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As long as the plane works — and Taylor Garrick thinks it will — Clemson Tigers head coach Tommy Bowden will be in Orangeburg this evening to speak with members of the Edisto Clemson Club at the Cinema in the Old Orangeburg Mall.

Bowden was scheduled to appear at last year’s meeting, but was forced to speak to members via tele-conference after his plane broke down in Clemson.

“We’re hoping the plane doesn’t break down,” Edisto Clemson Club board member Taylor Garrick joked. “But, I hear they have a new plane and everything will be fine.”

There will be plenty for Bowden to talk about. The Edisto Clemson Club consists of members from Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun Counties, and the Tigers’ roster has its fair share of links to those counties. Former O-W star Jamal Medlin is an offensive linemen for the Tigers, former Calhoun County head coach Chris Rumph coaches the Tigers’ defensive line and Clemson’s defense figures to be led by a pair of highly-touted defensive ends, Ricky Sapp and freshman Daquan Bowers, both of whom came from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. There’s also the Tigers’ impressive recruiting class to talk about as well as the upcoming season, a year in which many believe Clemson could win the ACC title.

Count Garrick among those excited to see Bowden.

“I feel good about it,” he said. “Certainly with the recruits this year and everything we have coming back...there are some good quality players there. I have a good feeling about this year. At the skill positions, we are in pretty good shape. Our quarterback, receivers and running backs are pretty good. Defensively, we have a couple guys to replace.”

Football, however, won’t be the only sport on the agenda. Clemson men’s assistant basketball coach Shaka Smart is scheduled to attend the meeting, and for the kids, the Clemson Tiger mascot will be on hand.

Doors are scheduled to open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Dinner will be catered by The Cookery. According to Garrick, Bowden will also be signing autographs at the event.

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553. Check out his blog, Welcome to Linderland, at www.thetandd.com.

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