Observations from the 50-yard Line

UNC 19, Duke 6

2009-11-07T18:58:00.001-05:00

CHAPEL HILL -- It's good day to be Ryan Houston, and Casey Barth, but not Duke.
Houston's career-best 164 yards, and Barth's four field goals, gave North Carolina a 19-6 win over the Blue Devils on Saturday at Kenan Stadium.

The loss ends Duke's three-game ACC winning streak and leaves them 1-19 in the Victory Bell series since 1989. The loss also derails Duke's pursuit of a bowl bid and bolster's UNC's, which has won two straight in the ACC after an 0-3 conference start.

Houston carried 10 times, on a 12-play drive, for 55 yards on the game-clinching touchdown, a 3-yard run by receiver Jheranie Boyd. Houston has a career-best 157 yards on a career-best 35 carries.

Houston out-gained Duke's vaunted offense by himself, 179 total yards to 125.

Charlie Brown's interception and 54-yard return set UNC up at Duke's 20 but a illegal block penalty on Greg Little on first down stopped UNC's drive before it started. Barth hit the 41-yarder on the last play of the third quarter for his third field goal.

Barth, who kicked the game-winner on the last play of last Thursday's 20-17 win at Virginia Tech, also hit from 40, 29 and 33 yards.

Nick Maggio hit two field goals in the first half to tie the game at 6 at the half. Maggio's hit a 26-yarder on the last play of the half and a 23-yarder as Duke's passing game has stalled after reaching the red zone twice.

The Tar Heels have leaned heavily on their running game, minus Shaun Draughn, and Barth's right leg with quarterback T.J. Yates struggling. Barth hit a 29-yarder, his second field goal, after Yates whistled a high and hard fastball over the out-stretched hands of Greg Little on the 4-yard line.

North Carolina scored first, on its first possession, running six times on a 10-play drive to set up a 40-yard field goal by Barth for a 3-0 lead at 11:25 in the first quarter.

A blocked punt helped Duke even the score near the end of the first. Jordan Byas' blocked punt set up Maggio's 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 3. Maggio is subbing for regular kicker Will Snyerwine, who is out with a leg injury.

The Heels, at least momentarily, lost starting running back Draughn who suffered a left shoulder injury on the fist play of the game.

Byas blocked Grant Shallock at UNC's 30-yard at 4:00 in the first quarter to give Duke the ball in UNC's territory. A 22-yard pass from Thad Lewis to Brandon King got Duke down to the 14 but the drive stalled.

Yates has badly missed at least four open receivers, including Erik Highsmith on a post route on the first possession. He has completed 15 of 26 passes for 112 yards.
Lewis, who has four straight 300-plus games, has been held in check for 96 yards on 13-of-24 attempts with the one interception.

Receiver Austin Kelly leads Duke with four catches for 22 yards.

-- J.P. Giglio

Pack finally has reason to celebrate

2009-11-07T18:50:00.001-05:00

N.C. State’s players hadn’t won in so long that they forgot how to react when they did.

Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns and ran for another Saturday afternoon as the Wolfpack broke a four-game losing streak with a 38-31 defeat of Maryland at Carter-Finley Stadium.

“Normally we come in (the locker room), and it’s kind of a somber mood,” said N.C. State defensive end Michael Lemon.

Not this time.

Coach Tom O’Brien, who had told N.C. State’s players they were a bad football team after an error-filled win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 26, encouraged the players to celebrate this time.

The Wolfpack (4-5, 1-4 ACC) still made plenty of mistakes against Maryland. Wilson threw three interceptions, including one that Alex Wujciak returned 70 yards for a touchdown.

N.C. State’s wide receivers dropped three passes that should have been caught for touchdowns. Donald Bowens fumbled a punt, and the Wolfpack kickoff coverage team couldn’t stop Torrey Smith on an 82-yard return for a touchdown.

But winning, finally, was cause for celebration.

“We certainly don’t do anything easy,” O’Brien said. “That’s a heck of a win for our football team to hang in there.”

Maryland still had a chance to tie on its final drive despite losing starting quarterback Chris Turner to a left knee injury on a hit by Shea McKeen late in the second quarter.

Jamarr Robinson, a sophomore from Charlotte’s Myers Park High who had never attempted a pass in a game, replaced Turner. Robinson didn’t hurt the Wolfpack much with his arm, completing just five passes in 11 attempts for 27 yards.

He missed one wide-open receiver on a deep throw in the end zone in the third quarter. But on Maryland’s final drive, he scrambled for 11 yards and 19 yards to advance the ball to the N.C. State 34-yard line with 31 seconds remaining.

“In the two-minute drill, I thought he did some good things for us,” said Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen.

Lemon finally gave N.C. State’s oft-criticized defense a finish to remember, though. He sacked Robinson for an 8-yard loss when Maryland had no timeouts, and then hit him while he was throwing, causing an incomplete pass on the final play.

The homecoming crowd roared its approval. Teammate Willie Young squeezed Lemon so hard that he couldn’t breathe.

“When we got in the locker room, everybody was looking for who was going to lead the excitement first,” Wilson said. “And I think the coaches did.”

While eliminating Maryland (2-7, 1-4) from bowl eligibility, N.C. State kept its slim bowl hopes alive. The Wolfpack would need to defeat Clemson, Virginia Tech and North Carolina in its final three games to finish with enough wins to play in a bowl game.

