Monday: The Tech-UVa X-factors
TECH-UVA WEEK IS HERE, and there isn’t a ton to discuss in terms of implications. You know what they are: the Hokies must win to make a bowl, and the Cavs must win to break the streak of eight straight Tech victories in the series.
I thought we could start this week by discussing the most likely X-factor players in the game — one from each team. In other words, whose performance is most vital to his team’s success. I’ll go first.
TECH: Marcus Davis. Quarterback Logan Thomas might seem like a logical choice here, but I think by now we pretty much know what we’re going to get from him this season: some good, some bad, probably one big mistake, probably one brilliant pass that makes him look like a future NFL star.
Davis, on the other hand, is more of a wildcard. Against BC on Saturday, he had his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the year — and he did it after riding the bench in the first half. He can take over a game like he did against Duke (five catches, 144 yards and two touchdowns) or play a relatively minor role, like he did against Appalachian State (two grabs), Bowling Green (two), North Carlina (three), Miami (three) and Florida State (two).
Even after a rough game against North Carolina last Thursday, the Cavs still rank 34th in the nation in total defense. A home run play from Davis could make the difference.
UVA: Khalek Shepherd. Obviously, if Michael Rocco were to have the kind of game he did against Miami, he’d qualify here, but you just don’t know how the Wahoos are going to use their quarterbacks in this game.
Shepherd has the ability to break off a long return that could flip the momentum after a Tech score. Against UNC, he had 160 yards on seven returns. He averaged 45 on two returns against Richmond and had two for 97 against Georgia Tech. The Hokies’ kickoff coverage has not been stellar.
Who are your picks for Tech and UVa X-factor?
"Das boot! Das boot!"
-Congrats to Brad Keselowski, who wins his first Sprint Cup title. Clint Bowyer actually finishes second in the points as Jimmie Johnson has a nightmare finale at Homestead.
SHELL-SHOCK
-A lot of chatter that Maryland will announce a move to the Big Ten today. When I see something official I’ll link it. Update: Sounds like announcement at 2:30 or 3 p.m. ESPN reporting it’s a done deal. Wow.
‘CANES SELF-IMPOSE
-Miami has self-imposed a postseason ban for the second straight year. This gives the Coastal Division title to Georgia Tech.
NATIONAL TITLE
-Notre Dame-Alabama…how do you like them apples? That’s looking like the probable BCS matchup, although the Irish still have to get past USC and the Tide has a matchup with Georgia looming in the SEC title game if it gets by Auburn.
What a tank job by Kansas State over the weekend getting blown out by Baylor. The Stanford-Oregon result was a little easier to grasp, but still…this game remains so unpredictable.
NFL SKINNY
-Robert Griffin III goes 14-of-15 with four TDs as the Redskins thrash Philly 31-6.
-Dallas beats Cleveland in OT to move to .500, will face Redskins on Turkey Day.
-Ravens beat the Steelers 13-10 to take total command of the AFC North.
-Patriots blast Colts 59-24.
-Green Bay rallies past Detroit.
NAME THAT TUNE
Pulled in the driveway, picked up the paper
Found my key, and unlocked the door
I walked in, felt like a stranger
Like I’d never been there before
And as I wandered room to room
It was silent as a tomb
Coulda heard a tear drop, coulda heard a heart break
Never saw the flood come, even though I felt the rain
Never heard a house sound, so loud with memories
Where there used to be a happy home…
November 19, 2012 - 9:10 AM
So, with Miami out of the contention due to their self imposed ban, there will be a FSU-GT ACCCG matchup. I have to wonder if that has not made John Swofford weep. I’m sure headquarter is weeping loudly because they have long desired a FSU-Miami matchup on a yearly basis. I can’t wait to see how this will work for the TV rating. Boring offense versus one of the top defenses in the country? Sounds like I need to have a bottle of NyQuil to watch this game.
The latest polls doesn’t make sense. Then again, this while season doesn’t make sense at all.
