Duke dismisses Asack

Duke safety Zack Asack, a former starting quarterback, has been dismissed from the program for violating team policy, coach David Cutcliffe announced Friday.

Asack had moved from quarterback to safety before spring practice this season. He started six games in 2005 as a freshman but was on academic suspension for plagiarism in 2006 and lost his job to Thaddeus Lewis.

A school spokesman said Asack is still enrolled in school but has no chance to return to the team. He played in 26 career games with seven starts, throwing seven touchdown passes and 14 interceptions.

- Ken Tysiac and Edward G. Robinson

Pack, Heels eye dates in Atlanta

N.C. State is set to open the 2012 football season against Tennessee in Atlanta. UNC is trying to work out a deal to open the 2010 season in the Georgia Dome against an SEC team.

It's all apart of the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff, which was started by the Atlanta Sports Council and ESPN in 2008.

"I like it," Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien said. "You've got to play one major game that gets you on television. It's great exposure for our program."

State also opens the '09 season on national TV but it's a home Thursday date with South Carolina.

UNC opened with a lower-level Division I team in Butch Davis' first two seasons and will again in '09, with The Citadel, a Championship Subdivision program. The '10 opener in Atlanta would be against LSU, Georgia or Ole Miss.

"We're in the preliminary stages," said UNC assistant AD Larry Gallo, who works with Davis on the Tar Heels' football scheduling. "There's a lot still to work out."

UNC has six home games and six road games in '10. The Heels can't afford to lose a home game, Gallo said. They are working with South Carolina and Rutgers — who are scheduled to host UNC in '10 — about the possibility of moving their game to accommodate the Atlanta opener.

"We want this to be a win-win," Gallo said. "We want the teams we are dealing with to be treated fairly and happy with the solution."

Virginia Tech takes on Alabama in this season's college kickoff in Atlanta on Sept. 5. The Crimson Tide beat Clemson in last year's inaugural game at the Georgia Dome.

State and UNC have experience in playing traditional college openers. The Wolfpack beat Iowa in the 1992 Kickoff Classic in New Jersey and UNC beat USC in the 1993 Pigskin Classic in Anaheim, Calif. - J.P. Giglio

Two more seasons for FSU's Bowden

Bobby Bowden's old, not dumb.

Bowden understands what Florida State's $5 million promise to head-coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher means — it's the 2009 season, the 2010 season and then retirement for the FSU legend.

FSU owes Fisher $5 million by Jan. 11, 2011 — whether he's the head coach or offensive coordinator. Bowden was asked if the deal signaled the end of his 33-year tenure at FSU.

"I don't want to answer that," Bowden said in the Miami Herald. "But if you put two and two together, you'll be right."

Bowden, 79, has won 382 games, 12 ACC titles and two national titles. The Seminoles have slipped to mediocrity since Bowden built one of the best programs in the 1990s.

Fisher, previously the offensive coordinator at LSU, joined the FSU staff in 2007 and was designated Bowden's successor.

Bowden could lose as many 14 wins, from the 2006 and '07 seasons, for the use of ineligible players that were caught in a university-wide academic scandal. FSU has appealed the NCAA's decision.

"If it happens, I'm going to count them anyway," Bowden said in the Herald.


-- J.P. Giglio

BC linebacker diagnosed with tumor

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the 2008 ACC defensive player of the year, made a shocking announcement Thursday.

He disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a malignant tumor most often found in bone or soft tissue.

"Obviously, I was shocked," Herzlich said in a statement released by Boston College.

"I had been extremely focused on preparing for my senior season at Boston College and for life beyond that. Now, I must channel all that energy into facing my toughest opponent yet, and that is exactly what I will do."

Herzlich said he will return home to Pennsylvania for tests to determine the best course of action for treatment. He asked for his privacy to be respected.

"At this point, I do not know what this means for my football future, but I am determined to rid my body of this disease so that I can put that uniform back on," Herzlich said. "Thank you in advance for your prayers and concern. Together, we will fight this and win."

Coach Frank Spaziani released a statement saying the Boston College community was "stunned."

"When people think of Mark Herzlich, they think of a fearless individual who is always ready to take on a tough opponent," Spaziani said.

"His integrity, determination and focus are unmatched. I know he will face this challenge with that same attitude.

-- Ken Tysiac

Boston College LB Herzlich has cancer

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the 2008 ACC defensive player of the year, made a shocking announcement Thursday.

He disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a malignant tumor most often found in bone or soft tissue.

"Obviously, I was shocked,” Herzlich said in a statement released by Boston College. “I had been extremely focused on preparing for my senior season at Boston College and for life beyond that. Now, I must channel all that energy into facing my toughest opponent yet, and that is exactly what I will do.”

Herzlich said he will return home to Pennsylvania for tests to determine the best course of action for treatment. He asked for his privacy to be respected.

"At this point, I do not know what this means for my football future, but I am determined to rid my body of this disease so that I can put that uniform back on,” Herzlich said. “Thank you in advance for your prayers and concern. Together, we will fight this and win."

Coach Frank Spaziani released a statement saying the Boston College community was “stunned.”

