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Bobby BowdenIt's becoming clear that Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who turn 80 on Sunday, wants to coach the Seminoles in 2010.

The feisty Bowden has tipped his hand many times since coming under fire from high-level boosters, fans and the media following a 2-4 start.

Consecutive victories over North Carolina and North Carolina State have helped quiet restless critics -- and a victory Saturday at Clemson would vault FSU into second place in the ACC Atlantic Division -- and Bowden said Wednesday he will make the final call on who replaces retiring Mickey Andrews as defensive coordinator.

However, Bowden also stressed that head coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher will make a strong contribution to the process, so don't expect a disagreement conspiracy between the pair.

"I think [Fisher] definitely has to have a say-so because he's the future here. You know it?" Bowden said. "And it's one of those things I'll make the final decision on. But I'll definitely get his input, and very strongly."

Fisher is scheduled to become the next FSU coach no later than Jan. 1, 2011. If he is not, his contract calls for him to be paid $5 million.

Florida State president T.K. Wetherell said in a statement last month that Bowden's status will be evaluated after the season, and the university would have no comment until then.

In his weekly conference on the Monday with the media, including FanHouse, Fisher said that he anticipates a smooth process with Bowden in hiring the defensive coordinator. Andrews had indicated prior to the season, his 26th at FSU, that this would be his last. He made it official on Wednesday.

Fisher said he keeps a working list of prospects for all position coaches. A timetable has not been set for naming a new defensive coordinator.

"I'm glad to have the input on what we're going to do in the future and what we want to do," Fisher said. "[There] are some outstanding guys [that] will be out there, I'm sure. This is a great job. That's why I don't want to go anywhere.

"I love it here."

FSU fans, however, appear to need coaxing to rally behind their team.

In last Saturday's homecoming game against N.C. State, the Seminoles played before their smallest crowd since 1993. A noon game on Halloween combined with rainy weather, a slow economy and the team's poor performance this season added up to just 67,712 tickets sold in a stadium that seats 82,300.

Quite frankly, judging by the huge pockets of empty seats, it's also unlikely that all ticket holders attended. The athletic department lost out on more than $700,000 in potential ticket revenue, according to school officials.

The Seminoles, who haven't beaten Clemson in Memorial Stadium since 2001, have remaining games at Wake Forest, home against Maryland and at top-ranked Florida.

"We can only take care of what we can take care of, and that's who we play," Bowden said. "This ballgame coming up is the biggest one. However, if you win it, the next one becomes the biggest one."

Stop the Bleeding

Virginia Tech is looking to avoid its first three-game losing streak since 2003 when the Hokies travel to East Carolina Thursday night. Tech head coach Frank Beamer has had only two three-game losing streaks during the Hokies' 16-year bowl run (1997, 2003).

A victory on ESPN would make Tech bowl eligible for the 17th-straight season.

How the Hokies rebound from consecutive defeats to Georgia Tech and North Carolina last Thursday will rely in large part on what their defense can do to reverse a recent trend of poor play on third down, when opponents have converted 18-of-34 the last two games.

"There hasn't been a game this season that we haven't played hard, but sometimes we have to play better and more consistent," Beamer said. "These guys care and we are going to move forward with that in mind."

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Epic Battle

Duke and North Carolina meet on Saturday in what normally translates into an epic battle on the basketball court. But we're talking football at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C

Don't be fooled. This is a huge game for the Blue Devils, who will become bowl eligible for the first time since 1994 with a victory. Duke is also looking for its first victory over UNC, which is coming off an emotional and dramatic win at Virginia Tech, since 2003 and just its second since 1989.

Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis has posted four consecutive 300-yard passing games. UNC coach Butch Davis went as far as to compare the Blue Devils offense to that of the Indianapolis Colts.

"After I saw [those comments], I called (Colts President) Bill Polian and asked if I could borrow his five offensive linemen," Duke coach David Cutcliffe laughed.

He turned me down."

Unlucky Deacs

Just 4-5 overall with a 2-3 ACC record entering Saturday's conference showdown against host Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Wake Forest has nearly run out of wiggle room. The Deacs need two wins in their remaining three games to become bowl eligible.

Four of Wake Forest's five losses have been decided by a combined 10 points. Making matters worse, senior quarterback Riley Skinner, who suffered a concussion in last Saturday's defeat against Miami, has been listed as questionable for this week's game.

Skinner is just one of three quarterbacks in ACC history to throw for 2,000 or more yards in each of his four seasons. That list also includes N.C. State's Philip Rivers and Duke's Thaddeus Lewis, who reached that milestone last Saturday.

"We're capable of winning," Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said.

"That's the thing that we know. We've got to have things go right and not much has gone right for this football team. Unfortunately these guys have had some really bad breaks along the way. Obviously we've had some plays we could have made that would have made the difference without needing a break. But this is just about the most unlucky football team I've coached."

After watching film of Wake Forest's games this season, Tech head coach Paul Johnson agrees with Grobe.

"I think a lot of [their troubles] can be attributed to just bad luck," Johnson said.

ACC Notebook: Bowden Still Boss originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bobby BowdenBobbyBowdenjimbo fisherJim HenryThu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST ACC Notebook: Hokies, Heels Look to Bounce Backhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/acc-notebook-hokies-heels-look-to-rebound/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/acc-notebook-hokies-heels-look-to-rebound/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/acc-notebook-hokies-heels-look-to-rebound/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Frank BeamerBoth Virginia Tech and North Carolina want to move forward Thursday night following difficult losses. One of the two will be disappointed.

The No. 14 Hokies (5-2 overall, 3-1 ACC) say they are no longer stewing over their 28-23 loss at Georgia Tech on Oct. 17, despite the lingering chatter about the Yellow Jackets' chop-blocking techniques and how Virginia Tech no longer controls its destiny in the ACC's Coastal Division.

UNC is coming off a tough loss, too. Playing its first Thursday night home game a week ago, the Tar Heels led Florida State 24-6 after halftime and then fell apart, losing 30-27. The Seminoles had 285 of their 395 passing yards in the second half to keep the Tar Heels (4-3, 0-3) winless in the ACC.

"I thought we were over Georgia Tech last week," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said.

"We played hard. They made some great plays. They've got some great players. We didn't quite play as well as we needed to and lost. ... I think our coaches and players put that loss behind us and moved on. We'll see (Thursday night)."

A national television audience and fans at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., should see a tussle over the running game.

UNC has the second-best rushing defense in the league (102.6 yards per game) and allowed only 48 yards to FSU. Virginia Tech, led by Ryan Williams and Josh Oglesby, is second in rushing offense (203.7 ypg).

The Hokies are also looking for consistency on defense after being scorched for 309 rushing yards by Georgia Tech. The defense has already allowed 12 rushes of 20 yards or longer, nearly matching last year's season total (14).

"They know I am not happy," Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. "That's unacceptable around here. For us to have the type of team we need to down the stretch, we've got to play great defense."

As far as the league's pecking order, Virginia Tech needs help if it's going to make a third consecutive appearance in the ACC championship game. The Hokies must win their four remaining conference games and have No. 11 Georgia Tech lose to either Wake Forest or Duke.

"There's a lot of football to be played," Beamer said.

"You've got your BCS standings. You've got your conference situation, and there's just a lot of football to be played. What we can control is how we prepare and how we play against North Carolina. So that's the key thing for us right now, to put all our efforts toward North Carolina."

UNC, meanwhile, now must scramble just to make the postseason. With games at the Hokies, Boston College and N.C. State, as well as home games against Duke and No. 18 Miami, it looks like a tall order.

HOME SWEET HOME?

Over its last six home games, Florida State is an embarrassing 1-5. The only victory came against Jacksonville State in September when the Seminoles scored twice in the closing minutes to survive.

FSU hopes to change its luck Saturday against struggling North Carolina State.

"We've been a mistake-prone football team," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said.

"We've been making just enough errors to get yourself beat. We play close and then we either win it or lose it in the last three minutes. The game we won was that way. I think everybody would rather play at home. It's just that it hasn't happened. And it needs to happen."

Yes it does, especially if the Seminoles want to remain in contention for the ACC championship.

Say what?

It might be a pipe dream, considering FSU's schizophrenic play, but the Seminoles need to win their remaining league games against N.C. State, Wake Forest, Clemson and Maryland to finish 4-1 in the Atlantic Division (and 4-3 overall in the ACC).

If that somehow happens and Boston College losses to either Virginia, North Carolina or Maryland in November, the Seminoles would land in the ACC title game in Tampa, Fla.

When asked if the Seminoles' dramatic comeback victory at UNC last Thursday could turn around the Seminoles' season, Bowden said, "Well, the answer to that is, yes it can. But the question is, will it?

"Did BYU (victory) turn things around? No. We had a great doggone ballgame and then the next week got beat -- and lost, what, three in a row? Is it going to have that effect? It could, but nothing's a guarantee. So we're just going to see what happens."

HOT STREAK

The Duke Blue Devils (4-3, 2-1) haven't played in a bowl since the 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl. And they haven't even come close to bowl eligibility since that trip to Tampa.

Well, the Blue Devils have won two straight ACC games for the first time since 1994 and will try to go for three in a row Saturday at Virginia.

Duke needs three wins in its remaining five games to earn bowl status since its win over North Carolina Central, which is transitioning to FCS status, doesn't count in the postseason picture.

Duke coach David Cutcliffe, a positive chap, is certainly enjoying the journey.

"It's week nine of college football and it keeps getting more intense, and I think probably more fun for everybody -- players, coaches, fans and media," he said.

"All of these games get bigger and bigger and bigger."

MIND BOGGLING

Boston College Frank Spaziani was surprised when running back Josh Haden and quarterback Justin Tuggle informed him earlier this week of their plans to leave the program and transfer.

Tuggle started the first two games of the season and helped lead the Eagles to easy victories. But he struggled in a 25-7 loss to Clemson, completing just 4 of 20 passes for 23 yards. Tuggle was intercepted three times and sacked three times. He slipped on the depth chart to No. 3 and then No. 3 with Dave Shinskie and Mike Marscovetra ahead of him.

Haden, whose older brother Joe is a starting cornerback for the top-ranked Florida Gators, started 13 career games and gained 479 yards. Haden, however, has been slowed by an ankle injury and saw his playing time diminish with the emergence of Montel Harris, who turned in a 264-yard, five-touchdown effort in a win over North Carolina earlier this month.

"The timing is tough," Spaziani said.

"As to what was on their minds, I don't know. Who can figure out what is in the minds of 19- or 20-year-olds sometimes.''

ACC Notebook: Hokies, Heels Look to Bounce Back originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jim HenryThu, 29 Oct 2009 09:26:00 EST ACC Notebook: Hokies Can't Let Uphttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/acc-notebook-hokies-cant-let-up/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/acc-notebook-hokies-cant-let-up/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/acc-notebook-hokies-cant-let-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Virginia Tech travels to Georgia Tech on Saturday in what may be the biggest hurdle left on the Hokies' regular season schedule. The fourth-ranked Hokies are in prime position to be in the national title race with some help. They will also virtually wrap up the ACC Coastal Division with a win in Atlanta.

Of course, this isn't expected to be a walk in the park for Tech either.

The Yellow Jackets, who have won three straight, present a unique challenge to the Virginia Tech defense behind their triple-option. Over the last three games, Georgia Tech has averaged 472.3 yards of total offense. The Hokies, always strong on defense and special teams, appear to be finally clicking on all cylinders now that quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back Ryan Williams are propelling the offense.

The game will feature the top three rushers in the ACC -- Williams and the Yellow Jackets' running back Jonathan Dwyer and quarterback Josh Nesbitt, who has rushed more than 20 times in each of Tech's last three games.

"Historically, you know that they're going to be strong defensively and in special teams," Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said.

"But, offensively they've played well, scoring a lot of points and racking up a bunch of yards. They have a very athletic quarterback, their tailback is a great player, they have a veteran offensive line and an experienced tight end and they're very well coached. They are just a good team and usually good teams get better as the season goes on."

