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Clemson finally realizes what it’s like to take on some serious firepower ■ Tigers’ rocky schedule could culminate in a crucial match-up with USC “Charlie Whitehurst is sacked again.” “Whitehurst has thrown his third interception of the game.” “The long snapper completely botched that snap, and it could cost the Tigers the f “Clemson now falls to 1-3 on the | All of these are L, sound bites you may have heard on the radio or on television JONATHAN if you have followed HILLYARD the Clemson Tigers’ 2004 season. SECOND-YEAR What has caused PRINT • JOURNALISM this *Juad. which was STUDENT touted as being one of the best Clemson teams in recent memory, to fall into the depths of mediocrity? Well, the answer is very simple, and it is something all USC fans can sorely relate to. It’s called a big-time college football conference. The Gamecocks doomed themselves to mediocrity when they left the ACC, previously known by myself and others as Another Crappy Conference, in 1971. Then USC really put a dagger in its national championship hopes when it joined the SEC in 1992. I am not saying that Carolina can’t win conference championships in the SEC — it is just extremely difficult. Perennial powers Georgia, Tennessee and Florida plague the USC football team every season and keep the Gamecocks from not only championships, but also bowl berths. That is just one half of the SEC Eastern division. Not to mention that, depending on the year, USC must get past an LSU, Auburn, Alabama or Ole Miss in the Western division. Clemson, until this year, has been oblivious to such struggles. Annual meetings with North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest have made reaching a bowl game damn near easy in recent years. Oh how I smiled when I heard that the likes of Miami and Virginia Tech would bolster the most overrated conference in the i nation. Now the Tigers face a schedule which, to be honest, ptobably only gets tougher. No longer is a game against Florida State the end of your troubles for the season. This team, which sorely needed to be 3-0 after meetings with mediocre Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Texas A&M, now needs five wins in its last seven games to become bowl-eligible. This is the same Clemson team that was ranked No. 15 in the preseason. From where will those wins have to come? I’m glad you asked. Barring a great performance next week, the Tigers will lose at Virginia, who looks like a true heavyweight early in the season. Then the upstate agricultural college will return home to face Utah State, presumably a win, or let’s hope so for Tommy Bowden’s sake. So at my prediction of 2-4, Clemson needs four more wins. The Tigers will then face a two-game, must-win home stand against NC State and Maryland, two very formidable foes. Bowl eligibility will drown if they lose both of these contests. Then — and USC fans, prepare to chuckle — Clemson travels to Coral Gables, Fla., to take on Miami. Yes, sports fans, Miami of Florida. That’s an L if I’ve seen one. Which finally, best-case scenario in my mind, brings Clemson to Duke at 4-5. An easy win against a traditional ACC doormat will push the Tigers to 5-5. Are any of you beginning to see the irony? Could Clemson possibly enter its final game at home needing a win against its bitter in-state rival to become bowl eligible? It’s very possible, and what a way to end the season. After falling to the Tigers in back-to back years when a bowl berth is on the line, what would be more perfect than the Gamecocks leaving Clemson with their opponents’ hopes dashed? Anyway, 1 won’t get ahead of myself. But how nice is it that after falling to the Georgias, the Floridas and the Tennessees, Clemson finally has to show up to more than two games a year to be bowl eligible? After seeing USC falter in big game after big game, I am just glad the Tigers have to play some. Welcome to real college football, Clemson. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu Interested in taking The Gamecock Challenge? If you can beat the editors, you'll win a free Gamecock T-shirt. Send your picks to gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu by 2 p.m. Thursday. We’ll select ONE person’s picks, at random, to be our Reader of the Week. This week’s games: 6 West Virginia at Virginia Tech Mississippi St. at Vanderbilt Arkansas at 16 Florida 4 Miami at Georgia Tech 15 Purdue at Notre Dame Colorado at Missouri 13 LSU at 3 Georgia 10 California at Oregon St. 8 Auburn at 10 Tennessee USC at Alabama ♦ FOR TIE-BREAKING PURPOSES, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR SCORE FOR THE USC-ALABAMA GAME. AND DON’T FORGET YOUR NAME! --: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Texas A&M’s Byron Jones, left, intercepts a pass intended for Clemson’s Chansi Stuckey as Texas A&M’s Jonte Buhl helps during the Sept. 18 game at College Station, Texas. Bowden eases midseason rears By PETE IACOBELLI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Clemson coach Tommy Bowden says it’s not time to panic. He got that Monday on good authority. After the Tigers’ third-straight loss this past Saturday left them 1 3, Bowden worked the phones to