was not made available for comment Sunday evening. Korn, who has played mop-up duty this year against The Citadel and South Carolina State, seemed genuinely excited about his opportunity. He enrolled in January of 2007 with the hope of early playing time but was beaten out by Harper. He was granted a medical redshirt after suffering a shoulder injury early last season against Furman. Korn, who has completed 14 of 18 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown this year, said he found out about his promotion Friday while on the Internet. The former Byrnes High superstar said he was "completely surprised." Bowden said he'll re-evaluate the quarterback situation after the Georgia Tech game and added that Harper could return as the starter. "I thought there'd be no way," Korn said. "That's kind of how things have gone since I've been here. They usually just stay with the older guy, stay with the senior, and usually don't make a change. … It's an incredible feeling. It's kind of a weird feeling. It's been two years since I've started a football game." Korn said he had yet to speak with Harper and that things were "a little uncomfortable" at the beginning of practice. "We didn't discuss it," he said. "There's not a whole lot to talk about, obviously. But he's going to handle it with a lot of class." Junior tight end Durrell Barry, a former Fort Dorchester High standout, said it was "crazy" seeing Harper practicing with the second team. "You've got to remember, that's a team captain," Barry said. "That's not just a player. That's a team captain. I went over and patted him on the back in practice and said, 'Look, man, I'm behind you.' And he's the same way. He told us he supports us. He's not out there pouting and standing around." Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the Clemson blog at charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/. |
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Comments
This article has 33 comment(s)
Posted by tgrfan2 on October 13, 2008 at 6 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Clemson and the team deserve better! RS and TB need to get what they deserve soon.
Posted by DCartisan on October 13, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That has got to be awkward. A Senior QB, pre-season player of the year, team captain, Senior Bowl pick, sitting on the bench while a FRESHMAN takes his spot on the field. He has got to be feelin pretty bad right now. Not saying he doesn't deserve it, he still has to feel bad about it. That's all they are gonna talk about in the G Tech game. His fall from grace. Especially if Clemson wins.
Posted by sbs920 on October 13, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
its sad that a coach like TB refuses to use all his available players. Leaving Harper in to struggle while Korn sits is just plain STUPID! Just look at what Capt Hook//Spurrier does at USC! If your QB isn't getting the job done give him a clipboard and a front row view of the game, thats motivation in its self.
Poor Coaching + Poor Play calling = Clemzun Tiggers! ! !
Buzz.... Buzzz.... Buzzzzzz Spank Spank Spank ! ! !
Posted by TAR1 on October 13, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's all about the W's. If Harper can't get it done. someone else needs to step in. Atleast TB realized it this time before playing Harper all year long and keeping Korn on the bench. Ex. Played Proctor all year while Harper sat. 2006)
Posted by vmid on October 13, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am thrilled about Korn, but this should have been handled in a team meeting before it was announced. That would have given these players a better reason as to why there was a change......but does Spurrier tell his QB's before he announces to the media...don't think so..he has handled the same situation in the very same way...that does not make it right by all means, but that is the way coaches do things to get the monkey off their backs.
The players will support Korn..they want to improve their stats as well. AK should support this because Cullen has really hurt his playing at receiver. At lease Korn can get the ball to him.
Posted by whiskeyagogo on October 13, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Statistically, Ga Tech is very close to being the very best pass defense in the country. If TB damages this young man's confidence to save his own job ... I wish Willy well and I'm a Gamecock.
Posted by drock4484 on October 13, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Things are going to be rough saturday. Clemson's O-line is absolutely a joke and GT's D-line is one of the best in the country. Can you say blowout??
Posted by sloantap on October 13, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People are hard to please. Fans call for Korn all year, now they feel sorry for Harper. Harper has not played great. Our OL is weak. A more mobile QB is worth a try. Lots of teams have tried it. It may fail. So what, it cannot be much worse. The team needs to stop crying and man up.
Posted by OldSalt on October 13, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Leading/teaching/training/coaching young people is by no means an exact science, and a great deal depends on the young person as an individual. Some respond to positive reinforcement; some to negative; and some just never respond.
If a young person is not trying his or her best, one should try to remember that they are young and treat them that way. If a young person IS trying his or her best, one should remember they are adults and should be treated as such. I think Harper should have been treated like an adult and he was not.
You don't fire an adult over the phone. You sit them down and explain why and give them an opportunity to respond. Who knows? - they might make you realize that YOU would be making a mistake. I guess that option wasn't open to "Coach" Bowden.
Posted by huj on October 13, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel bad for Harper, Korn and the rest of the team because Harper and Korn are being used as pawns by Bowden to save his job. The team's interest are not weighing into this decision as much as job security, and that's sad. Clearly Bowden's office politics are running the show.
Clemson football has ZERO chance of being a top program as long as this snake is allowed to hide in the grass. What a pathetic football program this is.
