NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com NCAA Football FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Recruiting: Nebraska's Mad Scramblehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/02/05/recruiting-nebraskas-mad-scramble/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/02/05/recruiting-nebraskas-mad-scramble/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2008/02/05/recruiting-nebraskas-mad-scramble/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ever want to torture a college football die-hard (rhetorical question)? Tel him or her that one of their school's prized recruits decommitted and then watch their heart sink. It's brutal.

So imagine how things must be for recently hired Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and his staff to have been witness to 15 decommits within their upcoming recruiting class. That's soul-crushing stuff. Their task was never easy to begin with, as Pelini wasn't hired until Dec. 9 with the program in disarray. Throw in Nebraska's wintery weather rounding into form just as the new staff came aboard and you start to see the difficult recruiting task they faced with less than three months to build their first recruiting class.

At present, Nebraska has 24 non-binding commitments and one player already enrolled, as the Huskers' class ranks 27th nationally in the most recent Rivals.com recruiting rankings.

Recruiting: Nebraska's Mad Scramble originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bo PeliniBoPelinirecruitingBrian GrummellTue, 05 Feb 2008 13:42:00 EST Boys In Blue? Terps Beast Out On NC Statehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/25/boys-in-blue-terps-beast-out-on-nc-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/25/boys-in-blue-terps-beast-out-on-nc-state/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/25/boys-in-blue-terps-beast-out-on-nc-state/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Granted, one could use the word "inconsistent" to accurately describe the play of both Maryland and NC State this season, but looking at Saturday's tilt between the two, NC State had three things going for them: momentum, homefield advantage and, most likely, a better working relationship between their QB and head coach. Seemingly healthy for the first time all season, the Terps made good on Ralph Friedgen's reputation with a frighteningly balanced offensive attack that shut things down rather early for the Wolfpack en route to a 37-0 decimation. Led by a Cerberus attack of Da'Rel Scott (Plymouth-Whitemarsh stand up!), Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, MD racked up 249 yards on the ground compared to NC State's 10 and Chris Turner an almost mistake-free game, throwing for 206 yards on 19-24 passing.

For Maryland, this puts them back at 6-6, indicative of their up and down year. Fortunately for them, they've become the eighth bowl eligible team for the ACC, which has eight bowl tie-ins...meaning that they're the best bet to play in the Roady's Humanitarian bowl, provided there's no funny business with the selection process. They'll most likely get a crack at Boise State (though the Aloha Bowl might come calling for them) or Nevada.

Boys In Blue? Terps Beast Out On NC State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ian CohenSun, 25 Nov 2007 19:56:00 EST Referee Creates New Penalty: Giving Someone the Businesshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/25/referee-creates-new-penalty-giving-someone-the-business/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/25/referee-creates-new-penalty-giving-someone-the-business/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/25/referee-creates-new-penalty-giving-someone-the-business/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ACC official Ron Cherry is the Shakespeare of our time, inventing jargon at his whim. I mean, giving someone the business is common enough but not as applied to officiating.

Enjoy a fourth quarter moment of levity from yesterday's Maryland - North Carolina State game.

Referee Creates New Penalty: Giving Someone the Business originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brian GrummellSun, 25 Nov 2007 15:07:00 EST Red, White and Blue? NC State Wants A Boise Vacationhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/20/red-white-and-blue-nc-state-wants-a-boise-vacation/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/20/red-white-and-blue-nc-state-wants-a-boise-vacation/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/20/red-white-and-blue-nc-state-wants-a-boise-vacation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For far too long, the Roady's Humanitarian(that's the new name)/MPC Computers Bowl has been seen as the college football equivalent of community service. I mean, it's a good thing and all, but more often than not, you have to take a big picture view to derive any pleasure and for the most part, it doubles as punishment. This was a rep that got cemented after the 2004-2005 stretch where Virginia and Boston College lugged their Top 25 rankings into no-win situations due to the mishegas of the ACC bowl selection process. In fact, thanks to Virginia, the ACC instituted a rule where bowl selection committees can no longer pass over a team for another one with two fewer conference wins.

But if you want to find a squad that would have no problem shuffling off to Boise (possibly to the chagrin of their fanbase), look no further than Raleigh, where 55th-year senior Darrell Blackman has given typically backhanded praise for their postseason home, should they triumph over Maryland.
"If the opportunity comes, yeah, I'd like to go," a smiling Blackman said Monday. "If it's for another football game, yeah."
So to make that clear- as long as NC State isn't there for a team-building ski trip or attempt to visit the boyhood home of Doug Martsch, Blackman's cool with it. As Dirk Diggler once said, feel my heat. Of course, there's also the matter of Tom O'Brien continuing his streak of bowl bids, but if you can remember anywhere near half of BC's postseason results under TOB, just know that everyone is sick of hearing about your Beantown pride. However, there stands a possibility that the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl (you should always call it by its proper name) could land a marquee name after all. After all, where is the loser of the Hawaii/Boise State game going to end up?

