Clemson trying to avoid last year's pitfalls

CLEMSON, S.C - Defensive end Gaines Adams wants to revel in Clemson&#39;s new top 25 ranking and big victory over then-No. 17 Texas A last Saturday night. But he can&#39;t help thinking about last season, when improbable losses followed amazing wins.<br> <br> ``We had a big win at Miami,&#39;&#39; said Adams, recalling the Tigers&#39; 24-17 landmark victory at the Orange Bowl last November. ``And then we came back the next week and lose to Duke.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> As unbelievable as it sounds, Clemson did indeed fall to the Blue Devils, 16-13.<br> <br> And for all the confidence the Tigers gained a week ago, Adams knows how quickly it could disappear with a flat effort Saturday at Maryland (1-0) in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener.<br> <br> ``We can&#39;t have that lazy mindframe after beating a ranked team ... and lose to an unranked team,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> The Tigers (1-0) entered The Associated Press poll at No. 25, their first appearance since early last season. Clemson was No. 15 in the 2004 preseason poll and slid to 20th after a 37-30 victory over Wake Forest in overtime. The following week, the Tigers held a 10-point lead over Georgia Tech with about two minutes left.<br> <br> But then Clemson gave up two touchdowns and fell to the Yellow Jackets, 28-24. The loss started a four-game slide.<br> <br> These Tigers remember all too well the problems of a year ago.<br> <br> ``The guys, they know the sense of urgency is there,&#39;&#39; said Chansi Stuckey, who returned a punt for Clemson&#39;s only touchdown. ``We know we&#39;ve got to forget about the A not look ahead or behind, just concentrate on the game at hand.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Although Clemson hadn&#39;t opened with a victory over a ranked team since beating North Carolina 20-18 in 1959, coach Tommy Bowden didn&#39;t look at last week like his club proved itself.<br> <br> ``That was a test against Texas A Bowden said. ``The true test is when we can win a championship game.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Right now, Bowden says, he&#39;s most interested ``to see if we can solve the problems (against Texas A and improve on those.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> And there were problems.<br> <br> Clemson needed a record-setting game from kicker Jad Dean he made all six of his field goals, including a 42-yarder to win the game with 2 seconds left and a steady, ground it out performance by the Tigers offense to overcome the Aggies.<br> <br> Bowden said in pre-game planning with offensive coordinator Rob Spence and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning, he told them he could let Dean go with as much as a 57-yard field goal attempt. ``A strong wind, I might go even more,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Several of those kicks came at the end of lengthy drives where Clemson could not bust it over the goal line. ``I would be concerned after three or four games,&#39;&#39; Bowden said of the lack of offensive touchdowns. ``It is not a concern after one.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Stuckey, Clemson&#39;s junior receiver, says the team has gained the poise and experience to execute at key moments. Look at how the defense, with the Tigers trailing 24-22, held Texas A to a three-and-out series. Then Clemson freshman tailback James Davis took over, gaining 33 of his team high 101 yards to give Dean a crack at the victory.<br> <br> ``You could look at everybody&#39;s eyes,&#39;&#39; Stuckey said. ``Nobody was nervous, nobody was like, &#39;Oh are we going to win.&#39; Everybody on the sidelines kind of knew that Jad was going to come through.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> For their effort, Dean was named the ACC&#39;s special team&#39;s player of the week while Davis earned the conference&#39;s rookie of the week honor.<br> <br> Adams, Clemson&#39;s defensive end, doesn&#39;t want hurt like he did after the Duke loss. ``People talking bad about you and saying that you had a (lucky) game against Miami,&#39;&#39; he said. ``We play good against Maryland and hopefully, good things happen&#39;&#39; this season.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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