Virginia QB Peter Lalich was booted from the team today, but will remain a student at the Charlottesville campus.
Marc Verica, folk heroes are born from these situations. Beat Duke in nine days, and you're a god (albeit a very minor deity). Weird, but true.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Week 4 Preview, Part I: You Can Put Lipstick On A...
Yeah right, I'm not going near that one.
These four early matchups involving ACC clubs provide a superb opportunity for you to mow your lawn, paint your house, clip your nose hairs or perform any other general household or bodily maintenance. The sex appeal of these contests rivals that of a hungover and splotchy Sarah Jessica Parker, so only Terp, Jacket, Pack and Eagle fans are expected to even pay attention to these games let alone read the below previews...
MISSISSIPPI STATE (1-2) at GEORGIA TECH (2-1)
Saturday, 9/20/08, noon ET - Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Series Record: Georgia Tech leads 2-0; the Yellow Jackets won the last meeting 27-13 in 1929
Storyline: Can the Yellow Jackets' bats overcome the Bulldogs stellar pitching?
Brief Overview: MSU's 3-2 defeat to Auburn last week removed any possible sizzle that this formerly interesting matchup might have held. Now, the Dogs are merely an annoying test the Jackets must pass so that they can put the Virginia Tech loss in the rearview mirror. And oh yeah, Tech has to win this one or all remaining shreds of ACC '08 credibility flutter away. Normally I would say that the Jackets' fumblitis exhibited in the last two games would be cause for concern, but Auburn lost 3 fumbles to State last week and didn't suffer in the least for it (116 yards - and 1.8yds per play - was all the Bulldogs could muster). The Tigers were still able to churn out 156 yards on the ground and to say that the Jackets are light-years ahead of AU in that department is an understatement. For the Ramblin' Wreck to lose, they'd need to be -5 in TO ratio, the defense would have to completely collapse and MSU QB Wesley Carroll would have to be body snatched and replaced with Chase Daniel.
Prediction: Not as impressive as it probably should be, but Tech gets a solid win nonetheless. Georgia Tech 23, Mississippi State 7
EAST CAROLINA (3-0) at N.C. STATE (1-2)
Saturday, 9/20/08, noon ET - Carter Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Series Record: N.C. State leads 15-10; the Wolfpack won last year's meeting 34-20
Storyline: The Pirates take their next step toward their honorary 2008 ACC title.
Brief Overview: The Wolfpack's win over ECU last year sparked a mini-resurgence that saw them rise from a 1-5 record to a 5-5 mark before running out of gas - and healthy bodies - at the end of the season. Don't look for a repeat this season; the Pirates have gone 7-1 since that defeat to State eleven months ago and are eyeing a possible BCS bid if they can run the table. A pseudo-rivalry game such as this can always throw a monkey wrench into any cold analysis, but I find it difficult to see how the Pack can score enough points to pull this one off - Patrick Pinkney and Co. are too good to be stifled for an entire game, and the State offense has been so inept that they've been outscored by their own defense this season against 1-A competition (one field goal for the offense against Clemson & S. Carolina combined, while the defense had a pick six against the Tigers).
Prediction: No surprises here - the Pirates win big and State looks fairly awful in the process. East Carolina 27, N.C. State 6
UCF (1-1) at BOSTON COLLEGE (1-1)
Saturday, 9/20/08, 1pm ET - Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
Series Record: first meeting
Storyline: The Eagles try to avoid their first 1-2 start since 1996.
Brief Overview: Meh. I'm feeling no vibe about this game. Both teams are coming off bye-weeks. Both teams lost heartbreakers two weeks ago (the Eagles to Georgia Tech, the Knights to rival USF in OT). Both teams have QB concerns. The only difference I see is that the Eagles have played fairly consistently all the way through their first two games, while the Knights really only showed a pulse in the fourth quarter against the Bulls.
