DATE: Thursday, October 9, 1997             TAG: 9710090723

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: FRANK VEHORN

                                            LENGTH:   75 lines

ACC REPORT [BRIEFS]

UNC coach says Tyrell Godwin may play for Tar Heels

Tyrell Godwin, who turned down a $2 million major league baseball offer to play football at North Carolina, may be close to getting that opportunity.

UNC coach Mack Brown said the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Godwin has decided not to redshirt this season and could be used as a running back, receiver, or on special teams Saturday against Wake Forest.

Godwin has 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash. ``He's so fast that you'd like to have him on the field some where,'' Brown said.

Three true freshmen - running back Domonique Williams, and linebackers Merceda Perry and Sedrick Hodge - already have played this season.

U.Va. not `white meat' any more for Clemson

Some older Virginia fans still resent Saturday's opponent Clemson because of the way former Clemson coach Frank Howard, who died last year, once described the Cavaliers. Howard called them `white meat', or the tenderest part of his schedule.

That was before George Welsh's time, but Welsh says Howard might not have been too wrong in his assessment.

``I don't use expressions like that, but when you beat someone year after year you think you own them,'' Welsh said. ``He probably said it as a means of intimidation and it worked.''

Virginia's first victory over Clemson was in 1990 and it was not until two years ago that it won for first time at Clemson.

Duke finally will play Florida State in Durham

The outcome might not be any different, and there won't be a big payoff, but Duke is happy about finally playing Florida State in Durham again.

The Blue Devils have played FSU in Florida the last three years, once at Orlando when they gave up their home date for a $1 million paycheck.

``When you do that, you are saying you are up for sale,'' Duke coach Fred Goldsmith said.

``Duke does not have to be a road program to survive. And when you play a top team and tell your home fans that you are not going to see this one, it sends the wrong message.''

You have to wonder how much Duke fans want to see this one. FSU has outscored Duke by an average of 53-13 since joining the ACC in 1993.

N.C. State safety Wyche apologizes for criticism

It seemed those morale-building rubber bands around the N.C. State players' wrist were getting a little tight following the Wolfpack's upset by Wake Forest two weeks ago. Free safety Damon Wyche let loose with verbal criticism of his teammates and coaches following the game.

But any bitter feelings have been smoothed as the Wolfpack regrouped during last Saturday's open date. Wyche made a public apology and retracted his criticism this week.

Quick hits ...

UNC quarterback Oscar Davenport is practicing but still not taking hits. He injured his knee two weeks ago against Virginia. The Tar Heels received a scare Tuesday when receiver Octavus Barnes was carried off the practice field. Barnes banged the right knee he had surgery on two years ago, but the injury is not believed serious. Tar Heels' running back Jonathan Linton is doubtful for Saturday because of a shoulder injury. Fullback Deon Dyer of Chesapeake is ailing from tonsilitis but he is expected to play Saturday. ... Florida State placekicker Bill Gramatica informed coach Bobby Bowden that he is quitting the team and leaving school immediate. The redshirt freshman recently was replaced on extra points by true freshman Sebastian Janikowski. ``He (Gramatica) is good enough that he'd be an asset to a lot of folks,'' Bowden said. ... Duke has another quarterback sidelined by an injury. Freshman Spencer Romine, who directed wins over Army and Navy, will miss Saturday's game because of a dislocated hip. Earlier in the season. Bobby Campbell was out with a knee injury and David Green mas played only briefly because of a knee injury. The Blue Devils also have lost freshman linebacker Nate Krill for the season. He is out with torn ligaments in his foot. ... Wake Forest's outstanding defensive tackle Aljamont Joyner is doubtful for Saturday's game against UNC. He hurt a knee in the second half of last week's game against Virginia.

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