Virginia Tech has won five straight games after a season-opening loss to Alabama in the Georgia Dome. The Hokies whipped visiting Boston College, 48-14, last Saturday in a rematch of the last two ACC championship games. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer is extremely wary of the Yellow Jackets' triple option.

"They are more advanced this year," Beamer said.

"This is the second year they have been in it. They don't turn the ball over very much, and they keep it in the quarterback's hands a lot. But I just think, overall, they are more advanced. It can work both ways, I think the fact that it is different from what you see on a normal basis, makes it very difficult to prepare for in four or five days."

BACK ON THE BUMP

Dave Shinskie will start at quarterback for Boston College in Saturday's home date against North Carolina State at Alumni Stadium. But how long will he play?

Shinskie is still trying to get past last Saturday Virginia Tech loss in which he completed 1 of 12 passes for 2 yards and threw two interceptions. Shinskie told The Boston Globe that he is moving on -- or making the attempt.

"I've been through bad losses," said Shinskie, who played professional baseball before switching careers this past summer.

"It's almost going out in the first inning of a baseball game and giving up nine runs. Your ERA is going to be high. You have to come back throw nine strong innings and hold them scoreless the next time. You've got to put it behind you. You have to do it or you're not going to make it."

STAYING OR GOING?

Bobby Bowden is sticking to his guns. Sort of.

Florida State's legendary coach went on a nationally televised show on Tuesday night and said he was "strongly leaning" toward returning for the 2010 football season. When pressed by the media about the comment following the Seminoles' practice on Wednesday, Bowden said, "If that's what I said, that's what I meant."

Bowden, called to step down at season's end by the university's board of trustees chairman, is under a one year-contract that will be reviewed by the FSU administration at the end of the season.

Last week, Bowden, under fire for the Seminoles' 2-4 start, went on various radio and television shows and said that he would make a decision after the season. He has since softened that stance.

In his Sunday news conference, Bowden said, "I think it's my decision. I think it is" when asked who had the ultimate decision -- Bowden or the FSU administration? -- concerning his future.

FSU has a contract with offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher that names him the head coach by Jan. 2011 or pays him $5 million.

STREAKING

Duke's 49-28 thrashing of host North Carolina State on Saturday was a big win. How big?

The last time Duke won in Carter-Finley was 1984. None of the current Blue Devils were born yet and Duke head coach David Cutcliffe was a 35-year old tight ends coach at Tennessee.

The victory ended an eight-game ACC losing streak, an 11-game slide against the Wolfpack and a 20-game road losing streak in the ACC.

"Everyone wants to talk about streaks," said Cutcliffe, whose Blue Devils are off Saturday. "I don't talk about streaks very often. We just try to take it one game at a time because so many of those streaks are negative in our regard."

STRICTLY BUSINESS

N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien, the former head coach at Boston College, returns to Beantown Saturday. Don't expect O'Brien to get all warm and fuzzy about seeing close friends. When asked if he had anything he wanted to do while in Boston, O'Brien answered:

"Win a football game. I'm telling my players it's a business trip. I'm not going up there for a social."
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ACC Notebook: Hokies Can't Let Up originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bobby BowdenBobbyBowdenFrank BeamerFrankBeamerJim HenryFri, 16 Oct 2009 11:05:00 EST Boston College QB Dave Shinskie Had Below Zero Passer Ratinghttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/boston-college-qb-dave-shinskie-had-below-zero-passer-rating/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/boston-college-qb-dave-shinskie-had-below-zero-passer-rating/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/boston-college-qb-dave-shinskie-had-below-zero-passer-rating/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie accomplished something extraordinary on Saturday against Virginia Tech: In the Eagles' 48-14 loss to the Hokies, Shinskie had more interceptions than complete passes, and he finished the game with an almost unheard of negative passer rating.

Shinskie's final numbers were 1-of-12 for 4 yards, with 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. According to The Wiz of Odds and CFBstats.com, that equates to a pass-efficiency rating of minus-22.20, the worst rating in at least the last five seasons of college football for a player with 10 or more passes in a game.

In the NFL, passer ratings don't go below zero, but college football uses a different formula for computing passer rating, and negative ratings are possible, even if they hardly ever happen. Prior to Shinskie's awful day on Saturday, the lowest passer rating of the 2009 college football season was a 10.43 posted by Texas El Paso quarterback Trevor Vittatoe, who went 7-of-21 for 38 yards, 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in a 64-7 loss to Texas on Sept. 26.

Shinskie is one of college football's most interesting stories, a 25-year-old freshman who returned to football this year after leaving a minor league baseball career behind. I'm betting he missed baseball on Saturday.

Boston College QB Dave Shinskie Had Below Zero Passer Rating originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dave ShinskieDaveShinskieMichael David SmithTue, 13 Oct 2009 07:38:00 EST At Last, Virginia Tech Finds Good Ju-Ju in Balanced Attackhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/at-last-virginia-tech-finds-good-ju-ju-in-balanced-attack/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/at-last-virginia-tech-finds-good-ju-ju-in-balanced-attack/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/at-last-virginia-tech-finds-good-ju-ju-in-balanced-attack/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tyrod TaylorIf there was anything surprising about Tyrod Taylor's short walk over for the post-game interview, it was that he didn't stretch beforehand. After all, that was by a wide margin the most athletic thing he'd had to in the better part of 90 minutes.

With Taylor on the field, the first half of Virginia Tech's blowout 48-14 win over Boston College taught us just how dominant the Hokies can be when when both sides of the ball play well.

The second half taught us that their backup quarterback is named Ju-Ju.

In retrospect, only one of those should've been unexpected.

Our apologies, Ju-Ju.

"It's good that finally all our hard work paid off because we've been down on ourselves,'' said linebacker Cody Grimm. "We've been working hard and playing what we thought were some good games and having some plays that killed us. For it all to come together is awesome."

But it shouldn't have been a surprise.

This was the game Virginia Tech had hinted at all season, the game Hokie fans have waited on, since the Vick brothers turned scoreboards into rolling odometers. This was the game when the grab-you-by-the-throat defense met an offense that could finally sing in harmony.

It was Taylor beating a Boston College defense that looked like it had overslept and forgot it was exam day. It was freshman tailback Ryan Williams barreling through gaps and piling up yardage. It was a balanced offense rolling to 27 points in the first half (and applauding as the defense tacked on seven more), and a defense that made each and every one stand up

It was Virginia Tech throwing the knockout punch before the Eagles ever heard the bell. Make that a 1-2 combo knockout.

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Offense, meet defense, meet the Hokies best all-around game in four seasons.

"We haven't had one like this in a while." Hokies head coach Frank Beamer said.

For Boston College the first half numbers were a Tarantino screenplay put to numbers, pure horror in four acts, from start to finish.

How bad was it?

Nearly 19 minutes went by before someone caught one of David Shinskie's passes. Of course, it was Virginia Tech cornerback Rashad Carmichael, who promptly returned it for a touchdown.

Shinskie was intercepted twice in the first half and didn't complete a single pass to his own team in the first 30 minutes. For the game, Shinskie would connect on just one pass -- half as many as Taylor threw touchdowns -- before being yanked for the third stringer.

But Shinskie wasn't alone. The list of Eagles who struggled against the Hokies was longer than the waiting list to get in the school.

The Eagles amassed just three yards of offense in the first half, or to put it another way, the same amount of offense as if Yao Ming had stumbled once at the line of scrimmage and stretched forward. Three of BC's six full drives in the first half went for zero or fewer yards.

Trying to find some combination that works, the Eagles ran out their second-unit on offense in the second quarter This was also not the answer.

"We had some manners laid on us," Eagles coach Frank Spaziani said succinctly, manners apparently being a nice way of saying they'd been flattened like a beer can in a car crusher.

But this wasn't a game in which Boston College simply imploded as they were beaten again and again. The Eagles committed just three turnovers, and Virginia Tech was actually whistled for more penalty yardage.

Of course, for the Hokies, the defense is as much as part of the team's identity as Beamer's permanently wind-blown hair. It was the offense that made Saturday's win unique, and a shot across the rest of the nation's bow.

They'd beaten Miami soundly two weeks earlier, but that had been the defense and ground game, coupled with an untimely pair of drops by Miami's Jimmy Graham. This was a balanced attack, in fact, the first time the Hokies had run and passed for more than 200 yards since 2005. They finished with 441 total yards -- 235 on the ground, 206 through the air -- numbers even more impressive when you consider the starters were in baseball caps early in the third quarter.

Those things that had been question marks at the season's start -- could Taylor develop an arm to compliment his legs, could the freshman Williams fill in for Orange Bowl MVP Darren Evans -- became exclamation points against what was the 26th-ranked defense entering the game.

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Taylor played the whole game, or at least the portion he didn't spend on the sideline, like an encore to his game-winning drive against Nebraska. Williams rushed for 159 yards and moved ever closer to snapping Evans' freshman records.
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All of which led to Ju-Ju Clayton getting a rare second half of work in Taylor's place.

Granted, running to the forefront of the ACC isn't the sort of charge you need to wake Napoleon from his grave to lead, but the Hokies are now primed for their third straight ACC title and, the moment Texas loses, possibly the inside track for a berth in the BCS title game.

Virginia Tech's next game, in Atlanta against Georgia Tech's triple option, will likely prove more of a test than the Eagles, and the Hokies have only to look backward to Miami to see how quickly hype can be dispelled.

But after a Saturday afternoon statement, the game plan for the rest of the season seems clear right through to the ACC title game.

More balance. More wins. More Ju-Ju.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.

At Last, Virginia Tech Finds Good Ju-Ju in Balanced Attack originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ray HollomanSat, 10 Oct 2009 15:50:00 EST ACC Notebook: Pack Ready for Fall Risehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/acc-notebook-pack-ready-for-fall-rise/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/acc-notebook-pack-ready-for-fall-rise/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/30/acc-notebook-pack-ready-for-fall-rise/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Tom O'BrienTom O'Brien teams traditionally get better as the season goes on -- as North Carolina State did in winning four of its last five games last year. With Wake Forest, Duke and Boston College coming up in the next three weeks, the surging Wolfpack could be 6-1 going into its bye week prior to an Atlantic Division showdown at Florida State.

O'Brien, however, isn't about to get caught up in such nonsense. He's a game-at-a-time head coach, and Saturday's meeting at Wake Forest is N.C. State's first ACC game and first road game.

"All I know is what team I got this week against the team I am going to play," O'Brien said. "I don't know who is going to be here next week. We continue to march on and try to be the best we can weekly."

The Wolfpack, winners of three straight following Saturday's come-from-behind victory over Pittsburgh, has plenty of reasons to grin.

For starters, N.C. State is ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense. Through four games, the Wolfpack is yielding just 201.2 yards per game after holding the Panthers to just 300 yards. Pitt came in averaging 380 yards per game.

State's defensive coaches were credited with doing a tremendous job of adjusting to Pitt's offensive schemes during the game. O'Brien, of course, wasn't ready to do cartwheels. He noted that the N.C. State defense missed more than 20 tackles, just as it had done in the season-opening defeat to South Carolina.

"It doesn't really say anything," O'Brien said of the unit's national ranking. "It's only after four games and one month of the season. If we're there after 12 games then it will say a lot about our defense."

Then there's the stellar play of quarterback Russell Wilson.

Wilson was 21-of-35 passing for 322 yards and four touchdowns against the Panthers. The majority of that came in the second half, when he led his team from two touchdowns behind by scoring the game's final 21 points. He also rushed the ball 10 times for a career-high 92 yards, including a 21-yard dash on fourth-and-14 from deep in Pittsburgh territory to prolong what turned into the game-tying drive.

"That was just Russell being Russell," O'Brien said.

"That turned the game around for us. He was able to break contain, they were in man coverage and everybody was run off. He took off down the boundary. That was the key scramble of the football game."

