A battered and bruised Boston College football team will go into Saturday's game against Clemson with the longest injury list of the season. BC coach Frank Spaziani began with the major injuries in his weekly run down with reporters this afternoon and then expanded, including the announcement that redshirt freshman running back Sterlin Phifer had left the team.

"Let's work this way,'' said Spaziani with a smile. "I will tell you who's healthy."

"[DeLeon] Gause is out,'' said Spaziani, talking about his starting cornerback who suffered a cartilage injury in his right knee in last week's 24-21 loss to Maryland. "And it looks like it might be longer than anticipated. Wes [Davis], (who suffered a neck injury against Maryland) is out depending on further evaluation. And Alex (broken right fibula) is out.''

Spaziani was noncommittal about the departure of Phifer, who played a limited role as a backup running back to Montel Harris, saying simply that he had left the team. Phifer had appeared in all seven games, with 17 carries for 101 yards and 1 TD. With Phifer out of the mix, freshman running back Andre Williams moved up on the depth chart.

Also on the injury list:

-- Defensive tackle Conor O'Neal (leg) was listed as questionable, as was defensive end Brad Newman (leg).

-- Offensively, wide receiver Billy Flutie is probably out with a hamstring pull, although he could see action as a holder on place kicks and extra points. Also out is freshman wide receiver Shakim Phillips (shoulder). Wide Receiver Clyde Lee (leg) is probable.

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Offensive left tackle Anthony Castonzo again missed practice because of an academic conflict, but he did receive a special honor this afternoon when it was announced that Castonzo, who has a 3.45 GPA majoring in biochemistry, was among the winners of the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Awards. The award carries an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and also makes Castonzo a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, the Academic Heisman. Castonzo is also a candidate for a Rhodes Scholarship.