Michigan State: Mark Dantonio looks like Brooklyn Decker after his fake field goal call in overtime netted the Spartans a 34-31 win over Notre Dame. Yes, there was an issue with the play clock, and probably a missed pass interference penalty, on the play dubbed "Little Giants," but Aaron Bates' 29-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Gantt immediately goes down as one of the all-time great gambles in college football history.
Clemson: I have to admit, against all odds, that 24 games into Dabo Swinney's tenure I like the cut of his jib. The Tigers were prepared and motivated for Auburn and the national stage on Saturday, which is more than Miami, Florida State or North Carolina can claim in 2010. The way Swinney defended his kicker, who missed a chip shot to force a second overtime, was also admirable.
T.J. Yates: The supposed "weak link" at UNC has been nothing short of the Tar Heels' best player through two difficult losses. Even more impressive has been his character. Thrust into an untenable situation, through no doing of his own, the senior quarterback has emerged as the spokesman for the troubled football program when others have been either unwilling or incapable.
Duke-Wake: Look, it was not realist to think Duke could beat Alabama or that Wake Forest could travel across the country, kick off after curfew, and beat an underrated Stanford team, but 62-13 and 68-24?
Given the scoring fest between the two ACC teams in Winston-Salem last week, the 130 combined points allowed by their defenses is not a surprise, but the lack of competitiveness against a foe BCS conference is embarrassing for the ACC and both schools.
####
Take a seat
N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien's popularity with the ACC office (cue mental image of ACC commissioner John Swofford, former UNC football player and UNC athletic director, begrudgingly waving a tiny Wolfpack pom-pom during Thursday's 30-19 win over Cincinnati), has never been higher.
He must be feeling good, and deservedly so after a 3-0 start, because he threw a jab at the Wolfpack fan base for taking too long of a tailgate hiatus at halftime.
"We came out, there's nobody in the stands in the third quarter," O'Brien said. "We've got to learn to come for the whole game."
Given the wins-to-dollars return on the investment made by State fans since Carter-Finley was renovated, that would be a fight O'Brien would be wise to avoid.
####
Coachspeak-to-English translation
"You can't have a lull in the second quarter. You can't let down. You can't get tired."
— Alabama coach Nick Saban disappointed that his defense gave up its first touchdown of the season in Saturday's 62-13 win over Duke.
Translation: We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Sweep the leg. No mercy.
Comments
Haha
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 21:38 — Heels20Brooklyn Decker? I don't know if I follow on that analogy.
because
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 22:14 — joegiglio (author)he looks like a million bucks
— JPG
sorry jp
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 23:59 — JPDOhioDantonio could beat Alabama by 50 to win the national championship and still fall short in that comparison.
I was down on Yates....
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 19:13 — UNC1998before the season. At this point he's a bright spot on the otherwise depleated UNC team. Anytime a player puts on the Carolina Blue I cheer for them in the game. They have a responsibility (that some have chosen not to honor) to conduct themselves in a certain manner away from the field. Yates came to UNC as a young kid and as aged to a young adult. With that process I'd expect some emotional maturity also. So far, he hasn't disappointed.
LATE HITS
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 09:46 — JPDOhioDatonio: took the term "heart stopping victory" way to literally.
T.J.: I have become a fan. He has handled a very difficult situation with maturity and class. Admirable.
Wake (let's throw Fla State in there too): Stop scheduling games west of the Mississippi.
Duke: What were you thinking?
TOB vs. beer-drinking, bladder-relieving Wolfpack fans- careful about the whining and complaining unless you want to find yourself replacing Butch at UNC for salary that includes all the cheese you can handle.
TJ Yates
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 13:07 — mad_maxWhile TJ has played better than I expected in the first two games this year, I wouldn't go as far as to say that he exhibits class. When I think of TJ, I still see him taunting fans in Raleigh as if he is some great QB, and I see him faking injuries to stop the clock and sometimes draw flags. Sure, he's thrown fewer INTs than TDs this year (so far), but with the microsope looking down on UNC's program right now, he's got no choice but to keep his arrogant mouth shut. I guarantee that if UNC had all their players, and if they were 2-0 right now, we would be seeing the same ol' TJ. I'm just not sold on the guy. He has yet to lead his team to victory. Am I a little biased? Most likely. It still ticks me off a little bit that when TJ first came on the scene, all the local football "experts" claimed that Yates would break most of Rivers' passing records...okay. How has that prediction worked out for the experts?
class
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 13:12 — gvillegatrdon't get me wrong, I got this guy in my dynasty league, but if you polled NFL players, Phillip Rivers would be the #1 taunter in the league as well as #1 whiner.
