Bobby Bowden won't let up despite family ties

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Once again Florida State coach Bobby Bowden comes into the Clemson game knowing son, Tommy, desperately needs a victory. And once again the elder Bowden can&#39;t let that happen.<br> <br> The 17th-ranked Seminoles (7-2, 5-2) have already clinched the Atlantic Division&#39;s spot in the inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference championship game next month. But Bobby Bowden has an offense to get on track if he hopes to win another league crown, even if means rolling up points against the Tigers (5-4, 3-4) in the seventh matchup between father and son.<br> <br> ``I&#39;d like to see (Tommy) succeed, but we&#39;re not going to let up one bit,&#39;&#39; Bowden said.<br> <br> And in the Bowden Bowl, father usually knows best.<br> <br> Florida State has won five of the six Bowden Bowls, usually by one-sided margins.<br> <br> Tommy&#39;s lone bright spot came when he needed it the most, a 26-10 victory two years ago when his father&#39;s team was ranked third in the country and bidding for Bobby&#39;s third national title. That win helped the Clemson coach gain a lengthy contract extension with a multimillion dollar buyout should school administrators grow disenchanted with the younger Bowden&#39;s program.<br> <br> Tommy Bowden has to win one of his two remaining games if the Tigers hope to qualify for a bowl game. ``The difference is they want to win the game, we need it,&#39;&#39; Tommy said.<br> <br> With everything wrapped up in the division, Tommy says it would make sense to assume the Seminoles might not have the motivation. But Bowden knows as well as anyone how his father thinks. After Florida State&#39;s 20-15 loss to North Carolina State last week, Tommy says his dad will have the Seminoles convinced that beating Clemson is a necessity.<br> <br> ``They&#39;ll want some respect going into the ACC title game,&#39;&#39; Tommy said.<br> <br> Florida State defensive back J.R. Bryant says every player hurt over last week&#39;s defeat. But ``everybody knows that we still have a chance to win the ACC championship and go to a BCS bowl game,&#39;&#39; he said. ``That was one of our goals this season so we still have something to play for. It is not like we are out just wasting our time and playing for no reason.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> What could be worse news for Clemson than an eager Florida State is the loss of quarterback Charlie Whitehurst for a second straight week. Whitehurst sat out last week&#39;s 49-20 win over Duke to rest a sore throwing shoulder that has hurt since September. The rest had seemed to do Whitehurst well and he says he&#39;s felt better after practices than he had in some time.<br> <br> But Clemson&#39;s Bowden admitted he made a mistake going with Whitehurst and not backup Will Proctor two weeks ago in a 10-9 loss at Georgia Tech that pushed the Tigers&#39; once-hopeful season to the breaking point. Proctor showed his stuff against the Blue Devils, passing for two touchdowns and throwing for another.<br> <br> While Proctor&#39;s performance was superb, he was not going against Florida State&#39;s defense, ranked third in the league.<br> <br> ``If we stay at home and do our jobs, then we should be all right,&#39;&#39; the Seminoles&#39; Bryant said.<br> <br> The Seminoles have their own injury to overcome. Bobby Bowden said with tailback Leon Washington still out with an ankle sprain, Lorenzo Booker will make his second straight start.<br> <br> Booker led the Seminoles with 92 yards rushing in last season&#39;s 41-22 victory over Clemson.<br> <br> ``They are still a team that demands respect,&#39;&#39; Tigers center Dustin Fry said.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)