discuss technique with several of the game’s leading coaches, including Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, Southern Cal’s Pete Carroll and Michigan’s Lloyd Carr. What he found was that Clemson was not that far away from a 3-1 start. That’s the message he’ll give his players during an off-week before they go against No. 12 Virginia on Oct. 7. “The problem is not a major -1 overhaul,” Bowden said by phone Tuesday. “I’ve got to make sure whatever’s being said, (the players) understand what needs to be addressed.” Right now, that’s turnovers. Clemson has had 10 interceptions and four fumbles through four games this year while forcing only two turnovers — a minus 12 margin that’s among the worst in Division I-A. All the coaches Bowden talked to Monday, which included Colorado State’s Sonny Lubick and East Carolina’s John Thompson, told him turnovers are cyclical — as long as you keep good technique, things will eventually fall your way. “The worm will eventually turn,” Bowden said. Maybe not fast enough for some. Bowden’s heard of some outsiders wanting wholesale changes on offense and defense. It’s a natural reaction to problems, but Bowden says he’s learned through 28 years in the coaching profession that it doesn’t pay to act too fast. There will changes before the Tigers return to action in two weeks. Barry Richardson and Nathan Bennett will start on the offensive line. AntKony Waters and Nick Watkins will split time at a linebacker slot. Duane Coleman will return to start at tailback after his preseason foot injury. And Curtis Baham will get the call over Kelvin Grant in Clemson’s three-receiver sets. Mosdy, though, Bowden will use the free week to improve execution in getting and stopping turnovers. There are things you can do, he said, to get better. On defense, you can rip fingers from a football or get more players to the ball carrier in hopes of jarring it loose. ■ ODOM Continued from page 13 were much improved since last season, when USC went 23-11 and secured an NCAA tournament berth. “Defensively, I see us as being at least as good as we were last year, hopefully better,” Odom said. “Offensively, I know we will, be better.” One aspect of his team Odom must address this season is the void in the post left by departed seniors Kerbrell Brown and Rolando Howell. Six-foot-8-inch junior Antoine Tisby and 6-foot-9-inch sophomore Brandon Wallace will look to add presence at the position. Odom is especially impressed with newcomer Tisby, a junior college transfer from Kansas City. “He certainly has the ability to be what we need in the post,” Odom said. “He’s big, he’s strong and he’s skilled.” Wallace, a swingman capable of playing three different positions, has worked to improve on his slight, 195 pound frame in the offseason. “(Wallace) has some definition in his body now,” Odom said. “It gives him the opportunity to stay on the court without getting beat up. “We had to pick our spots with him last year, because he didn’t have the strength you need to play in the SEC game in and game out.” Odom is looking for leadership more than anything as practice gets underway. Senior Mike Boynton was the team’s floor leader last season, but Odom said that one specific player does not necessarily have to emerge. “We still need to establish a leader to replace Mike,” Odom said. “Or we will have to replace him by committee. Either way is OK with me as long as it happens.” USC opens its play at the Colonial Center with an exhibition against USC Upstate Nov. 8. The first regular season game for the Gamecocks will be at home against Western Carolina Nov. 21. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu ■ FOOTBALL Continued from page 13 and play the way that he has.” Injuries — For the first time this season, the team got through a game without sustaining any serious injuries. No one who played against Troy will miss the Alabama game. The Gamecocks will still be without corner Jonathan Joseph (foot) and freshman receiver Sydney Rice (knee). Those two could be joined by Summers on the sideline. Defense — In its first year under coordinator Rick Minter, the defense is off to a great start. The unit is ranked 16th in the nation in total defense and ninth in scoring defense. In its last outing, the defense held Troy to just nine first downs and 207 total yards. “Defensively, we played well,” Holtz said. “Once we got into the rhythm, I thought we played complete as a team.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu ■ VOLLEYBALL Continued from page 13 season and 3,279 for her career. Knytych is closing in on third place on the all-time Lady Vols assist list, held by Wendy Jones with 3,541 from 1986-89. The Gamecocks must keep their confidence level high as they battle Tennessee tonight at 7 p.m. at the USC Volleyball Competition Facility. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu Gamecocks ^Connection! ^B Your source for Gamecocks news alerts ■ right on your BH wireless pnone! Get up-to-the-minute news B about the Gamecocks, from the Gamecocks, B on your wireless phone. Log on to www.vtextcom and select "Coaches Corner!" Subject to Customer Agreement and Calling Plan. 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