newsobserver.com blogs -- accnow

UNC's Draughn out for the season

jpg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:26:21 -0500

Junior Shaun Draughn, North Carolina's leading rusher, will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his left shoulder blade in Saturday's 19-6 win over Duke.

Draughn, who leads the Heels with 567 yards, got injured on the first play of the game, a nine-yard run. He was replaced by Ryan Houston, who ran for a career-high 164 yards on 37 carries. Houston's rushing attempts were the most by a UNC player since 1990.

Draughn's absence means there won't be much depth behind Houston. Running backs Jamal Womble (wrist) and A.J. Blue (knee) are already out for the year with injuries. Fullback Anthony Elzy got two carries at halfback on Saturday.

Receiver Johnny White, who led the team in rushing in 2007, is also an option.

UNC-Miami kickoff set

jpg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:47:12 -0500

Saturday's game between UNC and Miami will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. and be televised regionally by ABC.

UNC (6-3) needs one more win to qualify for a bowl game. The Tar Heels have won two straight against Miami, UNC coach Butch Davis' former team.

Barnes to announce Friday

kentysiac — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:59:40 -0500

Let the anticipation build.

Fans of Duke, North Carolina and four other schools that remain finalists for the services of top-ranked recruit Harrison Barnes of Ames, Iowa, will learn his decision Friday.

Shirley Barnes, the player's mother, said in an e-mail that Barnes will announce his school choice Friday. No decision has been made on a possible broadcast of the announcement.

Barnes spent the final weekend before his announcement on an unofficial visit to his hometown school, Iowa State, his mother said. Shirley Barnes works in the music department at Iowa State.

A 6-foot-6 forward, Barnes is rated the top recruit in the nation by scout.com. In alphabetical order, his finalists are Duke, Iowa State, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and UCLA.

If Barnes has any preferences, he has hidden them from the public in a recruiting process that's been expertly and carefully guided by his mother. The competition for his services has been so intense that earlier this fall Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and North Carolina coach Roy Williams visited his home on the same day.

By announcing Friday, Barnes will adhere to a schedule he set long ago, when he told Ames High coach Vance Downs that he wanted the decision made by the time his high school team begins practice Nov. 16.

"The process for him has been very methodical," Downs said before Barnes visited Duke in October. "He's just very patient, takes his time, looks at all his options and then will eventually find the right fit for him."

Lewis, Wright comment after 19-6 loss to UNC

egrobinson — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:11:15 -0500

CHAPEL HILL - Duke seniors Thaddeus Lewis and Leon Wright said the Blue Devils must return to the drawing board after their 19-6 loss to North Carolina on Saturday.

Both said they knew the game against the Tar Heels would be hard-fought, but their team didn't show up when they needed to, namely late in the game. They walked off the field at Kenan Stadium under fireworks, disappointed at the outcome. Still, they said they hold out faith in their team's ability to rebound from adversity, and possible capture the two games they need to become bowl eligible.

Wright, a defensive back, said: "We know it's only bad if we don't build off of it. We know what we have to do."

Added Lewis, who has not beaten the Heels in his career, "We have three more games, you can't dwell on it."

Cutcliffe postgame comments after 19-6 loss to UNC

egrobinson — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:44:33 -0500

CHAPEL HILL - Duke coach David Cutcliffe expressed disappointment for Duke's nine seniors after the Devils lost to North Carolina 19-6 on Saturday.

The Tar Heels have now won 19 of the past 20 football contest against the Devils since 1989. It was a disappointing outing for the Devils, failing to run effectively or physically match the Heels. Their ACC-leading passing attack never found the necessary precision, with receivers unable to separate from defenders. "Bottom line is we got whipped," Cutcliffe said.

Looking ahead, with three games remaining on the schedule, Cutcliffe said the Devils (5-4, 3-2) must now play their best game of the season against Georgia Tech this week. They need two more wins this season to become bowl eligible, with games against the Yellow Jackets, Miami and Wake Forest.

Bowl picture: Good day for UNC, Clemson

jpg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:02:03 -0500

Clemson's 40-24 win over Florida State means the Tigers have to beat N.C. State, in Raleigh, and Virginia, at home, to win the Atlantic Division.

That's it and not even Tommy Bowden could screw that up (or only Tommy Bowden could screw that up).

Even if the spirit of Bowden possesses the Tigers, 4-2 in the ACC, and they lose once, they would still hold the tiebreaker over Boston College (3-2), which finishes with Virginia, UNC and Maryland.

That means Clemson and Georgia Tech, with a home win over Duke next week, will meet in Tampa on Dec. 5.

That's also good news on the bowl front for UNC, which improved to 6-3 with Saturday's 19-6 win over Duke.

Not only did UNC win, and get to within a win of its second straight bowl trip — and likely knock Duke (5-4) out of bowl contention — but Clemson's control of the Atlantic opens up the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 27.

Charlotte and San Francisco are the other possibilities for UNC.

If Boston College somehow wins the Atlantic, the Eagles could not fall further down the ACC bowl order than Nashville. If they don't win the division, BC would almost certainly go to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco.

Florida State's loss also means the Noles can't finish better than 4-4 in the ACC and can't jump a 6-2 team, potentially Miami, Virginia Tech or Clemson, in the bowl order.