Posted by DixieTiger on October 13, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't feel bad for Harper at all, what has he done to deserve the starting spot. He has more interceptions than TDs this year. Blame it on the O-line if you want but great quarterbacks find a way to win which Harper obviously can't do. But as I've said along, the ultimate problem is TB and RS they NEED TO BE FIRED and run out of Clemson forever before the destroy whats left of this program.
Posted by ertman on October 13, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TB threw Harper under the bus in a pathetic bid to save his job, IMO. The problem with Clemson is not their personnel, it's their coaching. Run up the middle, bubble screen, bubble screen has to be the most pathetic example of playcalling I've ever seen, and Wake was waiting for it.
Fire Tommy. Fire him now and give up on the rest of the season, or at lease get things shook up a bit. UNC got Butch Davis because they made a move mid-season. You need to start your coaching search now, and get the poison that is TB AWAY FROM YOUR TEAM!!!
The only other thing I will comment on is the fans. I've heard that fans are going to wear green or black to games to protest TB... I just have to say that the Clemson fanbase needs to support their team, especially the players right now. USC had an 0-21 stretch, and yet game after game Willy B was packed full of crazy fans. Some of you are giving up on Clemson, and I think that most USC fans would take joy in watching your program fall apart, but I do want Clemson to do well, being as I support the state of SC first.
Oh, and I agree that TB should've talked to harper before announcing that Korn would start... just one more classless move to pile on top of the thousand or so Bowden has already racked up. He's pathetic at putting together a gameplan, pathetic at making adjustments in-game, pathetic at using the personnel he has. You guys have two NFL-caliber RB's for Christ's Sake!!
I just can't believe that Clemson's program is falling apart the way it is. You guys need to make major changes, and fast!
Posted by robbybobby on October 13, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
desparate times call for desparate measures, and tammy is desparate. willie and cullen are mere pawns in the head coach CYA game. Funny thing is it won't matter. It's not harper or willie or tammy or any individual. Clempzun is just an average team in an average conference and they beat lower tiered teams and lose to good teams. Get used to it tiggers, nothing will change, not even bringing back danny boy. You are prisoners of your own illusions. Remember, denial is not the name of a river in Egypt.
Posted by ashleyriver on October 13, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sbs920---well, well, another Clemson article---another stupid comment by the little girl. Do you realize that you've had some type of pointless, ignorant, worthless, STUPID comment on nearly every Clemson article in the post&courier since August!! Has this caused you to miss any hair highlight appointments at the salon??
Did see that the "powers-that-be" here removed one of your dimwitted, vulgar comments the other day---the sad part is that your access to this board was not totally denied. Honestly, in all the years I've been on the internet, I've seldom run into as a big a j*rk as you. Not very coming for a young lady
And while you're happily wending your way down stupidity lane, don't forget "#6 to 6-6 and no bowl".......the only thing shorter than a gamecock fan's memory is his pecker (beak) thing.
If you'd limit yourself to just comments about YOUR team nobody would care....but, of course, you're incapable of such and thus you find yourself having posts removed. The only person you're embarassing is yourself.....(ding) What was that? I think your fries are finished. You can hand your drive-thru customer his order now---make sure he has plenty of napkins. As Bugs Bunny would say, "What a maroon."
Posted by Todd_the_Tiger on October 13, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BOWDEN HAS BEEN FIRED!!!!!
http://www.thetigernet.com/view/story.do...
Posted by jammanofdi on October 13, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.wyff4.com/sports/17703104/det...
Ding Dong - the dumbsh*t is gone!
Posted by bigriver1 on October 13, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now Clemson go out and get you a top notch coach and you will REALLY be top 10 material with all that talent you have. Good move going with Dabo, this will alow you to keep that great recruiting class together and even add to it. Bowden was a good guy and he got you to the edge of greatness now you can take the next step with a TOUGH coach, kind of like GA did when Donon was fired and Richt was hired. Clemson is respected with the 15/16 championships and the national title so you are on the verge of greatness.
Posted by GreenvilleGirl on October 13, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just heard the same, Todd_the_Tiger! Wide receivers coach Dabo Swinney will take over as interim coach.
The bad thing is we'll have to buy out his contract. TOO MUCH MONEY PAID FOR TOO LITTLE.
Posted by cockswin on October 13, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now let's sing the Tiger Drag!
Blee I'm a Redneck
Blee I'm a Redneck
I've got two teeth
I've got two teeth
My family tree
It does not fork
It grows straight up!
Datadahtadah WOOOOOHOO
WOOOOHOOHAHOO
R-E-D-N-E-C---K!
GO COCKS!
Posted by ashleyriver on October 13, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow.....never thought they'd pull the trigger until the end of the season. Oh, well. Long overdue.