Red, White and Blue? NC State Wants A Boise Vacation originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ian CohenTue, 20 Nov 2007 15:40:00 EST You Can't Fade Wake Foresthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/19/you-cant-fade-wake-forest/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/19/you-cant-fade-wake-forest/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/19/you-cant-fade-wake-forest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So yeah, I'm as guilty as anyone of wondering whether NC State had surpassed Wake Forest as the predominant football team in the state of North Carolina (dear lord, that feels weird to write...until you realize that ECU had played better than any other team in the state except Appalachian). The Demon Deacons were coming off a two-game losing streak that pretty much ran the gamut from heartbreaker to backbreaker, falling in the last seconds to Virginia and getting utterly decimated by Clemson, whereas NC State had righted the ship with four straight wins.

With Humanitarian and Meineke Bowl reps in attendance, Wake sent an emphatic corrective to the doubters (guilty as charged) with a convincing win over the Wolfpack, who play Maryland next week in what will most likely be a bowl elimination game. As for Wake, even with a loss against Vandy next week, the Meineke Bowl seems like a reasonable destination for a 7-5 team. Since Virginia went to the initial two (back when it was called the Continental Tire Bowl), they've selected teams in a manner that have led it to be called (by me and likely few else) the Carolina Invitational. Besides the fact that they bring a better team to the table than either Maryland or NC State (the winner likely headed to Boise), Wake won't have to worry about mobilizing their relatively tiny alumni base to put on a reasonably good show in Charlotte.

You Can't Fade Wake Forest originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ian CohenMon, 19 Nov 2007 17:24:00 EST NC State- Not That Bad?http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/06/nc-state-not-that-bad/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/06/nc-state-not-that-bad/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/06/nc-state-not-that-bad/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

At one point, we had to wonder whether East Carolina deserved to be an ACC team more than a good portion of actual ACC teams. And as far as NC State...although you could usually rely on Tom O'Brien for the most joyless 7-9 win seasons possibly, the Wolfpack looked to regress even further from the Chuck Amato teams that seemed to embody the worst aspects of Florida State teams of the '90s.

But you have to wonder if the Pack are turning things around way faster than expected. Following a convincing win against ECU, they managed to beat Virginia at their own game by scoring a late touchdown to seal a close win. And now, even though the Orange Bowl isn't the forbidding Miami enclave it used to be, beating them in OT would have to constitute a huge leap forward for the Pack. Well, it wasn't pretty, but NC State is now putting themselves in position for an unthinkable bowl bid, moving to 4-5 with a win against Miami, due in no small part to Kyle Freeman's astounding 1-14, 3 INT performance at QB.

Granted, they were outgained by Miami and needed a flubbed 27-yard field goal in OT to get it done, but you can't argue with a +3 turnover margin on the road. Better yet, look at the remaining schedule: a homer against the promising, but inconsistent UNC, a trip to nearby Wake Forest and closing out against the reeling Maryland Terrapins. 6-6 is probable, but 7-5 is even possible, resulting in likely the most appreciated trip to Boise we've seen in some time.

NC State- Not That Bad? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ian CohenTue, 06 Nov 2007 00:04:00 EST Bar is Set Ever Lower at Miami: QB Completes One Passhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/04/bar-is-set-ever-lower-at-miami-qb-completes-one-pass/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/04/bar-is-set-ever-lower-at-miami-qb-completes-one-pass/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/11/04/bar-is-set-ever-lower-at-miami-qb-completes-one-pass/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Miami lost to NC State in OT. Final score: 19-16.

It was an ugly game start to finish, but notable mainly for the fact that Miami has set the bar historically low for quarterback play: starter Kirby Freeman, stepping in for an injured Kyle Wright, completed one pass the entire game.

Completed... one... pass.

Not that his passes weren't caught; 4 out of 14 landed in the arms of a football player. The problem? 3 of them wore NC State uniforms.

At least the pass Freeman did complete (to his own teammate) was a good one, an 84-yard completion to Darnell Jenkins which resulted in a touchdown for the Hurricanes.

As Miami heads down the stretch of their 2007 season, so too does the Orange Bowl's farewell tour. The incredible achievements of legendary teams from the past still resonate within the confines of the aging and rickety stadium, but they seem like distant memories now. The Hurricanes have lost three of their last four games, two of them coming at the "O-B". Only their matchup with #23 Virginia remains before Miami moves to Dolphin Stadium in 2008.