Every one of those opponents has a winning record. But N.C. State appears to have bounced back from its lowest point, when it lost to Duke by 21 points and Boston College by 32 in mid-October.

Behind Wilson and a re-invigorated rushing attack, the Wolfpack has averaged 40 points over the last two games. Despite an ankle injury that kept middle linebacker Ray Michel out for a second straight week, N.C. State’s defense turned in its best performance in ACC play Saturday.

Even though O’Brien wouldn’t say it, though, the Wolfpack still needs to cut down on mistakes to have any chance of making a late push toward a bowl.

“The bowl is still live,” said N.C. State wide receiver Jarvis Williams. “We know what we’re capable of doing. We know we’ve got to win out, so we’re going to keep fighting.”

Ken Tysiac

In-game: Duke @ UNC

2009-11-07T18:37:00.001-05:00

CHAPEL HILL -- It's good day to be a kicker and Ryan Houston.

Casey Barth's four field goals, and Houston's 157 yards, have North Carolina in front of Duke, 19-6 at 3:56 in the fourth quarter.

Houston carried 10 times, on a 12-play drive, for 55 yards on the game-clinching touchdown, a 3-yard run by receiver Jheranie Boyd. Houston has a career-best 157 yards on a career-best 35 carries.

Houston out-gained Duke's vaunted offense by himself, 172 total yards to 127.

Charlie Brown's interception and 54-yard return set UNC up at Duke's 20 but a illegal block penalty on Greg Little on first down stopped UNC's drive before it started. Barth hit the 41-yarder on the last play of the third quarter for his third field goal.

Barth, who kicked the game-winner on the last play of last Thursday's 20-17 win at Virginia Tech, also hit from 40, 29 and 33 yards.

Nick Maggio hit two field goals in the first half to tie the game at 6 at the half. Maggio's hit a 26-yarder on the last play of the half and a 23-yarder as Duke's passing game has stalled after reaching the red zone twice.

The Tar Heels have leaned heavily on their running game, minus Shaun Draughn, and Barth's right leg with quarterback T.J. Yates struggling. Barth hit a 29-yarder, his second field goal, after Yates whistled a high and hard fastball over the out-stretched hands of Greg Little on the 4-yard line.

North Carolina scored first, on its first possession, running six times on a 10-play drive to set up a 40-yard field goal by Barth for a 3-0 lead at 11:25 in the first quarter.

A blocked punt helped Duke even the score near the end of the first. Jordan Byas' blocked punt set up Maggio's 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 3. Maggio is subbing for regular kicker Will Snyerwine, who is out with a leg injury.

The Heels, at least momentarily, lost starting running back Draughn who suffered a left shoulder injury on the fist play of the game.

Byas blocked Grant Shallock at UNC's 30-yard at 4:00 in the first quarter to give Duke the ball in UNC's territory. A 22-yard pass from Thad Lewis to Brandon King got Duke down to the 14 but the drive stalled.

Yates has badly missed at least four open receivers, including Erik Highsmith on a post route on the first possession. He has completed 15 of 26 passes for 112 yards.
Lewis, who has four straight 300-plus games, has been held in check for 96 yards on 13-of-24 attempts with the one interception.

Receiver Austin Kelly leads Duke with four catches for 22 yards.

-- J.P. Giglio

Wake's Skinner cleared for Georgia Tech

2009-11-06T09:51:00.000-05:00

Wake Forest team physicians have cleared senior quarterback Riley Skinner to play against Georgia Tech on Saturday, the school announced.

Skinner suffered a concussion last week against Miami, but is expected to start his 33rd consecutive game for the Demon Deacons as they visit Atlanta for a 3:30 p.m. game.

He did not practice Monday, saw minimal practice time Tuesday and gradually returned to the regular practice routine later in the week.

Ken Tysiac

Wake's Skinner cleared to play at Georgia Tech

2009-11-06T09:34:00.003-05:00

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner has been cleared to play Saturday when the Deacons visit 11th-ranked Georgia Tech for a 3:30 p.m. game.

Skinner, who will start his 33rd consecutive game, suffered a slight concussion when he was tackled in the fourth quarter of Wake Forest's loss to Miami last Saturday.

He did not practice on Monday, did limited work on Tuesday and gradually worked back into a regular schedule during the week.
-- Ron Green Jr.

N.C. State's Graham out for season

2009-11-05T19:57:00.000-05:00

N.C. State wide receiver and kick returner T.J. Graham is out for the season with a stress fracture in his leg, the school announced Thursday evening in its injury report.

Graham also missed last week's loss at Florida State, but it wasn't determined until this week that he would not play the rest of the season. He was injured on Oct. 17 at Boston College.

Middle linebacker and leading tackler Ray Michel, who also did not play at Florida State, might return for Saturday's 1 p.m. game against Maryland at Cater-Finley Stadium. He is listed as questionable, which means there is about a 50 percent chance he will play.

Michel has an ankle injury.

Ken Tysiac

Meineke Bowl to rise in ACC selection order

2009-11-05T09:35:00.002-05:00

Charlotte’s Meineke Car Care Bowl will move up one spot in the ACC bowl selection order starting in 2010 under an agreement the ACC announced Thursday morning.

The bowl, held each year at Bank of America Stadium, has extended existing deals for four more years with the Big East and now the ACC, and will match teams from those conferences through 2013.

