Clemson Holds Final Day of Two-a-Days

Aug. 18, 2008

Post-Practice Interview with Coach Bowden

Clemson, SC – Clemson held its final day of two-a-day practices on Monday. The Tigers worked for two and a half hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. Tommy Bowden’s Tigers will have a Tuesday morning stadium closed scrimmage, then break for the beginning of classes on Wednesday. Clemson will be in full Alabama preparation mode on Thursday.

Bowden talked about the offensive line after practice on Monday. He is close to having his starting five. “We are making progress in the offensive line and are close to having our starting five,” said Bowden, who must replace four starters from last year’s offensive line. “They have been blocking against a pretty good defense. Vic Koenning (defensive coordinator) throws multiple fronts against them so it has given them a good luck at a good defense. We will see what comes out of the scrimmage on Tuesday.

“We will meet as a staff all day Wednesday. We won’t practice that day because it is the first day of class. But, we will go over personnel, talk about which players to red-shirt and who gives us the best chance to win at each position.”

Bowden also said the punter position is still up for grabs. “It is not that Jimmy Maners has been doing poorly, the other guys are just pushing him. It is a three-person battle right now between Jimmy Maners, Richard Jackson and Dawson Zimmerman. Jackson has really come on of late and is in the mix.”

Jamie Harper and Kevin Alexander were the only Clemson players in yellow jersey on Monday. Harper suffered a sprained ankle in Saturday’s scrimmage. He walked to the practice field without crutches and did weight lifting and rode a stationary bike during the practice. His status for the Alabama game is unknown at this time. Alexander missed the practice with a virus. Both will miss he scrimmage on Tuesday.