Younger Bowden Will Try To Stall Dad’s Impending Milestone

Oct. 20, 1999

CLEMSON, S.C. — (AP) Saturday’s game between top-ranked Florida State and Clemson will be a family affair.

The game will feature the first father-son coaching matchup in college football history as Florida State’s Bobby Bowden takes on son Tommy of Clemson.

A win Saturday would give Dad his 300th career win, allowing Bobby to join Bear Bryant, Pop Warner, Amos Alonzo Stagg and Joe Paterno in the 300-victory club.

The impending milestone may end up being the determining factor in who the rest of the Bowden clan will be cheering for Saturday.

“I would say that most all of them will be cheering for my father simply because he has more at stake,” Tommy said. “With him going for 300 wins I am sure they would like to see him win, but in a close game. My wife and kids will be cheering for me, but other than that I would say that deep down everyone will be rooting for dad.”

Having his family cheering against him won’t be Tommy’s biggest problem.

Florida State (7-0, 5-0 ACC) ranks fourth nationally in scoring offense at 40.1 points per game and 15th in scoring defense at 16.7 points per game allowed.

The Seminoles have scored 31 or more points in every game and are averaging 40 points per game.

In last week’s 33-10 win over Wake Forest, Chris Weinke threw for a career-high 354 yards and Florida State held the Demon Deacons to 178 yards of offense in improving to 59-2 against the ACC.

Clemson (3-3, 3-1) has also been putting up points, averaging 34.7 in its last three games.

In two starts since taking over for the injured Brandon Streeter, quarterback Woodrow Dantzler has averaged 268 yards passing and 361 yards of total offense. Running back Travis Zachery has 306 yards and six touchdowns in his last three games.

In last season’s meeting, Florida State routed Clemson 48-0 at Tallahassee. The Seminoles outgained the Tigers 455-129 in total offense and recorded 28 first downs to Clemson’s five. Weinke recorded his second career 300-yard game, going 18-of-35 for 302 yards and throwing four touchdowns to four different receivers.

The status of suspended Florida State star receiver Peter Warrick, who cannot play until his legal problems are resolved, remains uncertain for Saturday’s game.