Meineke Bowl executive director Will Webb said Thursday morning that beginning in 2010, the bowl will get the fourth selection from the ACC after the Bowl Championship Series. Previously, the Meineke selected fifth after the BCS.

“It’s huge for this bowl,” Webb said. “We’ve worked very hard. We’ve gotten some great games for this community. To be able to move up a spot in the pecking order will help assure us of the long-term viability of this bowl.”

The Orange Bowl will maintain its automatic BCS tie with the ACC. After the BCS selects from the ACC, the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta gets the next pick, followed by the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

A bowl new to the ACC lineup, the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, will select the ACC championship runner-up, if available, or the third pick after the BCS. The Meineke selects next, followed by the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.; the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.; and the EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C.

“These bowl partners provide the opportunity to play unique opponents in quality destinations, while also significantly increasing revenue for our institutions,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement released by the conference.

If nine ACC teams become bowl eligible, the conference has a conditional arrangement to send its eighth pick after the BCS to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco in the event that one if that game’s primary partners doesn’t have a team eligible to fill its slot.

The Meineke Bowl will benefit from the new rule the ACC has put in place for the loser of its championship game. In the past, the championship game loser could fall no further than the fifth selection after the BCS.

Now the championship game loser must be selected no later than the third selection after the BCS – the Sun Bowl – and before the Meineke Bowl makes its pick.

With the ACC championship game coming to Charlotte in 2010 and 2011, this means the Meineke Bowl won’t face the prospect of having a championship game loser coming back to town for the second time in a month.

Typically, bowl officials fear that fans whose teams lose in a conference championship game won’t travel in large numbers to a bowl game in the same city.

Webb said Meineke Bowl officials sweetened their payout structure in order to move up in the selection order. The actual dollars paid to the ACC and Big East varies each year based on ticket sales under a revenue sharing agreement.

Last year’s sold-out game between North Carolina and West Virginia resulted in payouts of approximately $1.7 million each to the ACC and Big East, Webb said. Starting in 2010, Webb said, payouts should exceed $1.7 million each year under the new revenue structure.

In its seven years, the bowl in Charlotte has averaged over 62,000 fans with three sellouts. This year’s game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 26.

“Despite all the bad economic news in Charlotte, there’s a lot of positive news on the sports front,” Webb said. “I think the bowl moving up is huge. I think us getting the championship game here is huge. And with the efforts we’re putting forth to meld these two together, we’re going to have a great time with college football.”

ACC BOWL SELECTION ORDER, 2010 TO 2013
Bowl; Site; Opponent
Orange/BCS; Miami; BCS team TBA
Chick-fil-A; Atlanta; SEC
Champs Sports; Orlando; Big East or Notre Dame
Sun; El Paso, Texas; Pac-10
Meineke Car Care; Charlotte; Big East
Music City; Nashville, Tenn.; TBA
Independence; Shreveport, La.; Mountain West
EagleBank; Washington, D.C.; Varies-x
x-The EagleBank Bowl will match the ACC with a Conference USA team in 2010, Navy (if bowl eligible) in 2011, Army (if eligible) in 2012 and a Big 12 team in 2013.

Ken Tysiac

Wilson: No tension between Pack offense, defense

2009-11-03T13:26:00.002-05:00

N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson held his weekly news conference Tuesday morning.

He praised running back Toney Baker, said there is no friction between N.C. State's offense and defense, and explained how wide receiver Owen Spencer gets so wide open for deep balls. Here are excerpts from Wilson's news conference:

Q: Can you talk about the job Toney Baker has done for you guys? It seems like, especially on Saturday, he ran with a purpose.

A: First you have to credit the offensive line. They allowed him to get a few yards to start off with. Then Toney went to work. He is very impressive. I feel like Toney, he's always been an NFL-caliber running back in my mind, and I used to watch him when he used to play when I was younger. It's just amazing to be on the field with him. He's a momentum changer in a way, with the way he runs the ball. He runs the ball hard. He has an extra, sixth gear that he puts it in. He's a big kid, he doesn't look like he would have that burst. But he can run away from people. I'm definitely impressed watching him play Saturday. . . .When I first got here in the summer time, Toney was my running partner. So he and I would be on the same bungee cord rope together. I was with him or Andre Brown every day. It was definitely exciting to run with those guys, because they had so much power and speed. It definitely helped me. And hopefully I helped them a little bit.

Q: When one unit on a football team is performing well and another is struggling - offense or defense - it's not unheard of for the unit that's not struggling to be resentful, or for there to be some friction between the two units. Has that been the case at all with this team? Why or why not?

A: Not at all. Why? I think because of Coach O'Brien, and just the nature of the players, the character of the players on the team. You've got to credit them for recruiting the guys they recruited. And also the guys that are here now that have been here for a long time, the seniors and stuff. I feel the character of the players is what keeps everybody together and everybody believing and trusting in one another. Offensively, you look at it, and no matter what the score is - if it's 150-47, or it's 45-42, or if it's 7-3 or 6-3, it doesn't really matter what the score is. We want to score more points than the other team. And we want to go out there each and every time. That's our goal and we came up short. I think there's not tension between offense and defense, or between offense and special teams, or defense and special teams, or whatever. We have to stick together, and everybody's a part of everything. We're all in the weight room together. We're all in classes together. We're all on the practice field together. The only way we're going to get better is like Coach always said, just circle the wagons and keep believing, no matter what the situation is.

