The Clemson Tigers have fired head coach Tommy Bowden after starting the season with a disappointing 3-3 record. The Tigers were ranked no. 9 in the preseason by the AP and USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Dabo Swinney has been named interim head coach.

Offensive coordinator Rob Spence was also relieved of his duties on Monday. The decision to let Spence go was reportedly made by new interim head coach Swinney.

Bowden’s fate was undoubtedly sealed following their 12-7 loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on national television Thursday evening. In their first game of 2008, the Tigers were embarrassed by then no. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide 34-10 in Atlanta. Clemson also lost to the Maryland Terrapins 20-17 at home.

Possible rumored replacements for Tommy Bowden are:

• Jim Grobe, Head Coach at Wake Forest
• Bobby Johnson, Head Coach at Vanderbilt
• Will Muschamp, Defensive Coordinator at Texas
• Brent Venables, Defensive Coordinator at Oklahoma
• Lane Kiffin, former Oakland Raiders Head Coach

Whoever the new head coach is, he will face a soft non-conference schedule in 2009. The Tigers have games scheduled against Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, Middle Tennessee and South Carolina. The Tigers will have ACC matchups at home against Boston College, Florida State, Virginia and Wake Forest and away games with Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami and NC State.