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In all, last year's ACC Rookie of the Year was personally responsible for 414 of State's 530 offensive yards in the game. Wilson also pushed his NCAA record streak of passes without an interception to 360. In his last 13 games, Wilson has 29 touchdown throws with zero interceptions.

Wilson credits preparation and his receivers for his streak.

"Each and every practice I'm trying not to throw an interception," Wilson said.

"Every throw I'm trying to move the ball up and down the field and help my team be successful. The same thing with the wide receivers. They know that in the back of their mind they're trying to make plays for me. They don't want to give up an interception. That's a pass that they could have an extra 15 or 30 yards. They don't want to give the ball up."

Tar Heels Run Over

 North Carolina suffered its first loss of the season, 24-7 at Georgia Tech last Saturday, losing its ninth consecutive ACC opener.

The Tar Heels (3-1, 0-1) managed a meager 154 total yards, including just 17 on the ground. On the flip side, UNC surrendered 317 rushing yards, 160 more yards than it had given up in the first three games combined, and turned over the ball three times. The Yellow Jackets also had a significant advantage in terms of time of possession, 42 minutes, 6 seconds to 17:54.

The Tar Heels return home Saturday or their 114th meeting with Virginia (0-3), which is coming off a bye week. The Cavaliers have won two of the past three in the series in Chapel Hill and six of seven overall. Don't expect personnel changes from UNC coach Butch Davis.

"I think we're playing the best players that we've got," Davis said.

"We've got to look at what are their capabilities, what can they realistically do and how can they get better at what we're trying to do? I think the worst thing we can do is some kind of magical hodgepodge where you move the offensive line around. They've got to get some consistency and continuity over the course of the week and the course of the season. We've got to be more effective. We've got to get the ball in the hands of our play makers better."

Frazzled by Turnovers

The struggling Maryland Terrapins have a minus-10 turnover margin. That's bad. In fact, the Terps already are more than halfway to last year's 13-game turnover total of 25. They've been costly, too, leading to 61 of the 153 points allowed this season.

That's why coach Ralph Friedgen has unveiled a new practice tactic this week as Maryland prepares for Saturday's visit from Clemson. Turnovers are met by immediate punishment.

"We're going to do something to recognize the turnovers, whether it's up-downs or whatever," Friedgen said. "I think we have to make a conscious effort to not do this. I think it (turnover) has to be something that we avoid at all costs."

Let it Rain

 Blacksburg, Va., is a tough place for a visiting team to win, especially when Virginia Tech is playing Beamer Ball to perfection -- as the Hokies did against the visiting Miami Hurricanes Saturday. A blocked punt for a touchdown, three sacks and a couple of turnovers turned their showdown with Miami into a laugher.

Let's not forget about the rain either. Word is more rain fell over a 24-hour period Saturday than on any other day in Blacksburg since 1987.

Average at Best

 Following Saturday's home defeat to South Florida, Florida State's record over its past 48 games (dating back to its October, 2005 loss at Virginia) is 25-23.

Corey Clark, a sportswriter with The Tallahassee Democrat, pointed out in his blog that if fans toss out victories against non-BCS conference teams (Troy, UAB, Rice and Western Michigan) and Duke, that record is 19-23.

And, Clark also pointed out that using that same qualifier (which means fans exclude non-BCS teams and Duke), the Seminoles are 5-11 in their last 16 home games against regular FBS football programs.


Quotable

When asked where he thought the ACC stood in the collegiate landscape this young season, N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien indicated he had no idea.

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"Who knows in today's college football," O'Brien said.

"It seems like this is going to happen more and more. What was the quote I read in USA Today, I think probably USA Today or somewhere where Bobby Bowden said, 'Where did these guys come from?' Today everybody's got players. As I've said earlier, there are no free Saturdays, and you better be ready. I think people are coaching. There's a lot better coaches out there.

"Guys used to just roll out the ball and have talent and play the game and win. That doesn't happen anymore. I think guys are well-coached, teams are well-coached, they have players in position to win, and if you're not ready to play on a Saturday, anybody can win, anybody can lose."

ACC Notebook: Pack Ready for Fall Rise originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>russell wilsonRussellWilsonJim HenryWed, 30 Sep 2009 11:54:00 EST ACC Notebook: A Devilish Homecominghttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/acc-notebook-a-devilish-homecoming/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/acc-notebook-a-devilish-homecoming/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/acc-notebook-a-devilish-homecoming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Duek Blue DevilsMatt Daniels doesn't even want to think about the repercussions if Duke loses to North Carolina Central University on Saturday.

The two campuses are just five miles apart, and locals in Durham, N.C., have been chatting for months about whether the Eagles can compete against a Blue Devils team that already this season has lost to a Football Championship Subdivision school.

"A lot of heads are going to be turning," said Daniels, Duke's sophomore safety.

"It's going to really affect the rest of our season. It's a confidence thing, oh, man, if we lose to Central -- they are five minutes away from us -- you are probably going to have to deal with the fans, the coaches, the Duke community, the employees here at Duke... (it will) stick on you. if you lose this game this week and win the rest of them, it's still going to stick on us."

City officials have dubbed the first-ever meeting between the pair as the "Bull City Gridiron Classic." Groups from both schools have planned community service projects before the game at Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium. Players from both teams have, in past summers, participated in 7-on-7 passing drills against each other.

Daniels played recreation football as a youth in Atlanta with NCCU's Rickie Hubbard. The showdown also features family ties. Sophomore linebacker Chris Drew is the older brother of Duke defensive lineman John Drew.

After losing its season opener to FCS Richmond, Duke beat Army but was hammered at No. 22 Kansas 44-16 last Saturday. NCCU is 0-3 with losses to Hampton, Liberty and Morehead State. After a quick rise to prominence in the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Eagles are in the third year of their move into the Football Championship Subdivision.

"I was an optimist, and a lot of people have been pessimistic about this ever happening," NCCU head coach Mose Rison said.

"I don't know enough history, but I do know this: People are very excited about this, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we've had success here in football, and people have always wondered how good we can be. Are we good enough to play with a school like Duke in the ACC? Wondering minds have always wondered if indeed that could ever happened, because we were just good enough at the Division II level."

NCCU last played at Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium in 1974, when the Eagles defeated North Carolina A&T, 29-18.

Daniels said the Blue Devils can't take a victory for granted.

"We have a chance to win -- nothing is definite," Daniels said. "We have a chance to win all of our games but it's our duty to commit and understand what's at hand."
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Miami and Virginia Tech head into their game at Lane Stadium on Saturday both ranked for the first time since 2005.

With opening victories over Florida State and Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes are looking to win three consecutive games against top 25 opponents for the first time since 2001. That was a good year for UM, which won its final three regular-season games against ranked teams, then beat fourth-ranked Nebraska to win the National Championship.

The Hurricanes are averaging 35.5 points and lead the ACC with 465.0 yards of total offense per game this season. While much of that success has been attributed to quarterback Jacory Harris, he has deferred to UM's defense.

"We're clicking because of the defense," said Harris, who has completed 69.5 percent of his passes. "The defense ... they go out there and they show us that they can stop the team (Georgia Tech) that last year put up over 400 yards rushing on us and when they showed us that, it gave us motivation."

Poll Watching

Georgia Tech fell out of the AP and USA Today poll this week after last Thursday's loss to Miami. Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson was emphatic about his feelings concerning the polls.

"I do not care about the polls. That is ridiculous anyway," he said.

"I can look and see so many different things that do not make any sense. How can Oklahoma be ranked ahead of BYU or Oklahoma State sitting ahead of Houston. Teams that have beat teams head-to-head are nine spots behind them. Right now, this time of year, the poll does not mean anything."

How 'Bout Some Love

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney believes C.J. Spiller is underappreciated outside of the Tigers program.

Spiller, a senior, has scored a touchdown on a play of more than 60 yards in each of the Tigers' first three games. He also needs just 291 all-purpose yards to become the ACC's record holder in that category. While the school launched a Heisman campaign prior to the season that included a life-size poster featuring his likeness and he currently ranks in the top five nationally in three different statistical categories, there hasn't been much buzz surrounding Spiller.

Despite being hampered by a sore toe, Spiller needs just 2 return yards and 12 receiving yards to become the first ACC player ever to have 2,500 rushing yards, 1,500 return yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a career.

"I don't think anybody in this room or in our stadium really appreciates what C.J. has done so far this year, or in his career at Clemson," Swinney said.

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Allyson Duckworth of Oxford, Miss., sets up an open spread of eats at her tent at "The Grove," Ole Miss' famous tailgating site, outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, hours prior to the school's home opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Swine flu is swirling through the nation's campuses, but despite all the warnings, flu kits and prominently displayed jugs of hand sanitizer, many students just aren't that worried. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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    An Ole Miss decorated dispenser of hand sanitizer rest next to football themed napkins and an almost empty tray of crackers and dip, at the tailgate setup of the Deaton family of Booneville, outside the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., Saturday Sept. 19, 2009, prior to the home opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana. Lori Deaton, who works as a medical technician, said her concern about Swine Flu led her to bringing the hand sanitizer. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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    Allyson Duckworth of Oxford, Miss., sets up an open spread of eats at her tent at "The Grove," Ole Miss' famous tailgating site, outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, hours prior to the school's home opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Swine flu is swirling through the nation's campuses, but despite all the warnings, flu kits and prominently displayed jugs of hand sanitizer, many students just aren't that worried. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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    Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini reflects on last week's 15-16 loss to Virginia Tech during his weekly news conference, in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. With the exception of a few unguarded moments, Pelini refused to let his weekly news conference turn into a pity party. Pelini said that he and his Cornhuskers are going to turn the fallout from last week's crushing 16-15 loss into positive energy. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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"This guy is a once in a lifetime guy. He is special. It just shows you how dynamic he is. He can just impact the game in so many ways. He is just as complete player as you can be. When you turn the film on he picked up a blitz in the [Boston College] game and jacked that linebacker up. He is just doing a super job for us in every area. I am really proud of C.J. He has a little bum toe and he just plays right through it. He doesn't complain, doesn't say anything."

A Tough Situation

Not much has gone right for the Maryland Terrapins this season.

Maryland is 1-2 after a 32-31 loss to Middle Tennessee State, the second season in a row the Terps have been upset by the Sun Belt Conference team. Maryland is at home Saturday against Rutgers (2-1).

"We are in a tough situation right now," Terps head coach Ralph Friedgen said.

"This is a time where a season hasn't gone along exactly as we wanted it to. I think we've played three very good teams. We are facing some hard luck. Sometimes you have to change your luck to make your luck, I understand that. I think our kids are playing hard. I think we are getting better. But you have to eliminate mistakes."

The Terrapins have surrendered 119 points this season, the worst three-game total since Friedgen took over as coach before the 2001 season. Friedgen hired defensive coordinator Don Brown in January with hopes that the success he had during five seasons at Massachusetts would continue at Maryland.

So far, it hasn't happened.

Maryland ranks 111th among 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total defense, yielding an eye-popping 466 yards per game.

ACC Notebook: A Devilish Homecoming originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>c.j. spillerC.j.Spillerjacory harrisJacoryHarrismatt danielsMattDanielsJim HenryWed, 23 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST Cornhuskers Determined to Learn From Mistakes, Finish Gameshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/cornhuskers-determined-to-learn-from-mistakes-finish-games/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/cornhuskers-determined-to-learn-from-mistakes-finish-games/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/20/cornhuskers-determined-to-learn-from-mistakes-finish-games/#commentsFiled under: ,

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- After collecting their emotions, the brokenhearted Nebraska Cornhuskers promised to learn, be better and, most importantly, finish games.

Nebraska was just under two minutes away from a statement victory over 13th-ranked Virginia Tech here at Lane Stadium Saturday when the Hokies, out of thin air, crashed the party. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor relied on his athletic skills to miraculously drive Tech 88 yards in five plays for a 16-15 victory that sent shock waves from the southwest Virginia mountain to the Midwestern flat lands.

