He has probably seen "the look" at least 1,000 times. And each time it is immediately followed by "the question."

Whether it's on the golf course, during a pick-up basketball game or while he's grabbing a Gatorade at the convenience store, Al Gore III has grown accustomed to the routine he goes through every time someone hears his name.

"Your name is Al Gore?" they ask with a raise of the brow. "Are you related to that Al Gore?"

The answer, of course, is yes. Not only is he related to the vice president of the United States, Al Gore III is the son of Al Gore, the Democratic nominee for the 2000 presidential election.

"It's just something that I've learned to deal with," says Gore III, a senior at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., which is also the alma mater of President Clinton's daughter, Chelsea.

	It isn't always easy for Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.) senior linebacker Al Gore III to make a name for himself.

"Obviously, [the attention] has become more difficult this year with the election and everything. And if he wins, I guess I can expect it to get even more intense. But that comes with the territory. I don't expect it to ever be something that I can't deal with."

In fact, "dealing" with the attention that comes with being the only son of the man attempting to become the most powerful person on the planet is something the 18-year-old Gore has become quite efficient at. He certainly hasn't let it affect him in the classroom, where he receives mostly A's and high B's, or on the athletic field, where he's a two-sport standout in football and lacrosse.

And when it comes to his everyday life, Al Gore III is just plain "Al" to his friends and teammates.

"He definitely shies away from the spotlight," says senior quarterback Dev Talvadkar, a close friend of Gore, who threw for 1,358 yards and 17 TD passes in the Quakers' first six games this season. "Some kids would probably try to take advantage of being the vice president's son, but not Al.

"I admire him for that. I know that it can't be easy, but Al wants to make a name for himself. He doesn't want to live off who his father is. He's just one of the guys to us."

Being just like every other kid is part of Gore's master plan. Even if he weren't Al Gore's son, he would still garner plenty of attention for his athletic achievements. He's a three-year starter at middle linebacker and led the team in tackles last year as a junior with 66 stops (22 solo).

This year, Gore has also started at tight end, but, according to head coach John Simon, the senior captain could line up virtually anywhere on the field.

"He's a solid team leader and the kind of kid I would feel comfortable playing at any position," says Simon, who moved Gore to defensive line for the team's 34-13 Mid-Atlantic Conference title-clinching victory over the Potomac School Oct. 14.

"The kids really look up to him because he's so dedicated to the game," adds Simon. "He's come a long way thanks to his work in the weight room. He's one of the strongest players on the team, and that wasn't always the case."

Gore admits he was a little "pudgy" when he showed up for his first day of classes at Sidwell Friends in eighth grade after spending his first four years in D.C. at St. Albans School for Boys. At the time, he could only bench-press 150 pounds. Today, the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder can lift 315 pounds and rip off five repetitions of 225 pounds.

His stature and strength, as well as his play on the field and success in the classroom, have helped him receive interest from a host of Ivy League schools, as well as Holy Cross and Georgetown University. There's a chance Gore could end up at Harvard, where his 21-year-old sister, Sarah, is currently a senior and his father received a government degree in 1969.

"I played soccer and lacrosse growing up, so my first year playing organized football wasn't until [high school]," says Gore, who was an All-Conference attackman on Sidwell's lacrosse team last season.

"I always thought that lacrosse was going to be my sport, but once I got to high school, I knew that I was more suited for football. When I got switched from defensive line to linebacker (his sophomore year) it was the most fun I ever had. I just love playing the game so much."

Despite a chaotic travel schedule, the vice president is in attendance at each and every one of his son's games. And while the home fans have gotten over the fact that the vice president is in attendance, Sidwell's road games can become a circus.

"One time, there was a line a mile long of people asking for his autograph," says the younger Gore, who has two other older sisters - Karenna, 27, and Kristin, 23. "But he's been coming to all of my games my whole life. I love it when he's there. He's just being an ordinary dad coming to his son's game."

The vice president isn't the only one who is the recipient of extra attention during and after Sidwell's football games.

"When we lost to Allegany this year (the team's first loss), it was a real tough loss for us and we were all pretty upset," says Amir Jenkins, one of four senior captains on the team, along with Gore, Talvadkar and Adam Wood.

"After the game we were walking off the field and some people came up to [Gore III] and wanted to take some pictures of him," adds Jenkins. "I was amazed at how well he handled the situation. Here he was, all upset that we just lost a tough game, and these people wanted him to stand there and smile. I don't know if I would have been able to be so polite. But that's Al. He always keeps his cool."

Unfortunately, the attention Gore receives isn't always so positive. He is often the subject of quite a bit of trash talking on the field.

When asked what the worst thing he ever heard on the field was, Gore, like a true politician's son, sidestepped the question. He did indicate that the "friendly" banter that goes on between plays only serves as motivation.

"Let's just say that the guy across from me isn't doing himself any favors by getting me fired up," says Gore with a laugh.

While he seems to have mastered the role of being the vice president's son and a high school student at the same time, Gore also realizes that life next year could be much different. Not only will he be in college - he's undecided on his major but is fairly certain he won't go into politics - he very well could be the "First Son of the United States."

"I try not to think about it too much," says Gore, who often spends time playing one-on-one hoops against his father, who played freshman basketball at Harvard and, according to Al III, is "automatic" from the outside. ("People would be surprised at how good an athlete he is," adds the younger Gore.)

"I'm just as curious as everybody else. I wonder how the election is going to end up," continues Gore. "It's going to be fun to watch. [On election night], we'll all (his family) be in Tennessee (where his father was raised) waiting to hear the word. But I don't let it dominate my life. I like my privacy and anonymity just like anyone else."

But as he has learned over the years, that isn't always easy when your name is Al Gore.

"For the most part, I'm able to lead a pretty normal life," says Gore. "[Being the vice president's son] isn't really a big deal to me or my friends anymore. I just want to be able to make a name for myself."