The 'Canes, now at 5-4, face an uphill battle to become bowl eligible. Their three remaining games are against Top 25 teams. In addition to #23 Virginia, #11 Va Tech and (former) #2 BC loom as away games. Miami must win two of three to become bowl eligible -- which, judging by their performance against unranked NC State, who came in to Little Havana with just three wins, seems unlikely to say the least.

So what's the word on new head coach Randy Shannon? Most Miami fans seem willing to give Shannon and his staff a pass for '07, blaming the "Cokerization" (their term) of the team in past years. Considering Miami was able to rush for 314 yards and convert 7 of 19 3rd-downs, and still take the game to overtime despite only one completed pass and 3 turnovers ( all interceptions thrown by Freeman), perhaps the 'Canes are just a decent quarterback away from being a competitive team again.

Bar is Set Ever Lower at Miami: QB Completes One Pass originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 04 Nov 2007 09:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ryan FergusonSun, 04 Nov 2007 09:38:00 EST Virginia's Luck Finally Runs Outhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/27/virginias-luck-finally-runs-out/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/27/virginias-luck-finally-runs-out/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/27/virginias-luck-finally-runs-out/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While Virginia was riding a 7 game winning streak, there were a multitude of reasons to hesitate to take them seriously. Starting with the opening day humiliation to Wyoming, through winning the last 3 games by 4 points. The Hoos never looked like a top team in the ACC. Still, they were (see SMQ, for a very plausible theory on that). They were 4-0 in the conference and always staying close in an entire game before finally pulling it out at the end.

It looked like a similar story in Raleigh to play NC State. For three quarters, Virginia trailed, but never by too much. They were usually within a single score of tying or taking the lead. That's just what they did early in the 4th quarter. Virginia's QB Jameel Sewell was having statistically one of his best games with a career high in passing yards (260) and nearly 300 total yards along with two TDs. Virginia took a 24-23 lead when Mikell Simpson took the ball in for a score.

NC State, however, continued to exploit a poor Virginia pass defense. QB Dan Evans kept tossing it up to Donald Bowens who piled up 202 receiving yards and 2 TDs, including a 30-yard catch to give NC State the lead once more, 29-24.

The Virginia luck ran out shortly after that, when Sewell left the game with a leg injury. After that, the Virginia offense completely stalled. Nothing. The Cavs went 3 and out on their next series. Then back-up QB Peter Lalich was sacked 3 times in their final series to end their chances.

Virginia's Luck Finally Runs Out originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Charles RichSat, 27 Oct 2007 21:54:00 EST Checking Up On The New ACC Coacheshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/12/checking-up-on-the-new-acc-coaches/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/12/checking-up-on-the-new-acc-coaches/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/12/checking-up-on-the-new-acc-coaches/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Four ACC teams entered the season under new head coaches. The expectations for the new men in charge varied from pundit to pundit and program to program. With the season at its midpoint, it seems like a good time to check each honcho's progress.

Jeff Jagodzinski, Boston College
What people were saying before the season: After eight seasons away from the college game, Jags might have the steepest learning curve. It was also questioned if he'd be able to fill Tom O'Brien's shoes.
What they are saying now: Hmm, maybe this guy can coach? There are still many who are questioning how much of BC's current success should be credited to Jags and how much to the senior-laden team left behind by O'Brien.
Prognosis: Jags is clearly off to the best start of any new coach in college football. BC's schedule gets considerably tougher down the stretch. If he gets the Eagles to the ACC championship he'll probably be named ACC coach of the year.

Butch Davis, North Carolina
What people were saying before the season: Outside of the rich guy in Tuscaloosa, Davis might have been the best offseason hire in college football. It will take him a few seasons to build a winner, but he'll recruit like crazy to Chapel Hill.
What they are saying now: Maybe Butch will have this team in a bowl by next season.
Prognosis: Davis has only won two games this season, but has had the Heels competitive in nearly every outing. If they build off of their win over Miami, he could finish the season competing for the ACC's final bowl slot.

Randy Shannon, Miami
What people were saying before the season: A true 'Cane who will get Miami football back on track.
What they are saying now: Things still feel a lot like the Coker era. When Miami trounced Texas A&M on national TV, it seemed like they had put their embarrassing loss to Oklahoma behind them. But as last week's meltdown against UNC showed, the 'Canes are still very inconsistent and the defense is not the dominating unit it was in Miami's best seasons.
Prognosis: Most first time head coaches would love to be 4-2 right now. But Miami is a whole different ball game. Expectations are much higher. Shannon needs to regroup and show that the North Carolina loss was one speed bump en route to bringing Miami back to the top.