Watching Hokies this year was like renting a made for DVD movies with sucky plot line, lousy actors, and horrible, cheap soundtrack from the $1 bins. No matter how bad the movie was, I just can’t stop watching the Hokies. Now I am simply hoping that they have enough oomph to beat LOLUVA, the university that Thomas Jefferson was sorry he founded.
Reading Andy’s 5 thoughts last night made me want to headbutt a cement wall. It was his frist comment about MD7 that made me want to scream. Let me say this and get it off my chest: MD7 DOES NOT MAKE THE OFFENSE GO! He is one of the key players, absolutely, but the offense runs through LOGAN THOMAS. I guess interviewing Beamer finally rubbed off on Andy because he is now speaking some Beamerism.
The X-factor in the Commonwealth Cup is the special team on both side. Which side screws up the first will determine the outcome of the game.
It was also revealed 100 years after Mr. Jefferson’s death, he penned in his diary that he was sorry he founded UVa. He did it while under the influence of wine and cheese.
I think if TJ had known how UVa was going to evolve, he would have preferred to have founded an agricultural & engineering oriented school a little southwest of his vacation home of Poplar Forest. That’s a different topic, though. We are left with what we have – the ‘hoos for a rival.
This is a tough year – to say the least – for ACC football. It looks like there will be 3-4 bowl tie-ins that go unused. Which might mean that some bowl alliances will be allowed to die once the contracts are finished.
Clemson seems to be a favorite to get a Sugar bid, which would mean the ChikFilA would have hometown GaTech, Russell (ORL) could scoop up eager Wolfpack fans, the Sun could take the bullet on Duke – since Duke wouldn’t take anybody anyway & nobody would attend the Sun anyway – and the Hokies would slot between Charlotte & Nashville. It will be interesting to see how it plays out…
Trev, I think the local media reacted out of protection re:Marcus Davis to the internet blog influence. As I mentioned elsewhere, it was ‘interesting’ that Frank – who says he doesn’t know how to turn on a computer – quietly sat MD for a half after the video went viral. Even more ‘interesting’ is that MD got an emotional backrub by having so many passing plays directed to him in the second half by Stinespring. He’s not caught more than six passes all season, and suddenly he got five in one half of a low scoring game. The question of his blocking wasn’t really addressed, & for all we know, somebody could make another video of the BC game, if they chose.
Regardless, MD is gone after two more games. Best of luck to him post-VaTech.
I know the national title in football is on everybody’s mind right now. So how about this? A local football team has already won a national championship! The Roanoke Vipers 10&Under football team finished their season a perfect 16-0 winning the regional Sandlot Superbowl and then going on to compete in and win the largest football tournament in the USA with about 300 teams and representing at least 21 states. My son is on the team yes but I am not bragging when I tell you this was the most epic performance I have seen in person by any sports team.
AMc, the question has never been if Marcus Davis gives full effort on plays designed for passes to come his way. It has always been if he gives any effort in supporting his team on plays not designed to feature him.
The teams in the tournament I posted about had lineman over 6ft tall and 200 plus pounds. There were quarterbacks there who could throw 40 yards down field. Keep in mind these are 10 year olds. How about a story on these guys Aaron? Roanoke Vipers is the team name contact me for more info.
Huge congrats deservedly go to Bad Brad. I really wish he had, ‘in celebration’, poured beer on Brian France. That would have been priceless. It was nice to see Jimmie Johnson’s crew choke after JJ talked crap all week trying to intimidate Keselowski.BK did what he had to do to win, yet Johnson couldn’t hold up his end. Karma, baby…
Three SEC teams in the BCS top five? Anybody trying to make sure the SEC is represented in the MNC game? 2/3 of the BCS polling is based on human voting. Espn must be so relieved.
Cannot wait to see Bama put it to ND for the championship, the domers are more arrogant than the hoos. X-factor in Hokie/hoos game, last game for line coach Newsome, win one for the fired coach. MD to Big 10, who cares !! The Big 10 must be desperate to want MD and their half empty stadium.
NTT – Montgomery Gentry Lonely and Gone!