Prediction: It certainly won't be a classic, but it'll be a win - for BC. And that's all that matters at this point. Boston College 23, UCF 14
EASTERN MICHIGAN (1-2) at MARYLAND (2-1)
Saturday, 9/20/08, 1pm ET - Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD
Series Record: Maryland leads 3-0; the Terrapins won the last meeting 37-13 in 2003
Storyline: The Maryland Magical Mystery Tour enters week four.
Brief Overview: Raise your hand if you wouldn't be surprised in the least if the Terps are on the wrong end of a 14-3 halftime score. OK, now put your hands down. All of them. Please. Of course Maryland would get drilled by Middle Tennessee and then come back and own Cal. It's nonsensical, it's mystifying, but it's the essence of Terp football since 2004. They will lose to NC State this year but will wind up knocking off Clemson. Just watch. Anyway, I have no idea whether the Cal-Chris Turner or the MTSU-Chris Turner shows up, just as I have no idea if the 1st-through-3rd quarter Terp defense against Cal shows or whether the 4th-quarter collapsing unit shows on Saturday. But since it's Eastern Michigan on the other sideline, a win should still be assured. Just don't expect the Turtles to have learned a thing from the Cal victory.
Prediction: Maryland wins. That's all I'm certain of, but I suspect a letdown from last week is coming. Maryland 28, Eastern Michigan 10
Part II of the preview should appear tomorrow.
These four early matchups involving ACC clubs provide a superb opportunity for you to mow your lawn, paint your house, clip your nose hairs or perform any other general household or bodily maintenance. The sex appeal of these contests rivals that of a hungover and splotchy Sarah Jessica Parker, so only Terp, Jacket, Pack and Eagle fans are expected to even pay attention to these games let alone read the below previews...
MISSISSIPPI STATE (1-2) at GEORGIA TECH (2-1)
Saturday, 9/20/08, noon ET - Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Series Record: Georgia Tech leads 2-0; the Yellow Jackets won the last meeting 27-13 in 1929
Storyline: Can the Yellow Jackets' bats overcome the Bulldogs stellar pitching?
Brief Overview: MSU's 3-2 defeat to Auburn last week removed any possible sizzle that this formerly interesting matchup might have held. Now, the Dogs are merely an annoying test the Jackets must pass so that they can put the Virginia Tech loss in the rearview mirror. And oh yeah, Tech has to win this one or all remaining shreds of ACC '08 credibility flutter away. Normally I would say that the Jackets' fumblitis exhibited in the last two games would be cause for concern, but Auburn lost 3 fumbles to State last week and didn't suffer in the least for it (116 yards - and 1.8yds per play - was all the Bulldogs could muster). The Tigers were still able to churn out 156 yards on the ground and to say that the Jackets are light-years ahead of AU in that department is an understatement. For the Ramblin' Wreck to lose, they'd need to be -5 in TO ratio, the defense would have to completely collapse and MSU QB Wesley Carroll would have to be body snatched and replaced with Chase Daniel.
Prediction: Not as impressive as it probably should be, but Tech gets a solid win nonetheless. Georgia Tech 23, Mississippi State 7
EAST CAROLINA (3-0) at N.C. STATE (1-2)
Saturday, 9/20/08, noon ET - Carter Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Series Record: N.C. State leads 15-10; the Wolfpack won last year's meeting 34-20
Storyline: The Pirates take their next step toward their honorary 2008 ACC title.
Brief Overview: The Wolfpack's win over ECU last year sparked a mini-resurgence that saw them rise from a 1-5 record to a 5-5 mark before running out of gas - and healthy bodies - at the end of the season. Don't look for a repeat this season; the Pirates have gone 7-1 since that defeat to State eleven months ago and are eyeing a possible BCS bid if they can run the table. A pseudo-rivalry game such as this can always throw a monkey wrench into any cold analysis, but I find it difficult to see how the Pack can score enough points to pull this one off - Patrick Pinkney and Co. are too good to be stifled for an entire game, and the State offense has been so inept that they've been outscored by their own defense this season against 1-A competition (one field goal for the offense against Clemson & S. Carolina combined, while the defense had a pick six against the Tigers).