"It was tough, but that's the name of the game -- you have to finish it until the end and we obviously didn't do that," said Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, brushing the frustration from his forehead with his right hand. "So, we ended up losing, even though we played a great game. It's something that we have to move forward on and let it make us stronger."

Virginia Tech's offense had struggled most of the game against Nebraska's physical defense, managing just 195 yards in three quarters and only one real scoring drive. After a slow opening quarter, Nebraska's offense found its rhythm and outgained Tech 343-278. But mistakes, missed opportunities and, in the end, missed chances to get the elusive Taylor on the ground ruined the Cornhuskers' upset.

No excuses, said stone-faced head coach Bo Pelini.

"We all take responsibility for not finishing the deal," he said, arms folded across a table.

"You have to finish the job and we didn't do that. Each and every guy that walked on the field had a hand in us not winning that football game. Coaches included. They made the plays. We didn't. Pretty simple. In a game like that, you've got to make a play.

Nebraska actually had two chances to make a play in the game's closing two minutes as it tried to protect a 15-10 advantage.

Faced with 2nd-and-6 at his 16, Taylor found receiver Danny Coale behind the Cornhuskers secondary for an 81-yard completion down the right sideline. Coale was caught from behind and tripped up at the 3-yard line by cornerback Matt O'Hanlon, who had briefly lost sight of Coale to take a peek at Taylor as he scrambled and avoided pressure in the pocket.

Despite the long gain, Suh still felt great about Nebraska's chances with 1:11 remaining.

"I told my guys all we have to do is hold them to a field goal. We're good," Suh said.

"It's going to be four plays and they have to score (a touchdown). That's the only thing they can do to beat us. ... he (Taylor) ends up making a great play. We can't do anything about it other than learn from it and move forward. To play so great; we were that close and we just didn't finish it."

After being sacked on the first play from the 3-yard line on an 8-yard sack by O'Hanlon and then rushed into throwing the ball way, Taylor scrambled for what the school said was nine second before throwing a dart to Roberts on the right side of the end zone with 21 seconds left.

Suh had a hand on Taylor as he released the winning pass. Again, Pelini didn't want to debate what-ifs or close calls.

"You have got to go make the sack," Pelini said. "You have to go get them. We didn't do it. The guy was scrambling and he got them to stop and hesitate. The guy made a play; good job by them."

Suh agreed.

"The situation is tough because he's scrambling and I personally had a great shot but I didn't get there in time," said Suh, who finished with eight tackles, including one tackles for loss and a half-sack.

"So I will be back, working and hoping the next time I am in that situation I make the play. (Taylor's) a great athlete but we had shots, we had opportunities to make plays. I am not going to take anything from him -- he's a great athlete -- and he alluded me and other guys. We had opportunities to get him and we just didn't.

"We all have to man up and not look to blame each other. Take the blame on yourself and see what you could have done to get it done and move forward. We can't do anything about this game. We have to move forward and look towards the next game."

The last time Tech (2-1) came from behind to win in the last minute was in 1999, when Shayne Graham kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to life the Hokies to a 24-22 win at West Virginia. The Hokies, who open ACC play Saturday at home against Miami, have won 32 consecutive non-conference games dating back to 1998.

Nebraska (2-1), meanwhile, looks to regroup at home Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette before traveling to Missouri for its Big-12 opener on Oct. 8.

"There's only two ways you can go -- you can either go up or you can go down," linebacker Phillip Dillard told HuskersIllustrated.com. "This team's going to choose to go up, and we're going to keep fighting and we're going to keep proving ourselves, because it's not over.

"It's a long season. I believe in my teammates, and everyone else should. Regardless of whether we won or lost, you saw the fight in us. That's something you didn't see in us for a long time."

Cornhuskers Determined to Learn From Mistakes, Finish Games originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jim HenrySun, 20 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST 'T-Mobile' Taylor Answers Call for Hokieshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/19/t-mobile-taylor-answers-call-for-hokies/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/19/t-mobile-taylor-answers-call-for-hokies/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/19/t-mobile-taylor-answers-call-for-hokies/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tyrod TaylorBLACKSBURG, Va. -- Despite its season-opening defeat to Alabama two weeks ago, 13th-ranked Virginia Tech was convinced it could still be a national title contender this season. The Hokies needed a victory Saturday against Nebraska and next week against Miami to help make that happen.

The Hokies made a little magic happen -- with 21 seconds to spare -- against the Cornhuskers to keep that dream alive.

With the 19th-ranked Cornhuskers on the verge of registering their biggest road victory in more than a decade, a scrambling Tyrod Taylor dodged several defenders and then rifled an 11-yard touchdown pass to flanker Dyrell Roberts with 21 ticks remaining to rally Virginia Tech past Nebraska, 16-15.

A sellout crowd of 66,233 at Lane Stadium erupted in celebration as the Hokies (2-1) somehow survived after being held in check for the most part since their opening possession of the game. They had the electric Taylor to thank. Known more for his running than his passing, Taylor completed two big, late throws that drew comparisons to the theatrics of former Tech star Michael Vick.

Taylor first hit receiver Danny Coale, who got behind Nebraska cornerback Matt O'Hanlon as Taylor scrambled in the pocket, for 80 yards down the right sideline to the Cornhuskers 3 with 1:11 remaining. After a sack and an incompletion, Taylor, nicknamed "T-Mobile," avoided pressure for nearly seven seconds before connecting with Roberts in the end zone. Roberts had dropped a fourth-down pass on the Hokies' previous possession.

"I just go out there and play the game," said Taylor, who completed 12 of 27 passes for 192 yards.

"Coach always says not to force stuff, and I think me, not forcing things, allows me to buy time with my feet and find my open guy. We had the [TD] play set up to go to the left side and didn't open up like we wanted it to. So I kind of back up and Dyrell felt what I was going to do and he worked to get open. And I got a chance to get him the ball."

The victory was the 32nd in a row for Virginia Tech at home against non-conference opponents. It also gives the Hokies needed momentum heading into their ACC opener against the surging Hurricanes.

"There's always a chance if you've got a Tyrod," Tech head coach Frank Beamer said and exhaled.

"The bottom line is we don't win this ballgame if we don't have a quarterback as athletic as Tyrod is and can throw the football down the field the way he throws. People thought I was blowing smoke when I said I think they (Cornhuskers) are back. I really think they are back. They execute, they are tough, they are well-coached, it's a tough way for those guys to lose but I do believe they are on course."

Tyrod TaylorNebraska was, quite simply, devastated.

The Cornhuskers have dropped 21 of their last 22 games against teams in the top 20. All of Nebraska's scoring was on the leg of kicker Alex Henery, who had a career-high five field goals. Leading 12-10 late in the third quarter, the Cornhuskers had an opportunity to pad their margin with first-and-goal at the 6. However, two holding calls -- the first erased a TD pass -- two false starts and an incomplete pass forced Nebraska to punt.

"It was a hard-fought football game," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said.

"In the end, we had plenty of opportunities to put the football game away and we didn't do it. And they made the play at the end. I take my hat off to them. End of story. You all watched the game."

The showdown was the the nation's only major college football game involving a pair of ranked teams. It showed, too, as parking lots surrounding Lane Stadium were jammed with fans more than three hours prior the 3:30 ET kickoff that was televised regionally by ABC.

Tickets were also a premium, going for an average of $300 earlier this week at StubHub, the popular online site in which individuals can name their own selling price. Nebraska received an allotment of 4,300 tickets for the game. However, it appeared many more Cornhuskers invaded the southwest Virginia mountains for their team's first visit here and first road game of the season.

The weather also cooperated. Skies were overcast and the temperature was a comfortable 76 degrees for kickoff.

After the Hokies applied the heat on the opening kickoff to help capture an early 7-0 advantage, the game turned into a defensive tug-of-war over field position. It was a marked difference from last year's game in Lincoln, Neb., where the teams combined for 65 points and 610 yards of total offense in Tech's 35-30 victory.

Tech running back Ryan Williams had 107 rushing yards and a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter set up by Roberts' 76-yard kickoff return to open the game. Nebraska running back Roy Helu had a game-high 169 yards on 28 carries, while quarterback Zac Lee completed 11 of 30 passes for 136 yards and two interceptions.
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It was Roberts' difficult catch in the end zone that saved the Hokies' bacon, however. Virginia Tech was limited to one yard in the third quarter as Nebraska gained control.

"After not catching that fourth-down pass, I kind of got down on myself but my teammates picked me back up," Roberts said.

"I was just going to try my best to make a play. It was just a five-yard snag, going inside and sitting. When Tyrod starts scrambling, it turns into a scramble drill and everybody has got to go. I tried to get in an open place where he could see me. It was tough but I knew, after dropping that fourth-down play, I knew I need to make that catch and redeem myself."

Nebraska led 12-10 at the half on the strength of field goals of 40, 27, 19 and 38 yards from Henery. The Cornhuskers didn't register their initial first down until the 14:29 mark in the second quarter.

Matt Waldron connected on a 39-yard field goal late in the second quarter to push the Hokies' advantage to 10-9. Nebraska nearly had an answer, but they couldn't contain Taylor when it counted.

"We did some good things; a lot that we need to get fixed, too," Pelini said. "In the end, we didn't make the play. I don't measure on yards or how we play; you've got to win the football game. We didn't win the football game so we didn't play good enough in any phase of the game. I measure it on results. That's how we measure things around here."

Tech, meanwhile, plans to enjoy the victory and then turn its attention to UM.

"When you have great players on the field and they work as hard and care about each other as much as this crowd does, that's what makes this thing possible," Beamer said.

"You have to have some great players, you have to have some skill to get that done. You have to have a quarterback that can keep things alive. It was one of those you don't give up, don't give in. We've had our exhibition season -- we've had three non-conference games -- now it's serious time. There are some execution things we need to do better. A little bit of this, a little bit of that."

And a little bit of Tyrod, too.

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South Florida wide receiver Dontavia Bogan (81) celebrates with teammate Mistral Raymond (16) after catchingt a first-quarter touchdown pass during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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'T-Mobile' Taylor Answers Call for Hokies originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>tyrod taylorJim HenrySat, 19 Sep 2009 21:13:00 EST Hokies' Tyrod Taylor Taking What Defenses Give Himhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/hokies-tyrod-taylor-taking-what-defenses-give-him/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/hokies-tyrod-taylor-taking-what-defenses-give-him/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/hokies-tyrod-taylor-taking-what-defenses-give-him/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Tyrod Taylor is the latest in a line of mobile Virginia Tech quarterbacks. While there's no denying his impressive talents, Taylor has heard the whispers, too. He doesn't show enough patience in the pocket. He makes too many bad reads. He runs too much. But guess what?

Taylor wins, too.

"I just study film and go out there and play the game -- let the game come to me," said Taylor, nicknamed "T-Mobile."

Taylor, 14-3 in three seasons as Tech's starting quarterback, will be looking to repeat his performance from a year ago against Nebraska when the two teams tangle here Saturday at Lang Stadium. Taylor enjoyed perhaps his best college game in Lincoln, Neb., running 15 times for 87 yards and one touchdown, and passing for 171 yards without an interception in a dramatic 35-30 victory.

Despite their season-opening loss to Alabama, Taylor and the 13th-ranked Hokies (1-1) haven't given up their dream of playing for a national championship. A victory over the 19th-ranked Cornhuskers (2-0) would certainly keep that dream alive, not to mention build needed momentum heading into a critical ACC Coastal Division matchup next week at home against Miami. The Hurricanes thumped Georgia Tech 33-17 Thursday night to take an early lead in the division.

One hurdle at a time, though. A sea of red is swelling near Price Mountain.

Tech's opportunities against Nebraska start behind center with Taylor, part of a growing line of standout quarterbacks from the Peninsula area of Virginia. The Hampton High products joins Allen Iverson and Ronald Curry from the same city, Bryan Randall from Williamsburg, Va., and, of course, both Michael and Marcus Vick from Newport News, Va.

