Gator/Aloha Bowls : Stanford Meets Clemson; Arizona Faces Tar Heels

Sophomore quarterback Greg Ennis expected to be Stanford’s No. 1 quarterback next season, but he didn’t figure on an early promotion.

Ennis, replacing injured John Paye, will make his first collegiate start today when the Cardinal plays Clemson in the 42nd annual Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Fla.

Paye, who finished behind only John Elway in Stanford career passing yardage, underwent shoulder surgery last Monday.

Stanford (8-3) also will be without starting tackle John Zentner, who tested positive for steroids during NCAA drug screening.

The game figures to match tailback Terrence Flagler, a 1,172-yard rusher this season for Clemson (7-2-2), against Ennis and the famed Stanford passing game.

“(Ennis has) not had the game experience you’d like him to have,” Stanford Coach Jack Elway said. “He knows the offense, and when he’s had an opportunity, he’s done extremely well.”

In his only extended action this season, Ennis hit on 5 of 7 pass attempts for 75 yards and led the Cardinal to a game-winning touchdown in a 29-24 victory over Arizona in the finale at Tokyo.

That victory secured the Gator Bowl bid for Stanford and made Arizona (8-3) settle for a spot in today’s Aloha Bowl against North Carolina at Honolulu. The Wildcats have never won a bowl game.

North Carolina (7-3-1) will be without its top rusher, tailback Derrick Fenner, who was left home by Coach Dick Crum because of academic difficulties.

Crum compared Arizona to Clemson, saying: “When you look at them (the Wildcats) on film, they’ve probably got more speed and quickness than anybody in our league (the Atlantic Coast Conference) other than maybe Clemson.”

The Tar Heels lost to Clemson, 38-10, this season.

Arizona’s David Adams led the Pacific 10 in rushing this season with 1,175 yards in 238 carries, a 4.9 average, and Alfred Jenkins completed 118 of 232 passes for 1,573 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Mark Maye, who took over in the sixth game after starter Jon Hall was injured, led the ACC in passing, completing 110 of 176 throws for 1,401 yards and 10 touchdowns.