Prediction: No surprises here - the Pirates win big and State looks fairly awful in the process. East Carolina 27, N.C. State 6
UCF (1-1) at BOSTON COLLEGE (1-1)
Saturday, 9/20/08, 1pm ET - Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
Series Record: first meeting
Storyline: The Eagles try to avoid their first 1-2 start since 1996.
Brief Overview: Meh. I'm feeling no vibe about this game. Both teams are coming off bye-weeks. Both teams lost heartbreakers two weeks ago (the Eagles to Georgia Tech, the Knights to rival USF in OT). Both teams have QB concerns. The only difference I see is that the Eagles have played fairly consistently all the way through their first two games, while the Knights really only showed a pulse in the fourth quarter against the Bulls.
Prediction: It certainly won't be a classic, but it'll be a win - for BC. And that's all that matters at this point. Boston College 23, UCF 14
EASTERN MICHIGAN (1-2) at MARYLAND (2-1)
Saturday, 9/20/08, 1pm ET - Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD
Series Record: Maryland leads 3-0; the Terrapins won the last meeting 37-13 in 2003
Storyline: The Maryland Magical Mystery Tour enters week four.
Brief Overview: Raise your hand if you wouldn't be surprised in the least if the Terps are on the wrong end of a 14-3 halftime score. OK, now put your hands down. All of them. Please. Of course Maryland would get drilled by Middle Tennessee and then come back and own Cal. It's nonsensical, it's mystifying, but it's the essence of Terp football since 2004. They will lose to NC State this year but will wind up knocking off Clemson. Just watch. Anyway, I have no idea whether the Cal-Chris Turner or the MTSU-Chris Turner shows up, just as I have no idea if the 1st-through-3rd quarter Terp defense against Cal shows or whether the 4th-quarter collapsing unit shows on Saturday. But since it's Eastern Michigan on the other sideline, a win should still be assured. Just don't expect the Turtles to have learned a thing from the Cal victory.
Prediction: Maryland wins. That's all I'm certain of, but I suspect a letdown from last week is coming. Maryland 28, Eastern Michigan 10
Part II of the preview should appear tomorrow.
ACC on TV
Here's your handy guide on where to find Saturday's games on the tube or online:
*all times Eastern*
Mississippi State at Georgia Tech, noon (Raycom, ESPN Gameplan, ESPN360)
East Carolina at N.C. State, noon (ESPN, ESPN360)
UCF at Boston College, 1pm (ESPNU)
Eastern Michigan at Maryland, 1pm (ESPN360 - web only)
South Carolina State at Clemson, 1pm (ESPN360 - web only)
Miami at Texas A&M, 3:30pm (ABC, ESPN360, ESPN Gameplan)
Virginia Tech at North Carolina, 3:30pm (ABC, ESPN, ESPN360, ESPN Gameplan)
Wake Forest at Florida State, 7pm (ESPN2, ESPN360)
Have a good one!
*all times Eastern*
Mississippi State at Georgia Tech, noon (Raycom, ESPN Gameplan, ESPN360)
East Carolina at N.C. State, noon (ESPN, ESPN360)
UCF at Boston College, 1pm (ESPNU)
Eastern Michigan at Maryland, 1pm (ESPN360 - web only)
South Carolina State at Clemson, 1pm (ESPN360 - web only)
Miami at Texas A&M, 3:30pm (ABC, ESPN360, ESPN Gameplan)
Virginia Tech at North Carolina, 3:30pm (ABC, ESPN, ESPN360, ESPN Gameplan)
Wake Forest at Florida State, 7pm (ESPN2, ESPN360)
Have a good one!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I Do Not Like Green Eggs & Ham
The Cal Bears would be wise to immediately remove the aforementioned Dr. Seuss staple from their pre-game breakfast menu. Why, pray tell? Because their very own Jahvid Best regurgitated said meal on national television after getting tattooed by Maryland defensive back Kevin Barnes in the 2nd quarter of the Terps' 35-27 upset last Saturday.