When Taylor graduated from Hampton in 2007, he was rated nationally as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com. Taylor's college choices came down to Virginia Tech and Florida, but he wanted to be just like Mike.

"I think he (Taylor) is an exceptional player," Tech head coach Frank Beamer said.

"He does a lot of good things for us, and he's a really good leader. Good person, good leader, good player. He's the kind of guy that's trying to constantly get better in every area. I think he's reading defenses better ... getting it there quicker, throwing better. I think he's trying to improve all parts of his game."

Taylor was vintage Taylor against Marshall. He was 9-of-16 for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception and also ran seven times for 72 yards -- exactly the kind of performance Tech needs out of him each week.

The Hokies' offense is also searching for consistency.

In their 34-24 loss to Alabama, the Hokies totaled only 155 yards of offense. In their rout of Marshall last week, they amassed 605 yards of total offense. Freshmen running backs David Wilson and Ryan Williams became the first running back combo in school history to each eclipse 160 yards rushing in the same game. Virginia Tech had 444 rushing yards.

Taylor saw plenty of good in the win, but he focused on the not-so-good, knowing full well that Nebraska offers a far more difficult challenge.

Nebraska's defense played well in its first two games, allowing only 12 points combined in victories over Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State. There's also the memory of last year's game. After Tech grabbed a 28-10 advantage late in the third quarter, Nebraska used a 75-yard drive and a stunning 88-yard punt return to pull within five points with just under eight minutes to go.

"Going back and watching (the Marshall) film, some plays as far as the passing game, there some plays I missed," Taylor said.

"We played well but we didn't play a perfect game. (Nebraska) is going to put more people in the box and we are going to throw the football -- that's the game plan, try to stretch the field and, of course. try to get the running game going."

Beamer also has been impressed by the Cornhuskers.

"Offensively, they were good," he said.

"Defensively, I think they're better (from last year). They've been in the system a while and understand what's expected and they're better. Of course, the kicking game, they got us on a couple things there last year. So I was impressed with them last year and they're a better football team this year. That's a statement about what they're doing out there and how they're doing it. They've got a lot of good players and they're well-coached."

Nebraska will be looking to beat a Top-20 on the road for the first time since Tom Osborne was coach. Since Osborne's retirement from coaching after the 1997 season, Nebraska is 0-16 in true road games versus teams ranked in the top 20 of the Associated Press poll. The highest-ranked opponent that Nebraska has beaten since 1997 was then-No. 23 Notre Dame in 2000.

On the flip side, however, Nebraska also has won six consecutive games dating back to last season. That represents its longest win streak since it reeled off 13 straight in 2000 and 2001. The Cornhuskers have won eight of nine games since last October. Their lone defeat was at No. 4 Oklahoma.

And containing Taylor will be key to keeping the good times rolling as upwards to 9,000 Nebraska fans are expected to attend the game. Only Michael and Marcus Vick boast better winning percentages than Taylor in the last 13 years at Tech, and Taylor also believes he's a better quarterback from last season. He will take what the defense gives him -- with his arm or legs.

"He's a good football player," Nebraska coach Bo Pellini said.

"I think the biggest key for him now is it's his offense. It pretty much was last year, but they still had a little bit of a rotation going, but now I'm sure that helps him with a little bit of a comfort level. To be out there all the time and knowing that he's going to get all the snaps. That would help anybody. I think he is more comfortable. I think he has grown. Just like anybody else who has played this game, the more reps you get, the more experience you get, the better you get.

"I think that's the case with Tyrod."

Hokies' Tyrod Taylor Taking What Defenses Give Him originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>michael vickMichaelVicktyrod taylorTyrodTaylorJim HenryFri, 18 Sep 2009 16:54:00 EST Test Time Finally Here for Nebraskahttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/17/test-time-finally-here-for-nebraska/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/17/test-time-finally-here-for-nebraska/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/17/test-time-finally-here-for-nebraska/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Zac LeeAt last, the road to the top seems awfully clear for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

How far they still have to go will be determined, at least in part, Saturday when the Cornhuskers travel to Blacksburg, Va., to take on the 13th-ranked Hokies, Nebraska's first real test of the season.

Just don't expect Nebraska coach Bo Pelini to admit that his team's first BCS opponent of the season will be a gauge for how close the Cornhuskers are to returning to their dominant former selves.

"Every week is a measuring stick," Pelini said this week. "We have to measure ourselves according to where we want to be and how we're executing. It's the way it is. You have to measure yourself every day. Are you improving every day? Are you getting better every day? Are you competing to be the best every day? You have to make improvement and this week is just the next step."

Thus far, it's been difficult to tell exactly how far along the rebuilding process is for the Big 12 North preseason favorites. Nebraska has won a pair of games but did so by flooring a pair of lightweights -- a 49-3 drubbing of Florida Atlantic and a 38-9 victory over Arkansas State.

A win Saturday afternoon over a high-caliber ACC foe like Virginia Tech (1-1) would certainly provide the telltale sign that Nebraska is indeed on the road to recovery, as most predicted for Pelini's second year.

"It's a great opportunity, especially a team like Virginia Tech that has had such long-term success," said Nebraska junior quarterback Zac Lee. "I think it's an opportunity that we are really looking forward to."

Through the first two games, the Cornhuskers (2-0) have resembled the old Nebraska "Blackshirt" defensive teams that used to stifle opposing offenses.

But they will face a much more powerful and potent rushing attack this weekend led by Hokies backs Ryan Williams and David Wilson. It's because of those two that Virginia Tech ranks 13th in the country in rushing offense after amassing 508 yards on the ground in its first two games -- a 10-point loss to No. 4 Alabama, and then a 52-10 win last week against Marshall.

Williams is the workhorse with an 8.1 yards per carry average this season, to go along with 235 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Wilson, meanwhile, is averaging an eye-popping 13.8 yards per carry on 12 attempts.

Last weekend, Nebraska faced an Arkansas State team that insisted on running the football, rushing 38 times compared to 20 passes. The Hokies promise to be even more committed to the ground game.

"Very potent," Nebraska senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said of Virginia Tech's rushing attack. "There's times where they definitely got some good yardage against [Marshall] and were very physical and a running-downhill team."

Nebraska's offense has had success of its own rushing the football behind running back Roy Helu Jr., who hasn't had a negative carry yet this season and has 212 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.

But the real story of the offense to this point has been the passing of Lee. In his first season as a starter, Lee has been impressive with a 186.41 quarterback rating that ranks him seventh in the nation. He has completed 42 of 57 passes for 553 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception, a performance that has eased Nebraska's concerns at its most vital position.

Lee is performing better than just about everyone expected, with the exception of coach and player.

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"I think Zac is doing what we thought he was capable of doing," Pelini said. "I said all along, I have a tremendous amount of confidence in him. I think if you asked anybody associated with our team, they feel the same way. It doesn't surprise me at all."

Lee, too, is pleased but not surprised at his fast start.

"I'd like to say I have pretty high expectations for myself, so I feel like I'm pretty much right on track," Lee said.

But the junior also realizes the ante goes up quite a bit this week against Virginia Tech.

"I'd imagine things might move a little faster," Lee said. "I think you'll probably be a little more precise with things overall. Our offense as a whole, just [has to] be more precise, more detailed, because I think the speed of the game might speed up a little bit because of the caliber of athletes they have and the coaching that they have."

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That's about as close as you are going to get to anyone in the Cornhuskers camp admitting how important Saturday's game is.

"I don't feel any different, me as a football coach," said Pelini, whose team lost 35-30 to Virginia Tech at home last season. "I'm sure you ask me on Saturday, I'll probably feel a little bit differently. I don't approach it much different, and I don't think our football team approaches it any different than they do any other week.

"Obviously, we have a lot of respect for this football program and it's going to have your stinger up a little bit more. The reality of what's needed to win the football game doesn't really change you're just playing against different people."

Not surprisingly, Lee agrees with his coach.

"It's just the next step," he said. "I know you guys [in the media] are thinking [Pelini]'s just saying it's the next step, but it is. It's the next game on our schedule, and therefore, it's the most important game.

"It's obviously a little different because they're a highly-ranked opponent, who's played good people and done well against them. But we're focused every week and we prepare every week as if it is the biggest week. I think preparation and everything will be very similar this week, just because that's how our coaches prepare us every week."

Test Time Finally Here for Nebraska originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Arkansas Statebo peliniBoPeliniDavid Wilsonndamukong suhNdamukongSuhnebraska footballNebraskaFootballryan williamsRyanWilliamszac leeZacLeeTerrance HarrisThu, 17 Sep 2009 22:00:00 EST College Football Twitter Mailbag: Opening Weekend Reactionhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/08/college-football-twitter-mailbag-opening-weekend-reaction/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/08/college-football-twitter-mailbag-opening-weekend-reaction/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/08/college-football-twitter-mailbag-opening-weekend-reaction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I spent all day Saturday tweeting about college football, and I got some great, thoughtful responses to my tweets from the population of college football Twitter nation. We conversed, 140 characters at a time, about the BYU-Oklahoma and Alabama-Virginia Tech games, and about the woeful performance of my alma mater, Illinois.

Some of the best replies, and my replies to the replies, are in our college football Twitter mailbag below.

SI_JoshGross: Nice win by BYU. But it's hard to make much of it when Oklahoma still has a better shot of advancing to the BCS.
I agree with this. It's one of the real flaws of college football that if Oklahoma finishes 12-1 and BYU finishes 12-0, Oklahoma will be higher in the BCS rankings. I don't expect either Oklahoma or BYU to run the table the rest of the way, but if somehow both do, we're in for another college football postseason in which we talk more about problems with the BCS than about the games on the field.

injuryrate: I should have gone to the NFL, that's what he's thinking.
I tweetedthat I couldn't imagine what was going through Sam Bradford's mind as he stood on the sidelines and watched his teammates lose on Saturday night, and I'm sure injuryrate is right: Although Bradford would never say so, I'm betting that on Saturday night, he was thinking to himself that he shouldn't have returned to Oklahoma. It's impossible to say whether the Detroit Lions would have chosen Sam Bradford first overall in this year's draft, but I do believe Bradford would have gone higher in 2009 than he ultimately will in 2010.

basskater91289 Cody Grimm made an excellent play.
As I tweeted on Saturday, I thought Virginia Tech's Cody Grimm made one of the plays of the day when he caught Alabama's Roy Upchurch from behind and stripped the ball. Grimm, the son of former Redskins offensive lineman Russ Grimm, is a lot smaller and a lot faster than his dad.

jamesmthomson: Coached against him for several years when he was in HS...he's a monster.
This came in response to my tweet saying, "USC sophomore NT Jurrell Casey is an absolute stud. He's 19 years old and already has an NFL body." Thanks for the insight.

DamonMartin: Everybody was saying Illinois would be the third best team in the Big 10 this year. Guess not!
Based on the way the Illini played Saturday, they might not be the 10th best team in the Big Ten. The Illini were the only Big Ten team to lose on Saturday, and they looked absolutely awful against Missouri. Heading into the season I thought Illinois would play in a bowl game, but now I'm having a hard time seeing four wins on the Illini schedule, let alone six.

The_OG_JLo: I predict USC -7.5 for next week's point spread. What do you think?
The point spreads I've seen have USC as a six- or seven-point favorite at Ohio State on Saturday. Not that I would ever advise anyone to place bets based on my predictions, but I think USC will cover that spread easily.

Want to be part of our next college football Twitter mailbag? Post a question or comment on Twitter.com, and be sure to start it with @MichaelDavSmith.

College Football Twitter Mailbag: Opening Weekend Reaction originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithTue, 08 Sep 2009 09:12:00 EST Blanket Coverage: Week 1 in Reviewhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/blanket-coverage-week-1/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/blanket-coverage-week-1/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/blanket-coverage-week-1/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Davon Morgan #2 of the Virginia Tech Hokies defends a pass intended for receiver Julio Jones #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 5, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia.Just So You Know ...