Tom O'Brien, NC State
What people were saying before the season: Not the high profile hire like Davis, but the perfect fit for NC State. Someone who can restore order and consistency after the mess left by Chuck Amato.
What they are saying now: This might be the worst season in NC State history. O'Brien style with Amato's recruits is a square peg for a round hole.
Prognosis: With the rash of injuries this team has suffered, 2007 might be a lost cause. But O'Brien's early recruiting has been solid and he should turn NC State around. It just might take longer than people thought...a lot longer.

Checking Up On The New ACC Coaches originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bill MaloneyFri, 12 Oct 2007 14:33:00 EST Nebraska's Defense is Child's Play for Danielhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/09/nebraska-s-defense-is-child-s-play-for-daniel/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/09/nebraska-s-defense-is-child-s-play-for-daniel/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/09/nebraska-s-defense-is-child-s-play-for-daniel/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I suppose when you have a career night, you're allowed to speak your mind. In this case, Chase Daniel is taking full advantage and was a tad uncomplimentary toward the Nebraska defense.
"They're very stubborn," Daniel said. "[Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin] Cosgrove's a very stubborn guy. It's always been that way. ... That's just how he is, that's how they are. They're a bunch of confident guys in what they do, and they felt they had the best chance doing that, so they stuck with it."

"You can't just play one defense the whole entire game," Daniel added. "That's like high school stuff that I faced in high school, so it's nothing new for me."
Ouch. Talk about kicking us when we're down. High school stuff? Like prom dates, and bad acne? High school stuff?

But dammit, Chase Daniel is absolutely right. Kevin Cosgrove is stubborn and the three-man rush the Huskers utilized was less effective than over-the-counter bug spray at Jacobs Field. Realizations like this have led to quite the internal debate - Is this year's Nebraska team really better than Callahan's first team in 2004? Offensively? Probably. Defensively? No way.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go listen to Morrissey and play with knives. You know - high school stuff.

Nebraska's Defense is Child's Play for Daniel originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jeff AdamsTue, 09 Oct 2007 22:32:00 EST Can Amato Change The FSU-NC State Dynamic Again?http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/05/can-amato-change-the-fsu-nc-state-dynamic-again/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/05/can-amato-change-the-fsu-nc-state-dynamic-again/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/10/05/can-amato-change-the-fsu-nc-state-dynamic-again/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In Florida State's first eight years in the ACC they went 7-1 against NC State. In 2000 Chuck Amato left his assistant job in Tallahassee to become the head coach at his alma mater NC State. Like most new coaches Amato talked a good game and made a lot of promises about NC State competing and winning championships. One area where he delivered was in beating FSU.

Amato went 4-3 against Bowden and the Wolfpack were competitive in all but one of the losses. Even last season's disastrous campaign saw NC State upset Florida State in Raleigh. The success against Florida State was frustrating to 'Pack fans. How could the team look so inept at so many different times, yet pull it all together when facing the flagship football program of the ACC? The answer was simple: Amato knew which buttons to push against his old team. It was the rest of the ACC that Chuckie had a problem with, which lead to his firing last fall.

Bobby Bowden obviously didn't hold it against his protégé. After Amato got the boot in Tobacco Road, Papa Bowden welcomed him back in Tallahassee as a Linebacker and assistant head coach. This week the man known for wrap around sunglasses and red shoes faces the Wolfpack for the first time as their former coach. Will Amato's pointers and knowledge of the Wolfpack roster be enough to restore order to the rivalry? Probably but with the way the NC State is playing, FSU would likely beat them without Chuck.

Can Amato Change The FSU-NC State Dynamic Again? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bill MaloneyFri, 05 Oct 2007 16:46:00 EST Wolfpack Going Globalhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/19/wolfpack-going-global/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/19/wolfpack-going-global/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/19/wolfpack-going-global/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When Tom O'Brien moved from Boston College to NC State, he reasoned that he could recruit a different type of player to the Wolfpack. Most assumed that he meant kids less academically inclined or more athletic than the ones he recruited to BC. He also mentioned tapping into new regions like North Carolina, Florida and...Germany. Well, I don't think he envisioned the Rhineland as a new hotbed of talent, but last spring the Wolfpack did sign German Markus Kuhn. Now through attrition, injuries and Kuhn's surprisingly good play, the freshman will get his first start this Saturday against Clemson. Even with their foreign imports, NC State is lacking depth. So I'll just wish them viel glück! (That's good luck in German.)

