Clemson stops Duke awaits bowl call.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

CLEMSON, S.C. _ After Woodrow Dantzler made college football history Saturday, bowl executive Dylan Thomas vowed to make a pitch for Clemson to the Tangerine Bowl selection committee.

Dantzler ran for 135 yards to lead Clemson to a 59-31 victory over Duke at Memorial Stadium and become the first college football player to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 2,000.

As Thomas clutched an orange jersey bearing his name that was given to him by Clemson officials, he said Dantzler would be a good marquee player for the Tangerine Bowl.

In a 2 p.m. vote Sunday, Florida Citrus Sports Association officials will choose Clemson or N.C. State for the ACC's automatic bid to the game. As a senior director of the association, Thomas doesn't have a vote, but will give a report to the 100 or so voting scouts.

"The only report I can give is a Clemson report," Thomas said, "and it's a good one."

Should the Tangerine Bowl fail to select Clemson, the Tigers still would have a chance to gain an at-large invitation to the Silicon Valley Classic.

Ken Berry, the director of operations for that game in San Jose, Calif., said Clemson, N.C. State or Michigan State would receive that bid.