For the first time since 1998, the Bowden Bowl was absent from the ACC schedule this year.
Clemson still squared off against Florida State, and 79-year old Bobby Bowden still patrolled the sidelines for the Seminoles. It was his son, Tommy, who was absent-after 10 seasons leading the Tigers, he parted ways with the university Oct. 14.
"There wasn't a gun to his head," Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips said at the time of Bowden's resignation. "He put it on the table for the sake of the program. I agreed."
No one could have imagined a season like this for the Tigers. The squad started the year as the No. 9 team in the country and the consensus pick to win the ACC. Now, with three games left in the season, Clemson has been mathematically eliminated from the crowded ACC title picture and needs to win its last three games just to become bowl eligible.
"I kind of laugh at it, because it is kind of funny," senior running back James Davis told the (S.C.) Daily Journal. "You can't believe you are in this situation. You really have nothing else to do, but try to keep playing and try to find the positive in this situation.
"It has been real tough, but you still have to keep fighting. Probably the only good part left is to try and have a winning season. That's what we have to look forward to."
The season has been far from a comedy for Clemson fans. The Tigers limped out of the gate and were upset by then-No. 24 Alabama en route to losing three of their first four conference games. It all led to Bowden's departure after a 12-7 loss at Wake Forest Oct. 9.
Not even all of his own players were sad to see him go. Senior quarterback Cullen Harper, who was temporarily benched after the game against the Demon Deacons in favor of highly touted sophomore Willy Korn, had strong words for his former coach.
"It's what he deserved," Harper told ESPN.
He later qualified that statement.
"[Bowden] tried to motivate us, but guys were off the bandwagon," he said. "There were things I disagreed with and that my teammates disagreed with. I didn't appreciate it when he would say some off-the-wall things about me to the media. I guess one thing I can say is he gave me an opportunity to come to Clemson and play."
Interim head coach Dabo Swinney has not fared much better. Since taking over, Clemson has gone 1-2. Offensive coordinator Rob Spence was let go with Bowden, and Swinney has been calling plays for the disappointing offense. Davis, who is just 311 yards short of the school's rushing record, has had a down year with the rest of the running backs, who have struggled behind a young offensive line. Harper, too, has thrown 12 interceptions to just nine touchdowns.
Now, the Tigers enter their matchup with Duke with the same record-which, to Clemson, is reason to laugh.
"It is crazy to tell you the truth when you look at our record and their record being the same," Clemson wide receiver Aaron Kelly told the Daily Journal. "I never would have expected that. It has been a crazy year as far as how things have gone and how they have shaped up around here."
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