Q: How does Owen Spencer get so wide open?

A: He's got a knack for it. He works at it every day, just studying film, studying certain moves he can do to get open, but also just, he's got a knack for the ball. When he gets that play call, whether it's a run play or a pass play, he wants to work hard each and every time. The same with all our receivers. But also, his acceleration is phenomenal. He's a professional, NFL wide receiver for sure, and I like throwing the ball to him.

Q: There are some guys who are faster. You mentioned acceleration. Is there something about knowing when to turn yourself loose?

A: There's two different types of speed. A lot of people have football speed, and then there's natural speed. He's got both of them. He's got that natural, low-40 time type speed because he's got those long legs, and he just gets there quickly. But also, he knows when to hit the jets, when to time it up and slow pace the defense a little bit, and then burst and get out and get open. And he does that really well.

Ken Tysiac

Bowl outlook good for UNC-Duke winner, ECU

2009-11-02T17:37:00.000-05:00

The ACC has nine bowl tie-ins and three bowl-eligible teams (Georgia Tech, Miami, Boston College).

With a win this week, Clemson (5-3) and Virginia Tech (5-3) can push the total to five.

Maryland, Virginia and N.C. State are all but mathematically eliminated, leaving a group of four (UNC, Duke, Wake and FSU) for the final four spots.

If the ACC doesn't have nine eligible teams, the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. (Jan. 6) would be the first to drop off the list, followed by the EagleBank Bowl in Washington (Dec. 29).

You figure FSU (4-4) and either Duke or UNC (both 5-3) will push the ACC's total to a minimum of seven teams.

Of the in-state teams, ECU (5-3) is the closest thing to a sure bet but here's the bowl outlook for all five teams as we begin the final month of the season:

Duke
Record: 5-3
Need: Two wins
What's left: @ UNC, GT, @ Miami, Wake

Outlook: 50-50. The Blue Devils have already won two must-win games (Maryland, Virginia) and have two left (UNC, Wake).

Typically teams like Duke, with a one-dimensional offense and a forgiving defense, will not sweep a set of four must-win games, more likely they will split them. That could still happen to the Devils but, at this point, you have to like their chances at 7-5.

UNC has always been their "Super Bowl" and the past three games against Wake have been decided by 1, 5 and 3 points, respectively.

Effectively, it's a two-game season against the two teams Duke plays the best against. If you're coach David Cutcliffe, you take those odds and run ... or in his case, throw a "smoke" pass.

UNC
Record: 5-3
Need: Two wins
What's left: Duke, Miami, @ BC, @ State

Outlook: Good. In upsetting Virginia Tech, UNC got back the home loss it gave away to Virginia. In terms of games the Heels were "supposed" to win and "supposed" lose, they're now even thanks to Thursday's 20-17 shocker in Blacksburg.

If the Heels can break even the rest of the way, in four winnable games, then they'll be bowling. The easiest route is obviously beating Duke and State.

Even if they lose to Duke, they're not cooked, and considering how they've gone about the first five wins, it would be fitting for this team to get to seven the hard way.

East Carolina
Record: 5-3
Need: One win
What's left: VT, @ Tulsa, UAB, Southern Miss

Outlook: Good. The Pirates essentially need to beat UAB (3-5) at home to qualify for their fourth straight bowl game. That's not asking a lot, UAB's 3-22 on the road since 2006.

The Pirates would likely repeat as C-USA East champs with home wins over UAB and Southern Miss, which would earn them a date, and beatdown, at Houston. The key is not to get sidetracked by probable losses to VT and Tulsa.

Wake Forest
Record: 4-5
Need: Two wins
What's left: @ GT, FSU, @ Duke

Outlook: Bleak. The Deacs' bowl trip likely slipped through the hands of Devon Brown in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 28-27 home loss to Miami. Without the upset of the Canes — and they led 27-14 in the fourth quarter before Brown's fumbled punt sparked Miami's comeback — the Deacs need to win two of their final three.

The Deacs lost 13-10 at Navy, which plays the same offense as GT, only the Jackets have more talent. They've won three straight against FSU and nine straight against Duke but with quarterback Riley Skinner's health an issue (he left Saturday's game with a concussion), history is unlikely to repeat itself.

N.C. State
Record: 3-5
Need: Four wins
What's left: Maryland, Clemson, @ VT, UNC

Outlook: Dream is over. The Wolfpack has to run the table to get to a second straight bowl. The 146 points the Wolfpack has allowed in the past three ACC games says State would be lucky to win once in the final four games.

The only thing left for State to play for is its Super Bowl against UNC on Nov. 28.

-- J.P. Giglio

Heels upset cost ACC

2009-11-02T17:33:00.002-05:00

BCS bowl projections:

National championship: Florida vs. Texas
Rose: Iowa vs. Oregon
Orange: Georgia Tech vs. Penn State
Sugar: Alabama vs. Cincinnati
Fiesta: USC vs. TCU

North Carolina's win, and USC's loss, cost the ACC a real shot at $4.5 million.

Virginia Tech, even with two losses, had a strong chance at an at-large bid to a BCS bowl, which was a driving force idea behind expansion. Florida State and Miami both played in BCS games in 2000, 2002 and 2003, but the ACC hasn't sent two teams to the BCS in first five years of expansion, or since the series was formed in 1998.

