COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -When tight end Vernon Davis left Maryland after the 2005 season to pursue a career in the NFL, Terrapins coach Ralph Friedgen combed his roster looking for a suitable replacement.

He settled upon Joey Haynos, who began his high school career as a quarterback and arrived at Maryland without a scholarship.

``It's a nice story. He came here, walked on and has really developed into a good football player,'' Friedgen says. ``He's very athletic for a big kid. He's got very good hands and really made himself a good blocker.''

Haynos, a 6-foot-7 junior, ranks second on the team with 17 catches and has scored two touchdowns as part of an offense that depends heavily on the run. When Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach is forced to pass, however, Haynos has been an attractive target - he had eight receptions for 51 yards and a score in a 45-24 loss to West Virginia.

``I've gotten stronger and a little bit faster. That's definitely helped me make some plays,'' Haynos said. ``I'm just trying to fill the void left by Vernon as best I can.''

That is no easy chore. Davis led the Atlantic Coast Conference in yards receiving last year, was named to The Associated Press All-American team and was selected by San Francisco with the sixth overall pick in the NFL draft.

``I don't think Joey is Vernon. That's not to knock Joey; I don't think there's another guy in the country like Vernon,'' Friedgen said. ``But I think there are some patterns we run with Vernon that we run with Joey, and I think he can be successful in them.''

Haynos, who had only career one reception before this season, remains a work in progress.

``I'm very pleased with Joey's development,'' Friedgen said. ``I look for him to get better and better.''

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NOT GOING THERE: Virginia coach Al Groh coached with Bill Parcells at Army before serving as an assistant to Parcells with the New York Giants, New York Jets and New England Patriots. Groh was defensive coordinator when the Giants won the 1990 Super Bowl.

Parcells, now the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, changed quarterbacks at halftime of a 36-22 loss to the Giants on Monday night. The next day, Groh laughed when he was asked if he might be inclined to offer Parcells tips on quarterback controversies.

``I've been in enough meetings will Bill under these circumstances that we were all hoping we could get out of the meeting unscathed,'' Groh said, enjoying the memory.

``So now that I am a distance away, this would be kind of like putting your hand in the lion's cage when there's no need to do so. I didn't do anything wrong last night, but I think I would probably be the subject of some abuse if I got too close.''

Parcells looked disgusted during the game, and Groh has seen that look before.

``Many times directed toward me,'' he said. ``I think I'll keep my distance on this one.''

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FAMILY TIES: Clemson coach Tommy Bowden can't enjoy his team's success as much as he'd like because of his father's disappointing season at Florida State.

No. 10 Clemson improved to 7-1 after a 31-7 victory over Georgia Tech this past Saturday. But the younger Bowden felt bad for his dad, Bobby, whose Florida State Seminoles (4-3, 2-3) lost 24-19 to Boston College.

``I know how much losses hurt me,'' Tommy said. ``They last the whole week, or they last until they win again. I know it's the same for him, my mother and my brother,'' Jeff, Florida State's offensive coordinator.

Tommy talked with Bobby on Tuesday about the usual topics, family, tips for practice and preparation - not about Bobby's fall to last place in the league's Atlantic Division.

Tommy has heard talk of some Florida State supporters suggesting his 76-year-old father retire after 30 seasons in Tallahassee.

``You don't enjoy it much,'' Tommy said of the criticism heaped upon his father. ``Blood's blood and it's hard to separate it.''

Tommy said his father has thrived in the face of detractors before.

``He's a pretty experienced, cagey, old guy,'' Tommy said. ``It's like water off a duck's back. It really doesn't bother him that much. It bothers my mother more than it bothers him. He carries on. And that's pretty much what you have to do.''

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SAVING TIME: Duke's Ted Roof is one of the few coaches who like the NCAA's new clock rules.

The rules were designed to shorten games, most evidently by starting the clock on kickoffs rather than when the receiving team touches the ball and when the ball is marked for play, rather than on the following snap.

Roof said a shorter game lessens the disadvantage for teams like the Blue Devils, who have less depth.

``Teams that have a bunch of depth, no big deal,'' Roof said. ``Teams that are struggling to build depth, that's a good thing. From where we are right now, I like the rule.''

The rule changes didn't seem to affect the way the Blue Devils handled the final few minutes of their 20-15 loss to Miami. Duke's final possession began with 1:35 to play, and the Blue Devils managed to drive inside Miami's 10-yard line but lost when Thad Lewis' last-second pass was intercepted at the goal line.

``It gave us a chance to have a one-play game at the 6,'' Roof said.

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AP Sports Writers Hank Kurz in Richmond, Va., Pete Iacobelli in Columbia, S.C., and Joedy McCreary in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.

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