Five questions

Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden cleaned house after the 2004 season.

After a rocky 6-5 campaign, Bowden fired offensive coordinator Mike O'Cain and defensive coordinator John Lovett. It is the second time in less than a year the Tigers underwent a staff shake-up.

Bowden brought in a pair of small-school coaches in defensive coordinator Vic Koenning (Troy) and offensive coordinator Rob Spence (Toledo) to fix things.

Clemson is long removed from its glory years - it last won an Atlantic Coast Conference title almost 15 years ago. In 2004, the Tigers started 1-4 before winning five of their final six.

If Clemson gets off to another shaky start, one has to wonder how much longer Bowden can survive?

Here are five questions to ponder before the Tigers begin their season Sept. 3 against Texas A&M:

1. How warm is the hot seat for Tommy Bowden?

Bowden seems to have saved his job the past two seasons with huge victories late in the schedule. Clemson ended 2003 with four consecutive wins, including an upset against Florida State. Last season, the Tigers defeated Miami, then South Carolina for the third consecutive season as part of a season-ending 5-1 run.

Clemson faces a difficult schedule - Phil Steele's College Football Preview rates it the 18th-hardest. Bowden can ill afford another shaky performance.

2. Can Clemson get off to a fast start?

The Tigers have a tough first month with home games against Texas A&M, Miami and Boston College and a road trip to Maryland. Clemson went 2-1 against those foes last season and did not face Boston College.

The Tigers have not had a 4-0 start to the season since 2000. If Clemson can win its first four this season, it will become an ACC title contender and a major player on the national scene. Doing it will be the hard part.

3. Can Charlie Whitehurst become a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate?

Clemson hyped Whitehurst as a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2004 after a stellar sophomore campaign. He quickly fell off the list as his season unraveled.

Whitehurst threw just seven touchdown passes against 17 interceptions. However, he threw just four picks during the final six games as Clemson showed a marked turnaround.

After guiding Toledo's high-powered attack the past four seasons, offensive coordinator Rob Spence is making changes to Clemson's offense. Under Spence, Whitehurst could become a sleeper Heisman Trophy candidate this season.

4. Will Reggie Merriweather finally break through running back?

Merriweather split carries with Duane Coleman early before emerging at the end of the 2004 season. The North Augusta standout scored three touchdowns in wins over Miami and South Carolina and finished the year with a team-high 670 rushing yards and 11 scores.

The 5-foot-8, 210-pound Merriweather is listed as the team's No. 1 running back. He sports a career 4.8-yard per carry average and should be given ample opportunity this year to shoulder the load.

5. Who will replace linebacker Leroy Hill, the 2004 All-ACC Defensive Player of the Year?

Hill, the third-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks, dominated opponents in 2004. He made 106 tackles, including 19 for loss with eight sacks.

One of six returning defensive starters, Anthony Waters (6-3, 235) is expected to become the new leader of the linebacker corps. Waters recorded 70 tackles, including nine for loss, with two sacks last season.

- Chris Gay