Wolfpack Going Global originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bill MaloneyWed, 19 Sep 2007 23:38:00 EST Florida State DC Likely To Miss Second Week In A Rowhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/11/florida-states-dc-most-likely-out-for-this-saturday/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/11/florida-states-dc-most-likely-out-for-this-saturday/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/11/florida-states-dc-most-likely-out-for-this-saturday/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Suffice to say that this past Saturday was probably the ACC's worst since, well, the last one. I heard Georgia Tech had a pretty good time, but other than that, mostly sackcloth and ashes. One of the few exceptions of out-of-conference success flew a bit under the radar, with Florida State besting UAB 34-24 a week after Michigan State had every which way with them. Florida State. Struggling against UAB without human tank Darryl Hackney. Under the radar. Is this really how it's gonna be from now on? What would Deion Sanders say? Screw that...what would Burt Reynolds say?

Granted, people are tired of hearing coordinator-related excuses in regards to Florida State's inability to perform on either side of the ball, but it is worth mentioning that Seminole institution Mickey Andrews was out of commission with pneumonia symptoms, and the team is preparing to take the field this Saturday against Colorado without him. Difficult to say how this will end up playing out for FSU, but whatever comments you have about current linebacker coach Chuck Amato since 2001, you have to remember that his work with the Noles had the NC State faithful popping bottles when he was tabbed for head coach. As opposed to what they were doing when Tom O'Brien was hired...maybe eating Wonder Bread with a tall glass of milk.

Florida State DC Likely To Miss Second Week In A Row originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ian CohenTue, 11 Sep 2007 23:51:00 EST Can Anyone In The ACC Play Quarterback?http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/06/can-anyone-in-the-acc-play-quarterback/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/06/can-anyone-in-the-acc-play-quarterback/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/06/can-anyone-in-the-acc-play-quarterback/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

You'll remember that Boston College's Matt Ryan was named ACC Preseason Player of the Year despite not being anything more than the most jet black of darkhorses in terms of Heisman candidacy. But if QB is indeed the most important position on the field, it's only taken one week for Ryan to prove his worth, as he is in a tiny fraternity of ACC signal callers who actually earned their starting gig next for this upcoming Saturday. And it doesn't look like that might change any time soon.

Let's take a look at a rather large sampling of conference QB controversies/fiascoes/injury problems to illustrate what I thought last year: ACC defenses might not have racked up those impressive numbers strictly on their own talent...
Virginia: Man, remember that field goal that the Cavaliers got right before half time against Wyoming? Or, more to the point: how could you forget? That represents the sum total of Virginia's scoring in their last three road contests, divvying out to a robust 1 ppg. That won't get you very far even in the World Cup. As such, there are second thoughts as to whether Jameel Sewell is truly capable of leading the Virginia offense into the Paleozoic Era, let alone the 2007 season and beyond, to the point where vaunted freshman Pete Lalich had his redshirt turned into cinders for three minutes plus of garbage time.

Miami: We've been here before. Like, one week ago. Yeah, yeah 31-3 win and all against Marshall, but Kirby Freeman didn't exactly play in a manner that made him look that much more appealing than a handoff robot (or Kyle Wright at the very least). The stats: 9-21, 84 yds., 1 TD, 1 INT. More importantly, Graig Cooper and Javarris James combined for 215 yards on 26 carries, so until Freeman actively costs the Canes a game, he might be the choice for Randy Shannon.

Wake Forest: Even before Riley Skinner suffered a separated shoulder that will keep him out of the upcoming tilt with Nebraska, he was already good for a Half Henig (3 INT's) against Boston College. In what seems like a yearly ritual, injuries will cause Jim Grobe to work some magic on the offensive end.

Florida State: We've been here before. Like, one week ago. It looked like Xavier Lee was making strides in the offseason, but Drew Weatherford got the nod against Clemson and responded with five sacks taken and a 50% completion rate. For Jeff Bowden, that might be it in terms of vindication for the rest of his life.

NC State: Harrison Beck takes over for Daniel Evans after a valiant, if futile effort in trying to avoid an inaugural loss against Central Florida (yikes) for Tom O'Brien.

Duke: Look, say what you will about the team, but last season, Thaddeus Lewis set school records for freshman passing yards and was the last QB in DI-A to throw an INT (really!). Against UConn, he threw three picks and was eventually pulled for academic scofflaw Zack Asack, returning from a year hiatus after plagiarism accusations. Keep your head up, Josh Portis!

Virginia Tech: I'm not discounting East Carolina; after playing VT tough in week one and beasting out on NC State and Virginia last season, they might as well be a probationary ACC team. But while Sean Glennon's completion percentage (66%) was impressive, the Hokie offense didn't answer a whole lot of lingering questions from last season in its 17-7. Just remember: behind Glennon are Ike Whitaker and blue-chip Tidewater recruit Tyrod Taylor.

Maryland: Jordan Steffy left with cramps against Villanova and looked pretty impressive (unfortunately, all "well, it was against a 1-AA team" rationalizations are mothballed for now), but former super-recruit Josh Portis is out for the year after cheating on a quiz...and his mom couldn't save him this time.

