Bowden: Clemson not done in ACC race

CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson coach Tommy Bowden made sure to remind his players that their Atlantic Coast Conference title hopes weren&#39;t done after last week&#39;s devastating loss to Virginia Tech.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ve played nine games and this is the first time I have really talked about what&#39;s left on the table,&#39;&#39; Bowden said Tuesday.<br> <br> In Bowden&#39;s view, the 19th-ranked Tigers (7-2, 4-2 ACC) have plenty to play for. The three teams ahead of Clemson in the league&#39;s Atlantic Division Boston College, Wake Forest and Maryland are all 3-1. The Terps (6-2) come to Death Valley this Saturday, while the Eagles and Demon Deacons play this week in one of the most unexpected showdowns since the league grew to 12 teams.<br> <br> Even after the Tigers close their league season at home against North Carolina State on Nov. 11, Bowden said there were nine potentially critical ACC games to go. ``That&#39;s a lot of football,&#39;&#39; he said. ``A lot of things can happen.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Just look at Clemson&#39;s past two games. The Tigers routed then-No. 13 Georgia Tech, 31-7, on Oct. 21, a dominating performance that had stamped them the strongest team in the ACC.<br> <br> Then this past Thursday, Clemson get completely shut down by the unranked Hokies, 24-7. The loss dropped the Tigers out of the top 10 and seemingly left their chances at December&#39;s ACC title game remote at best.<br> <br> Whispers of what had to happen for Clemson to move on buzzed through the locker room. ``I don&#39;t believe any of the players,&#39;&#39; offensive lineman Marion Dukes said. ``None of them are statisticians.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> So Bowden spent a few minutes to set them straight and perhaps give them a jolt of hope heading down the stretch.<br> <br> Just a year ago, three-loss Florida State wound up in championship game and won the ACC title and its Bowl Championship Series berth.<br> <br> ``Football&#39;s an interesting game with a lot of challenges week to week so our players are aware of that,&#39;&#39; Bowden said.<br> <br> Clemson center Dustin Fry says he has been pulling against Boston College since the Tigers fell to the Eagles, 34-33, in double overtime in the second game of the season. He&#39;s added Wake Forest and Maryland to the list. ``I&#39;m trying to get them as many losses as possible,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Despite the ACC race update, Bowden had a clear message for his players focus on their next opponent. ``It&#39;s all for nothing if we don&#39;t beat Maryland,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> The Tigers have had several days to stew on their loss, which ended a six-game win streak. During Clemson&#39;s successful stretch, tailbacks James Davis and C.J. Spiller had become one of the game&#39;s most powerful and feared duos.<br> <br> They combined for 332 yards rushing and four touchdowns in the win against Georgia Tech. At Virginia Tech, the two managed 71 yards with Davis&#39; early TD the team&#39;s only score.<br> <br> With Virginia Tech forcing Clemson to throw, quarterback Will Proctor couldn&#39;t get things going. He completed just 11 of 28 passes for 86 yards and an interception. Proctor also lost a fumble on an exchange with his center, Fry.<br> <br> The Tigers were equally bad on defense. They hadn&#39;t allowed more than 111 yards rushing to any team, yet gave up 203 to the Hokies&#39; Branden Ore.<br> <br> Clemson defensive coordinator Vic Koenning says his team had 24 missed tackles, ``probably the most in the history of the planet.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Right guard Nathan Bennett thinks there were enough errors on all sides of the ball for everyone to share the blame. ``We all hurt after this,&#39;&#39; he said. ``It&#39;s time for us to move on.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> And maybe the Tigers will keep their paws crossed that other teams will have bad games. ``You don&#39;t know what&#39;s ahead,&#39;&#39; he said. ``We&#39;re still in the hunt.&#39;&#39;