Friday, May 25, 2012

ACC dominates 'center' stage

The ACC suddenly has become the "center" of the college football universe.

Take that SEC!

The ACC's football programs  may not be a big deal when it comes to national rankings, bowl games and signing hot-shot high school prospects.

But with the addition of Duke redshirt senior Brian Moore to the Dave Remington  Award watch list, the ACC now has five of the contenders for the award presented annually to the nation's best center.

Moore joins Jay Finch (Georgia Tech), Dalton Freeman (Clemson, 1st team all-ACC in 2011), Andrew Miller (Virginia Tech) and Camden Wentz (N.C. State) among the ACC hopefuls.

The ACC has never produced a Remington Award winner, but obviously this could be the breakthrough year.

Miami's Brett Romberg was the recipient in 2002  and Virginia Tech's Jake Grove the following season, but that was when those schools were in the Big East.

Last year's winner was Michigan's Dave Molk.

Oh sure, this explosion of talent in the middle of the interior offensive line may not turn as many heads as national titles and Heisman Trophy winners.

But hey, most successful plays begin with a successful snap.

-- Caulton Tudor

Friday, May 18, 2012

2 N.C. State DBs to transfer

RALEIGH - North Carolina State head football coach Tom O'Brien says safeties Donald Coleman and Dean Haynes are transferring.

Wolfpack officials, who announced the players' decisions Friday, said Coleman has graduated and will be eligible to play for his new school immediately.

Haynes will be a redshirt junior this fall. He arrived at N.C. State in 2009 as a defensive back and began the 2010 season as the starter at running back. Last year he was moved back to the secondary but played only 12 snaps for the Wolfpack.

Also Friday:

  • O'Brien said backup quarterback Brian Taylor is no longer playing football but will remain enrolled at N.C. State. 
  • O'Brien announced that the Wolfpack awarded scholarships to two walk-ons, linebacker Zach Gentry and fullback Tyler Purvis. Purvis caught two touchdown passes last season in the Pack's loss to Georgia Tech.
- Associated Press