Most shocking of all? Those that weren't included: UNC (last year's starter was moved to WR), Clemson (supposedly trotting out a placeholder for Willy Korn) and Georgia Tech (I don't care if it's Reggie Ball...what's it say that Taylor Bennett never managed to supplant him).

Can Anyone In The ACC Play Quarterback? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ian CohenThu, 06 Sep 2007 21:18:00 EST O'Brien Returns to Boston With New QBhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/04/o-brien-returns-to-boston-with-new-qb/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/04/o-brien-returns-to-boston-with-new-qb/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/09/04/o-brien-returns-to-boston-with-new-qb/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Thankfully Tom O'Brien named a new starting quarterback for Saturday's game against BC. The slight controversy is a little respite from the already tiresome "Old coach returns to the scene of his greatest success" storyline.

In addition to Harrison Beck getting more playing time, O'Brien will need tailback Andre Brown to step up in a major way. State's previously balanced and deep backfield took a hit in their loss to UCF when Toney Baker went down with a knee injury. Brown is the lone big play threat out of the backfield. BC's defense, lead by former O'Brien staffer Frank Spaziani, held Wake Forest to two yards rushing in the Eagles win Saturday. If Brown is held in check too, it could be a long day for Beck.

The familiarity between the staffs will be a factor Saturday, but it should be recognized how much is different with the two teams. BC is running a new offense and O'Brien defensive staff only has one coach who came with him from BC.

Although the bad blood angle is overblown, Eagles fans certainly were gloating as the scores from Raleigh rolled in. Yet the BC faithful know better than to dismiss the Wolfpack. Anyone who has followed O'Brien can tell you that his M.O. is to follow up a sloppy head-scratching loss like UCF with an upset. If he does stun BC this weekend, the uneven campaign would be a good introduction to NC State fans of the Tantalus nature of following O'Brien teams.

O'Brien Returns to Boston With New QB originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bill MaloneyTue, 04 Sep 2007 13:46:00 EST New Coaches, Same Old Quarterbackshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/08/28/new-coaches-same-old-quarterbacks/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/08/28/new-coaches-same-old-quarterbacks/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/08/28/new-coaches-same-old-quarterbacks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tom O'Brien and Randy Shannon have both made significant changes to NC State and Miami respectively. Discipline has returned. Teamwork and accountability are being emphasized. New offenses are in place. Two things that are not changing are the starting quarterbacks. Despite intense preseason battles both coaches are going with the guy who was the starter at the end of last season.

O'Brien tabbed Daniel Evans, whose career got off to Cinderella start (ironically against O'Brien) with two wins. But the second-generation Wolfpacker struggled down the stretch. His season totals were a less than impressive 11 INTs with only 6 touchdowns. If Evans cannot carry his good practice play onto the field, look for O'Brien to give Nebraska transfer Harrison Beck or the highly-recruited Justin Burke a shot.

Although Miami's starter Kirby Freeman helped the 'Canes win their final two games of 2006, Randy Shannon's decision was not clear cut. The coach could have gone with the more experienced Kyle Wright. Neither player has ever shown the consistency that Shannon would like. As with NC State, don't be surprised if Freeman is on a short leash. Like the Coker days, Miami is still going to have to win games with their defense.

New Coaches, Same Old Quarterbacks originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bill MaloneyTue, 28 Aug 2007 17:14:00 EST ACC Football Preview '07: The Dregshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/08/16/acc-football-preview-07-the-dregs/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/08/16/acc-football-preview-07-the-dregs/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/08/16/acc-football-preview-07-the-dregs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Given the parity of the past few seasons, it is not safe to call an ACC team The Dregs. But these are the three teams that have the lowest expectations entering the new season. Although we are writing them off here, no one would be surprised to see UNC or NC State improve this year. The only sure thing about this group is that Duke will suck.
Duke

Last Year: 0-12 overall, 0-8 ACC

Why They'll Win: Experience. Unfortunately the only thing these guys are experienced in is losing. But there is hope. Duke's offense, with 11 returning starters, should score more this season. The Blue Devils were not blown out like you'd expect a winless team to be. With the increased offensive production and just a little change in luck they should win a game or two. The most winnable games on the schedule are UConn and Navy. But if you're Duke even one win would be an improvement, hence they are the dreggiest of the dregs.

Why They Won't: The schedule. Whoever is making the schedule for the Blue Devils is not doing them any favors. They are one of the few teams not playing one DIAA team. They only have five home games. Their out of conference schedule includes three BCS teams and a very scrappy Navy. There is no gimme on the whole list. Duke could be 100% better than last year and still end up without a win due to the improved competition.

