A month ago, few would have expected Clemson's game Saturday against Florida State could be one of the more interesting games of the weekend.
Since the Tigers suffered back-to-back losses to TCU and Maryland, they have won three in a row, including a thrilling overtime upset at Miami.
The Seminoles' struggles have been well documented, but after consecutive wins against North Carolina and North Carolina State, they are still in contention in the unpredictable Atlantic Coast Conference.
Clemson senior running back/return specialist C.J. Spiller, a Heisman Trophy candidate, needs one kickoff return for a touchdown to set an NCAA career record. Few current players can match his career accomplishments.
He became the first player in ACC history to top 6,000 career all-purpose yards. He's had a play of 60 yards or more in Clemson's first seven games before playing sparingly in last week's blowout of Coastal Carolina.
"There's probably not many backs that are more dangerous than him in going all the way, because he is so fast," FSU coach Bobby Bowden says.
Bowden's future. After 26 years at Bowden's side, defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews announced he will retire at the end of the season. After a 2-4 start, FSU's vocal critics pressed Bowden to do the same. He will turn 80 on Sunday. But if FSU turns its season around, will Bowden stay another year? The Seminoles (4-4, 2-3 ACC) must win their remaining league games for a shot at a league title.
No more Bowden Bowl. Father vs. son was uncomfortable for both. No matter how high the stakes, "still, your boy's on the other side coaching," Bobby Bowden said. Bowden's son Tommy stepped down as Clemson's head coach under pressure last year. Now, the focus is back on football instead of family.
Clemson's has not won an ACC championship since 1991, and its recent history is filled with second-half collapses or second-place finishes. Could this be the year the Tigers break through in Dabo Swinney's first full season? Clemson (5-3, 3-2) is tied for first in the Atlantic Division with Boston College, but the Tigers control their destiny; they defeated the Eagles in September.
It will be a matchup of the ninth-best pass offense in the nation (FSU) against the nation's fifth-ranked pass defense (Clemson). Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder averages an ACC-best 306.6 passing yards a game, and Clemson's starting secondary has a combined 30 career interceptions, most in the nation as a unit.
Kelly Whiteside, USA Today
11/6/2009 2:22:53 PM