You really should stop doing these – a simple google tells anyone with interest what the song is. Do you believe readers are guessing from memory? Oh, please…
November 24, 2012, The day VT football died. No more 10 plus wins in a season, no more 20 consecutive bowls and yes, no more domination of UVA. Welcome to the land of average VT fans.
More props need to go out to Brad Keselowski. Dude is old school & new cool at the same time. Being the drive of the Miller Lite car, he did enjoy one glass of beer after the race. Enjoy this for yourselves…
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/stop-doing-watch-brad-keselowski-buzzed-sportscenter-144002182–nascar.html;_ylt=Aq1kAWI2j2XfaL_MOjwIDGQhYsp_;_ylu=X3oDMTE4NWRia245BG1pdANCbG9ncyBJbmRleARwb3MDMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCbG9nSW5kZXg-;_ylg=X3oDMTFpMm9iMzh1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3
Maryland Regents have approved the move to the B1G…
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/65679/maryland-regents-approve-big-ten-move
I guess that makes it more feasible for Notre Dame to become a full member…
People get tired of the conference swapping, but the biggest threat to VT may be the viability of the ACC in years to come. If Maryland jumps to the B1G despite the $50 million exit fee, rumors may start cranking up about some of the other schools again at some point. Personally, if Maryland leaves, I would sign up UConn and hope to maintain the status quo.
The exit fee thing will be the most interesting part of all of this. Maryland and FSU were the only two schools to vote against the increase. Assuming they believe they won’t have legal obligation to pay full amount (I’m no lawyer so I have no idea whether such a claim has legs). Whatever courts decide will be huge.
UConn seems to be the de facto choice for the next ACC slot. I felt all along that the ACC should have ignored Notre Dame and secured Rutgers & UConn right after Pitt & Syracuse. It’s funny, the attitude some had towards Rutgers not being ‘worthy’ of ACC inclusion, when they are of B1G inclusion. They were eager to join the ACC, but were rebuffed. Looks like they’ve gotten the last laugh on that one.
As for Maryland? Well, it’s interesting the scorn most Tech fans feel for them, but UMd is somehow a member of the academic AAU & VT is not. Sometimes we need to turn the mirror on ourselves, folks, painful though it might be. The B1G just sliced the ACC in half, geographically.
If Maryland goes, it would be the first ACC defection since South Carolina in the 70′s.
But one really has to wonder, what does the Big 10 offer that the ACC does not? It isn’t like the ACC has been holding Maryland back from being competitive.
I am still trying to figure out what is the attraction- in others words, why the B10 is interested in Maryland and what moving to the B10 does for the terps. It doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.
UMd thinking they don’t have to pay the exit fee because they voted against it is like these loons who signed petitions to secede from the US after Obama was re-elected. You don’t get to say – ‘Nuh unhh! I didn’t want to do that!…’
Kevin Plank is going to have to cut a check. A frivolous one. Maryland’s cancelling sports right & left, so now they’re going to pay millions?
Let’s hit the important thing first – Bad Brad and Roger Penske. That was a sweet finish. I haven’t read anything about it this morning, but my guess is 5 Time tore up the rear end after he had to come in for that missing lug nut on the last pit stop, trying to get it going.
What was lost in it all was the Gordon/Bowyer 1-2 finish. Its too bad there was such a gap between them. That could have been interesting, since Gordon was in front.
The UVA X factor, to me, is the QB situation. How does London handle it? Its like a guy in my fantasy league, he benched RG3 yesterday, for Matthew Stafford – the point differential was staggering, to say the least. Does London make the right call? And at the right times, if he plays both? I guess that means my UVA X factor is Mike London.
For Tech it is a bit muddier, but I’ll go with Marcus Davis, too. He’ll either go out on a very high note, or a very low one.
And, if Frank Beamer is benching a WR for poor blocking for half – that’s being pretty hypocritical, because he should be playing an entire half without an offensive line, because they haven’t blocked anybody all year.
I am starting to lean toward an all SEC BCS Championship game. I just don’t see Notre Dame beating USC. USC has had a very disappointing season (and only Lane Kiffin deserves as much), and this is a way to salvage it.
