Buchholz Does Well With New Routine

CLEMSON - The first day of the new routine for Mark Buchholz came off without a hitch Wednesday.

The Clemson kicker was run onto the field at varying stages during practice, without notice, to kick under game-like conditions. Every time head coach Tommy Bowden called, Buchholz delivered. He didn't miss a kick all practice.

"I even did the Urban Meyer thing on him," Bowden said following the workout.

Meyer, in Florida's last-second loss to Auburn last Saturday, called a timeout from the sideline a split second before the snap was made on the field goal attempt. The kick was good, but didn't count because Florida was granted the time out.

The strategy, which is being employed by an increasing number of coaches now at both the college and NFL level, ultimately failed when Auburn's kicker also made the second attempt and gave the Gators their first loss.

"I blew the whistle and the players all thought practice was over," Bowden said. "I said 'No, no. Time out was called. You've got to kick it again.'"

Of course, making kicks in practice hasn't been a problem for Buchholz.

He was perfect in workouts last week prior to the Georgia Tech game. Buchholz went on to make just one of five attempts vs. the Yellow Jackets in a game Clemson lost 13-3. Three of the misses were from 47 yards or better.

But the miss from 30 yards - as well as a missed 29-yarder the week before at N.C. State - prompted Bowden to take a second look at how he was using the two-sport star during practice. Thus the change this week.

Buchholz was also in the news because of an unintentional secondary violation of NCAA rules committed by Clemson.

Rules state that a student-athlete can only participate in his or her sport 20 hours a week and must have a full day off. If Buchholz had a day off from soccer he would go to football practice, and vice versa. But Bowden and soccer coach Trevor Adair were informed that Buchholz had to take a full day off from both sports, thus the rules violation.

There is not expected to be any major issue raised by either the ACC or the NCAA because of the uniqueness of the situation. Meanwhile, Adair pointed out earlier Wednesday that both he and Bowden were more focused on the big picture from the beginning.

"We were concentrating on the 20-hour rule," Adair said. "Mark never went over 20 hours. We made sure of that. This is the first time anyone has been through something like this, so any violation was unintentional. But through it all we were looking out for Mark's well-being. He's not being abused."

NOTES
- Bowden said it was still too early in the week to talk about any possible changes on the offensive line;

- Wide receiver Rendrick Taylor looks "doubtful" for Saturday's game vs. Virginia Tech, according to SID Tim Bourret;

- Bowden's brother, Terry, was at practice again Wednesday. Earlier in the day he hosted his two-hour national college football show on Sirius Satellite Radio from the broadcast booth at Death Valley.