Less than a month ago, Clemson and N.C. State had a combined 9-3 record. But since Oct. 14, when the Wolfpack lost to the Demon Deacons, the two teams have won only a combined one game, the Tigers 31-7 win against the Yellow Jackets.

The combined 1-6 record has caused both coach Chuck Amato and Clemson coach Tommy Bowden to go on the defensive over the past week. During Monday afternoon’s press conference, Amato was asked if he had received any word on if he would be returning for next season.

“I haven’t received assurances that I’m not going to be back,” Amato said. “I can tell you that right now.”

Asked if he had talked to his team about his future, Amato immediately fired back at the reporter.

“Absolutely not,” Amato said. “Stop right there.”

As the short conservation went on, Amato went on to say, “I don’t like to use this, but I have no comment.”

As for Bowden, the seventh-year coach, who has lost two consecutive games, last weekend to Maryland and two weeks ago to Virginia Tech, said he’s trying to look at the season as a whole, rather than just the past couple games.

“I’ve tried to help the team be realistic on where we are, where the program is and what we’ve accomplished under the circumstances and what’s left on the table,” Bowden said.

But Bowden was sure to point out that even though the team has three losses, according to Bowden, they have played five ranked teams.

“It has been a relatively draining season,” Bowden said. “At this point in time, we’re the only team in the nation that has played five of the teams in this week’s top 25 of the AP poll. That is out of 119 teams.”

While State is already mathematically eliminated for the ACC Atlantic Division race, Clemson still has a shot. They would need to win out and would have to receive help from Boston College, Maryland and Wake Forest in order to advance to the ACC Championship.

Despite the last two losses, Bowden said he doesn’t want the last two games to play a role in his team’s game Saturday.

“The problem we face now is that we don’t want a loss to effect us twice,” Bowden said.

“We’ve lost two in a row. So, I think it’s important that our team win another game and not worry so much about what ifs’ as opposed to what is coming up on Saturday.”

In the two losses, Clemson’s prolific running game has not surpassed the 150-yard mark. Against Virginia Tech, Bowden’s team only totaled 86 rushing yards. Just more than a week later his team only ran for 143 against Maryland, well below its average of 230 yards per game, which ranks them sixth in the nation.

Bowden said the drop in production has been because of the opposing defenses, not because of the running backs or offensive line.

“A lot has to do with the competition,” Bowden said. “Virginia Tech and Maryland have good defensive players. They’re harder to block, they get off blocks quicker, the holes aren’t as open and they’re better tacklers.”

He said the drop off in performance has left freshman running back C.J. Spiller and sophomore running back James Davis upset not only individually, but as a team.

“I know they’re highly competitive,” Bowden said. “I know they’re both productive, but I think they’re more disappointed in the losses than their own individual performance.

And Bowden said even with the Pack’s four consecutive losses, he expects to see State bring its best game, because another loss would knock the Pack out of bowl contention.

“They’re a good defense. They’re a team that obviously beat Florida State and Boston College back-to-back. They have to win this game to go to a bowl game because they have to win out the next three,” Bowden said.

“This is a must win for them and I tell my team this as we prepare for and play on Saturday. We have told our players we are certainly going to get their ‘A’ game because they have to win out.”

Senior Staff Writer Dennis Burton contributed to this article