TALLAHASSEE -- After a week that saw one college football player dig his hand into an opponent's facemask and a women's soccer player yank a foe down by the hair, Saturday's Florida State-Clemson game appears to have all the acrimony of a senior-center chess match.

FSU coach Bobby Bowden spoke this week of his affinity for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who was mentored for years by Bowden's son Tommy and who, like Bowden, was born and raised in Birmingham, Ala.

Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was on the Florida State staff from 2003 to '06 and said this week that Tallahassee was a place he once hoped to finish his career. He then paid this compliment to FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews: ``I don't know anybody that's done it any better.''

And Clemson's star tailback, C.J. Spiller, told reporters this week that FSU was his dream school growing up and that he still has ``tremendous respect'' for Bobby Bowden.

``I remember watching Warrick Dunn and Charlie Ward,'' said Spiller, a Florida native who wears the same number that Dunn did, No. 28. ``Florida State won the national title in 1999 and 1993. I have fond memories of that program. That was my team coming up.''

Clemson's coaching staff also features former Bowden assistant Brad Scott and Scott's son Jeff, who grew up around the Seminoles program. The friendly connections have created a strange backdrop for a game with major Atlantic Coast Conference championship implications. Clemson (5-3, 3-2 ACC) is tied with Boston College for the best record in the ACC's Atlantic Division. And after pulling out a pair of conference victories, the Seminoles (4-4, 2-3) are just one game back.

To some degree, the game also has been overshadowed by the announced retirement of Andrews, who will step down at the end of this season, his 26th in Tallahassee. In making his announcement Tuesday, Andrews said he wanted to end some of the speculation that had been swirling around the program and to place the focus back on the team.

But judging by the comments of FSU players, it could end up having the opposite effect. Several Seminoles said they are dedicating their efforts to sending Andrews out on a strong note.

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