Notre Dame's loss was also good news for the ACC. The Irish, 23-21 losers to Navy, was effectively eliminated from a BCS bowl, possibly opening up a spot for a second ACC team, either Miami or Georgia Tech — if it loses to Clemson in the ACC title game. The Irish's loss also puts them in play for the Gator Bowl, against an ACC team.

Five ACC teams (Clemson, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech) are bowl eligible.

UNC needs one win while FSU (4-5) and Duke (5-4) need two wins. Wake Forest (4-6), Virginia (3-6) and N.C. State (4-5) need to win out while Maryland (2-7) has been eliminated from the postseason.

The ACC has nine bowl tie-ins but will likely only fill seven, leaving the EagleBank and GMAC bowls to choose from the at-large pool.

Tigers romp FSU; control Atlantic

jpg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33:31 -0500

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- C.J. Spiller had a career-high 165 yards rushing and his 20th touchdown of at least 50 yards and Clemson took its biggest step yet toward an ACC title with a 40-24 victory over Florida State on Saturday night.

Spiller, the Tigers’ star senior, caught a 58-yard TD pass from Kyle Parker and, with 312 all-purpose yards, surpassed the school record of 310 he set in Clemson’s 40-37 overtime win at Miami two weeks ago.

He also closed Clemson’s fifth victory over the Seminoles (4-5, 2-4) in the past seven meetings with a high-stepping, 5-yard scoring run as the orange-clad fans shook Death Valley.

Spiller and the Tigers (6-3, 4-2) are now in control of the ACC’s Atlantic Division with games against North Carolina State and Virginia left.

Clemson’s defense pitched in, too, intercepting ACC passing leader Christian Ponder four times.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who turns 80 on Sunday, and his team is in danger of missing out on a bowl bid. Those who have wondered if it was time for Bowden to step aside will likely start to grumble again, too.

A two-game winning streak muted the critics and put FSU back in the Atlantic Division race. Those hopes are gone now after the first Clemson-Florida State game that did not match Bowden against his son, Tommy, in years.

Fans rushed Frank Howard Field with a sense Clemson was closing in on a championship goal.

The Seminoles had hoped to get a rousing effort from a defense that had struggled all year after longtime coodinator Mickey Andrews announced he was leaving after the season.

Instead, Spiller ran through the Seminoles for a record performance. He’d earlier become the school’s all-time pass catcher among running backs and he and track partner, receiver Jacoby Ford, broke an NCAA mark for all-purpose yardage by teammates, bettering the 10,253 yards of Marshall Faulk and Darnay Scott of San Diego State from 1991-93.

With Florida State’s revived offense behind ACC passing leader Ponder and Clemson averaging almost 42 points a game the past three weeks, this one figured to be a shootout — and the teams didn’t disappoint.

After Dwayne Allen’s 17-yard catch put Clemson ahead 6-3 — Richard Jackson missed the team’s first extra point since the 2006 Music City Bowl— Ponder answered right back with a 49-yard scoring throw to Lonnie Pryor less than two minutes later.

Then the Seminoles defense got into the act, Jamie Robinson returning a Kyle Parker interception 52 yards to go up 17-6.

The fireworks slowed down in the second, largely thanks to mistake from both
offenses.

Ponder threw a pair of picks, one after driving to Clemson’s 21, after entering with just three all year.

Clemson tightened the game, taking advantage of Chris Thompson’s fumble in his own territory. Two plays later, Parker found a streaking Xavier Dye across the middle of the field who finished off a 43-yard touchdown.

Spiller converted the first 2-point conversion of his career to cut the Seminoles lead to 17-14.

Spiller’s 45-yard run late in the second half looked like it might bring Clemson more points. However, the Tigers came up empty after a first-and-goal from the 1. Parker was sacked by Marcus White and coughed up the ball the Seminoles.

Pack finally has reason to celebrate

kentysiac — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:49:25 -0500

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.”

UNC 19, Duke 6

jpg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:47:52 -0500

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.

N.C. State 38, Maryland 31

kentysiac — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:00:18 -0500

N.C. State finally has its long-awaited, first ACC win.

Quarterback Russell Wilson passed for three touchdowns, ran for another and survived a three-interception game as the Wolfpack defeated Maryland 38-31 on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.

N.C. State (4-5, 1-4 ACC) still can become bowl eligible if it wins its remaining three games against Clemson, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.

Wilson passed for 343 yards and scored on a 2-yard run, but also was intercepted three times for the first time in his career. Alex Wujciak returned a first-quarter interception 70 yards for a touchdown.

Earlier. . .

N.C. State turns the ball over on Downs when Owen Spencer drops a pass in the end zone with 59 seconds remaining.

Maryland trails by seven and has first -and-10 on its 31-yard line with no timeouts left.

Earlier. . .

Maryland still has a chance.

Nick Ferrara kicked a 31-yard field goal with 4:56 remaining in the fourth quarter to cut N.C. State's lead to 38-31.

Earlier. . .

A leaping, 38-yard catch by Owen Spencer over a Maryland defender on third down put N.C. State in position to score.

A pass interference penalty by Alex Wujciak against George Bryan on third down kept the drive alive. And Jamelle Eugene kept his legs churning for an N.C. State touchdown on a 2-yard run with 13:39 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Wolfpack leads 38-28.