If you get all "Stand By Me" upon viewing upchuck footage (particularly of the greenish-hue variety), do not watch the below video clip - or at least stop it prior to the 0:51 mark.
The good news is that Best returned to the game and played most of the second half, so no permanent damage was done. I hope.
If you get all "Stand By Me" upon viewing upchuck footage (particularly of the greenish-hue variety), do not watch the below video clip - or at least stop it prior to the 0:51 mark.
The good news is that Best returned to the game and played most of the second half, so no permanent damage was done. I hope.
The Collected Works of Brandon Tate
And this tribute doesn't even include the goodness from the McNeese State and Rutgers showcases. If he blows up against Virginia Tech this Saturday, the national media will have no choice but to remove their SEC/Big XII/USC blinders and pay attention.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
About Last Saturday (and Thursday)...
Leave it up to Al Groh to spoil what could've been a sublime week of redemption for the ACC. But let's not dwell on the negative; instead, let's recap one of the better weekends in the ACC in many, many months. Forgive the choppy, rambling style today...I'm a bit under the weather so blame Day-Quil if I'm a bit nonsensical.
NORTH CAROLINA 44 - RUTGERS 12
Freakin' sweet. National television, on the road, up and coming ACC club beats the bejesus out of flash-in-the-pan Big East pretender. And the Tar Heel defense, the one I have been rather rude about the last two weeks...4 picks and a score. All is now forgiven for the McNeese mess. Poor Brandon Tate...if only he played in the SEC or Big XII, clips of his greatness would be hurtling through cyberspace via ESPN.com and you'd be seeing his name on all those meaningless but still widely read "Heisman Watch" lists. Alas, he'll have to settle for ACC Player of the Year honors and perhaps a trip to Tampa if he keeps up half this pace.
MARYLAND 35 - CALIFORNIA 27
Perhaps the most surprising thing about this pleasant upset is that it didn't involve monster days from either Chris Turner (156 yards passing but a superb 79% completion rate), Da'Rel Scott (87 rushing yards) or Darrius Heyward-Bey (2 receptions). The Terps didn't really do anything extraordinary except play mistake free, efficient football and got a huge effort out of their defense through the first three quarters. After taking a 28-6 lead into the 4th stanza the Terps maddeningly switched to a prevent-D and susbsequently let Cal make the score respectable, but the damage had been done. The Fridge always pulls one of these out of the blue upsets every year and I probably should've seen this one coming. And based on the near miracle at Kentucky last Saturday, the Middle Tennessee loss looks slightly less horrid now.
CLEMSON 27 - N.C. STATE 9
I told you the Tigers were still in their Tide-induced fog. This is one of the games were the boxscore says one thing (Clemson domination), but a very different impression was left when actually viewing the game. State had a couple of chances to make this one very interesting but blew it in the red zone. It was another lackluster day on the ground for CJ Spiller and James Davis (24 rushes, 95 yards combined). Cullen Harper had the most workman-like 262 passing yards I've seen in a while. The Tigers are simply off-kilter and they've been that way since early in the Bama debacle. The Wolfpack are a mess in all facets of the game, save for RB Andre Brown and some flashes of potential from QB Russell Wilson.
DUKE 41 - NAVY 31
Could the Blue Devils actually qualify for a bowl bid this season? Hear me out...they're 2-1 now and get their replacement-in-the-basement Virginia in two weeks. That's 3-1. Then they'll need 3 more wins from the rest of their ACC slate (which is sans FSU, BC and Maryland) and their remaining non-conference tilt with Vandy. It's possible, especially with a fantastic air attack led by QB Thaddeus Lewis. David Cutcliffe may now be in danger of raising expectations too quickly in Durham - he's doing a great job thus far, but he's doing it with a ton of seasoned upperclassmen.