Then you are looking at a situation just like last year, Alabama (or Georgia, if they would win the SEC) against Florida. This could be Rematch 2, if it was Florida/Georgia, giving the world’s largest cocktail party new meaning. Otherwise, it is a Bama-Gator matchup.
The college football world had a shot at keeping the SEC out of it, and it looks like they may have screwed it up and given them the stage again.
If ND does beat USC, whichever ACC team they plays will throttle them.
BYE BYE MARYLAND!!
I hope the Hokies get a nice share of the 50 mil. I don’t think Maryland will be missed too much, sorry A-Man. They may be another Indiana and Illinois for Bif 10 football. I guess they were wanted for their TV market. I guess UConn will replace Terps.
Not a big Keslou… Kislows….. Brad fan but real glad Johnson didn’t win.
Trev, have to agree, no way M Davis is what makes the Hokie’s O go. It’s the QB right now.
“11.November 24, 2012, The day VT football died. No more 10 plus wins in a season, no more 20 consecutive bowls and yes, no more domination of UVA. Welcome to the land of average VT fans.” Joe V, one problem with your post. Thanks for the welcome but the Hoo’s will have to improve quite a bit to get up to average.
Gary Williams weighs in on the UMd move to the B1G…
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bal-excoach-gary-williams-says-move-to-big-ten-would-help-university-of-maryland-20121118,0,3014814.story
Maryland to the B1G 10, huh? That is so bizarre, but it sounds like it is real and a done deal. I can see Rutgers, if the B1G 10 wants to expand, because poaching the BE is the popular thing to do these days. It’s the little kid on the bus, with taped glasses, a runny nose, and extra lunch money to steal, but Maryland leaving the ACC is simply befuddling.
Maryland is going to fall into that group of schools, ten years from now, that looks back and asks “why in the hell did we do that?”
Missouri will definitely fall into that group, and I’m not so sure BC isn’t thinking that already, although Pitt and Syracuse coming in actually make the ACC more attractive to them, in terms of past rivals.
Rutgers may not ever be willing to admit to it being a mistake, because of the shaky nature of the BE, but dang, they are going to suffer. They wouldn’t be 9-1 in the B1G 10 this year right now. You have to remember, that 1 loss was to Kent State. Talk about a weak team, it is Rutgers.
From the ACC’s perspective, I can imagine a phone call is going to be made from John Swofford to Nike’s Phil Knight – “hey, Phil, go after any Under Armour schools in this league, ASAP, they will switch.” You have to wonder just how much Kevin Plank is directing this.
The question now becomes – what does the ACC do? Does it simply sign over Maryland’s (or, would it be Kevin Plank’s?) $50 million check to Notre Dame to come play football? The ACC has to do something to balance out the divisions for football. Or did Maryland just become UConn’s favorite B1G 10 school?
If Maryland follows through with leaving, that will take the DC/NOVA market away from the ACC. It would be nice to fill that market with another team but there aren’t any teams in that area that play all the major sports. UConn would be the closest school that would make sense to add.
I would love to see someone like ODU added but I don’t think that will happen. I think Central Florida would have made a good choice too and provided a bridge between FSU and Miami but I think that isn’t likely either.
Williams statements don’t make alot of sense. And I doubt they make alot of cents either.
Who is their rival in football? I always thought the UVA/Maryland game was a big one for both fan bases. Penn State has never been a rival for Maryland.
The ACC is responsible for Maryland being poor in football? Really?
Gary, here is a hint for you- if you are not competitive in the ACC this year, a year when VT is down, a year when DUKE is competitive in football, then how in the heck are you going to compete with the likes of Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Penn State (when they get the ship righted, which looks like they are headed in that direction)?
Why don’t you ask rival West Virginia how that move to the Big 12 is working out? Nearest conference opponent is like 600+ miles away! Yeah, WVU did great going down and beating Texas in Texas. But then, the reality is that having your players make road trips like that weekly sucks the vitality out of the performance on the field and the next week they got hammered.
You can’t pay your bills and yet you can cough up $50 big ones?
Williams is right about one thing though, the ACC needs to get a better TV network thing like the B10 in place, like NOW.