Earlier. . .

Russell Wilson has thrown his career-high third interception of the day.

Wilson threw a pass right into the gut of safety Kenny Tate. Maryland took over first-and 10 at the N.C. State 35-yard line, but the Wolfpack defense held when Nick Ferrara missed a 47-yard field goal attempt with 4:02 left in the third quarter.

Earlier. . .

Just when N.C. State seemed to have momentum, Torrey Smith took it back for Maryland.

Smith returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown with 10:09 remaining in the third quarter to cut N.C. State's lead to 31-28.

Earlier. . .

N.C. State is up by more than seven points for the first time today.

On the opening drive of the second half, Russell Wilson went 5-for-5 passing for 53 yards and then rolled right for a 2-yard touchdown run to increase the Wolfpack's lead to 31-21 with 10:19 remaining in the third quarter.

Wilson has three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown.

Earlier. . .

Maryland QB Chris Turner is out for the remainder of the game with a left knee injury.

Charlotte Myers Park graduate Jamarr Robinson has replaced him.

Earlier. . .

Another forced pass by Russell Wilson robbed N.C. State of a scoring chance in the final minute of the first half.

Cornerback Richard Taylor intercepted Wilson in the end zone after the Wolfpack had driven to the Maryland 11-yard line. N.C. State still leads 24-21.

Earlier...

An excellent scoring opportunity for Maryland was quashed when N.C. State defensive end Audi Augustin blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt with 1:40 remaining in the first half.

Augustin preserved a 24-21 N.C. State lead.

Earlier. . .

Maryland quarterback Chris Turner left the field in obvious pain after injuring his left leg on a hit by Shea McKeen as the Terrapins prepared to punt.

N.C. State's Donald Bowens muffed the punt, giving Maryland the ball at the N.C. State 31-yard line. Backup quarterback Jamarr Robinson entered the game for the Terrapins.

Earlier. . .

A third-and-13 was no problem for the N.C. State offense and Russell Wilson.

Wilson stepped forward to escape pressure, waved to wideout Darrell Davis and delivered an 18-yard scoring strike to reclaim a 24-21 lead for the Wolfpack with 7:02 remaining in the second quarter.

Wilson already has three touchdown passes, plus a touchdown pass to the opponent if you count Alex Wujciak's 70-yard interception return.

Earlier. . .

Maryland has its first lead of the day.

N.C. State linebacker Dwayne Maddox whiffed on the tackle as he attempted to sack Chris Turner after getting a clean shot at the Maryland quarterback on third-and-4. Turner escaped and threw a 20-yard pass to Adrian Cannon.

On the next play, Turner scored on a 1-yard run to give the Terrapins a 21-17 lead with 12:52 remaining in the second quarter.

Earlier. . .

He didn't have much real estate to spare.

Nonetheless, Josh Czajkowski had just enough leg to drop a career-long, 48-yard field goal over the cross bar with 51 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He gave N.C. State a 17-14 lead.

Earlier. . .

Russell Wilson made a rare mistake.

On fourth-and-6, Wilson forced a pass into coverage that Alex Wujciak intercepted and returned 70 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 14-14 with 4:57 remaining in the second quarter.

Earlier on the N.C. State drive, Donald Bowens dropped what would have been a touchdown pass. The Wolfpack was forced to punt, but a running into the punter penalty on Maryland caused coach Tom O'Brien to try to get a first down on fourth-and-6 at the Terps' 33.

Earlier. . .

Apparently N.C. State isn't the only team with cornerbacks who can't make plays on the ball.

Donald Bowens was well covered by Maryland's Anthony Wiseman, but Wiseman seemed unaware that Russell Wilson's pass was coming. Bowens caught a 35-yard touchdown pass with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter, claiming a 14-7 lead for N.C. State.

Earlier...

Now this is what we've come to expect from the N.C. State defense.

After Willie Young's interception on the first series for the Wolfpack, Chris Turner made up for his mistake by efficiently driving Maryland downfield for a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Davin Meggett.

The score is tied 7-7 with 10;25 remaining in the first quarter.

Earlier. . .

It didn't take long for N.C. State's maligned defense to make a big play against Maryland.

On the first play from scrimmage, defensive end Willie Young dropped back into coverage and intercepted Maryland's Chris Turner.

The Wolfpack took over at the Terrapins' 21-yard line, and got a 17-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to George Bryan 52 seconds into the game for a 7-0 lead.

Heels, Thompson topple Belmont Abbey in exhibition

rpickeral — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:24:51 -0500

CHAPEL HILL — After a performance last Sunday in a closed scrimmage at Vanderbilt that North Carolina coach Roy Williams dubbed "yucky," the Tar Heels had to feel better about their 107-59 exhibition victory over Belmont Abby on Friday night.

Senior forward Deon Thompson, right, led the Tar Heels with 23 points; reserve forward Tyler Zeller chipped in 17 and freshman forward John Henson posted four blocks.

The game began with spotlight introductions, a nod to the updated lighting system at the Smith Center and coach Roy Williams’ desire to add a little NBA-style sizzle to the season.