The Hokies, with their considerable fan base, would have been an attractive at-large choice this season, until Thursday's choke job against the Tar Heels. Now, the ACC's only other hope for a second bid is Miami, which is a long shot at best.

With no traveling fan base but a popular television appeal, Miami's BCS hopes rest on the generosity of the Orange Bowl, and the combination of Penn State, Ohio State and Notre Dame losing.

Remember, the BCS standings only determine the participants in the national championship game. The other four games are contractually obligated to certain conferences and free to choose from the top 14. Most importantly, bowl games are for-profit ventures, in terms of both selling tickets and television advertisements. They don't care if your team is No. 5 in the BCS rankings, only if your team can make them money.

The Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls have contracted conference anchors and then choose from a pool of eligible candidates. (The Rose Bowl, whenever possible, takes the champions from Pac-10 and Big Ten.)

The selection process for the Sugar, Fiesta and Orange is a draft. The bowls that lose their anchor champions to the national title game get to choose first with the bowl that loses the No. 1 team selecting first, followed by the bowl that loses the No. 2 team.

So, if the SEC champion, likely either Florida or Alabama, were to play Texas in the BCS title game, and the SEC champion stays ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings (currently Florida), then the selection order would be:

1. Sugar
2. Fiesta
3. Orange
4. Orange
5. Fiesta
6. Sugar

The SEC runner-up goes to the Sugar and the Fiesta would almost certainly select USC. Oregon's 47-20 win knocked the Trojans out of the Rose Bowl and in the process made the Pac-10 $4.5 million, and a two-team BCS league for the first time.

If USC had won, an at-large spot would have been opened up for the ACC and a two-loss Virginia Tech team. Without the extra spot, and its most attractive second candidate, the ACC is reduced to relying on the Orange Bowl's generosity and multiple losses by big-name teams.

The Orange is contractually obligated to take the ACC champion, which as of today looks like Georgia Tech. With the next pick, the Orange could take the Big East champion, but in the case of Cincinnati, it would mean taking a team with a limited fan base for the second straight season. The Orange, again in the interest of making money, would almost certainly choose Penn State, Ohio State or Notre Dame over any potential Big East champion, even an unbeaten Cincinnati team.

Given GT's inability to sell tickets, there's little chance the Orange could afford to say no to a big-name school, but it's the only hope the ACC has for a second team.

If the Orange takes the Big East champion, there's one at-large spot open. Either Boise State or Texas Christian, as a top-12 automatic qualifier, has to go to somewhere, likely the Fiesta, and that leaves the Sugar with the dealer's choice.

If the ACC somehow convinces the Orange to take the Big East champ, Miami (17) would still have to win out — and the Canes looked shaky in beating Wake, 28-27 on Saturday — and then hope a second Big Ten team and Notre Dame do not qualify.

Only two teams per conference are allowed in the BCS pool, which eliminates LSU (No. 9 but the third SEC team) and either Penn State (11) or Ohio State (16).

Penn State hosts Ohio State on Saturday. Miami, and the ACC, needs Ohio State to win and then a pick up a loss in subsequent weeks to either Iowa (currently in first place in the Big Ten and fourth in the BCS) or Michigan or in both.

Notre Dame, of course, is the wild card. With no conference affiliation, the Irish automatically qualifies with a top-8 finish, which is unlikely considering it's ranked No. 22 this week. But the Irish become eligible if it finishes in the top 14. The Irish (6-2) would have to win out — against Navy, Pitt, UConn and Stanford — and get help from the opponents of the teams in front of them to jump into at-large pool.

If none of the big name schools qualify, that would leave Miami — if it can beat Virginia, UNC, Duke and South Florida — in the at-large pool with a second Big East team (the fan-strapped Cincy-Pitt loser) or a second Big 12 team (a weak Oklahoma State team).

The real loser is either TCU (6) or Boise State (7), and it looks like Boise State given the remainder of its schedule does not offer the Broncos a chance to impress the computers or human pollsters and jump TCU.

Only one team from outside the six qualifying conferences is guaranteed a spot for finishing in the top 12. Given the relatively small fan bases of both, it would either be Boise or TCU, but not both, and certainly not TCU which can't sell out its home games.

Miami wouldn't sell a ton of tickets, or even its allotment, but the Canes are proven television ratings winner and if Florida happened to lose in the SEC title game, a Miami-Florida matchup would be a consolation prize the Sugar would be happy to have fall in its lap. Unless, of course, they could get Urban Meyer-vs.-Notre Dame.

-- J.P. Giglio

SEC dominating football recruiting--so far

2009-11-02T16:59:00.001-05:00

Stan Olson writes in the College Recruiting blog:

We've given you periodic updates on ACC recruiting rankings of the Class of 2010, courtesy of Scout.com. Here’s a quick check of where SEC schools stand—and I know there’s plenty of interest in college football’s best league, because I hear from its supporters all the time.

Read more.

Some credit for Roof from Pack's O'Brien

2009-11-02T15:22:00.001-05:00

The most unexpected college football news conference quotes Monday probably came from the Murphy Center conference room when N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien was asked about Duke’s success under David Cutcliffe.

After praising Cutcliffe, O’Brien had kind words for Ted Roof, who was 6-45 as Duke’s head coach. This wasn’t intended as a slight of Cutcliffe.