Prognosis: Duke is bound to win a game this year. After a while the odds would say that they'll put it all together just when another team is having an off day. Roof has done some good things and put together his best team. If they can get to two wins people will be tearing down goalposts in Durham.

North Carolina

Last year: 3-9 overall, 2-6 ACC

Why They'll Win: Butch Davis. Nick Saban turned the most heads with his move to Alabama, but Davis might have been the best hire of the offseason. He's rebuilt programs before, is a tireless recruiter and a great defensive coach. While his full impact won't be seen on the field for a few seasons, his presence and respected staff should make enough of a difference to help improve the previously floundering Tar Heels.

Why They Won't: Talent. Davis' acumen is much needed in Chapel Hill because right now the roster is very thin on experience and talent. UNC returns just nine starters (five on offense, four on defense). There isn't enough talent to compete with the best of the ACC which will make winning rare.

Prognosis: The schedule is forgiving so there is a real chance UNC will improve on last season's win total. East Carolina and USF are winnable. James Madison is a sure thing. And it is not unreasonable to expect UNC to get three wins from their stretch against UVA, Wake, Maryland, NC State and Duke. The Tar Heels won't go bowling this year, but they will definitely be better.

North Carolina State

Last season: 3-9 overall, 2-6 ACC

Why They'll Win: Talent and coaching. Former NC State Chuck Amato may have lacked when it came to play calling, but he was certainly a good recruiter. New coach Tom O'Brien inherits a team with many playmakers including the talented backfield of Andre Brown and Tony Baker. The talent combined with the increased coaching competency should turn some of last season's narrow losses into wins.

Why They Won't: Quarterback play. New offensive coordinator Dana Bible's scheme calls on the QB to make quick decisions and accurate throws. When it works it can elevate a player to all conference (see Matt Ryan). When it doesn't, it can be a frustrating, stagnant mess. Unfortunately for Pack fans there isn't a Matt Ryan on the roster. Daniel Evans, Harrison Beck and Justin Burke are all competing for the starting role and none have distinguished himself so far. If none of them are able to grasp the new offense, NC State will have a hard time improving on last season's win total.

Prognosis: The schedule is tough with only Wofford as a sure thing. But even with the growing pains of the new staff NC State has enough talent to beat any team on their schedule. Look for Tom O'Brien to pull an upset or two and the Pack to make babysteps back to respectability.

ACC Football Preview '07: The Dregs originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 23:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bill MaloneyThu, 16 Aug 2007 23:12:00 EST Wolfpack TE Anthony Hill Out For Yearhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/07/26/wolfpack-te-anthony-hill-out-for-year/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/07/26/wolfpack-te-anthony-hill-out-for-year/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/07/26/wolfpack-te-anthony-hill-out-for-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A blow to NC State's ACC title-- um. A blow to NC State's bowl hopes in the form of the exploding knee:
NC State head football coach Tom O'Brien has announced that senior tight end Anthony Hill underwent reconstructive knee surgery on Wednesday and will be forced to miss the 2007 season.
Hill was second team All-ACC a year ago, leading the Wolfpack's punchless air attack with 45 catches for 478 yards and no touchdowns. Not that there were any touchdowns to go around: NC State finished the year 109th in passing efficiency. NC State blog Section Six says "doh," as you might expect.

Wolfpack TE Anthony Hill Out For Year originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>anthony hillAnthonyHillBrian CookThu, 26 Jul 2007 00:48:00 EST NC State Gets Tough Over Toughiehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/06/11/nc-state-gets-tough-over-toughie/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/06/11/nc-state-gets-tough-over-toughie/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/06/11/nc-state-gets-tough-over-toughie/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's hard to get worked up over team nicknames, especially in college sports. While a few have some sort of regional or historical origin, most of us root for Lions, Tigers and Bears. Numerous schools share the same nickname with little problem. This mascot harmony makes NC State brouhaha with Nevada interesting. The Wolfpack (one word) is threatening legal action against the Wolf Pack (two words) over use of a cartoon logo known as "toughie" (HT: Wizard of Odds).

I understand licensing and the importance of trademarks and intellectual property, but this seems a little unnecessary. I don't think anyone is going to confuse the two schools or that Nevada will unfairly benefit or cannibalize NC State's merchandise sales.

Lost in this bickering over retro looks and who had something that looked like Toughie first, is the question: has anyone noticed that Toughie looks more like a dog than a wolf? If I were Nevada, I'd let NC State keep Toughie and come up with some nouveau wolf cartoon design. Forget retro. Follow Oregon's lead and embrace the new and the ugly.