Junior Will Graves got the start at small forward, joined in the first lineup by sophomore point guard Larry Drew II, senior Marcus Ginyard at shooting guard, sophomore Ed Davis at one forward and Thompson at the other.

Henson was the first player off the bench for Carolina.

UNC opens the regular season Monday against Florida International.

Photo: ROBERT WILLETT - rwillett@newsobserver.com

Expect more Thursday night football at UNC

eferreri — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:01:39 -0500

The Thursday night football game UNC hosted last month went well enough that the university expects to do it again.

The Oct. 22 game against Florida State was the first Thursday night game ever held on the UNC campus. For years, officials had opposed the idea due to fears of congestion and other campus disruption.

But this year's game was held over Fall break, and athletics director Dick Baddour and others were pleased with how things went.

For the story, check out our higher education blog.

Does Duke's passing offense look like the Colts?

egrobinson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:41:20 -0500

DURHAM - North Carolina coach Butch Davis earlier this week compared Duke's passing offense to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

That drew laughter from Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, who coached the Colt's quarterback Peyton Manning at Tennessee: "Well, let's see," he said. "I don't see Reggie Wayne out there nor Peyton."

Still, the Devils own the ACC's top passing offense, led by senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis. They are averaging 325.1 passing yards per game.

Davis, the former NFL coach, has a squad with the league's top defense, holding teams to 16.5 points per game. The Heels will possibly have their hands full against a Devils' team that spreads the field with three to five receivers and throws all over.

But will the Devils look like the Colts?

"We do obviously some similar things," Cutcliffe said. "A lot of the things that they do are stuff Payton believes in and things we've done through the years. He's taken a lot of our pass concepts there with him. In actuality, [Davis has] seen it, a lot of it is the same routes."

Cutcliffe learns more about Duke-North Carolina rivalry

egrobinson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:59:09 -0500

DURHAM -- Everywhere he looks in the Bull City, Duke football coach David Cutcliffe said North Carolina light blue outnumbers Duke blue.

The Blue Devils' second-year coach, who lives in Durham, has found himself surrounded by North Carolina fans and Tar Heel blue. When he arrived he was amazed at the proximity of the two schools.

With North Carolina (5-3, 1-3) and Duke (5-3, 3-1) set to play for the 95th time on Saturday in Chapel Hill, Cutcliffe spoke earlier in the week about the rivalry between the schools and the re-energized competition between the football programs.

"My little places I go into in the off season are Target or Harris Teeter," he said. "It's nothing but North Carolina fans, everywhere. I think I realized quickly that I was reconnaissance, not coach. I was behind enemy lines sending out reports. It's amazing you're surrounded by so many fans of North Carolina."

He said everywhere he looks there's more North Carolina products than Duke, but added the Tar Heels had earned that distinction.

"It's a constant reminder," said Cutcliffe of the Heels' dominance in the football series, having won the past 18 out of 19 games since 1990. The Blue Devils last beat UNC in 2003.

With such a recent one-sided rivalry, it's expected that UNC fans would gloat a little bit. Duke's coach is often reminded of his team's standing in the series when he's out at the store.

"Yes I do get a lot of comments," Cutcliffe said. "I've never really had anybody be negative at all. My wife tells me next time I don't get to go."

Wake's Skinner cleared for Georgia Tech

kentysiac — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:49:21 -0500

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.

Virginia Tech 16, ECU 3

jpg — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:55:53 -0500

Robert Willett - rmillett@newsobserver.com

GREENVILLE -- East Carolina still has its Conference USA title to defend.

The big splash against name-brand opponent from a major conference will have to wait for another year after Thursday night's lackluster 16-3 loss to No. 22 Virginia Tech.

The Pirates (5-4) had three chances against ACC and Big East opponents this season and lost them all, a year after surprising the same Hokies in the opener and soundly beating West Virginia in Greenville.

The Hokies (6-3), coming off consecutive losses, avenged last year's 27-22 loss in Charlotte with a power running game, the usual assortment of defensive stops and a pair of ECU fumbles in Virginia Tech territory.

Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams, above, whose late fourth-quarter fumble against North Carolina last Thursday set up the game-deciding field goal, bounced back with a season-best 180-yard effort against the Pirates.

ECU fans, out in force for the first home Thursday night game since 2001, had hoped for one last shot at a signature win. The Pirates wore an alternate logo, a skull and cross bones, on their helmets and painted midfield with same logo in the outline of the state of North Carolina.

The aesthetic differences, and big-game energy, didn't add up to a new offense, which was held to a field goal in the three quarters and was handcuffed by penalties. ECU committed six penalties, for 60 yards, in the first half, none more costly than a holding call on guard Terence Campbell that negated a 20-yard touchdown run by Dominique Lindsay.

The Pirates, 4-1 in C-USA, can still win the East Division, likely with two wins in their final three games. They travel to Tulsa next Sunday before closing with home games with UAB and Southern Miss. Losses at West Virginia (35-20) and at North Carolina (31-17) in September complete the trifecta of missed opportunities against BCS conference opponents.

The Hokies were far from perfect, quarterback Tyrod Taylor fumbled through the back of the end zone in the second quarter, which cost them a touchdown, but Williams and the defense did enough for their seventh win in eight games against ECU.

Two field goals by kicker Matt Waldron and a 13-yard touchdown scramble by Taylor pushed Virginia Tech out to a 13-0 lead in the second quarter.