My editor told me to spend an hour or two on this piece, but I put in four because I want to be the best.

Conference Calls

Maybe Virginia Tech would have played better against Alabama Saturday night if the entire fate of the ACC had not been resting on its shoulders. Or at least that's how Commissioner John Swofford and too many ABC and ESPN commentators made it sound.

Those of us who don't reap eight-figure payouts based on the vitality of a conference (i.e., the majority) could give a tinker's darn about a conference's vitality. It's like worrying about how come New England never seems to send a formidable representative to the Miss U.S.A. Pageant. Who cares, as long enough other states have top-notch talent? Besides, they still let Miss Maine walk in the opening number, don't they?

And, by the way, despite the result the Hokies did themselves proud in their loss to the Tide. Themselves, not the entire conference. Had the Hokies won, it wouldn't have made Virginia's home loss to William & Mary smell any sweeter.

All That Said...

After only one week it seems obvious that nobody from the ACC or Big East should make New Year's Day plans for Pasadena. Out of the Big Ten, Penn State looked impressive but with their Magnolia Bakery non-conference schedule, the Nittany Lions better go undefeated if they want to be in the conversation. As for Ohio State (who should have known better than invite Navy to a city named after one of history's most famous maritime figures), that will settle itself this weekend.

And Then There Were Two

I was lucky enough to be seated next to one of the real good eggs in the business Saturday, Dick "Hoops" Weiss of the New York Daily News. We noted how terrific it is that the three marquee players in the sport -- Heisman Trophy winners Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow and Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy -- all seem to be such decent people, too.

McCoy seems lifted from a "Friday Night Lights" story arc and smiles as if you've just told him we're going to Dairy Queen after the game. Tebow is, well, there are those of us who want to touch his garment in hopes that it will erase our cynicism. And Bradford seems as decent and humble as a Heisman Trophy winner with a 3.9 GPA in finance could possibly be.

So, sure, it was tough to watch Bradford be knocked out of the BYU game, sustaining an injury that could crush every aspiration he and the Sooners had for this season. That's football, that's sports, that's life. Not always fair. You just keep on going.

Oklahoma, by the way, would do well to play only on campus, any campus. Since 2006 the Sooners are 30-3 on campuses and 4-5 in games played at neutral sites.

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Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford (left) leaves the field following Brigham Young's 14-13 victory at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, September 5, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
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    BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 06: Quarterback Cody Hawkins #7 of the Colorado Buffaloes is sacked by linebacker Michael Sisson #6 of the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field on September 6, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 23-17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cody Hawkins;Michael Sisson

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    BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 06: The Colorado State Rams offense controld the ball against the Colorado Buffaloes as the sun sets at Folsom Field on September 6, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 23-17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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    BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 06: Colorado State fans rush the field to celebrate with the Colorado State Rams after they defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 23-17 at Folsom Field on September 6, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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    BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 06: Quarterback Cody Hawkins #7 of the Colorado Buffaloes is sacked by linebacker Michael Sisson #6 of the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field on September 6, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 23-17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cody Hawkins;Michael Sisson

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    BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 06: Wide reciever Rashaun Greer #84 of the Colorado State Rams makes a reception and is tackled by safety Ray Polk #26 of the Colorado Buffaloes on the two yard line in the fourth quarter at Folsom Field on September 6, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 23-17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rashaun Greer;Ray Polk

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    BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 06: Colorado State fans rush the field to celebrate with the Colorado State Rams after they defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 23-17 at Folsom Field on September 6, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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    BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 06: Running back John Mosure #7 of the Colorado State Rams celebrates his first quarter touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on September 6, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 23-17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Mosure

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    BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 06: The Colorado State Rams celebrate a sack by defensive tackle James Moorehead #62 of quarterback Cody Hakwins of the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on September 6, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. The Rams defeated the Buffaloes 23-17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** James Moorehead

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    Colorado State quarterback Grant Stucker (18) passes against Colorado during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo.,on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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    Colorado State quarterback Grant Stucker (18) cuts past Colorado defensive tackle Curtis Cunningham (50) as Colorado State's Mark Starr (78) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo.,on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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Fine, but What About Vince and E?

"I'm not here for all that drama," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said after the Wolverines opened their season with a victory (it's been awhile) following a week of turmoil. "We're not here for drama."

As for Turtle, he's at UCLA.

Three Things I Liked

1) Steve Sarkisian's debut at Washington: The Huskies bowed to LSU, but the former USC offensive coordinator has infused U-Dub with passion and desire.

2) G.J. Kinne: Tulsa's new quarterback has the look of a gamer, passing for 211 yards and rushing for 77 more in the Golden Hurricanes' 37-13 defeat of Tulane. Like Mississippi's Jevan Snead, Kinne transferred from Texas when it became obvious that the job was Colt McCoy's (it really is a Lone Star State). With Kinne under center, Tulsa could deny both Oklahoma (in Norman, Sept. 19) and Boise State (home, Oct. 14) BCS bowl bids.

3) Mountain Time: Home to the most dramatic landscapes and fewest people, the Mountain Time Zone is also the province of BYU, Utah and Boise State. The Broncos bullied Oregon (a sign in the stands reading "Ducks really do crash on blue turf" was clairvoyant); BYU shocked No. 3 Oklahoma and knocked Sam Bradford out of the month of September and in all likelihood a chance at a repeat Heisman; and the Utes extended the nation's longest winning streak to 15 games. And over on the other side of the Continental Divide, Air Force pulled off the largest margin of victory, carpet-bombing Nicholls State 72-0.

Best Quarterback Name

Dwight Dasher of Middle Tennessee State. Play-by-play announcers cannot wait to declare, "They're blitzin' Dasher!"

Manning Up

Peyton Manning showed up at his alma mater, Tennessee, to witness new coach Lane Kiffin's debut as well as to bestow a $1 million gift for a new athletic training center. Certainly a laudable gesture on the part of the Indianapolis Colt QB.

But, as Chris Rock once said, "There's rich, and there's wealthy." In Stillwater, Oklahoma State alum T. Boone Pickens was on hand for the dedication of a renovated stadium -- one that just happens to bear his name -- whose $286 million overhaul he funded.

After the No. 9 Cowboys beat No. 13 Georgia 24-10, Pickens reportedly told Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy that the cost of his altruism (he has reportedly donated $400 million to OSU) was worth it. Said Gundy, "I have a feeling that he expects more than that."

True Bromance

Rating the top three bromances of the opening weekend, in ascending order:

3) Jaczuizz Rodgers and James Rodgers, Oregon State: The siblings took turns scoring the Beavers' first touchdowns of the season -- Jaczuizz later added two more -- in Oregon State's 34-7 defeat of Portland State.

2) Matt Barkley and Pete Carroll: How many times did USC's head coach use the terms "cool" and "calm" in describing the play of his quarterback, the first true freshman ever to open the season as a starter at Troy? Can you say, "Man crush"? Meanwhile, Mitch Mustain, who only won all eight games he started ... as a freshman ... in the SE-freakin'-C, remains 3rd-string. Is there a more compellingly tragic figure in college football?

1) Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley, Texas: Best friends and roommates, McCoy and Shipley hooked up eight times for 180 yards and a touchdown as the Longhorns handled Louisiana-Monroe, 59-20.

Seems Like Old Times

Greg Paulus Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus, making his first start after four years as a point guard at Duke, commits a turnover late and then watches as his team loses on a three. To be fair, Paulus played well for a guy whose last game was five years ago in high school.

Trippin' Out

And by the way, how many Minnesota fans were fired up about last Saturday's road trip? You mean we get to visit a notoriously arctic city whose team plays inside of a dome? Pinch me, I'm dreaming!

Contrast that with Buffalo, who chose to travel 2,000 miles to El Paso (Niagara Falls versus the Rio Grande?!?) for their season opener with UTEP. Oh, the Buffalo, they do roam.

Both the Golden Gophers and the Bulls won.

Davie ... Jones ... Locker

During Thursday night's Oregon-Boise State game, the ESPN duo of Bob Davie and Marc Jones unveiled a gimmick called "Davie Jones Locker", in which each broadcaster broached a topic of interest (Jones focused on LeGarrette Blount's "We owe them an ass-whupping" quote in a bizarre bit of foreshadowing) as if pulled from a treasure chest.

Two nights later, Davie and Jones were in Seattle to call the LSU-Washington game, a matchup in which the most compelling player on the turf was named Locker. If ever there were a game in which to run that bit ... but we never saw it. Then again, we might have been flipping over to Maryland-Cal.

Game Cox

The link between the opening weekend's two most memorable contests, Oregon-Boise State and BYU-Oklahoma? ESPN sideline reporter Heather Cox.

He's Been There

Did you notice the Oregon assistant coach who was shepherding -- okay, strong-arming -- Duck running back LaGarrette Blount off the field following his violent outburst at Boise State? It was Scott Frost. In 1995 Frost, then a quarterback at Nebraska, was involved in a violent altercation -- in his bedroom -- with then teammate Lawrence Phillips in which Phillips assaulted his girlfriend.

Blount, as was Phillips, is a running back with NFL talent and a hair-trigger temper. Today Phillips is serving ten years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon.

Worst Quarterback Name

Kale Pick, freshman backup at Kansas. To Pick's credit, he completed both passes he threw to teammates in the Jayhawks' 49-3 scrimmage against Northern Colorado.

Least Important Statistic (Unless You're Linda Blair)

That would be "time of possession". Air Force had the ball 68 seconds more than Nicholls State (30:34 to 29:26) and scored 72 more points (72-0).

WAC-a-mole

In his last two games, last Christmas Eve versus Hawaii and on Saturday versus Nevada, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen has thrown 9 touchdown passes and 7 incompletions. The Fighting Irish junior should garner a few votes for 1st Team All-WAC.

And Finally...

Give you one guess which quarterback hosted a wheelchair-bound seven year-old cerebral palsy patient before his game, even taking him into the locker room to collect autographs. Does the Pope have a poster of Tim Tebow on his wall?

Blanket Coverage: Week 1 in Review originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>John WaltersMon, 07 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST ACC Would Like a Do-Over for the Opening Weekendhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/acc-would-like-a-do-over-for-the-opening-weekend/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/acc-would-like-a-do-over-for-the-opening-weekend/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/acc-would-like-a-do-over-for-the-opening-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

This was not the way the ACC was hoping to start the 2009 college football season. The conference is still trying to establish that it is on par with the SEC, Big 12 or the Big 10. Instead, it has barely kept itself in front of the Big East. The early returns suggest more of the same this year.

Through the 10 games to start the season, ACC teams went a combined 4-6. That's bad enough, considering that the ACC was a collective 0-4 against teams from the other BCS conferences. With Virginia Tech losing to Alabama in a semi-neutral site, Wake Forest suffering a home loss to Baylor, Cal destroying Maryland, and of course the opening night nationally-broadcast loss by NC State as the harbinger for this lost weekend. When the best win of the weekend is Clemson trouncing a middle-of-the-pack Sun Belt foe in Middle Tennessee State, that is not a good sign.

Arguably, what's worse was going only 3-2 against FCS opponents. Sure North Carolina, Boston College and Georgia Tech handled the exhibition games that actually count with ease, but Duke and Virginia failed miserably. One member of the conference losing to a FCS opponent happens. Two in the same weekend? That is an eye-opener.

The argument against those losses being as bad as they look is that Duke and Virginia are expected to be two of the worst teams in the ACC. Plus, Richmond (which beat Duke) is the defending National Champion in 1-AA football. Yeah, I'm not buying it either.

It's the second time in the last four years that Richmond has taken out Duke. That suggests the fluke label does not easily apply. Reality seems to be slapping coach David Cutcliffe quickly.

