Clemson's Stuckey stays positive despite fewer catches

CLEMSON, S.C. - Chansi Stuckey was both elated and relieved when No. 18 Clemson rolled past North Carolina. The way the Tigers chose to do it was another matter.<br> <br> Too often, Stuckey has seen the Tigers (3-1) follow big wins with even bigger disappointments. He still shakes his head about 2004 when Clemson rallied to win at Miami in overtime, then stumbled at Duke in its next game.<br> <br> So one part of him was concerned the Tigers might not come out as strong against North Carolina as they had a week earlier in winning at Florida State for the first time since 1989.<br> <br> Stuckey shouldn&#39;t have worried. The Tigers came out fast on offense and rock solid on defense, defeating the Tar Heels 52-7.<br> <br> ``I was really anxious to see how the team was going to respond,&#39;&#39; Stuckey said. ``We did a great job of playing our game and not playing the way North Carolina was playing.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Tigers hope to continue that trend this week against Louisiana Tech (1-2) and move to 4-1 for the first time since 2001. Stuckey hopes he gets to play a bigger role than he did against North Carolina.<br> <br> The ACC&#39;s leading receiver a year ago, Stuckey had two catches for 7 yards. That usually might mean a long afternoon for Clemson. Against the Tar Heels, though, the Tigers ran for 324 yards and scored all seven of their touchdowns on the ground.<br> <br> ``Sometimes it&#39;s kind of discouraging&#39;&#39; not to make many catches, said Stuckey, a senior. ``But the big thing is that we&#39;re winning. As you get older, you learn how to deal with those type things. ... I think we&#39;re just blessed to have the offensive scheme that we have.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> And few teams are doing it better than Clemson right now.<br> <br> The Tigers lead the ACC in overall offense. They top the league in rushing and are second, behind Boston College, in passing. On defense, the numbers are almost as good second overall and second in pass defense.<br> <br> ``I was very confident that we would go out and perform to our highest potential,&#39;&#39; defensive end Gaines Adams said. ``With this team right here, we can be very, very, very good.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Only, coach Tommy Bowden says, if they maintain a solid focus throughout the season. He&#39;s doing his part to guarantee that happens.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m going to try everything possible to beat Louisiana Tech,&#39;&#39; Bowden said. ``We&#39;re going to take the best players we have and formulate the best game plan to beat Louisiana Tech. Every ounce of preparation is going to go toward beating Louisiana Tech with no new wrinkles or experimentation.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Tigers might not need anything special to get past Tech.<br> <br> The Bulldogs have already lost big at Nebraska (49-10) and Texas A (45-14), although coach Jack Bicknell says those scores are deceptive in their lopsidedness.<br> <br> Bicknell says his inexperienced secondary he starts two former running backs and counts on a true freshman at safety has surrendered big plays at the wrong time.<br> <br> It&#39;s not all the fault of the defensive backs, he said. Still, ``the reason I bring it up is I don&#39;t feel like we&#39;re that far away as a team and we&#39;ve had two games now against Nebraska and Texas A that look very one-sided, like we&#39;re not even out there,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Clemson has done its best to take the drama out of things early.<br> <br> The Tigers led Florida Atlantic 24-0 at halftime. They were up 21-0 on North Carolina by the end of the first quarter.<br> <br> Bowden used part of this week hammering home the lessons that are already out there this college season about taking undermanned teams lightly.<br> <br> Winless Colorado held a 13-0 lead at Georgia late in that game before the Bulldogs rallied, Bowden said.<br> <br> ``When you lose your concentration, focus, interests, or intensity, then that&#39;s going to happen. Four games into the season, there have been some I-AA teams upsetting I-A teams. So those are the things you try to teach your team,&#39;&#39; Bowden said.<br> <br> Stuckey thinks the Tigers have listened and will continue to do so.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s a different team than we&#39;ve had,&#39;&#39; he said.