Question For Tommy Bowden Haters: Is It Tommy Bowden's Fault That His Parade All American Kicker Can't Get The Job Done?

Today's post is in no way meant to blast on a 20 year old kid, but the point that needs to be understood here is this: maybe everything isn't "Bowden's Fault." Let's look at Richard Jackson's high school bio right quick.

------ Averaged 46 yards per punt as a senior at Riverside High School ... Parade All-American, the first Parade All-America kicker to come to Clemson since Chris Gardocki in 1988 ... #3 placekicker in the nation by Rivals.com ... first-team All-American by EA Sports ... #10 kicker in the nation by Scout.com ... Shrine Bowl team member... South Carolina High School Coaches Association Special Teams Player-of-the-Year ... first-team all-state by The State ... set the state record with a 64-yard field goal as a senior; his kick was featured as one of the plays-of-the-week on ESPN; also made a 47-yard field goal in that game.

After reading his high school achievements, one would think this guy would be as good as Sam Swank from Wake Forest. Not only will he not be our starting punter this year, he's not even going to be our starting kicker! How in the world this guy has let a walk-on soccer player beat him out for the starting job this year, and how in the world he has let a former high school quarterback beat him out for the punting job ..... I have no idea! So for all of you Tommy Bowden haters who love to blame EVERYTHING on him, I encourage you to stop and ask yourself this one question. "Maybe it's not always Tommy Bowden's fault, maybe it's the kid's fault?"