The Clemson Tigers finished the 2003 season with a 9-4 record, but many around the nation felt the season was a disappointment and that head coach Tommy Bowden should have been relieved of his duties. The team knew their coach was in danger and finished the season with four wins (including wins over Florida State and Tennessee in the Peach Bowl) by an average of 27 points per victory. After some deliberation, the University decided to keep Bowden on staff and give him another chance to show how good this team can be. The team is full of potential and could be dangerous in the ACC in 2004, even with the addition of Miami to the conference, and for many reasons, I’ve ranked them #16 in my pre-season poll.

The offense will return QB Charlie Whitehurst but the team lost a lot of players to graduation. The Tigers still return 14 starters and have one receiver left from last season’s team, Airese Curry. Chansi Stuckey, a converted quarterback, is one option the team is looking at for a wide receiver. Bowden would like to see the team finish the season with 2,500 rushing yards, something that has happened only once in the last five years. One big concern could be the defensive line, a group that was scored on seven of eight times in a goal line drill in spring training. Whitehurst emerged late last season as a solid ACC QB and during their four game winning streak, he averaged 288 passing yards and two scores a game. RB Duane Coleman recorded almost 1,000 all-purpose yards last season and should step up as the top back this season. In 2002, CB Justin Miller was one of the top defensive freshmen in the nation and after a frustrating 2003 season, Miller will be looking to return to his old form. LB Leroy Hill emerged out of nowhere as one of the best linebackers in the nation last year when he finished second nationally in tackles for loss (27) and fifth nationally in solo stops.

The Tigers face a very tough road schedule this year with games at Texas A&M, Florida State, Virginia, and Miami. Clemson opens with home games against Wake Forest and Georgia Tech, two games they feel they should win, before traveling to Kyle Field to take on the Aggies of A&M. In late October, the team will host Maryland and NC State, and if they can find a way to win both of those games, they’ll be in contention for a run at the ACC championship. If the Tigers can find a way to get by Florida State for a second consecutive year, they’ll have their date with destiny on November 6 when they travel to Miami and take on the Hurricanes. The season finale is at home against South Carolina in what has turned into a great game over the years. The Tigers believe they can play with the elite of the ACC and they’ll certainly have their chance this year.

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