O’Brien has admired Cutcliffe since they became acquainted as assistants coaching Tennessee (Cutcliffe) and Virginia (O’Brien) in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1991. With Duke at 5-3 with three straight ACC wins under Cutcliffe, O’Brien was asked about Cutcliffe’s success.

“He went to Mississippi,” O’Brien said. “God only knows why they let him go. He’s a good football coach. He’s got some good football players, too, and that helps. He’s done really a fabulous job.”

But O’Brien also had kind words for Roof, whose firing after the 2007 season paved the way for Cutcliffe to take the helm. Roof recruited top Blue Devil veterans such as quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and defensive linemen Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk.

“I think Ted Roof did a pretty good job recruiting some guys, too,” O’Brien said. “There are some guys on that football team that if they didn’t have (them), they may not be playing the way they are. Thad Lewis has learned a lot in four years. He’s taken his beating, but four years later he’s dishing out some beatings. And that’s all part of growing up, and that’s all part of maturity, and that’s all part of execution. He’s in a good offense for him, and that’s all a part of good coaching, too.”

Ken Tysiac

Mistakes cost Deacs chance at upset

2009-10-31T19:15:00.000-04:00

Wake Forest made a series of late mistakes and gave up a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to lose 28-27 to 18th-ranked Miami Saturday at soggy BB&T Field in Winston-Salem.

The Deacons were leading 27-14 when Devon Brown lost a fumbled punt return at the Miami 2-yard line early in the fourth quarter, setting up a two-yard score by Tervaris Jackson.

The Hurricanes then took the lead with a nine-play, 82-yard drive that included conversions on third-and-10 and fourth-and-10 to keep the possession alive. Travis Benjamin caught a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:08 remaining.

The Deacons managed to try a 60-yard field goal as time expired but it was well short.

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner left the game with a possible concussion early in the fourth quarter and did not return.

-- Ron Green Jr.

Wake up on Miami at half, 20-14

2009-10-31T17:24:00.000-04:00

Trying to break a two-game losing streak, Wake Forest led 18th-ranked Miami 20-14 at halftime at BB&T Field Saturday.

The Deacons had led 20-7 before the Hurricanes got a three-yard touchdown run from Damien Berry with three seconds remaining in the half.

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Bohanan and had a seven-yard touchdown run in the first half.

-- Ron Green Jr

UNC linebacker a class act

2009-10-30T10:46:00.001-04:00

It's fitting to say thanks to linebacker Quan Sturdivant one day after North Carolina's biggest win of this football season.

With a spontaneous display of sportsmanship, Sturdivant became an example of what's good in college athletics after the Tar Heels' 20-17 defeat of Virginia Tech.

Redshirt freshman running back Ryan Williams was sitting on the Virginia Tech bench in absolute despair over his late fumble, which allowed North Carolina's Casey Barth to kick the winning field goal on the final play.

Sturdivant's teammates were dancing and celebrating the win, as they should. But ESPN's cameras captured Sturdivant away from his team.

Williams has been perhaps the best running back in the ACC this season, and he's having one of the best seasons a Hokie back has ever had. But on Thursday night, he'd made a mistake that dashed whatever hopes the Hokies have of going to a BCS bowl.

Sturdivant came over to console Williams. He got him up off the bench, patted him on the leg, leaned over and said what we can only assume were words of encouragement in Williams' ear.

It was a gracious act when an opponent was at his lowest point. And it might have been the best thing that's happened on an ACC football field this season.

Ken Tysiac

Pack's Michel, Graham out for FSU

2009-10-29T21:51:00.001-04:00

Middle linebacker Ray Michel, who leads N.C. State in tackles, and wide receiver/kick returner T.J. Graham will miss Saturday’s game at Florida State with injuries, the school announced Thursday evening.

Michel, who has 53 tackles, has an ankle injury and will be replaced by Dwayne Maddox in the starting lineup. Maddox usually plays the boundary linebacker position, where Terrell Manning will start Saturday.

Graham, who has a leg injury, usually returns kickoffs and punts for the Wolfpack. Clem Johnson, Jamelle Eugene and Donald Bowens will split those duties with Graham out.

Ken Tysiac

In game: UNC at Virginia Tech

2009-10-29T20:57:00.004-04:00

@ Blacksburg, Va.

With the score knotted 17-17 with 2:02 left, Hokie tailback Ryan Williams’ fumble was recovered by UNC’s Deunta Williams at the Virginia Tech 24. That set up a game-winning 21-yard field goal by Casey Barth as time ran out to win it.

Earlier

UNC kicker Casey Barth ties it, 17-17, with a 19-yard field goal with 2:52 left.

On a first-and-10 on UNC’s own 20, Yates was intercepted by Rashad Carmichael, setting up another 1-yard touchdown run by Taylor. That gave the Hokies a 17-14 lead.

Earlier

UNC leads again, 14-7 with 1:51 left in the third quarter. Yates found Greg Little for a 15-yard touchdown pass. (The big play on the drive was a 44-yard run by tailback Shaun Draughn).

Earlier...

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor's 1-yard touchdown run has tied the game 7-7 with 6:44 left in the third quarter.

The Tar Heels, who allowed the Hokies only 108 total yards in he first half, just gave up an 82 -yard drive. Shades of last week, when they allowed FSU 100 yards in the first half, but 338 in the second? Stay tuned.

Earlier...

UNC leads Va. Tech 7-0 at halftime, and it's the first time the Hokies have been held scoreless in the first half all year...

