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Wednesday, October 4
Battle of unbeatens when Clemson-N.C. State clash

By Gregg Doyel
Special to ESPN.com

Just what the ACC needed -- another bully named Bowden.

No. 2 Florida State, coached by Bobby Bowden, is 64-2 since joining the ACC in 1992. Now Bobby's son, Tommy, has awakened the sleeping giant that was Clemson. Two years after the 3-8 season that got Tommy West fired, the younger Bowden has Clemson among national leaders in offense and defense, ranked No. 5 in this week's polls and beating teams by an average score of 48-10.


	Tommy Bowden is 11-6 as Cleamson's head coach.

Which is why the rest of the league will be watching Clemson's game this week so closely. Could this be the weekend a Bowden -- any Bowden -- gets his ACC comeuppance?

N.C. State brings its 4-0 record and funky offense into Death Valley to play the Tigers, who have not been tested by any of their first five opponents. True freshman Philip Rivers, among the country's passing leaders, and all-America receiving candidate Koren Robinson take aim at the big orange wrecking ball.

"It's time for them to face a real team," N.C. State safety Adrian Wilson says of the Tigers. "It's time for them to play somebody really good."

But does N.C. State qualify? It had to scrape to the last play to beat Arkansas State, Indiana and Georgia Tech.

"We might be the ugliest 4-0 team in America," concedes Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato. "But I'd rather be the worst 4-0 team than the best 1-3 team."

Meanwhile, Clemson's Bowden insists he is concerned about this game, even with his Heisman candidate at quarterback (Woodrow Dantzler), Butkus candidate at linebacker (Keith Adams) and quite possibly the loudest crowd in the ACC.

"We've given a lot of teams our best shot, but N.C. State has proven it can take your best shot and come back," Bowden says. "A team that can do that is dangerous."

Around the ACC

Clemson
Sugar Bowl officials will be on hand Saturday to watch the Tigers play N.C. State. ... Starting TE Jason LeMay has left the team for personal reasons but may return after the season. His replacement is walk-on Morgan Woodward, backed up by converted tackle Nate Gillespie. ... G Jermyn Chester (knee) could return against the Wolfpack.

Duke
QB Spencer Romine (concussion) will be ready next week after a one-game layoff, but coach Carl Franks isn't saying who will start, him or sophomore D. Bryant. ... Franks is trying some offensive players -- he won't say who -- at cornerback and says some might play both ways. ... After playing Clemson last week, Duke's next two games are at Florida State and at Georgia Tech.

Florida State
QB Chris Weinke is expected to play Saturday against Miami, but coach Bobby Bowden says he might not know for sure until that morning. ... DE Jamal Reynolds has 10 sacks in five games. ... DE Roland Seymour (knee) returned to practice this week and wants to play against Miami, if doctors clear him. ... WR Javon Walker (ankle) should return after missing two games.

Georgia Tech
Sophomore PK Luke Manget is 69-for-69 on extra points in his career, one short of the school record of 70 straight PATs by Scott Sisson from 1989-91. ... LB Keyaron Fox suffered a likely season-ending broken arm last week against North Carolina. ... With no game this week and a series of bumps and bruises from the UNC game, the Jackets are only practicing two days this week.

Maryland
Backup QB Shaun Hill (shoulder), who hasn't played since the opener, is a redshirt possibility, though the Terps already want to redshirt the third-teamer, Latrez Harrison. ... Two defenders who haven't played this season with hamstring pulls, end Ryan Swift and linebacker Reggie Lewis, also are available. ... Starting G Bob Krantz suffered a pinched nerve in practice and will be a game-time decision. ... Maryland has reached a sponsorship agreement with Nextel, worth $6.7 million over the next 10 years, for the under-construction Comcast Center.

North Carolina
With a huge game next week against his former employer -- N.C. State -- looming, UNC offensive coordinator Mike O'Cain has asked the media not to ask questions about his seven years as the Wolfpack's head coach. ... WR Kory Bailey, who pulled a hamstring at the end of his 78-yard touchdown reception last week against Georgia Tech, couldn't play if the Tar Heels had a game this week and is questionable for N.C. State. ... P Blake Ferguson, who dropped a snap and had another punt blocked last week, is holding off the challenge of backup John Lafferty.

N.C. State
The Wolfpack has lost its top backup at both safety positions, Quenton Allen (calf), for several weeks. Craig Moody has moved from WR, and Rod Johnson will move up the depth chart. ... OT Scott Kooistra (knee), a preseason starter, should make his 2000 debut against Clemson. ... Coach Chuck Amato compares Clemson QB Woodrow Dantzler to former Wolfpack star RB Ted Brown, who rushed for over 4,600 yards from 1975-77.

Virginia
Starting G Jared Woodson is considering surgery on the season-ending herniated disc in his neck, a fusion procedure that would allow him to play next season. ... After meeting with AD Terry Holland this week, coach George Welsh said he was confident Holland was only trying to rally support for the football team, not set in motion Welsh's departure, with his controversial e-mail to a fans' web site last week. ... TB Arlen Harris, whose job now belongs to Antwoine Womack (102 yards per game), could return this week after missing four games with a knee injury. ... Freshman Kevin Bailey is the new backup center with Jay Green out with a virus.

Wake Forest
QB Anthony Young, who left last week's game with a sore back, has been withheld from some throwing drills this week but is expected to be able to run the offense Saturday against Virginia. ... Backup QB James MacPherson also will play. ... The team's best lineman, OT Michael Collins (knee), should play Saturday after missing several weeks. OG Tim Bennett (shoulder) also could play after sitting out a week.

Gregg Doyel covers the ACC for The Charlotte Observer.

ALSO SEE
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AUDIO/VIDEO
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Maryland's LaMont Jordan busts it 74 yards for the TD.
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Chris Weinke airs it out 58 yards to Robert Morgan for the TD.
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