You know this of, course, or you would not have pre empted a "as if he is some great QB" when talking about Yates.
I guess it is OK to taunt and whine and fake injuries when you are a great QB?
Huh
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 20:51 — YAR8packGaytr, I know you're not the brightest, and that you love to espouse any stupid comment that may "support" your laughable arguments, BUT, you can't seriously believe Philip Rivers fakes injuries.
Apparently you don't follow the NFL all that much. You see, if you did, you would certainly know that in the 2007 AFC playoffs Philip Rivers played with a partially torn ACL. Yeah, that's really faking an injury. To quote my man Chris Carter: C'mon man!
Does Rivers flap his gums too much on the sideline and on the field? In my sometimes not so humble opinion, he most certainly does. But I guarantee there are just as many players that do that kind of thing every Sunday, those folks just aren't qbs. Do you really think when NFL players get in each others' faces that they're sharing the latest and greatest recipes from Martha Stewart and Giada De Laurentis? Negative. They're trash talking. C'mon man!
Now, go back to calling anyone who disagrees with your silly remarks a "hater."
OK GO PHILIP RIVERS!!!
and
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 22:00 — gvillegatrjust b/c you dream about performing f&^*&^o on Mr Rivers, doesn't mean you have to excuse his gamemanship which is typically poor on the field of play. alwyas has been.
Also, just b/c "everyone else does it" doesn't make it right. didn't your momma teach you anything? If everybody jumped off the Empire State Building ....
as usual, yar8punk, go play in the road.
ok. you got me.
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 21:50 — gvillegatri'll take two out of three damn near every time. the faking injuries was not correct. got carried away. glad to see you still felt compelled to write a book courtesy of one of my posts. I sincerely hope I do not keep you up at night! ...
Oooo
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 09:18 — YAR8packWow. You're such a BA, gaytr. First you throw a grade school insult, then you say something about my momma. Wow. We should all tremble in great fear of the mighty gaytr. Grow the F up. Talk all you want about me. But you really look like a childish asshat when you bring someone's parents into this stupid blog. What're you gonna say next? Na nanna boo boo, stick your head in doo-doo? Way to go, gaytr. You see, I could be a pussy like you and say something about your family, but I'm more respectful than your clown self. Thanks for once again proving how asinine and childish your thought process is.
And it's quite laughable that you try to assail me by remarking about the length of my post, when your dumbass has posted two times, fifty minutes apart, for my reply post. Apparently someone stays up at night, and it ain't me. :-)
Signed,
Hater
OK GO PHILIP RIVERS!!!
gaytr
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 09:23 — gvillegatrNeed I post anythhing else on the name calling and the like? if you are going to initiate the name calling, be prepared for it to come back into your court.
I can act as mature or as immature as the next poster.
Notice
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 09:35 — YAR8packAhhh, that's better. No family members involved. That's how it should be. And it's how I'll always keep it.
A return: Notice that I say "talk all you want about me" in my prior post? Apparently reading comprehension just isn't your game.
And what do you mean? You don't like the way I spell your "handle" phonetically? :-)
Signed,
Hater
sorry Max
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 20:58 — JPDOhioGotta disagree with you on this one.
While I get what you are saying, it would have been very easy for Yates and the rest of his team to act like victims and basically give up. It is hard to imagine a more disruptive way for a team's season to start, especially with expectations so high. The way UNC has performed under these circumstances with TJ leading what has been a pretty effective offense is commendable.
That fact has been somewhat lost in all the drama.
Well he is leading the ACC
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 17:41 — unc098Well he is leading the ACC currently in passing and total offense.
Not a bad start.
Not to many takers on the River's passing records.
I understand he's had two
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 19:07 — mad_maxI understand he's had two nice games so far. Let's see what happens throughout the season though. I still don't think he has what it takes.
And yeah, I know the Rivers comparison wasn't coming from most people.
mad-max
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 14:29 — melvinfurdsees a lot of things that aren't really there. What else is new?
Please tell me...
Fri, 09/24/2010 - 18:34 — mad_maxWhat did I see that's not there?