ECU put together its best drive, going 73 yards down to Virginia Tech's 7, with two big catches by receiver Alex Taylor (five catches, 60 yards), but ran out of time at the end of the first half.

A first-down throw to receiver Reyn Willis, with 9 seconds left, was knocked away in the end zone and the Pirates had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Ben Hartman.

The Pirates had almost as many injuries as points in the first half, losing backup safety Dekota Marshall (ankle) and tight end Rob Kass (knee).

ECU's best scoring chance of the second half, and to get back in the game, ended when running back Giavanni Ruffin fumbled a handoff at the Virginia Tech 18-yard line at 9:21 in the third quarter.

Virginia Tech didn't score again until Rashad Carmichael's interception set up a third field goal by Waldron, a 31-yarder, with 1:18 left in the game.

Pack tops St. Paul's in exhibition

rpickeral — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:21:45 -0500

CLARIFICATION: When Wood was introduced, Trevor Ferguson's name and number -- but not his picture -- flashed on the scoreboard.

RALEIGH — When freshman Scott Wood, right, was introduced as part of N.C. State’s starting lineup Thursday night, a picture of Trevor Ferguson — last year’s No. 15 – was accidentally flashed on the big screen.

Bet that mix-up won’t happen again.

The 6-feet-7 wing from Indiana scored 12 points during the Wolfpack’s 84-42 exhibition victory over St. Paul’s College. His 4-for-4 shooting — along with DeShawn Painter’s eight points and six rebounds, Josh Davis’ three points and three rebounds and Jordan Vandenberg’s six points and five rebounds — gave the fans at Reynolds Coliseum a hopeful glance of what they can hope for out of the rookie class when State opens the regular season next Thursday.

“Our freshmen are going to be pretty good,’’ said sophomore forward Tracy Smith, who used his height advantage to score 21 points. “Scott Woods is an unbelievable shooter; DeShawn Painter has a good presence inside; Jordan’s very good on defense, we’re still going to work on his offense.”

Wood, Smith, C.J. Williams, Javier Gonzalez and Dennis Horner started for the Pack; State opens the regular season next Thursday.

Photo: ETHAN HYMAN - ehyman@newsobserver.com

N.C. State's Graham out for season

kentysiac — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:54:28 -0500

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.

Step aside, Jay-Z

jpg — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:37:16 -0500

Hip hop has a new hero and it's none other than former Duke great J.J. Redick.

The erstwhile ACC scoring king told allhiphop.com that he's releasing an album with a rap "super group" before the end of the year.

Redick, you'll remember, was into writing poetry at Duke, so maybe that's the natural transition. Right? Either that or he has a lot of time on his hands. Among the names for Redick's unnamed super group is "Sub-par," which is just too exquisite to make up (and all props to allhiphop if it did).

Tyler Hansbrough can have the scoring record and the national commercial, Redick's got street cred. Right?

Closed Vandy scrimmage a 'slap' for UNC

rpickeral — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:30:10 -0500

CHAPEL HILL — The Tar Heels played a closed scrimmage at Vanderbilt last Sunday; NCAA rules prohibit teams from revealing specific details about workouts against other Division I schools, but coach Roy Williams said "we just didn’t play well at all."

"We were just ugly. We were yucky," Williams said Thursday. "Since then, we've gotten a lot better. I think the seriousness has hit them, the recognition of how good other people are that they might not have ever heard of. I think that was a good slap in the face for us, as opposed to waiting until the season started.”

INJURY REPORT: Sophomore forward Ed Davis was expected to return to contact practice Thursday after injuring his shoulder on Sunday. UNC plays an exhibition game against Belmont-Abbey on Friday.

“He’s been cleared, they’ve done all the tests, but it’s probably a little sore,’’ Williams said. “He didn’t do anything in a contact way the last two days, but he will today.”

Meanwhile, wing Will Graves continues to have a sore back. “Will’s going to have back issues for quite a while. He’s had four shots … in the back, and he’s got the vicious cycle, again. His weight is up so he can’t condition, but is the back hurting because his weight is up? So it’s a little bit of both, there. … He’s just got to fight through it, lose some weight, work through that part of it every day. There’s no question he was a better basketball player at 239 last year than he is at 254 right now.”

Meineke Bowl to rise in ACC order

kentysiac — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:48:53 -0500

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.

UNC women's soccer advances

Javier_Serna — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:57:36 -0500

For the second time in three days, North Carolina women's soccer beat Maryland.

There was more riding this time on chilly night at WakeMed Soccer Park, where the Tar Heels won 3-0 in the final of four first round games in the ACC Women's Soccer Championship.

And this time it was a more convincing win.

"It's tough to beat a team twice, and we just played them," said North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance. "To come in and win by a shutout and to score a couple of goals, I'm very excited."

On Sunday, the Tar Heels beat the Terrapins 1-0 in College Park, Md.

This time, North Carolina(15-3-1) scored early and didn't gave up only one shot.

Tar Heels senior midfielder Tobin Heath, who had three shots in the first half, was slipped a pass from senior forward Casey Nogueira and she fired past Maryland goalkeeper Mary Casey at 14:09.

"It was very precise, right onto my feet," said Heath.

