Outlook
Usually when a team suffers its worst conference finish in more than 20 years, youth and inexperience are the primary culprits. And with that comes optimism for the next year, when graduates of the previous season's school of hard knocks return with experience, and a vow not to suffer the same disappointment.

And then there's Clemson. While the Tigers went 1-7 and finished last in the ACC, they won't enjoy the luxury that comes with a long list of returning starters. In addition to a new coach in former Tulane boss Tommy Bowden, Clemson will have just 11 starters back, the lowest number in the ACC. The last time the Tigers were so devoid of experience, World War II had trimmed the student body considerably for the military draft and that team was without its entire junior and senior classes.

Clemson will face a bowl team in each of its first five games, and it will play at home just twice in its final seven contests. Still, the Tigers lost three games by less than a touchdown last year, a scenario that's unlikely to be repeated. Bowden has instilled a new attitude and the team has responded. It should translate to a few more wins in '99.

Offense
While a reliance on the running game will remain a Clemson staple, the traditional theme will be spiced up with the some new wrinkles designed to get the ball downfield. While it's no shock that Bowden's team will take to the air, four-receiver sets, the shotgun formation and the no-huddle may still be a bit of surprise to Tigers faithful. But when your offense finished second to last in every category but one -- and in that one it was last -- change is inevitable.

One constant should be at quarterback, where Brandon Streeter returns as the starter. Streeter finished the season strongly, throwing for 887 yards and nine touchdowns in the final four games of the year. He'll need to carry that momentum into September. Travis Zachery was seventh in the ACC in rushing as a freshman, but found himself suspended from spring practice by Bowden for a violation of team rules. As a result, Javis Austin has pushed him out of the lineup. Austin has spent fall camp resting a dislocated shoulder, however. If healthy, his 214-pound frame will get plenty of work. Senior Terry Witherspoon is a capable fullback.

Receivers Brian Wofford and Mal Lawyer give Bowden some weapons for his high-octane battle plan. Last year they combined for 66 catches, 999 yards and eight scores. Shawn Crawford, the 1998 NCAA indoor 200-meter champion, will try to make an impact despite not playing football since 1995. Clemson's front five averages a little more than 260 pounds, surprisingly small in this era of 300-pounders. Kyle Young is the cornerstone of an undersized and inexperienced group. He started four games at guard, but will move to center this year. Former reserve Akil Smith will get a chance to start as a sophomore. After starting fall camp at tackle he was moved to guard to make room for sophomore T.J. Watkins to slide over from tight end to tackle

Terry Bryant and Gary Childress are the veterans, starting eight and 11 games, respectively, last year. Terry Jolly and Jason Holloman are competing for the other tackle position. Holloman had four sacks a year ago but Jolly caught the coaches' eye with his effort this spring. You can pencil in Harold Means as a starter at linebacker, but after that little else is certain. Means had 94 tackles, third-best on the team, in making seven starts last year. Look for him to line up outside sophomore Keith Adams, who should step into a starting role in the middle. His speed helped him notch 10 tackles a year ago against South Carolina.

The secondary is the position group with the most experience, but not everyone will be lining up where they did a year ago. Robert Carswell, who had 102 tackles as a sophomore, will move from strong safety to free safety, while last year's free safety DoMarco Fox will switch to strong safety. Fox opened full-contact drills with a bang when he knocked out receiver Joe Don Reames with a ferocious hit. The task of replacing all-ACC cornerback Antuan Edwards will go to former JC transfer Dextra Polite. Sophomore Alex Ardley, who was in the coach's doghouse after being kicked out of a spring practice, is back atop the depth chart at left cornerback.