Bad news: Stuckey breaks foot, out 3-5 weeks

Ouch. Clemson's top receiver, Chansi Stuckey, broke his foot in practice Tuesday and will miss a couple of key games. That's gonna hurt. (Pardon the pun.)

* The "hell" of Wake week: Clemson's Tommy Bowden certainly knows all about it; this game nearly cost him his job the other year.

* Dean struggles: Clemson kicker Jad Dean is trying to work it out. Well, he'd better do it soon. He's already cost us an undefeated season. He'd better not screw us out of any more games.

* Howard's Rock: Yet another story about the mythical stone in Clemson's stadium.

McElrathbey trust nears $50,000 mark

Wow. What amazing generosity. The trust established for Ray Ray and Fahmarr McElrathbey has raised nearly $50,000. Way to go, human race.

* Cary Cox dies: Former Tiger Cary Cox, who captained both Clemson and South Carolina, died Saturday. He was 83.

Clemson 51, La. Tech 0: Sweet shutout

The Tigers recorded their first blanking of an opponent in seven years Saturday. Clemson also had three 100-yard rushers for the first time in decades. The poll voters responded, bumping the Tigers up to No. 15. Read all about it here, here, here and here.

* How good is Clemson? Very, very good, according to our opponents.

* Wake Forest ahead: This week's opponent, the undefeated Demon Deacons, have been quite problematic for the Tigers the past few years.

Offensive line powers CU's success

I think we all knew it would be a good unit, but even a jaded fan such as myself has been surprised at how strong they've played. The media has noticed, too.

* Don't forget the defense: Especially the pass defense. Speaking of which, why isn't anybody trying screen passes against us? ... Here's another positive story about defensive end Gaines Adams. ... Some sports gamblers rank defensive coordinator Vic Koenning one of the best in the country. ... Linebacker Nick Watkins also is playing well, and his family, displaced by Hurricane Katrina, has returned to New Orleans.

Is Clemson the complete package?

That's the thrust of this story, and kinda the thrust of this one, too.

* Blowouts yield experience: Clemson's romps against UNC and Florida Atlantic have given young players plenty of playing time.

* Ray Ray update: This story examines how Ray Ray McElrathbey's on-field career is going.

Clemson 52, UNC 7: Heels get stomped

I gotta tell ya, there's no team I love to beat more than the Tar Heels. And Saturday, we really took it to them. That was pretty, especially the running game, which is shaping up to be one of the best in the country. We didn't move much in the polls, but that's OK.

* Memories: As you know, Saturday's game also honored the 1981 national championship team on the 25th anniversary of that momentous achievement. Read stories about the reunion here and here, and a story about Danny Ford, the Tigers' coach at that time, here.

Bowden to kickers: Drop dead!

OK, that's an exaggeration. But this story makes it sound like Clemson's coach is not a huge fan of the skinny guys upon whom so much is often riding in football.

* Offensive line's commitment to excellence: Just being great isn't enough for Clemson's veteran unit.

* Coleman contributes: Remember running back Duane Coleman? After a topsy-turvy couple of years, he's now the leading tackler on the team. Weird.

* Looking back to 1981: As Clemson prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its national championship during Saturday's game against North Carolina, there are a few stories out there about that seminal event.: A look-back at the '81 game against UNC and a story about the reunion of the 1981 team.

* Tobacco roadkill: The ACC's North Carolina schools are really stinking it up this year in football. Well, except for Wake Forest.

* Happy birthday, rock: Apparently, this weekend marks the 40th anniversary of the placing of Howard's Rock at the top of The Hill in Death Valley. Who knew?

* A new Frank Howard quote? I found this on a political blog. I've never heard it before, but it's a pretty good one from the Tigers' legendary coach.

Gaines Adams leads defense, quietly

And our all-star defensive end is doing it even though he's injured. Here's to him getting healthy and realizing his full potential.
* What does ACC stand for? According to this column, it's Atrocious Coaching Conference.

* Flashback: Here's a look at Clemson's 13-3 victory against Georgia in 1981, the defining moment in the Tigers' march to the national championship 25 years ago. I was there that day with my father, and I still remember all the details: The "Kick the Mutt in the Butt" banner we saw draped across the balcony of a student apartment around 9:30 the morning of the game, a scene made complete by a massive pile of beer cans and a passed-out undergrad in a lawn chair; standing by UGA's bus as its players arrived hours before the game and having Herschel Walker smile at me and say, "What's up?"; and, of course, the game itself, in which Walker uncharacteristically fumbled three times, I believe. Good stuff.