It was Heath's first goal since the second game of the season. She missed six games for activities with the U.S. National team, which Heath is a member.

North Carolina got off nine shots in the half, and controlled the ball for much of the period, allowing the Terrapins (12-5-2) the only shot they got off in the game.

The Tar Heels got their second score in the second half when sophomore midfielder Maria Lubrano's shot hit the right post.

"I screamed, No!" Lubrano said.

But the ball ricocheted in front of the net and bounced off the back of one of Maryland's players and into the net at 55:57.

And North Carolina got one more goal when freshman defender Lucy Bronze headed one more insurance goal late at 82:53, with Jessica McDonald and Heath getting assists.
McDonald threw the ball inbounds to a wide open Heath, who touched the ball back to her.

With two defenders closing in, McDonald got the ball across to Bronze perfectly.

"She did a great job finding Lucy's head," said Heath.

McDonald had a team high seven shots, many of them great looks, though her only point came on the assist to Bronze.

No. 3 seeded North Carolina will now face No. 2 seed Boston College at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the semifinals.

The Tar Heels won the last meeting with Golden Eagles 2-1, scoring twice on penalty kicks on Oct. 1.

The Podcast: Nov. 5

jpg — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:25:58 -0500

Staff video by Travis Long, Joe Giglio, Caulton Tudor

Topic: The big Duke-Carolina football game and Virginia Tech's trip to ECU.

Duke women's soccer falls, postseason hopes slim

Javier_Serna — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:54:00 -0500

CARY — Tiffany McCarty was just too much to handle.

The Florida State sophomore forward broke free in the second half, leading her team to a 2-0 win over Duke in the first round of the ACC Women's Soccer Championship at WakeMed Soccer Park Wednesday.

McCarty rushed the net, and Duke goalkeeper Tara Campbell rushed McCarty, who sidestepped the goalie and fired on an open net at 70:36.

A bang-bang situation in front of the net following a Florida State corner kick led to an own goal at 85:21.

But unranked Duke gave itself a chance against a team ranked as high as No. 3 in the country. It was Duke's defense that held stout for much of the game, just as it had against the Florida State in an October conference game that ended in a scoreless draw.

A trio of Duke forwards, led by Elisabeth Redmond, had opportunities in both halves, though Duke coach Robbie Church admitted the Seminoles controlled the ball too much in the first half.

"We were too defensive," he said.

Redmond set up teammates KayAnne Gummersall and Carey Goodman and had her own chances, but the Devils failed to score, leaving their season in question.

The Blue Devils have been relegated to rooting for favorites in hopes that the NCAA selection committee calls their name on Monday night.

Cutcliffe relishes challenge of UNC defense

egrobinson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:57:44 -0500

DURHAM - Duke coach David Cutcliffe said North Carolina's defense is "by far the best defense in our league."

He said playmakers will make the biggest difference on Saturday when the rival Blue Devils (5-3, 3-1) and Tar Heels (5-3, 1-3) kickoff in Chapel Hill at 3:30 p.m.

Cutcliffe looks at the Heels' defense - one that is allowing just 16.5 points per game - a physical behemoth that could stop both the pass and the run.

Still, the Devils will rely on their conference-leading passing game.

"You've got to like a challenge," Cutcliffe said. "It's fun. This is what you do it for to play against those types of teams."

Duke tops Findlay; Smith suspended 2 games

kentysiac — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:00:09 -0500

TED RICHARDSON - trichard@newsobserver.com

DURHAM – As junior guard Nolan Smith, center, sat on the bench in the first half Tuesday night, Duke wobbled like a truck with one under-inflated tire.

Like it or not, though, the Blue Devils will have to get used to playing without Smith for a couple games. After Duke defeated Findlay 84-48 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that Smith will miss the first two games of the regular season because of an NCAA suspension.

Smith was suspended because he played in a summer league that wasn’t sanctioned by the NCAA. He will miss games Nov. 13 against UNC Greensboro and Nov. 16 against Coastal Carolina.

Outside of normal play on their own teams, college players are forbidden by the NCAA from participating in organized games that aren’t sanctioned or approved in advance by the NCAA. The NCAA rule governing this is in place in part to preserve players’ amateur status.

"He shouldn’t have done it,” Krzyzewski said. “The guys know. And this is what every basketball player has to know, don’t play in a game that has time and score (being kept), unless it’s a sanctioned game.”

Smith, who’s from Upper Marlboro, Md., said he played in a summer league game in the Washington, D.C., area while he was home before the second session of summer school. He said he didn’t realize he’d made a mistake until he got back to campus.

Krzyzewski said the suspension was for two games because Duke’s staff was uncertain whether Smith had played in one game or two and wanted to err on the side of caution in reporting to the NCAA. Smith said he accepted the punishment.

"I was definitely disappointed in myself,” he said. “. . .With the rules the NCAA has, you’ve got to get permission as a college athlete. I definitely learned my lesson.”

This will be the second time in six years that a guard from a Triangle ACC school served a suspension to open the season because of unsanctioned summer play. In 2004, North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton was suspended for the season opener for playing in an uncertified summer league.

The Tar Heels lost that game against Santa Clara but they went on to win the national title.