Back to NASCAR, there was something I watched yesterday that was interesting, in terms of how TV dictates so much in sports.
And, let me say, this isn’t food for the people that think NASCAR is like pro wrestling and staged, you don’t stage anything at 150+ MPH.
Anyway, I watched Keslowski on DirecTV’s HotPass channel yesterday, at the end of the race. You get to hear the radio communications between driver, crew chief, spotter, etc.
It is amazing how much post-race stuff is geared toward TV. They were letting him know about doing his burnouts, getting the flag to drive with, to take a couple laps around the track to kill time for the Victory Lane celebration (which was on TV first), then what to do for his championship presentation. Normally the HotPass stuff cuts off right at the end, but this one hung on, and you got to hear it all and get a really neat inside look at what goes on.
I guess other sports are pretty much the same, coordinating those ‘interviews’ with the coaches at half-time – one is at the end of the first half, the other is done at the start of the second half.
It is just amazing what goes on behind the scenes.
Kevin Plank is going to have to make a $50 million donation on the behalf of Terps Nation. The IRS are going to cringe because that’s $50 million they can’t touch in non-taxed donation. Or so I am told.
I guess Maryland are taking their sorry ass stadium, fanbase, and gawd awful uniforms made by Heinz to the B1G where they will be as revelant as Illinois, Indiana, and um, Penn State. Have fun in the B1G, guys, enjoy being a cellar dweller.
How long before Esdall pulls an Urban Meyer, folks?
Anybody but UConn, please. They might bring 20 fans to either UVA or Tech for football, and their basketball program is a little bit on the sleazy side. If you notice, Navy still hasn’t closed the deal with the Big Least. Bring Navy onboard to the ACC to seal the deal with Notre Dame being all in. While Navy will struggle in football and basketball, their olympic sports will help the conference.
East Carolina would be a good football and baseball addition, but there is no way any of the Carolina schools would approve them. Only other school out there that might make some sense would be USF.
Crooked Road neglected to mention that the SEC also makes up half of the top six in the BCS computer rankings as well.
Fla. #2, Al #3, Ga #6
As always with the NCAA, follow the dollars.
Maryland joining B1G gives the Big 10 Network a chance to get into the basic cable package in the entire Baltimore/D.C. metro area. That’s the big sell. Same with Rutgers, which theoretically may get the Big 10 Network into more homes in NYC/NJ/Philly. (I’ll believe that part when I see it…Rutgers is an afterthought in their home market…)
UConn would give the ACC a bigger foothold over the NYC/New England marketplace, along with Syracuse & BC. Otherwise, their options would appear limited. Louisville may be better at football, but it’s a small market. Same goes with Cincinnati.
Whether it’s true or not, the Big 10 is perceived to be a bigger and better conference than the ACC. Look at their stadiums, 100,000 plus. Miami can’t even fill their stadium. Duke’s stadium is IAA size and they can’t fill it. UVA, empty seats. Tech, FSU and UNC are the only ones filling seats right now. It appears MD is following the money. It will help their recruiting, status, etc.. The ACC can’t even win the Big 10 challenge anymore. We choke against the Big 10 in football. Let’s face it, if you were a team shopping yourself to a conference, which would you choose. X-factor in the Tech-UVA game, the coaches. Both sides have shown the ability to shoot themselves in the foot, who will shoot first and how often.
SEC vs. ACC weekend.
Could this be ugly?
(Sagarin rankings)
Fla. #4 vs. FSU #19
Ga. #8 vs. GT #60
SC #12 vs. Clem #22
Vandy #33 vs. Wake #110
On weekend of Sept. 15th, ACC was 0-3 against Big East.
Statement from ACC commish John Swofford:
“Our best wishes are extended to all of the people associated with the University of Maryland. Since our inception, they have been an outstanding member of our conference and we are sorry to see them exit. For the past 60 years the Atlantic Coast Conference has exhibited leadership in academics and athletics. This is our foundation and we look forward to building on it as we move forward.”
In other news, I had no idea John was the brother of the 1960s-70s pop singer Oliver until Doughty told me Thursday when “Jean” came on 60s on 6.