Virginia just suggests that this will be a very long and miserable season for the Fightin' Grohs. An ill-fitting transition to a spread offense -- because that always goes so well with a head coach that is very conservative -- is just another problem. The only thing that may help Groh is that the Virginia athletic department just sent the basketball coach packing and made an expensive hire to replace him.

With performances like that, the excitement for that ACC battle between Miami and Florida State on Monday night should be at a fever pitch. Or you just might to prefer to scoop out your eyeballs with a spoon.

On the plus side for the ACC: After this opening weekend, expectations should be low enough that they should easily exceed them the rest of the way.

ACC Would Like a Do-Over for the Opening Weekend originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chas RichSun, 06 Sep 2009 22:35:00 EST Georgia Dome Is Sweet Home Alabamahttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/georgia-dome-is-sweet-home-alabama/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/georgia-dome-is-sweet-home-alabama/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/06/georgia-dome-is-sweet-home-alabama/#commentsFiled under: ,

Alabama celebratesATLANTA -- This felt like something big, and it was. In fact, this was larger than even Alabama's solar system of a nose guard Terrence Cody. This was the Crimson Tide proving for a second consecutive year that the Atlantic Coast Conference is wonderful at picks and rolls, but not so much at blocking and tackling -- at least not when matched against the Southeastern Conference elite.

This also was Alabama showing that it has the stuff to smash-mouth its way to prominence all season after wearing down an impressive Virginia Tech bunch near the end on Saturday night at the Georgia Dome.

It's just that Virginia Tech isn't Alabama, because Alabama was playing for Bear Bryant, the SEC and a national championship.

"You've got to understand that team on the other side is about as good as it gets," said Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer after a 34-24 loss that was more dominating for Alabama than the final score. For one, the Crimson Tide outgained Virginia Tech in total yardage, 498 to 155. For another, Alabama botched its blowout chances with several missed opportunities in the red zone and inopportune penalties.

So Alabama coach Nick Saban had it about right by saying, "One of the things I liked about us in this game is that we had to keep responding. This team kept responding better to adversity than maybe we ever have."

Now consider something else that bodes well for Alabama the rest of the way: It just prospered inside the loud, stuffed and colorful Georgia Dome, which was spending a second consecutive year hosting the equivalent to a Bowl Championship Series game during the first weekend of the college football season. Said Beamer, reflecting on the 74,954 screamers who made this the fourth-largest crowd in the dome's history, "The atmosphere was fantastic. With the crowd noise making it hard to hear, you can't beat it."

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BYU players celebrate by performing a haka following their NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. BYU won 14-13. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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    Central Florida receiver Kamar Aiken has the ball dislodged by a hit from Samford's Chris Legette (19) and Jamael Lett (16) in the endzone during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. UCF won 28-24.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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    Samford quarterback Dustin Taliaferro, right, scrambles from Central Florida defensive tackle Torrell Troup during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. UCF won 28-24.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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    Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) stretches the ball over the cone for a touchdown as he gets past Northwestern State linebacker Blake Delcambre, bottom right, during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game at Robertson Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in Houston. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool) ** MANDATORY CREDIT **

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    AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 05: Running back Cody Johnson #31 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates after scoring his first touchdown against of the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks in the first quarter on September 5, 2009 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas won 59-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cody Johnson

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    AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 5: Backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert #3 of the Texas Longhorns slips between the defense to score a touchdown against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks in the fourth quarter on September 5, 2009 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas won 59-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Garrett Gilbert

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    PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Kevin Prince #14 of the UCLA Bruins prepares to throw the ball to teamate against San Diego State at Rose Bowl on September 5, 2009 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Prince

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    PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Kia Maiave #51 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates a great tackel against San Diego State at Rose Bowl on September 5, 2009 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kia Maiava

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    Nebraska's Menelik Holt (18) carries the ball against Florida Atlantic in the first half of their NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. Nebraska beat Florida Atlantic 49-3.(AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

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    BYU wide receiver McKay Jacobson (6) reaches up for a touchdown pass as Oklahoma linebackers Ryan Reynolds (4) and Travis Lewis (28) look on in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The score was the go-ahead for BYU in their 14-13 win over Oklahoma. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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    BYU players celebrate by performing a haka following their NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. BYU won 14-13. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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That's true. And those in charge of what officially is called the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game were omniscient enough for a second consecutive year to pit Alabama against somebody huge. Well, somebody allegedly huge.

Despite entering last season unranked, Alabama proved that traditional ACC power Clemson was a fraud during the first Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game ever with a 34-10 blasting of what supposedly was the nation's No. 9 team. So, with a No. 5 preseason ranking this time, Alabama sought to do the same on Saturday night against what supposedly was a No. 7-ranked Virginia Tech team.

Virginia Tech is legitimate, though. As a result, everything that is intriguing about a championship-caliber game was on display for the longest time before a nationally televised audience.

Thrilling plays on offense: Early in the evening, with Alabama looking for a spark, Darius Hanks dove with outstretched hands on a dead sprint to keep a scoring drive alive for the Crimson Tide with a 35-yard catch.

Jarring plays on defense: After Alabama's Roy Upchurch raced 26 yards toward the end zone with a potentially game-changing dash in the third quarter, Virginia Tech defenders stripped and then recovered the ball in the red zone.

Opportunistic plays on special teams: Virginia Tech's Dyrell Roberts zipped down the sidelines for a 98-yard kickoff return.

Unique plays from their head coaches: Saban kept teasing the Virginia Tech defense with wildcat plays, starting with the first play of the night when he placed running back Mark Ingram behind center.

Costly plays: There was that anti-Beamer Ball moment in the first quarter when Virginia

Tech punt returner Ryan Williams muffed away a punt deep in his own territory despite signaling for a fair catch.

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There were more examples of each of the above -- much more, but here's all you need to know about the evening's competitive flair: There were five lead changes in the first half that led to Virginia Tech taking the skinniest of 17-16 from near the end of the second quarter into early in the fourth quarter. Then, just like that, Alabama exploded, along with its already ear-shattering followers chanting, "SEC, SEC, SEC." Over the game's final 12 minutes, the Crimson Tide outscored their tiring foes 18-7 with much of what will make Alabama lethal throughout its SEC schedule and beyond.

There was lots of speed, and there was lots of hitting, and there was lots of coaching, which all will lead to lots of winning.

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.

Georgia Dome Is Sweet Home Alabama originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>darius hanksDyrell Robertsmark ingramRoy UpchurchTerence MooreSun, 06 Sep 2009 02:00:00 EST ACC Gets Second Chance to Make First Impression in Atlantahttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/acc-gets-second-chance-to-make-first-impression-in-atlanta/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/acc-gets-second-chance-to-make-first-impression-in-atlanta/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/04/acc-gets-second-chance-to-make-first-impression-in-atlanta/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Frank BeamerFor the ACC, the curtain didn't so much rise on the 2008 football season as it did crash into the footlights.

In last year's national opener on Thursday night, N.C. State traveled to South Carolina, but left its offense at home in a 34-0 debacle. That Saturday, East Carolina staggered No. 17 Virginia Tech, returning a blocked punt for a touchdown for the winning points. In Charlottesville, Va., USC scored three touchdowns in the first 11 minutes and put away a 52-7 scrimmage before the ice melted in the Gatorade. And that Saturday night, Alabama walloped Clemson 34-10 in a game that was the football equivalent of standing in homeroom in only your underwear.

Clemson's vaunted ground game rushed for just as many yards as the goalposts - zero. And just as the league tried to take a step forward on a national stage, somebody tied their shoelaces together.

For the Tigers, and the ACC's reputation, Week 1 was a wound that wouldn't heal.

"It seemed to have a lingering effect for a while," said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who was an assistant under Tommy Bowden during last year's game. "I don't know exactly how long, but it was something that I think affected us for the next few weeks. ... As a result, things just kind of spiraled from there."

The following week, Middle Tennessee State humbled one-time ACC strongman Maryland 24-14, another game ACC partisans had to watch through their fingers. There probably have been worse debuts than the ACC's last year, but by the end of Week 2, it was hard to come up with one that didn't end up a with a sunken ship and Leonardo DiCaprio movie titled for it.

For a league trying to find its identity as a football power, it was a reminder that basketball season was just six weeks away.

But as the 2009 season starts, the ACC again finds itself with an opportunity to build its reputation at the expense of the nation's traditional conference powers. The first two weeks include two games against the SEC, three against the Pac-10, one against the Big 12, and the re-emergence of the Florida State-Miami rivalry, a game that has thus far played the undercard to a game played on blue turf and in the shadow of a giant Carl's Jr. cup.

Even league caboose Duke, seemingly resurgent under second-year head coach David Cutcliffe, takes a stake of league pride against reigning FCS champion Richmond. Think that game is a gimme even for Duke? Ask a Michigan fan about former FCS champion Appalachian State.

Then duck.

But for the ACC, the reclamation project of 2009 will begin where 2008 went oh so wrong, when Alabama beat Clemson in a game that wasn't so much over at the first punch. It was over when they touched gloves.

"We weren't ready to play," Swinney said. "The teams lined up and they popped us in the mouth."

And they struck the ACC below the belt. Not even Virginia Tech's climb to the top 10 by season end, and its Orange Bowl victory of Cincinnati, champion of the only league the ACC can kick sand of and get away with, made up for that season-starting stumble.

But, should the Hokies beat No. 5 Alabama in the primetime showdown Saturday night, it will be a victory for the whole league.

Just don't expect Coach Frank Beamer, who lost star tailback Darren Evans for the season earlier this month, to put the weight of the conference on his team's shoulder pads alone.

"There's no question it's a big game," Beamer said. "It would do a lot for Virginia Tech. It would do a lot for the ACC. But at the same time, you can't put all your eggs in one basket."

The Hokies will have to compensate for another ugly loss by N.C. State that sucked the excitement, and the offense, out of opening night. The Pack gained just 133 total yards, dropped the game-winning touchdown pass and lost 7-3 to a suddenly smasmouth Steve Spurrier team Thursday night.

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** RETRANSMISSION FOR IMPROVED QUALITY ** In this image rendered from video and provided by ESPN.com, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, left, punches Boise State's Byron Hout (94) as coach Chris Peterson tries to pull Hout away at the end of an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 19-8. (AP Photo/ESPN.com) NO SALES
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    ** RETRANSMISSION FOR IMPROVED QUALITY ** In this image rendered from video and provided by ESPN.com, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, left, punches Boise State's Byron Hout (94) as coach Chris Peterson tries to pull Hout away at the end of an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 19-8. (AP Photo/ESPN.com) NO SALES

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    n this image rendered from video and provided by ESPN.com, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, left, punches Boise State's Byron Hout (94) as coach Chris Peterson tries to pull Hout away at the end of an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 19-8. (AP Photo/ESPN.com) NO SALES

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    In this image rendered from video and provided by ESPN.com, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, left, punches Boise State's Byron Hout as coach Chris Peterson, foreground right, tries to pull Hout away at the end of an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 19-8. (AP Photo/ESPN.com) NO SALES

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    In this image rendered from video and provided by ESPN.com, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, left, punches Boise State's Byron Hout as coach Chris Peterson, foreground right, tries to pull Hout away at the end of an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 19-8. (AP Photo/ESPN.com) NO SALES

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    In this image rendered from video and provided by ESPN.com, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, left, punches Boise State's Byron Hout (94) as coach Chris Peterson tries to pull Hout away at the end of an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 19-8. (AP Photo/ESPN.com) NO SALES

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    In this image rendered from video and provided by ESPN.com, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, left, punches Boise State's Byron Hout as coach Chris Peterson, foreground right, tries to pull Hout away at the end of an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 19-8. (AP Photo/ESPN.com) NO SALES

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    The moon rises behind a fan watching Iowa State's game against North Dakota State in the first half of this NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 34-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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    The moon rises behind a fan watching Iowa State's game against North Dakota State in the first half of this NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 34-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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    In this photo taken Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, Texas senior quarterback Colt McCoy aims toward a receiver during practice in Austin, Texas. The No.2 Longhorns are set to host Louisiana-Monroe as they open the NCAA college football season Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

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    BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: The scoreboard shows the sad state of the Oregon Ducks offense halfway through the third quarter of the game against the Boise State Broncos on September 3, 2009 at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Oregon had 0 first downs, 2 yards rushing, 15 yards of passing for a total of 17 yards. Boise State won the game 19-8. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Scoreboard

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"We lacked the ability to sustain on offense," said Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien in an early nominee for understatement of the season.