VIRGINIA TECH 20 - GEORGIA TECH 17
The Hokies are one idiotic personnel decision from being 3-0 and in the Top 15 right now. Everyone outside of Frank Beamer, Bryan Stinespring and Sean Glennon knew that Tyrod Taylor was the better QB and the better fit for the Hokies heading into this season, but stubbornness reigned and a Glennon-aided loss to ECU in the opener was the result. The V-Tech victory over G-Tech this Saturday is proof positive of Taylor's value, as he turned busted plays into gains and generally kept the Jacket defense guessing. Taylor's stats weren't impressive, but it's what he could do that made a difference, as well as what he didn't do (turn the ball over). Tough, tough loss for the Ramblin' Wreck but just think how much damage they'll do when they figure out how to hold onto the football.
FLORIDA STATE 46 - CHATTANOOGA 7
The Seminoles have had many problems over the last three years, but one largely unmentioned factor in their recent struggles has been the way they've opened each of those seasons - on Monday night, against Miami ('05 and '06) and Clemson ('07). In each of those years, the Noles then suited up again on the following Saturday and played like excrement against opponents they otherwise should've clobbered. Being cursed with Jeff Bowden (and the fallout he left behind) and sub-par offensive line play is bad enough, but being thrown to the wolves in game one each year and then having to take the field 4 1/2 days later stalled the FSU offense right out of the gate in each of those seasons. Not so in 2008, as the suspension-depleted Seminoles smartly scheduled two tune-ups (holy alliteration overload) prior to the showdown with Wake, and boy does it appear to have worked. Quarterback Christian Ponder has been laser sharp and error-free, along with backup D'Vontrey Richardson; the receivers are the best in a decade, although they suffered the dropsies against the Mocs on Saturday; and the line has played well, but still coughed up a few sacks. As for the defense, FSU stifled Chattanooga all day aside from one busted play - the Mocs' lone TD on a busted-coverage 62-yard strike. The Seminole defense surrendered just 73 yards otherwise.
CONNECTICUT 45 - VIRGINIA 10
Let's be honest here - both USC and UConn let up on the Cavs in what could've been 66-7 and 59-10 punishments if Pete Carroll and Randy Edsall graduated from the Urban Meyer School of Stat Padding and General Jerk-Offishness. And that's all that really needs to be said about the current state of Virginia football under Al Groh and Son. Well that, and a third ass-kicking is going to be administered in nine days...by Duke.
NORTH CAROLINA 44 - RUTGERS 12
Freakin' sweet. National television, on the road, up and coming ACC club beats the bejesus out of flash-in-the-pan Big East pretender. And the Tar Heel defense, the one I have been rather rude about the last two weeks...4 picks and a score. All is now forgiven for the McNeese mess. Poor Brandon Tate...if only he played in the SEC or Big XII, clips of his greatness would be hurtling through cyberspace via ESPN.com and you'd be seeing his name on all those meaningless but still widely read "Heisman Watch" lists. Alas, he'll have to settle for ACC Player of the Year honors and perhaps a trip to Tampa if he keeps up half this pace.
MARYLAND 35 - CALIFORNIA 27
Perhaps the most surprising thing about this pleasant upset is that it didn't involve monster days from either Chris Turner (156 yards passing but a superb 79% completion rate), Da'Rel Scott (87 rushing yards) or Darrius Heyward-Bey (2 receptions). The Terps didn't really do anything extraordinary except play mistake free, efficient football and got a huge effort out of their defense through the first three quarters. After taking a 28-6 lead into the 4th stanza the Terps maddeningly switched to a prevent-D and susbsequently let Cal make the score respectable, but the damage had been done. The Fridge always pulls one of these out of the blue upsets every year and I probably should've seen this one coming. And based on the near miracle at Kentucky last Saturday, the Middle Tennessee loss looks slightly less horrid now.