Maryland’s James Gist and Landon Milbourne were suspended for the 2007 opener for participating in a non-sanctioned summer league game.

Smith’s impact on Duke’s lineup was obvious against Findlay, as he was held out of the first half but played 12 minutes after halftime. Without him in the first half, a Blue Devil team that already was thin in the backcourt looked disjointed against the defending NCAA Division II champions.

Senior Jon Scheyer and freshman Andre Dawkins are the only other scholarship players on the team who are true guards. Kyle Singler, a post player in previous seasons who’s the starting “small” forward at 6-foot-9, moved to shooting guard in the starting lineup.

Walk-on Jordan Davidson was the first guard off the bench and played five minutes in the first half, which ended with Duke leading just 36-23. Without one of their primary ball handlers in Smith, the Blue Devils committed 10 first-half turnovers.

"Where’s Greg Paulus when you need him?” a female Duke student wondered late in the first half, referring to the 2008-09 senior guard.

In the second half, Smith scored seven points and handed out three assists as Duke outscored Findlay 48-25.

"We’ve known about it since the summer,” Krzyzewski said of the suspension. “So it’s no big deal. We’re ready to move on. We’re a different team without him, though. There’s no question about that.”

Staff Writer Robbi Pickeral contributed.

Duke's Smith suspended 2 games

kentysiac — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:09:37 -0500

DURHAM - Duke junior guard Nolan Smith has been suspended for the first two games of the regular season for playing in a non-sanctioned summer league, team spokesman Matt Plizga said Tuesday.

Smith will miss the Nov. 13 season opener against UNC Greensboro and the Nov. 16 game against Coastal Carolina. Plizga said Smith thought the league he was playing in had been approved by the NCAA and didn't find out otherwise until he returned to campus.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will address the issue after tonight's exhibition game against Findlay is finished, Plizga said. Duke struggled without Smith in the first half, committing 10 turnovers, but led 36-23 at the intermission.

This will be the second time in six years that a guard from a Triangle ACC school served a suspension to open the season because of unsanctioned summer play.

In 2004, North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton was suspended for the season opener for playing in an uncertified summer league. The Tar Heels lost that game, against Santa Clara, but they went on to win the national title.

Wilson: Pack offense, defense stick together

kentysiac — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:20:41 -0500

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.

Georgia LB commits to Duke

kentysiac — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:20:04 -0500

Duke has picked up its 16th commitment in Clerance France, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker at Carver High in Columbus, Ga.

France, who has 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash, was also offered scholarships by Western Kentucky and Troy. He was a bit under the radar because this was his first year at linebacker.

France had been playing offensive line but was shifted this season because Carver coach Dell McGee thought he’d have a better shot at college, given his size.

"He's got a big upside for college," McGee said. "He's new at the position."

McGee had no current stats on France, but said he was a key to the team’s current 8-1 record. Duke recruited France as a linebacker, so that switch worked out well.

- Stan Olson, The Charlotte Observer

Singler on AP All-America team

kentysiac — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:10:32 -0500

Duke junior forward Kyle Singler was the only ACC player named to The Associated Press’ preseason All-America men’s basketball team Monday.

Singler, who also was voted the preseason ACC player of the year by the media, averaged 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season.

He received 30 votes from the 65-member national media panel to become the final member of the team. Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody was the top vote getter with 57.

Kansas teammates Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins also made the team along with Patrick Patterson of Kentucky.

Singler has 1,060 career points and last season became the sixth Duke player to surpass the 1,000-point mark as a sophomore. He also earned ACC All-Tournament team honors after helping Duke capture its first tournament championship since 2006.

Praise for Roof from Pack's O'Brien

kentysiac — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:26:29 -0500

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.”

ACC trails SEC in football recruiting

kentysiac — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:31:50 -0500

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.

While Oklahoma, Texas and Penn State (good for Joe Pa) hold the top three spots, the SEC claims Nos. 4 through 8, giving it—duh—five of the top eight classes so far. The schools are LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee, or almost half of the 12-team league.

No ACC team is currently among the Top 15, with Miami highest at No. 16.

And where is the rest of the SEC? Auburn’s class is 24th, followed by surprising Vanderbilt—normally a league cupcake—at 26, and South Carolina at 29. Then come Arkansas (48), Mississippi State (50), Ole Miss (56) and Kentucky (61).

Every school in the league could finish with a top 50 class if things break right.

Scout ranks the SEC as the No.1 league by a wide margin, followed by the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-10. The ACC is fifth.

More telling, perhaps, is that the SEC has already landed 19 of Scout’s top 100 prospects. The ACC has four.

- Stan Olson, The Charlotte Observer

JP Top 25: Week 9

jpg — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:25:36 -0500

Quick and dirty version of the JP Top 25 this week:

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. Boise State
5. TCU
6. Oregon
7. Cincinnati
8. Iowa
9. Georgia Tech
10. LSU
11. USC
12. Houston
13. Utah
14. Penn State
15. Miami
16. Pitt
17. Ohio State
18. Arizona
19. Notre Dame
20. South Florida
21. Cal
22. Virginia Tech
23. Oklahoma
24. Wisconsin
25. Clemson

Bowl outlook good for UNC-Duke winner, ECU

jpg — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:28:05 -0500

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.

