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CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Clemson players pushed hard to get Dabo Swinney the head coaching job permanently before the end of last season, and a slow start to 2009 hasn't changed their minds.

Receiver Jacoby Ford says players held a meeting after the Tigers' stunning loss to Maryland dropped Clemson to 2-3 to make sure the locker room wasn't getting ready to split.

Ford says team leaders reminded everyone of the importance of this weekend's game against Wake Forest and that all the Tigers' goals for the season are still in reach.

Those goals include an Atlantic Coast Conference title.  It's a goal that's still well within Clemson's reach despite a 1-2 ACC record because the only teams in front of them in the Atlantic Division are the one-loss Demon Deacons and Terrapins.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)