But as the Blue Raiders proved in a win over Maryland last year, it's not just the big boys that can bring down the ACC. In Week 1, no team can be overlooked. Clemson hosts the Middle Tennessee State squad this eyar, a team brimming with confidence and now with offensive coordinator Tony Franklin on the sideline, the mastermind of the spread attack that turned Troy into a mid-major nuisance and earned him a job with Auburn last season..

"This is a team that we've got to be prepared for," Swinney said. "You can't overlook these guys at all. They're not a team you can make a lot of mistakes against and beat. They've played ACC and SEC caliber football."

Middle Tennessee State isn't the only minor team that could turn into a major embarrassment. Georgia Tech hosts Jacksonville State, one of the best FCS teams in the nation even without suspended quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, William and Mary plays for state pride at Virginia, Maryland visits Cal as a three-touchdown underdog, and Wake Forest hosts Baylor, a team that still has one of the nation's most dynamic quarterbacks in Robert Griffin. The Deacons, meanwhile, must replace stars Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith defensively.

"There is a history when you look ahead," said Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, "and it is not pretty."

And if there's one thing the ACC doesn't need, it's another lesson in ugly losses.

ACC Gets Second Chance to Make First Impression in Atlanta originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ray HollomanFri, 04 Sep 2009 19:15:00 EST FanHouse Chats College Football, Thursday at 1PM EThttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/fanhouse-chats-college-football-thursday-at-1-pm-eastern/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/fanhouse-chats-college-football-thursday-at-1-pm-eastern/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/fanhouse-chats-college-football-thursday-at-1-pm-eastern/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The college football season is upon us.

Highlighted by Oregon trying to take down Boise State on the blue turf, the season kicks off with a handful of games Thursday night. Then, the main course arrives Saturday, with some huge season openers around the country. Join the FanHouse team Thursday at 1 PM Eastern, as we talk about the upcoming season, and the interesting slate of games that awaits us this weekend.

FanHouse Chats College Football, Thursday at 1PM ET originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bruce CiskieThu, 03 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST Alabama Football Player Shothttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/01/alabama-football-player-shot/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/01/alabama-football-player-shot/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/01/alabama-football-player-shot/#commentsFiled under: , ,

College football's opening week should be about celebration but its taken a rough turn after an Alabama football player was shot Monday night. Senior defensive end Brandon Deaderick was shot in the arm in an apparent robbery outside a Tuscaloosa apartment complex.

The Tuscaloosa News says his injuries aren't life-threatening which is great news but authorities are actively searching for his attacker and appear to have made an arrest. It was anticipated Deaderick would be a starter this season on a loaded Alabama defense but obviously, his physical recovery could take him away from Saturdays for a while.

This story will certainly make headlines up to and through Saturday as Alabama is involved in one of the weekend's showcase games, playing Virginia Tech Saturday night.

Alabama Football Player Shot originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brandon DeaderickBrian GrummellTue, 01 Sep 2009 02:48:00 EST ACC Seeks Elite Team, Respecthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/acc-seeks-elite-team-respect/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/acc-seeks-elite-team-respect/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/acc-seeks-elite-team-respect/#commentsFiled under: ,

The way Frank Beamer sees it -- and the head coach has a crystal-clear view as a three-time ACC football champion -- being a member of the ACC is good for Virginia Tech. And he's hopeful Virginia Tech is good for the ACC.

Of course, the Hokies will get the opportunity to boost the reputation of their program and the ACC when they open the regular season against Alabama Sept. 5 in Atlanta's Georgia Dome. Both teams could be ranked among the top 10, and a victory will provide early momentum and respect.

"I thought there were a lot of good teams [in the ACC last season], maybe not a great team, but I think we are going to take it up another step and hopefully be a factor in that national stage, too," Beamer said Monday during the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, N.C. "It's a competitive league and I think all of us are stepping it up a little bit right now."

It's not like the ACC has an inferiority complex when compared other conferences around the country. But...

Sure, an NCAA-record 10 ACC teams were bowl eligible in 2008. Despite high-quality parity, however, ACC teams were not mentioned in national-title chatter. In fact, until Virginia Tech beat Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl last January, no ACC team had won a BCS bowl game this decade. (Florida State's January, 2000 Sugar Bowl win over, ironically, Virginia Tech for the national title was the last.)

The ACC is determined to strengthen its national image in 2009, and Virginia Tech can help that cause against the Crimson Tide. Clemson had its chance in this opener last year but fumbled. The Crimson Tide used a 34-10 blowout of then-No. 9 Tigers to climb to No. 1 in the polls for most of last season.

"Playing a game like that makes you better overall," Beamer said.

"I think it makes your summer practices go better. We will have better preseason practices because we have to make great preparation just to compete with this Alabama team. We are proud of our past and proud of how consistently we've been able to win, but we understand what a challenge we got starting out the year."

Last season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Hokies. Look what happened. Virginia Tech won the ACC Championship, it won the Orange Bowl and it finished with 10 wins -- a combination that has raised this year's expectations to the point where fans could start muttering about a national championship.

The Hokies return much of their talent from last season, starting with quarterback Tyrod Taylor (1,036 passing yards) and running back Darren Evans (1,265 yards). Both the offensive line and receivers should be better, too.

"I think our offense will be better. I think we are closer to being able to attack you with a passing game or attack you with a running game and not particularly care which way we need to," Beamer said.

"I think Tyrod is getting ready to have a heckuva year. I think his throwing is better, I think his decision making is going to be better, I think he works very hard at it. He's a smart kid and very competitive. It's his team and he's acting that way right now."

And, with any Virginia Tech defense under Beamer, look for the Hokies to swarm to the football in a hurry. With attitude. Virginia Tech's defensive line, anchored by end Jason Worilds, could be the best in the conference. Plus, on Monday, the media picked Virginia Tech to wins its third consecutive ACC Championship and fourth overall by beating Florida State in the December title game in Tampa, Fla.

Beamer didn't flinch.

"I think high expectations are great as long as you don't forget what got you those high expectations, and that's working hard and working together," he said.

Latest College Football Images

    Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy answers questions from reporters during media day at the Dallas-Fort Worth Westin Hotel in Irving, Texas, Monday, July 27, 2009. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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    Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy autographs a Big 12 football during media day at the Dallas-Fort Worth Westin Hotel in Irving, Texas, Monday, July 27, 2009. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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    Texas A&M head football coach Mike Sherman answers questions from reporters during media day at the Dallas-Fort Worth Westin Hotel in Irving, Texas, Monday, July 27, 2009. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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    Texas A&M head football coach Mike Sherman answers questions from reporters during media day at the Dallas-Fort Worth Westin Hotel in Irving, Texas, Monday, July 27, 2009. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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    Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy answers questions from reporters during media day at the Dallas-Fort Worth Westin Hotel in Irving, Texas, Monday, July 27, 2009. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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    Texas A&M head football coach Mike Sherman answers questions from reporters during media day at the Dallas-Fort Worth Westin Hotel in Irving, Texas, Monday, July 27, 2009. (Brandon Wade/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

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    Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads speaks during Big 12 football days in Irving, Texas, Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

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    Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer speaks during the Atlantic Coast Conference Kickoff college football media day in Greensboro, N.C., Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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    Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer speaks during the Atlantic Coast Conference Kickoff college football media day in Greensboro, N.C., Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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    Wake Forest head football coach Jim Grobe speaks during the Atlantic Coast Conference Kickoff college football media day in Greensboro, N.C., Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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The ACC, meanwhile, is also looking to raise its expectations despite making NCAA history last season with 10 bowl teams. The ACC went 4-6.

"It never happened before in college football, so I don't think it's something that we can expect to see on a year in and year out basis," ACC Commissioner John Swofford said Monday in reference to league's 10 bowl-eligible teams in 2008.

"We had such parity last year, and parity at a high level. Parity can be good and not-so-good in terms of quality, and our parity a year ago was very high quality parity in my opinion. It was just tough for any one team to separate itself, or any two teams to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in either division. And that lent itself to producing 10 bowl teams. I don't think we can necessarily think [we'll have] 10 bowl teams year in and year out, but I do think the competitiveness within the league and a lot of the parity will continue."

The ACC just might be riding on the Hokies' coattails this year. Again, Beamer doesn't seem to mind one iota.

"Being a member of the ACC is certainly great for Virginia Tech and I am hopeful we've been good for the ACC. But I know the ACC has been great for us," Beamer said.

"Our fans, they've probably never been more excited. We bought every ticket we could for the [kickoff game] in Atlanta; I know Alabama did, too. I think we've sold all of our season tickets. Our fans are just great. I try to make them feel like they are a part of our success. When you start talking about Virginia Tech football, it's not long until you are talking about the fans of Virginia Tech football.

"I am proud of where we've gotten to but I still believe our best days our ahead."

ACC Seeks Elite Team, Respect originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>frank beamerjason worildsJohn Swoffordtyrod taylorJim HenryMon, 27 Jul 2009 19:22:00 EST Media Picks Virginia Tech Over Florida State as ACC's Top Turkeyhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/media-picks-virginia-tech-over-florida-state-as-accs-top-turkey/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/media-picks-virginia-tech-over-florida-state-as-accs-top-turkey/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/media-picks-virginia-tech-over-florida-state-as-accs-top-turkey/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Darren Evans, Virginia Tech Orange BowlMark it down. Virginia Tech will beat Florida State for the ACC Championship in December.

So says the media that covers the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hokies, winners of three ACC championships in their first five seasons of membership, were the overwhelming pick to claim a fourth in voting conducted by media at the ACC Football Kickoff at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C.

The Hokies received 78 first-place votes and 512 points to easily claim the Coastal Division title. Georgia Tech claimed the other nine first-place votes and 415 points for second. North Carolina (350) and Miami (282) followed the top two and placed ahead of Virginia (148) and Duke (120).

Voting was more balanced in the Atlantic Division, in which four of six teams got first-place votes.

FSU won with 56 first-place citations and 479 points. Second-place Clemson (387 points) was the choice for first by 14 electors; N.C. State (364) was picked No. 1 on 10 ballots; and Wake Forest (295) received seven the nod from seven voters. Maryland (157) came in at fifth and Boston College (145), the two-time defending Atlantic champion, finished sixth.

The ACC Championship game is Dec. 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game will be broadcast by ESPN at 8PM.

Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer, the 2008 ACC Player of the Year, was selected to repeat over Clemson running Clemson's C.J. Spiller in preseason voting for the 2009 honor.

Dwyer, whose 107 rushing yards per game led the league in 2008, is the first ACC Player of the Year to seek a repeat of the honor since FSU's Charlie Ward in 1993. Ward defended his conference distinction and won the Heisman Trophy in leading the Seminoles to the national championship in that 1993 season.

And, speaking of Spiller, a life-size poster, measuring 5-feet-11 inches tall of the tailback, greeted the media during the ACC Football Kickoff. It's part of Clemson's Heisman Trophy campaign for the senior running back. It will cost Clemson more than $1,000 postage, even with sponsors, to deliver the poster to media and would-be voters.

It's not the first time Clemson has thought big.

It was 25 years ago when current Clemson assistant athletic director Tim Bourret came up with the idea of a life-size poster of William "The Fridge" Perry standing in front of a refrigerator.

Media Picks Virginia Tech Over Florida State as ACC's Top Turkey originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>cj spillerjonathan dwyerJim HenryMon, 27 Jul 2009 14:50:00 EST