Maryland is going for money. They are broke. The BIG10 wants the east coast market. This is not brain surgery.
“No more 10 win seasons, no more bowls, etc”. Good thing Florida State, Clemson, Alabama, ND, didn’t feel that way. You nay sayers stay away from the edge of the clift. The Hokies are having a bad year. This does not mean the team is dead for eternity.
One of the TV announcers was talkikng about how geat Stanford is because they have had four years of 8 win seasons. Well we have more years of 10 win seasons. You whiners can bring up the schedule or anything else you like to complain about but the fact remains it is very hard to have repeat 10 win seasons. If it was easy everyone should be able to do it.
Be happy and thankful for what we have. It is special and will be very special again.Frank Beamer is a great coach and he will do what he needs to do to turn it around.
Coach Beamer is working just as hard today and he did 10 years ago and so are the rest of the coaches. If you think these guys want to go to a bowl game for just money, you could not be more wrong. Coaches by nature are competitive and prideful. No one likes to lose. THey got use to 10 win season, also. The difference is they knew how special and hard it was to accomplish.
Unrelated to the ACC changes, I was just looking at their potential bowl prospects for the year, and my word are they ugly. If Wake loses to Vandy (likely), and VT loses to UVA (possible), considering that Miami self-imposed and UNC is inelligible as well, that would leave a whopping 5 bowl teams…and there is a good chance that 3 of them are 6-6 (GT probably loses to Georgia, Duke probably loses to Miami…and NC State could lose to BC)…with GT possibly being 6-7 if they lose to FSU (likely). That would leave just 2 even remotely decent teams in FSU and Clemson, neither of whom have impressed pollsters or computers because of the putresence of the conference in general (to date, the only ranked teams either has played is each other…yeah, the ACC is that bad)..and their season-enders against ranked SEC teams could go poorly for both, potentially, though they play those teams at home.
Who cares about Maryland, Tech, or UVA. The Roanoke Vipers are National Champions in Football! Our trophy case has a National Championship trophy in it why cover all this mediocre football? We are the best team in Virginia and we are the best of the best. Cover the Vipers instead!
ESPN projecting the Hokies vs. Southern Cal in the Sun Bowl.
Louisville and Cincinnati to the ACC won’t happen. US News and World Report’s 2013 rankings of current (and pending) ACC members compared.
008 Duke
017 Notre Dame
024 Virginia (tie)
027 Wake Forest
030 North Carolina
031 Boston College
036 Georgia Tech
044 Miami
058 Syracuse (tie)
058 Maryland (tie)
058 Pittsburgh (tie)
068 Clemson
072 Virginia Tech
097 Florida State
106 North Carolina State
48.9 Average ranking. 48.2 without Maryland
Connecticut’s Ranking: 63 (tie)
Cincinnati’s Ranking: 139
Louisville’s Ranking: 160
Everyone but the Wolfpack are in the top 100. VT and FSU, if I recall, are both up from last year’s rankings. To university presidents, these things matter.
For comparison, here’s the Big Ten, including Maryland and Rutgers.
011 Northwestern
029 Michigan
041 Wisconsin
046 Penn State (tie)
046 Illinois (tie)
056 Ohio State
058 Maryland
065 Purdue (tie)
068 Rutgers (tie)
068 Minnesota (tie)
072 Michigan State (tie)
072 Iowa (tie)
083 Indiana (tie)
101 Nebraska (tie)
58.3 Average ranking
57.5 Average without either
Bear in mind, though, that Penn State is likely to suffer a lot of backlash for the Sandusky cover-up, including rumors of loss of accreditation. If that happens, a diploma from Penn State will be worthless and their ranking will likely fall to “unranked”.
For completeness, since the schools were brought up:
United States Naval Academy: 14 (liberal arts, not ranked overall)
East Carolina University: 199 (tie)
University of South Florida: 170
Actually, Penn State used to play Maryland every year back when they were independent. As a PSU fan, I actually think Maryland joining the B1G will be huge for them —- it offers them a return to the Maryland/DC market where they used to recruit so well (before VT became VT). Reminds me of the old “Beast of the East” days…PSU fans routinely outnumbered Maryland fans at the Maryland game, etc.