Earlier...

T.J. Yates just completed a 13-yard touchdown pass Jheranie Boyd to give the Tar Heels a 7-0 lead over 14th-ranked Virginia Tech. The series included a scary moment when Yates -- who broke his left ankle against the Hokies last year, and missed six games -- came up limping on his right ankle after completing a 17-yard pass to Greg Little. But he shook it off, and completed the 13-play, 84-yard drive. Less than three minutes remain in the first half....

Earlier...

The Tar Heels' defense continues to keep them in it. Freshman Donte Paige-Moss just recorded UNC's third sack of the game, forcing Va. Tech to punt. It's still 0-0 halfway through second quarter ....

Earlier...

UNC finally got its first first-down of the game, on a 17-yard rumble by Ryan Houston. Houston carried for 31 yards on UNC's fourth offensive series. But coach Butch Davis opted to go go for it on fourth down on the first play of the second quarter, rather than have kicker Casey Barth attempt a 46-yard field goal. Quarterback T.J. Yates' pass to Anthony Elzy was short of the first down.

Houston had 31 of UNC's 24 first quarter rushing yards (Yates was sacked twice for -10 yards.)

And the game remains scoreless.

Earlier....

And some thought UNC's navy-navy uniform combination last Thursday against Florida State was bad? At Lane Stadium, No. 14 Virginia Tech has donned its sixth uniform combination of the season, and it doesn't look very good in person, much less on TV. This marks the first time in the Frank Beamer era the Hokies have paired orange jerseys with burgandy pants.

Not that it matters to their game play. The game is scoreless, but doesn't seem like it, as UNC quarterback T.J. Yates has already been sacked twice on third-and-long plays by defensive end Nekos Brown.

UNC’s defense – after giving up a 25-yard run by Ryan Williams on Va. Tech’s first offensive play – tried to get something going early when Charles Brown stripped Hokie receiver Jarrett Boykin on a pass play, and cornerback Kendric Burney recovered the fumble. But UNC’s first drive ended with a three-and-out.

-- Robbi Pickeral

Amato issue fades at N.C. State

2009-10-29T10:13:00.001-04:00

It's now the third season since Chuck Amato was ousted as N.C. State's football coach, and his name barely has been mentioned as the Wolfpack prepares to face Florida State.

Amato is the executive associate head coach at Florida State, which plays host to N.C. State at noon Saturday. N.C. State senior running back Toney Baker said Wednesday that he would be happy to talk with Amato if he sees him on the field.

Baker, who was one of the best recruits Amato signed from inside North Carolina, expressed fondness for his former coach but hasn't talked to him since he left N.C. State. Baker missed the last two meetings between the schools because of a knee injury.

"I thought he was a good coach," Baker said. "I like him as a person. He recruited me here. I don't have anything negative to say about him. . . .He was a fiery guy. He was a passionate guy and he was really into what he was doing."

There's a reason Amato has faded as an issue for the Wolfpack this week. N.C. State (3-4, 0-3 ACC) is desperate for a win after a dreadful start to conference play. Some fans who used to enjoy poking fun at Amato now are directing their ire at his successor, Tom O'Brien, and current N.C. State defensive coordinator Mike Archer.

Amato has his own problems, too, at Florida State. Head coach Bobby Bowden, who's like a father to Amato, has faced pressure to retire from fans and even the head of the school's Board of Trustees.

Florida State (3-4, 1-3), which was the preseason pick of the media to win the ACC's Atlantic Division, is barely ahead of N.C. State at the bottom of the standings. Rumors of a fight between Amato and Florida State head coach in waiting Jimbo Fisher were so persistent that Amato wound up denying them to reporters.

In other words, Amato has enough to worry about at Florida State. That's why the angle of his meeting with his former team hasn't gained much traction this week.

Ken Tysiac

Chick-fil-A Bowl retains prominent ACC slot

2009-10-28T15:29:00.000-04:00

The Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta retained its prominent position in the ACC's bowl selection order through the 2013 season under an agreement announced Wednesday.

After the Bowl Championship Series chooses from the ACC, the Chick-fil-A Bowl will get first choice from among the eligible teams. The deal marks a four-year extension to the ACC's existing agreement with the bowl.

The bowl matches the ACC with an SEC opponent in the Georgia Dome. This year's game will be played at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. The ACC has had a conference tie-in with the bowl since 1992.

"Our 18-year partnership with the ACC is among the most important assets we have and is a huge part of our bowl's success," Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO Gary Stokan said in a statement.

The Chick-fil-A has held the first non-BCS selection from the ACC since 2006.

Ken Tysiac

Pack's O'Brien gives unusual answer

2009-10-28T12:56:00.003-04:00

N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien was asked Wednesday to predict whether Saturday's game at Florida State will be high-scoring.

Coaches almost always politely decline to answer such a question.

They'll cite games in the past where Peyton Manning, Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky unexpectedly were shut down. To predict a high-scoring game is to admit that your defense is vulnerable.

But at this point, that's probably something O'Brien figures everybody already knows about N.C. State. The Wolfpack has lost three straight ACC games, giving up a total of 820 passing yards over two games against Wake Forest and Duke before Boston College piled up 293 rushing yards heading into last week's open date.

Florida State, meanwhile, leads the ACC in total offense.

"You look at the way they're playing offense, it seems to indicate we're going to have to score some points to win the football game," O'Brien said during the ACC coaches' teleconference.

