Bowden's routine doesn't change, although Tigers have

CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson coach Tommy Bowden still rises before the sun and gets to work early. He doesn&#39;t take two-hour lunches or sneak out for a quick nine holes in the afternoon these days simply because the 18th-ranked Tigers seem as strong as they ever have in Bowden&#39;s eight seasons.<br> <br> ``I don&#39;t know come to practice 30 minutes late or anything like that,&#39;&#39; Bowden said Tuesday. ``I still show up on time.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> There&#39;s no doubt, though, that Bowden&#39;s focus is different than in the past. Instead of solving early problems, Bowden is striving to maintain the focus of the Tigers (3-1) best start in three years.<br> <br> ``I say as much, but I try to say it in a different way,&#39;&#39; Bowden said.<br> <br> Clemson will try and maintain its hot start against Louisiana Tech (1-2) at Death Valley on Saturday.<br> <br> Bowden&#39;s Tiger have had a less-than-stellar habit of struggling early. Two years ago, Bowden called other coaching colleagues to see how to fix his team&#39;s turnover problems during its 1-4 start. Then last year, Bowden and his assistants battled with keeping the team&#39;s confidence high during a 2-3 opening that included three losses by a total of six points.<br> <br> Bowden readily admitted a week ago that he had to see if his Tigers could follow their monumental 27-20 win at Florida State the program&#39;s first since 1989 with a solid effort at home against North Carolina.<br> <br> The answer was a resounding, ``Yes.&#39;&#39; Clemson rushed for 324 yards, its first 300-yard ground game in five seasons, in a 52-7 victory over the Tar Heels.<br> <br> ``That was a &#39;show me&#39; game,&#39;&#39; Tiger offensive lineman Marion Dukes said.<br> <br> What Clemson showed, Bowden said, was it had enough character and leadership to keep its edge against an overmatched opponent. So much so that Bowden thinks handling overconfidence could become a week-to-week problem.<br> <br> ``We can have confidence,&#39;&#39; tight end Thomas Hunter said. ``But we can&#39;t get complacent.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Bowden doesn&#39;t expect to see that from this group.<br> <br> The improvement this season rests in many things. Bowden says he&#39;s got his biggest senior class since he came before the 1999 season, including four offensive line starters. All, the coach said, are vital leaders that set a serious, workmanlike tone for the Tigers.<br> <br> ``We have to keep doing that during practices, during meetings, working hard to avoid any letdowns,&#39;&#39; quarterback Will Proctor said.<br> <br> Proctor, a fifth-year senior, had watched from the sidelines through the years when the Tigers could not sustain the high of a big win and crashed against lesser foes. He was mostly confident it wouldn&#39;t happen last week. But he was still happy to see Clemson&#39;s offense put up three rushing touchdowns in the opening period to lead 21-0.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re playing well right now,&#39;&#39; Proctor said. ``But we or the team have by no means arrived. We&#39;ve got to keep doing what we&#39;ve been doing.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Tigers have a stretch were mental focus is a must. After the Tech game comes Wake Forest, traditionally a struggling team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and Temple, winless so far this year.<br> <br> ``What you have to make the team realize is that three wins is kind of insignificant,&#39;&#39; Bowden said. ``We&#39;ve got a lot of work. That could be, would be, should be, we&#39;ve lived that in the past. ... We&#39;ve got to keep their mind off of it.&#39;&#39;

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