NC State Gets Tough Over Toughie originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bill MaloneyMon, 11 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EST The Bill Snyder Scheduling Award: The ACChttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/06/05/the-bill-snyder-scheduling-award-the-acc/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/06/05/the-bill-snyder-scheduling-award-the-acc/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2007/06/05/the-bill-snyder-scheduling-award-the-acc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Former Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder is a legend in college football. Not just for making K-State relevant, but for his astounding non-conference schedules that presented not simply a minimal risk of loss, but usually guaranteed a 3 touchdown beatdown -- minimum. It would be compounded by rarely including a single road game and almost never an opponent from another BCS Conference. To honor the legacy of Coach Snyder, we bring you the FanHouse "Bill Snyder Award Honoring Excellence in the Scheduling of Creampuffs and Patsies".

Determining the Bill Snyder of the ACC rquires the splitting of some pretty thin hairs, and it's not just because East Carolina, Army, Navy and Notre Dame pop up on so many schedules that you think they're trying to become probationary members of the conference. Which I'm sure would please John Swofford to no end, conjuring fantasy scenarios of a 16-team double elimination tourney to close out the season. It's tough to think of any schools in the conference with the rep of cupcake connoisseur, although that used to be Virginia Tech in their Big East days. Most ACC schools have only three games to play with and moreso than just about any conference, it has teams that meet annually in rivalry games that are always a treat but aren't the result of creative scheduling; see South Carolina/Clemson, Georgia Tech/UGA, Florida/Florida State and up until a few years ago, Virginia Tech/UVA. There's not a lot of room for maneuvering.

What we need to do first to shake things out is start a process of elimination that rewards at least a facade of trying. While the vagaries of out-of-conference scheduling assures that you're having at least one "let's get drunk by noon and watch it on GameCast" special regardless of your best intentions, some schools managed to score one big-time matchup and are thus eliminated. First amongst those teams is Virginia Tech, who have enough problems to deal with before they get a monster second-week date with LSU in Death Valley. However, it is worth noting that it was the very same Bayou Bengals who pulled a win at Arizona State after being ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and there are factions which believe that Les Miles does have more than a little bit of that Dirk Koetter tendency to piss away leads (see: Tennesse/LSU in 2005, Texas/OSU previously). Meanwhile, Florida State gets one of the premier name games of the season with a tilt with Alabama and Wake Forest somehow brings Nebraska to Winston-Salem. Miami manages to top them all with a Big 12 two-step with Texas A&M and Oklahoma. And as far as Duke goes, it's just petty to even include them in this discussion, and when you haven't won a game in two years, even Vanderbilt and Northwestern can constitute a pretty ambitious slate even if it's just for a chance to network for cushy jobs in the financial sector.

From there on out, it gets a little uninspiring to say the least amongst the teams that could use a few gimmes to get that sweet, sweet bowl eligibility. At the risk of spurring more character attacks on The Sabre, UVA's 2007 OOC slate isn't the worst so much as it is the most mediocre, something they're trying to remedy with future clashes with USC and Penn State. Going to Laramie for the first game of the season is likely more difficult than it sounds, but other than that, it's about as meh as you're likely to see; the Pitt home-and-home is reminiscent of the Penn State one in 2001-2002 where both teams seem to have hit simultaneous troughs. And then there's Middle Tennessee State and Connecticut, which will likely stretch the capacity of even the most creative Hoo heckler.

As far as teams that scheduled whatever the NCAA wants to call D-IAA these days, UNC kinda gets off here for going up against recent champ James Madison, seeing the problems they had with Furman last year. And even with that new coach smell with Butch Davis, this squad is a long way from being truly competitive. Maryland's questionable scheduling of (admittedly decent D-IAA) Villanova and Florida International are more than made up for with consecutive weeks against West Virginia and Rutgers. A particularly brutal one-two punch of Army and Samford is counterbalanced by Georgia Tech opening up in South Bend, and having the death wish of facing Georgia with Chan Gailey as their head coach.

But in the end, the Bill Snyder Award has to go Boston College, which doesn't sound right for whatever reason. Before you start bringing up Notre Dame, I'd like for you to name their starting QB, RB, WR's and maybe take a look at their offensive line. This is where you'll see that Ty Willingham ain't getting his security deposit back after the mess he made. But taken in combination with a new coach with Krzyzewski-potential for mispellings, 2007 looks to be pretty frustrating for the Golden Eagle faithful. Watching Army play football these days is about as disheartening as finding out that James Blunt also fought in Iraq. UMass isn't even a good basketball rivalry any more, and without bionic human tank Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green fell to 4-8 in a MAC that wasn't brimming with Culpeppers and Roethlisbergers. Oh, and these three are all at home. So even if Tom O'Brien isn't in the building anymore, BC can rest assure they can still set their clocks to those eight wins and modest bowl game.

The Bill Snyder Scheduling Award: The ACC originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ian CohenTue, 05 Jun 2007 23:31:00 EST