CLEMSON 27 - N.C. STATE 9
I told you the Tigers were still in their Tide-induced fog. This is one of the games were the boxscore says one thing (Clemson domination), but a very different impression was left when actually viewing the game. State had a couple of chances to make this one very interesting but blew it in the red zone. It was another lackluster day on the ground for CJ Spiller and James Davis (24 rushes, 95 yards combined). Cullen Harper had the most workman-like 262 passing yards I've seen in a while. The Tigers are simply off-kilter and they've been that way since early in the Bama debacle. The Wolfpack are a mess in all facets of the game, save for RB Andre Brown and some flashes of potential from QB Russell Wilson.
DUKE 41 - NAVY 31
Could the Blue Devils actually qualify for a bowl bid this season? Hear me out...they're 2-1 now and get their replacement-in-the-basement Virginia in two weeks. That's 3-1. Then they'll need 3 more wins from the rest of their ACC slate (which is sans FSU, BC and Maryland) and their remaining non-conference tilt with Vandy. It's possible, especially with a fantastic air attack led by QB Thaddeus Lewis. David Cutcliffe may now be in danger of raising expectations too quickly in Durham - he's doing a great job thus far, but he's doing it with a ton of seasoned upperclassmen.
VIRGINIA TECH 20 - GEORGIA TECH 17
The Hokies are one idiotic personnel decision from being 3-0 and in the Top 15 right now. Everyone outside of Frank Beamer, Bryan Stinespring and Sean Glennon knew that Tyrod Taylor was the better QB and the better fit for the Hokies heading into this season, but stubbornness reigned and a Glennon-aided loss to ECU in the opener was the result. The V-Tech victory over G-Tech this Saturday is proof positive of Taylor's value, as he turned busted plays into gains and generally kept the Jacket defense guessing. Taylor's stats weren't impressive, but it's what he could do that made a difference, as well as what he didn't do (turn the ball over). Tough, tough loss for the Ramblin' Wreck but just think how much damage they'll do when they figure out how to hold onto the football.
FLORIDA STATE 46 - CHATTANOOGA 7
The Seminoles have had many problems over the last three years, but one largely unmentioned factor in their recent struggles has been the way they've opened each of those seasons - on Monday night, against Miami ('05 and '06) and Clemson ('07). In each of those years, the Noles then suited up again on the following Saturday and played like excrement against opponents they otherwise should've clobbered. Being cursed with Jeff Bowden (and the fallout he left behind) and sub-par offensive line play is bad enough, but being thrown to the wolves in game one each year and then having to take the field 4 1/2 days later stalled the FSU offense right out of the gate in each of those seasons. Not so in 2008, as the suspension-depleted Seminoles smartly scheduled two tune-ups (holy alliteration overload) prior to the showdown with Wake, and boy does it appear to have worked. Quarterback Christian Ponder has been laser sharp and error-free, along with backup D'Vontrey Richardson; the receivers are the best in a decade, although they suffered the dropsies against the Mocs on Saturday; and the line has played well, but still coughed up a few sacks. As for the defense, FSU stifled Chattanooga all day aside from one busted play - the Mocs' lone TD on a busted-coverage 62-yard strike. The Seminole defense surrendered just 73 yards otherwise.
CONNECTICUT 45 - VIRGINIA 10
Let's be honest here - both USC and UConn let up on the Cavs in what could've been 66-7 and 59-10 punishments if Pete Carroll and Randy Edsall graduated from the Urban Meyer School of Stat Padding and General Jerk-Offishness. And that's all that really needs to be said about the current state of Virginia football under Al Groh and Son. Well that, and a third ass-kicking is going to be administered in nine days...by Duke.
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