TigerIllustrated.com - Korn gets the nod

October 10, 2008

Cris Ard
TigerIllustrated.com Publisher

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The following is an edited transcript from Tommy Bowden's Friday teleconference.

Tigerillustrated.com will have much more later this afternoon/evening.

Clemson SID Tim Bourret: Coach Bowden would like to make a statement first.

Tommy Bowden: "We're going to make a change at quarterback. We've got to find a spark, offensively. A more mobile quarterback will give us more options."

Question: Do you feel that with your line hurt, that it puts Willy at a disadvantage or will his mobility help?

Tommy Bowden: "The mobility will definitely help. It'll definitely help the team."

Question: You have been against this for a while. What was the final straw?

Tommy Bowden: "I made the decision based on the things that I just said. We need to find a spark offensively. And we need to re-evaluate our plan of attack. A more mobile quarterback gives you more options. That's why I made the decision. (Cullen) He has been a pretty productive quarterback, but has struggled some this year."

Question: So he is going to start?

Tommy Bowden: "I think I said that. I think I opened up with that."

Question: Why did you wait this long?

Tommy Bowden: "I think we have gone six quarters without a touchdown. We just need a spark. We have to find something that sparks us a little bit. I've waited so long because it was the appropriate time."

"When you make a move like this, I want to make sure it's done for the right reasons, and appropriately off of evaluation."

Question: How much different of a QB was Cullen compared to last year?

Tommy Bowden: "He has been a little banged up this year. Obviously the line is a little bit different. He has just struggled a little bit, and we need to find a spark."

Question: Did you call Harper?

Tommy Bowden: "We called a couple of hours ago. I know Rob called about 45 minutes ago and left a message on the cell phone. We've called. I just made up my mind about 1 p.m. I wanted to have this thing at 3 p.m., so we started this about two hours ago."

Question: You said there was decent separation between the two. What leads you to believe that Korn is ready to go now?

Tommy Bowden: "For the reasons I said. We need to find a spark offensively. We've got some injuries that we need to evaluate. A more mobile QB gives you different and more options. He runs better. He gives us more options. If protection breaks down, you have a chance to make a positive play. That's why we've got to find a spark."

Question: Have you talked to either or both of the young men?

Tommy Bowden: "When I made my mind up about 1 p.m., we started calling Cullen's cell phone. Rob was still calling that cell phone as of about 15, 20 minutes ago."

Question: How about with play-calling and play selection? Any chance you would become more involved?

Tommy Bowden: "Not right now. Rob has been here for about three years. He has had a pretty productive track record. I think over the last couple of years we have had a couple of lapses in productivity. He didn't forget how to coach or call plays or coordinate an offense in six games. I have not thought about that."

Question: Since last night's loss, has the administration told you that you needed to make a change?

Tommy Bowden: "No. I have not talked (to them)."

Question: Was this your decision or Rob's?

Tommy Bowden: "I sat down with Rob and voiced my opinion. I think he is in full agreement."

Question: As time goes on, and if you have more offensive performances like you had under Rob last night, does it get harder to stand behind him 100-percent?

Tommy Bowden: "No. Not for me it doesn't."

"You're disappointed in productivity. I have not lost confidence in him, but that doesn't mean I'm not happy in the productivity. Like I've said, he's got a pretty good track record, a 20-year record that is fairly impressive. He didn't forget how to do things overnight or within six weeks."

Question: Has Korn taken any first-string reps in practice?

Tommy Bowden: "No. Well? he might have had a couple."

Question: How short a leash is Willy going to be on?

Tommy Bowden: "We'll probably re-evaluate after the Georgia Tech game."

Question: So he will go the entire Ga. Tech game?

Tommy Bowden: "If he stays healthy. Surely you can't ask a red-shirt freshman to go in against a team like that and not make a mistake. If he goes in there and is afraid to make a mistake, it defeats the purpose of having him go in. We need to make sure mentally he can execute what we're asking him to do."

Question: I know how difficult you said this was for you several years ago when you started Charlie Whitehurst ahead of Willie Simmons. Was this similar?

Tommy Bowden: "Yes. One is a fifth-year senior and one is a freshman, plus because of his performance last year."

Question: Do you think Cullen's health had anything to do hindering his effectiveness?

Tommy Bowden: "It might have a little bit. By that, not so much by throwing, but your whole mental makeup and chemistry."

Question: Did you think about making a change at halftime last night?

Tommy Bowden: "Just briefly, but this is a pretty big decision, based on his performance last year. When you make a move like that, I want to be accurate as how I feel about it and as far as looking at the tape of what we're doing."

Question: Is this a roll of the dice in a sense, and do you risk alienating Cullen?

Tommy Bowden: "This is competition. That's what sports is all about. I think Cullen will respond like a senior leader and a mature person like Willie Simmons did. Cullen was a roll of the dice last year. He had never played. But Willy gives us some options. We're just looking for a spark."

Question: How about the condition of C.J. Spiller?

Tommy Bowden: "I don't know. Hamstring. I don't know about him. I don't know about Cory Lambert. I talked to Danny Poole today about C.J., Cory, Tyler Grisham, and Mason Cloy. David Smith, I don't know. I didn't even bring him up because he didn't play last night. I just don't have a feel right now."

Clemson will practice on Sunday, and there will be media availability after that workout. Tigerillustrated.com will have extensive coverage of Sunday's session late that night.

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