N.C. State will start its seventh different group of defensive backs in eight games against quarterback Christian Ponder, who's the ACC's total offense leader.

"All indications to the way they've played offense and the points they've scored, you look at our secondary, as decimated as we are and all the young players that we're playing, Ponder is probably salivating down there at the opportunity to play against us," O'Brien said.

It was true enough.

But it was unusual to hear a coach say it. Maybe he's trying to motivate his players.

Maybe it's just impossible to deny.

Ken Tysiac

Davis eager for more Thursday home games

2009-10-28T12:20:00.000-04:00

It sounds like there will be more Thursday night home football games in Chapel Hill if North Carolina coach Butch Davis has anything to say about it.

The Tar Heels played their first Thursday night home game last week. For years, campus leaders had resisted playing at home on Thursday nights.

Logistical problems such as traffic with UNC Hospital adjacent to the stadium and jamming the campus with people on a school night caused campus leaders to veto Thursday night home games in the past.

But since Davis was hired, he has lobbied for the chance to play at home on a Thursday night. He often says Thursday night games provide a great opportunity to showcase a football program and a campus in front of a large audience on ESPN.

Last week's game took place while students were on break, so students didn't miss classes and traffic problems were reduced. Davis said logistically the event went very well thanks to cooperation between campus, city and hospital officials.

"The feedback was overwhelmingly positive from just about everybody associated with it, except for the outcome of the game," Davis said Wednesday during the ACC coaches' teleconference.

North Carolina lost 30-27 to Florida State. But Davis said the school took a "very positive step forward" toward being able to add Thursday night home games in the future.

Ken Tysiac

UNC TE Pianalto 'healthy and ready to go'

2009-10-27T17:29:00.002-04:00

UNC junior tight end Zack Pianalto (above), who sustained a concussion in last Thursday’s loss to Florida State, returned to practice Sunday and has been cleared to play against Virginia Tech Thursday.

"We've got the leading experts in the entire field," Tar Heels head coach Butch Davis said today. "They immediately do [tests] at the ball game. Then they test him and reevaluate him the next day. They deemed him healthy and ready to go."

A 2003 NCAA study of college football players shows that players may need at least seven days to recover from a concussion. The data show that 75 percent of repeat concussions occur within 10 days of the first. Davis said that to the best of his knowledge, Pianalto is 100 percent.

"We wouldn't play him if he wasn't," Davis said.

— Correspondent Brian Conlin

Q&A with Russell Wilson

2009-10-27T10:31:00.003-04:00

Russell Wilson (right) and the N.C. State Wolfpack face Florida State on Saturday after last week's bye.

Excerpts from N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson's news conference Tuesday:

Q: What did you specifically work on during the open date?

A: Just running the offense, executing the offense and everything. Just continuing to try to make the right reads and keeping the offense going.

Q: I thought I heard Coach (Tom) O'Brien say on his coach's show that in the last two games you'd missed more throws than you usually do. Is that so, and if that's the case, do you have any idea how that happened?

A: You always miss one or two, here or there, that I wish I could have back. But I've just got to keep working hard, keep believing in my receivers and offensive line and running backs, and we'll make passes and completions, and then touchdowns.

Q: So was he right?

A: Yeah. Definitely. I missed a few throws that I definitely should complete in my opinion. I expect to make certain throws, and I just have to keep getting better.

Q: When you lose three games in a row, it's easy for guys to get disheartened. Was there some rallying that had to be done, or was everybody in pretty good spirits and confident going into the open week?

A: There was definitely a rallying, trying to get everybody back into the circle. Trying not to listen to the outside discussions or whatever it is. Just focus on our team and know what we have to do, and realize that we have to have a new beginning, a new start.

-- Ken Tysiac

Pack RB Washington out for season

2009-10-26T14:18:00.000-04:00

N.C. State freshman running back James Washington is out for the season with a knee injury suffered Thursday in practice, coach Tom O'Brien announced Monday.

Washington was the third-team running back behind Toney Baker and Jamelle Eugene. He also was serving as the backup kickoff returner.

O'Brien did not make any changes to the starting lineup on the depth chart after last week's open date. The only change came at boundary cornerback, where redshirt freshman C.J. Wilson replaced freshman Rashard Smith, who's out for the season with a knee injury.

- Ken Tysiac

Tar Heels' Yates feeling the pressure

2009-10-26T13:11:00.001-04:00

North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yats has seven touchdown passes and eight interceptions this season. (Scott Halleran -- Getty Images)

CHAPEL HILL — As if it wasn't enough last Thursday -- throwing for only 64 yards, tossing and interception and losing an 18-point lead in a loss to Florida State -- North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates actually had a fan throw something at him as he left the field. Either or pin or a coin pinged off his helmet, he said Monday. But he's trying not to let the criticism get to him, he said.

"Walking off the field, people are yelling at you and everything, so it's kind of hard not to hear it,'' he said. "It's hard not to hear about all that stuff; I try to do my best to just try to block it out because it doesn't really matter."

The junior is 108 for 183 with eight interceptions and seven touchdowns this season. The Tar Heels must win three of their last five games to qualify for a bowl; they play at Virginia Tech on Thursday night.

BRIEFLY: Tight end Zack Pianalto, who sustained a concussion against the Seminoles, practiced Sunday, coach Butch Davis said.