"When people think of Mark Herzlich, they think of a fearless individual who is always ready to take on a tough opponent,” Spaziani said. “His integrity, determination and focus are unmatched. I know he will face this challenge with that same attitude.” – Ken Tysiac

ACC swaps Humanitarian Bowl for GMAC Bowl

Goodbye, Boise. Hello, Mobile.

The Blue Turf and the dreaded trip to Idaho in December is history for the ACC. The conference's deal with the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise has ended. The ACC has added a deal with the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala., for a ninth bowl eligible team.

The EagleBank Bowl, in its second year, moves from before Christmas to after (Dec. 29), making that date more attractive.

The Meineke Car Care Bowl is earlier (Dec. 26) and everything else is status quo for the ACC and its bowl partners.

The lineup:

Bowl, Opponent, Date, Location

Orange: BCS, Jan. 5 (8 p.m.), Miami

Chick-fil-A: SEC, Dec. 31 (7:30 p.m.), Atlanta

Gator: Big East, Jan. 1 (1 p.m.), Jacksonville, Fla.

Champs Sports: Big Ten, Dec. 29 (8 p.m.), Orlando, Fla.

Music City: SEC, Dec. 27 (8:15 p.m.), Nashville, Tenn.

Meineke Car Care: Big East Dec. 26 (4:30 p.m.), Charlotte

Emerald: Pac-10, Dec. 26 (8 p.m.), San Francisco

EagleBank: At-large, Dec. 29 (4:30 p.m.), Washington

GMAC: C-USA, Jan. 6 (7 p.m.), Mobile, Ala.

J.P. Giglio

Coastal is the Hokies to lose

With three conference titles in five seasons and a 32-8 conference record, Virginia Tech has dominated the ACC since joining in 2004.

But to be clear, the Hokies did not dominate in 2008. Actually, they were lucky to win the Coastal Division, getting help from Maryland and Georgia Tech down the stretch.

Then they played their two best games of the season in the ACC title game (beating Boston College) and Orange Bowl (throttling Cincinnati).

With so many parts back, led by running back Darren Evans (pictured above) and basically everyone minus corner Macho Harris, kicker Dustin Keys and safety-valve-quarterback-slash-whipping-boy Sean Glennon, the Hokies will go off as the prohibitive favorite to repeat in the Coastal Division and as the conference champion.

Before you start believing the top-5 in the country preseason hype about VT, remember the Hokies lost three conference games for the first time in '08 and won the division on a tiebreaker (at 5-3 same as Georgia Tech).

While the Coastal was the weaker group in '08, it will be the better half of the ACC in '09. In short, it won't be a walk for the favorites.

The odds for the other five teams to knock off VT:

— Miami

The major problems with a young Miami team in 2008 were the offensive coordinator (the eternally overmatched Patrick Nix) and a senseless quarterback rotation (between Robert Marve and Jacory Harris).

Canes coach Randy Shannon fixed both flaws, by hook or by crook. Nix left shortly after the bowl loss to Cal. Marve was suspended for the bowl and then decided to transfer (he's still looking for a new home).

A year older, with a pragmatic playcaller (Mark Whipple), the Canes have a real chance to finish what they started in '08. They were 7-3, 4-2 in the ACC, and headed for the Coastal title before losing to Georgia Tech (embarrassed on national TV), at N.C. State and to Cal in a road bowl game.

Odds: 2-to-1

— Georgia Tech

Conventional wisdom says the Yellow Jackets will be improved in the second season in Paul Johnson's unique option offense. But what about the ACC defenses who have had the benefit of a season to scout Johnson's act?

Interesting to note, with a bye week to prepare, UNC stuffed Tech's running game last season. And then there was the bowl game disaster against LSU, which had a month to scout.

The offense will be better with Louisville transfer Anthony Allen supporting stud runner Jonathan Dwyer. Like N.C. State, Tech has fragility questions at quarterback (the supremely talented Josh Nesbitt) but Johnson has done a good job, in just two seasons, stockpiling system quarterbacks.

The defense has to rebuild but another 5-3 season is there for the taking.

Odds: 3-to-1

— UNC

With a healthy trio of Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate and T.J. Yates, UNC wins the Coastal in '08 (no really). Only Yates is available in '09 and he's already hurt, playing frisbee no less.

UNC's defense will be good and Butch Davis will find new talent at receiver, just not in the class of Nicks (a first-rounder) or Tate (who was a first-rounder before the knee injury).

The schedule is too easy not to win eight games, seven at worst, but the Heels are not good enough to surpass the Hokies.

Odds: 7-to-1

— Virginia

Good move in going to the spread offense and hiring a coach (Gregg Brandon) who understands it (worked with Urban Meyer, credited creator of the popular version of it, at Bowling Green).

Good move (somehow) getting Jameel Sewell back at quarterback from the depths of academic purgatory.

Still not enough for one for a division title.

Odds: 15-to-1

— Duke

The Blue Devils could go 4-8 again and be better. That's just how the schedule sets up — easy up front and loaded down the stretch (again).