Donald, I would love to know your source on rumors of PSU losing accreditation.
I was looking at Maryland’s all-time record against the Big Ten, and holy mother of football is it laughable!
They are 4-44-1 all-time, including a paltry 1-35-1 against Penn State. Yeah, they’ll excel in football!
Let’s remember that the BCS rankings are based 2/3 on the public polls, which are just subjective coaches & media members who didn’t even see clips of the games. So 2/3 of the supposedly ‘computer rankings’ are nothing more than concentrate from people’s opinions and skewed concepts.
On the other, that really made me laugh in a painful way – defensive blather about ten win seasons then derisive comparisons to Stanford cause me to remember the bowl game. Remember? The one where Jim Harbaugh absolutely punked Frank Beamer to embarrassing levels. Seemingly six men in motion just to toy with the mouse.
OJ you forgot to mention that a 6-7 GT team will require an NCAA waiver to be bowl elligible. They shouldn’t have a problem getting it approved but what a great example of there being too many bowl games. Next thing you know we’ll have 1 win teams going to bowls.
shaun shouldn’t that be the North Roanoke Vipers or did you guys drop the North after you picked up players to go to TN? Either way it was a great accomplishment and most importantly you’re proud of your son. We get that, but posting the same thing over and over again on a blog isn’t going to get the story covered. Contact the paper directly if you want coverage.
RP,
Nothing concrete. Just rumors and speculation that actually date back a few months, though it appears Penn State was put on warning in August for their accreditation and this was recently lifted. There’s still much to fall out from this, though, once you get into the Clery act violations and whatever fines and penalties the U.S. Department of Education decides to impose.
Just saw a friend post this article on facebook. Explains a lot about the Maryland move to B1G:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2012/11/19/could-under-armour-billionaire-kevin-plank-bankroll-marylands-move-to-the-big-ten/
Didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers OG. We did play in an AAU classification there in TN not a recreation classification. It’s all good though. Yes I am proud of my son and we have one heck of a coach too. Who in my mind is the best around. I will go away and let you guys return to discussing the ACC.
Crooked, you never read what someone has written. I said number of wins a season. I did not do a comparison of who beat whom. Your thinking process is convoluted. Carry on. You do have a reputation to maintain.
Shaun, congrats to your son & their team. I would love to see an article about them, but I personally view kids’ sports as more of a human interest story than a true sports story. But if ESPN is going to broadcast Little League baseball and act as if it’s something worth following, there’s no reason why the RT can’t do a column on your kids’ accomplishment sometime.
What about Georgetown as an ACC expansion target? Granted, it wouldn’t help football at all, but it would be a great fit for basketball, some Olympic sports, and academics. More importantly, it would put the ACC back in the DC media market.
O.J.,
Under the new rules adopted in August, it’s possible for a 5-7 team to apply for and receive a waver – as long as it has a top-5 Academic Progress Rate score. Those teams are at the bottom of the process, though. The exact order is:
* 6-6 teams who have a win over a non-qualifying FCS team (there’s a scholarship requirement for the game to count normally)
* 6-6 teams who beat two FCS schools
* 6-7 teams who lost in their conference championship game (UCLA last year)
* 6-7 Hawaii or teams that traveled to Hawaii to play a game.
* 6-6 FCS teams making the move to FBS
* 5-7 teams with a top-5 APR score.
Right now there are 63 bowl eligible teams. This includes Georgia Tech. Including the BCS title game, there are 70 bowl slots. Another 13 teams become eligible with one win, and two more (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh) become eligible with two wins.
What a dumb statement. I’m sure TJ gave a hoot about a down the road football team.
Go Bayou Bengals!
————————
Now I am simply hoping that they have enough oomph to beat LOLUVA, the university that Thomas Jefferson was sorry he founded.
