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Associated Press

Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper throws a pass in a recent practice in Clemson. Saturday, Harper said his team isn't a Top 10 squad, yet. The Tigers were picked as the No. 9 ranked team in the AP Top 25 preseason poll which was released Saturday.

CLEMSON — The Clemson Tigers may be considered a Top 10 team heading into the new season by the writers and coaches, but their quarterback doesn’t quite see that just yet.

“We are just not quite ready,” quarterback Cullen Harper said following Saturday’s scrimmage in Death Valley. “I think if we went out and played right now, I don’t think anybody would be ready.”

The Associated Press thinks the Tigers are ready. The AP Top 25, which is voted by sportswriters who cover college football from across the country, ranked Clemson No. 9 in its preseason Top 25 which was released Saturday. The Tigers are the highest ranked team from the ACC, joining Virginia Tech (No. 17) and Wake Forest (23) in the preseason poll.

Clemson was also ranked No. 9 in the USA Today/ Coaches preseason Top 25, which came out earlier this month.

The No. 9 ranking is the highest preseason ranking in the AP poll for a Clemson team since the 1991 team debuted at No. 9 as well. This is just the sixth time a Clemson team has started a season as a preseason Top 10. Only two of those teams – the 1988 and 1990 squads – finished the year as a top 10 team.

“If the players respond favorably and work with a sense of urgency, it’s a good sign,” Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said.

However, Bowden somewhat agreed with his quarterback about his team not being ready. When asked was he secured about where he’s team was at just two weeks away from the season opener against Alabama, he says there are a lot of things that have him concerned.

“We don’t quite see the continuity that you would like to see as a head coach,” he said. “I’m two weeks away and it doesn’t look too sharp… There is not a comfort zone, and I think I’m rationalizing in my mind the continuity that you really want to go out there and see two weeks before a game.

“This is what you do this time of the year so I have to keep it in the right perspective in that regard.”

Harper, who was 7-for-12 for 129 yards in the second stadium scrimmage, is also keeping things in perspective as well and that’s why he feels his team is not a top 10 team just yet.

“Not right now, but we have the potential to be,” he said. “We have the skill players and we have the guys on defense. We just have to continue working hard. The offensive line is looking good and is coming together.”

And in case those out there are wondering, Alabama is ranked No. 24 in the preseason poll.

The 2008 AP Preseason Top 25 Poll

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press preseason college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2007 records, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

1. Georgia (22)

2. Ohio St. (21)

3. Southern Cal (12)

4. Oklahoma (4)

5. Florida (6)

6. Missouri

7. LSU

8. West Virginia

9. Clemson

10. Auburn

11. Texas;10-3

12. Texas Tech

13. Wisconsin

14. Kansas

15. Arizona St.

16. BYU

17. Virginia Tech

18. Tennessee

19. South Florida

20. Illinois

21. Oregon

22. Penn St.

23. Wake Forest

24. Alabama

25. Pittsburgh

Others receiving votes: South Carolina 84, Fresno St. 83, California 59, Utah 53, Cincinnati 44, Florida St. 41, Michigan 36, Boston College 32, Rutgers 32, Michigan St. 21, Boise St. 17, Arkansas 14, North Carolina 14, Connecticut 10, Tulsa 7, UCLA 6, Oregon St. 5, Mississippi St. 4, Virginia 4, Arizona 3, Nebraska 2, Notre Dame 2, Hawaii 1, Washington 1.