Quarterback Thad Lewis will miss receiver Eron Riley and the defense will miss linebacker Mike Tauiliili.

Not the same old Duke but still last place in the division.

Odds: 20-to-1

-- J.P. Giglio

-- Atlantic Division favorite

Your Atlantic Division favorite

Yeah, it's N.C. State.

The Wolfpack has the best quarterback in the conference, two NFL-level game-changers on defense and a smart coach.

Technically, State finished last in the division in '08 but it was only one game behind the winner (Boston College). All six teams finished either 5-3 or 4-4.

Expect the same competitiveness this season. Which means you pick the team with the best QB (his right knee willing) and eight home games.

Consider the alternatives:

— Florida State

Probably will take the preseason media vote because, well, they always do, but the Noles are a hot mess.

Running back Antone Smith (792 yards, 15 TDs) carried that offense last season and he's gone.

Maybe Greg Paulus will play receiver because among the (annual?) offseason transgressions, the Noles lost five receivers to the police blotter/waiver wire. A sixth, Taiwan Easterling, ruptured his Achilles.

Scary that FSU only lost one defender to the NFL (rush end Everette Brown), and the Noles will be good on defense, but don't underestimate the loss of kicker Graham Gano.

If Marcus Sims doesn't fumble on the goal line, FSU beats Georgia Tech and wins the Atlantic, and probably the ACC title. If that happens, Gano, not Wilson, is the league's MVP.

— Maryland

Is there any good reason to believe the Terps will break the cycle of mediocrity they're in?

(Aside: Consensus says Oakland took Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey way too soon in the NFL Draft. Agreed. But what about the teams (all 32?) that had Hey-Bey ahead of UNC's Hakeem Nicks on their draft board? Insanity.)

— Wake Forest

The Deacs' offense will better in quarterback Riley Skinner's seventh season as the starter — it has to be.

Not the defense, though. I'd take Jim Grobe over any coach in the ACC but as a program, Wake's simply not to the point where it can lose talent like Aaron Curry (fourth overall pick) and Alphonso Smith (second-round pick) and replace it without taking a step back.

With Grobe, it won't get much worse than 6-6 but this is not another Orange Bowl team.

— Clemson

Let's face it, Clemson's broke. They had to buyout Tommy Bowden and they couldn't afford another coach. Hence, Dabo Swinney.

Given the fiscal environment, that's commendable but look at what has happened almost every time an ACC program has hired an inexperienced coach.

The ACC is not the place for on-the-job training. Look at how much further along UNC and N.C. State are with established head coaches who know how to manage a coaching staff and understand what it takes to build a program.

This is not going end well for Clemson. Maybe not 3-9 bad, or no-bowl bad but it's not going to end with a division title either.

— Boston College

The Eagles defied the odds in '08. And I'll be the first to admit I was wrong about that.

But another coaching transition? This one without Matt Ryan at quarterback or two NFL defensive linemen? Or without an innovative playcaller like Steve Logan?

BC won't fall completely off the map (yet), the schedule won't let them, but the post-O'Brien hangover will truly hit the Heights this season.

J.P. Giglio

-- Coastal Division favorite

Pack's Wilson improves at plate

Less than three weeks ago, N.C. State’s Russell Wilson was trying to stay positive at the plate.
The Wolfpack’s starting quarterback plays second base for the school’s baseball team, and his batting average dropped below .200 around the middle of last month.
“A lot of it’s probably (timing),” Wilson said in mid-April. “Baseball is a sport you have to practice a lot and work at. And I think that’s just what it is. I’ve just got to keep working and keep a positive mind set.”
Wilson missed a lot of preseason baseball work because of a knee injury suffered in the Papajohns.com Bowl. He also was juggling spring football and baseball practice until April 18.
Now that he’s focusing solely on baseball, Wilson’s batting average is improving. He’s up to .277 after going 3-for-9 during two games over the weekend against N.C. Central.
That’s hardly an average that’s going to have pro baseball scouts drooling. But Wilson’s improvement supports his assertion that practice and timing can help him at the plate. – Ken Tysiac

ECU's Mitchell signs with San Francisco

ECU defensive tackle Khalif Mitchell signed a free-agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.

Mitchell, who began his career at UNC, missed seven games in 2008 with a foot injury. He'll best remembered in the Triangle for his goal-line tackle (and forced fumble) of T.A. McLendon in UNC's 30-24 win over N.C. State in 2005.

-- J.P. Giglio

Miami's Graham to try football

First, Greg Paulus. Now, Jimmy Graham. Who's next, Cheick Diakite?

Graham will try in follow in the footsteps of Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow. The Miami basketball player will play tight end this fall for the Hurricanes.

Like Greg Paulus, Graham has a year of eligibility remaining in football after playing basketball for the previous four years. Unlike Paulus, Graham will stay at his current school.

A 6-8 and 255 pounds, Graham has the size to do some damage on the gridiron. The Goldsboro native has less experience than Paulus, a high school All-American in football, though. Graham only played one year of high school football.

Graham averaged 4.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a senior. He started nine games.

-- J.P. Giglio