Clemson Tabbed 17th In Preseason Associated Press Poll

Aug. 5, 2000

NEW YORK – Clemson has been ranked 17th in the Associated Press preseason college football poll announced Saturday. The ranking marks the first time since 1997 that the Tigers have appeared in the poll.

“The ranking reflects the potential of this program,” said second year coach and 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year Tommy Bowden. “Now the objective is to be there at the end of the season.”

The Tigers have not finished a season ranked in the final AP poll since the 1993 season when Clemson finished with a 9-3 record after a victory against Kentucky in the Peach Bowl.

Nebraska edged 1999 national champion Florida State as the top team in this year’s preseason poll. The Cornhuskers received 36 first-place votes and 1,732 points, while the Seminoles are ranked second after getting 29 first-place votes and 1,720 points. Alabama is third, Wisconsin is fourth and Miami (FL) is fifth.

Clemson has been picked to finish second in the ACC behind Florida State, the unanimous selection by the media as the team to beat in the league. The Tigers travel to Tallahassee on Nov. 4 to meet the second-ranked Seminoles. Florida State claimed last year’s meeting 17-14 in Clemson.

The last time Clemson was ranked in the prior to the start of the season was 1997 when the Tigers were 18th in the nation. Clemson has not appeared in the poll since the Sept. 22 poll that season. A loss the next week to Georgia Tech dropped the Tigers out of the poll. Clemson finished 7-5 and made an appearance in the Peach Bowl against Auburn. The preseason ranking is the highest for Clemson since the 1992 team was picked 13th.

Clemson opens the 2000 season Sept. 2 when it hosts The Citadel at 6:00 PM.

 The 2000 AP Preseason College Football Poll1.      Nebraska2.      Florida State3.      Alabama4.      Wisconsin5.      Miami (FL)6.      Michigan7.      Texas8.      Kansas State9.      Florida10.     Georgia11.     Virginia Tech12.     Tennessee13.     Washington14.     Purdue15.     Southern California16.     Ohio State17.     Clemson18.     Mississippi19.     Oklahoma20.     TCU21.     Illinois22.     Penn State23.     Southern Mississippi24.     Colorado25.     Michigan State