TODAY’S BOWL GAMES : Clemson Prepares to Face Harris, West Virginia

Even if Major Harris’ arm is a little sore, his feet aren’t. And that worries Clemson Coach Danny Ford as his team prepares to meet West Virginia today in the Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Fla.

Harris, the West Virginia quarterback who was third in Heisman Trophy voting, missed some practice this week with bursitis in his right elbow, but will play. “His feet can beat you as well as his arm,” Ford said.

No. 17 West Virginia is 8-2-1; No. 14 Clemson is 9-2.

West Virginia Coach Don Nehlen said Harris is ready to play.

Clemson will be without junior tailback Terry Allen, sidelined with stretched ligaments in his left knee. Allen is the school’s No. 2 career rusher.

In other bowl games today, No. 23 Pittsburgh (7-3-1) plays No. 16 Texas A&M; (8-3) in the John Hancock Bowl at El Paso, and Georgia (6-5) plays Syracuse (7-4) in the Peach Bowl at Atlanta.

While Texas A&M; goes into the John Hancock Bowl with a first-year coach in R.C. Slocum, Pitt goes in with Paul Hackett making his debut as interim coach.

“This is a one-shot, unusual game, and we’re going to give them hell,” Hackett said. “I think from an organizational standpoint, we did everything we could to prepare these players for this situation.

“I’ve changed roles, but it isn’t just this guy sitting in the corner.”

The Peach Bowl matches a couple of teams with non-bowl-type records but bowl-type traditions.

“We’re not a great football team, but if we play with emotion and enthusiasm, we can be pretty good,” Georgia Coach Ray Goff said.