Posted by Rebel_Yell on October 13, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ashley River is having issues today. He can only spew insults, but can't take it when the tables are turned. That is a sign of bad character! If you can't handle it, don't read about your team's shortcomings ever since the tainted title in '81 was bought. You have to expect a few hits when you self-proclaim your team an undefeated ACC champion and national contender but your freshly re-signed coach only lasted 4 games against Division 1 competition before he was let go. Here's to you tigger fans for imploding this year. 12-0 was a bad dream. Good luck with the future and nice way to handle the entire situtation in class. Who you gonna call now TB? "Diddy, they fired me".
Posted by Rebel_Yell on October 13, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Big River is a tigger!! Always was and always will be. Big River--you are on the verge of weakness. The worst tigger fan of them all -- eat it Big River. You bring bad luck to whomever you cheer for. I am so happy the season worked out so well for your pretender football teams. You reap what you sew. LOL -- national pretenders with Clemson and Oklahoma this year. Pinch me!
Posted by bigriver1 on October 13, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Uh oh lamecocks. LOL. If a half azz coach can OWN you look out when the new sherrif comes to town. Tommy was 7-2 against the shamecocks. Not that big of a deal though EVERONE OWNS sc. Still under .500 after 108 years. What was it lets see... took 100 years to win your FIRST bowl game. LOL. 63-17 on your OWN field, 10 out of the last 12. Uh oh! LOL. 17-24 record against DUKE in FOOTBALL. sc football = JOKE!!!!!!!!!
Posted by TTBoy on October 13, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rebel-yell, "self-proclaimed"? wow you are an idiot, do you know what the AP is? That's the same know-it-alls that have not ranked usc at seasons end. Yep, they had you ranked at #6 last season - then what happened? HAHAHA
That sure is a big empty trophy case up there in cola...womens track, that only proves women RUN AS FAST AS THEY CAN TO GET OUT OF COLA!!! Now go clean up the parking-lots, the fair is coming.
Posted by uscsax on October 13, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ttboy...but not as fast as they run away from Deandre McDaniel.
Posted by TTBoy on October 13, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i'm sure sitting down w/ george rodgers will peak their performance
Posted by gamck69 on October 13, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tammy is a career killer!!
Posted by gamck69 on October 13, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry....was a career killer.
Posted by sbs920 on October 13, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
poor little ashleyditch, little tiggers making you cry!
drink some more orange kool-aid little wus. . .
any time, any place, you little Esso Idiot. . .
MeeeeeeeeeeeeeeOooooooooooooowwwwwwwww.........
Posted by ashleyriver on October 13, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RebelYell---if I thought for one second that you were any sort of competition (just like the hapless, pathetic gamecocks who've beaten NOBODY---the SEC is overrated and the rest of the country is FINALLY coming to the same conclusion)I'd include you on my list, but anyone who's a fan of that academic joke in Columbia isn't worth the effort. You're a maroon just like sbs920 and the two of you probably share the same abnormal genes from AIDS-infected parents.
Bought the NC! LOL! What a laugh!! Sport, no where on that National Championship Trophy is a price tag ----but don't worry, the only time YOU'LL ever see one is if you visit the one at McFadden Hall---and the short bus you'll be riding can pull right up front. BTW, maroon, usc's been on NCAA probation THE EXACT SAME NUMBER OF TIMES CLEMSON HAS...........AND WANNA GUESS WHO WAS ON PROBATION LAST???
Jealousy is the sign of small people and you dwarfs will stay academically and athletically challenged as long as you remain devoted to loser u., the biggest joke in college football for decades.
Now please get back to work. Your supervisor wants you to mop the kitchen floor especially around the drive-thru. And next time, offer to super-size it for your customers.
Loser.
Posted by sbs920 on October 13, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
POOR LITTLE ASHLEY DITCH. . .
Even his step kids hate him, he and little trickle, the spineless wonders of P&C posters, are the poster children for wimps are us. "Gee, I didn't think they would pull the tirgger". Did you think of that one all by yourself! LOL!
you are a pathetic whiner and the biggest liar in the state. now go cry to your little girlfriends about losing 2 of the worst coaches in all of NCAA football. . .
ashley river = richard cranium! LOL!
Posted by Rebel_Yell on October 13, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not Scar fan . . . though I do love pulling for underdogs that have heart like those guys. Nope, I'm a Maryland Terp fan . . enough said. There were plenty of clemson fans, including Sappy, who self-proclaimed clemson #1 in the ACC and a national contender. How did that go for you guys? Just keep punching from the floor guys, it's like beating up a drunken farmer.
Posted by Rebel_Yell on October 13, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AshleyRiver -- I own my own business and make over $500,000 a year. You can call me names, but at the end of the day, your momma and daddy probably worked for me or one of my friends at some point (not that there is anything wrong with that and I certainly would not call your family white trash even though it seems to fit). If you can't come up with a logical thought without namecalling, then you can't make an argument at all and should not post.