Comment by Trevor — November 19, 2012 @ 9:50 am
As nice as that idea is, Jaded Hoo, I really think the ACC needs to get someone that convinces Notre Dame to become a full-fledged member. I do think the divisions, if Connecticut comes in, will be redone, though. Otherwise the Atlantic would like like this from a travel standpoint:
Florida State
Clemson
North Carolina State
Wake Forest
Syracuse
Boston College
Connecticut
Though a travel schedule that spans from Miami to Connecticut isn’t really that appealing, either. I just hope there isn’t a North-South division otherwise you’ll get UVA and VT separated from the Carolina schools and the Hokies and Hoos would both be playing a “Big East” schedule (Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College, Connecticut, one Carolina school or probably Georgia Tech just to keep the Carolina schools together). Of course, that schedule would almost guarantee that one of the Virginia schools would be in the ACC title game year in and year out.
shaun no feathers ruffled, I’m happy for them as well and hope those kids all end up at Northside. My only point about posting the same thing over and over is it’s kind of like spamming.
Forever, such a silly boy trying to work the tangent. If you want a fair comparison of the quality of a team that you mention with another team, have them play in a neutral site. Frank played Jim Harbaugh in a neutral site and got punked. Team vs. team, for a fair comparison.
Harbaugh punked him as badly as I’ve seen in a bowl game. As I said, and you chose to not read, it was the literal toying with Frank the whole second half. So, when you want to whine about announcers praising another team, perhaps you would do well to remember just how easily that other team slapped the Hokies down.
You can pretend this is a momentary glitch all you like, the reality is quite different. The offseason will prove my point, while you’ll keep denying the emperor has no offense… err… clothes.
Child endangerment charges against Xavier Boyce dismissed. Story here.
Donald,
Who do you think would convince Notre Dame to become a full fledged member? I don’t think UConn would, and given the fact that ND sort of has a “Best of Both Worlds” arrangement now, I don’t think anyone would.
I’m in advertising, so I’m just looking at it from a market value standpoint. I think UConn would be the best available at the moment, but they really don’t add anything from a business standpoint. Boston College and Syracuse give you access to the NYC(high concentration of SU alums) and Boston markets, so I don’t really think UConn adds anything there.
There are just so many different facets to analyze when expansion is considered.
And the rumors about VT to the SEC floats on Twitter. The other SEC target? Wait for it…North Carolina State.
All pure speculation at this point.
It also sounds like Swoffie isn’t too broken up about it. “Shuck, we wish them the very best, and appreciate everything they have done.” That’s the message I’m interpreting.
Then he turns around and play phone tags with other universities to gauge their interest.
It just makes me wonder if the NCAA is really, really worth having around. As I have stated before, the BCS gets away with showering players and coaches with free gifts worth hundreds of dollars and gives them spending cashes to spend to their heart’s content, and the NCAA does nothing. Yet, if a booster gave $2.75 for a sandwich and drink to a player, the NCAA comes down like a vulture and declare player ineligible in their chosen sport, while slapping the school with Tier 1 or 2 violation.
College sports have become more and more of an enterprise that actually uses a similar model of a free trade market. The coaches and AD gets filthy rich off the players who only get just enough scholarship to cover their tuition and fees.
Then there’s the ACC with the $50 million extortion fee that should have gotten the Department of Justice involved, but miraculously they aren’t sniffing around in Swoffie’s office to see if there’s any shady dealing going on.
It just boggles the mind at the sheer lunacy that has enveloped college sports, especially football. And at the heart of the lunacy is the BCS bowls and money that’s tied to it.
It doesn’t matter if there are the BCS apologists or antagonists, the BCS share direct and indirect blame for the mess that has caused CFB to experience earthquake after earthquake.
And for the record, I have never read Dan Wetzel’s book, Death to the BCS, but I have read several articles of his.
Let’s hope the child in the Boyce case is now in the custody of loving adults. Whatever happened, like Turk said, can’t be pinpointed. Let’s just hope that poor child never has anyone do that to her again.
I hope that we all get a early Christmas present with the chokies going to the SEC. What a joke. Frankie would never let this happen. 10 win seasons, they will brag on a 5 or 6 game win season yearly. Bring back AUSTIN PEAY!! Let’s go PEE!!!