Heels upset cost ACC

jpg — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:23:42 -0500

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.

Duke-UNC game will be televised

rpickeral — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:37:06 -0500

North Carolina's game time against Duke next Saturday has been changed to 3:30 p.m., so it can be televised on ESPNU, UNC announced.

N.C. State's game against Maryland at Carter-Finley Stadium was set for 1 p.m. on ESPN360.com and Wake Forest is at Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. on WTVD-11.

Previously, the game at Kenan Stadium was to be played at 3 p.m. and broadcast on ESPN360.com -- but UNC's win at No. 14 Virginia Tech on Thursday, followed by Duke's victory at Virginia, now makes next weekend's tilt a key game with postseason ramifications.

Both teams need to win two of their last four games to become bowl eligible.

Click here for the full ACC schedule for next weekend.

Who chose which games Wall would miss?

rpickeral — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:28:53 -0500

Evidentally, new Kentucky coach John Calipari did not choose which games former Word of God star John Wall would miss as punishment for having recruiting expenses paid by an agent, Lexington Herald-Leader reporter Jerry Tipton reports on his blog.

Calipari says "they" told him what game Wall, a freshman point guard will miss (Monday's exhibition against Campbellsville and the season-opener against Morehead State on Nov. 13.) The coach did not identify who "they" were, according to the blog.

Wall must also pay to charity $787.58 in travel expenses. Calipari said he did not know how long the Raleigh product would have to make the payment.

UPDATE: Tipton also reports that Wall must make the $787.58 payment forfore he can compete in Friday's exhibition game against Clarion. Peevy siad that UK's compliance officer, Sandy Bell, had advised Wall to save his Pell Grant money in anticipation of making the payment.

Duke defeats Virginia 28-17

egrobinson — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:10:37 -0400

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Duke claimed its third consecutive victory over an ACC opponent on Saturday with a 28-17 victory over Virginia at Scott Stadium.

This time it took some spirited play late in the fourth quarter as the Devils scored two touchdowns and came from behind to knock off the Cavaliers. It took some guile as the Devils looked to be backed in a corner and unable to answer one of the conference's toughest defenses.

Facing third-and 9 from their 42, Duke senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis hit freshman Conner Vernon in stride as he cut to the middle of the field on a timing route in front of Virginia defensive back Chris Cook. He raced into the end zone for the Blue Devils first touchdown of the game.

After struggling against the ACC's top passing defense, the Devils finally found the end zone in the air, with Vernon finding space as he was covered one-on-one.

Duke would follow that drive with a crucial defensive stand. Devils' Ayanga Okapokowuruk rushed Virginia quarterback Jameel Swell while he stood in the pocket on his 13-yardline and forced a fumble. Nose guard Charlie Hatcher recovered the fumble and ran six yards into the end zone.

With about eight minutes remaining, the Cavaliers appeared in control of this contest, though not comfortably in control. They led 17-12 after a crowd-pleasing drive at the start of the fourth quarter.

Trailing by two points , Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell led the Cavaliers on a 60-yard touchdown drive. On the last two plays of the drive, he connected with tight end Joe Torchia.

Sewell found Torchia on two similar seam routes, with the second a 12 yard pass for a touchdown to give the Cavaliers a five-point lead.

THIRD QUARTER

Virginia opened the third quarter with an 66-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jameel Sewell. The Cavaliers, who had struggled on offense, produced their most impressive drive of the game in taking a one-point lead over the Blue Devils.

SECOND QUARTER

A late first-quarter interception by Duke senior Leon Wright - his fourth this season - set up the Blue Devils' third field goal of the game in the opening seconds of the second quarter. Duke's junior walk-on placekicker Will Synderwine made a 34-yard field goal to extend his team's lead.

The Devils, with the ACC's top-ranked passing offense, struggled against the Cavaliers, who forced them to punt three times.

The Cavaliers rushed and hurried the Devils, disrupting the timing of Duke senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, who finished the half 13 of 20 for 128 yards. He was sacked five times.

FIRST QUARTER

Synderwine made two field goals - from 44 and 28 yards - to put the Devils on the scoreboard.

On both scoring drives, the Devils moved the ball down the field, but were unable to penetrate Virginia's 3-4 defense. The Cavaliers, with the stingiest secondary in the ACC, denied Lewis and his league-leading wide receivers to pull down passes in the end zone.

Lewis completed 6 of 9 pass attempts for 66 yards, though he picked up 18 yards on the ground.

Virginia, however, collected just 1 yard of offense in the first quarter, while the Devils amassed 112 offensive yards.

Pack falls at FSU

kentysiac — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:34:40 -0400

N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien predicted that the Wolfpack would have to generate a lot of points to keep pace with a Florida State team ranked first in the ACC in total offense.

He was right, but the Seminoles still won a wild one, 45-42, when Russell Wilson and N.C. State couldn’t generate one more score.

Bert Reed scored the winning touchdown on a 3-yard end-around with 1:36 remaining. N.C. State drove to the Florida State 43-yard line in the closing minute, but a sack of Russell Wilson by Mister Alexander put the Wolfpack in desperation mode.

Wilson was intercepted on the game’s final play. Wilson threw a career-high five touchdown passes. Three of them were caught by Jarvis Williams, also a career high.

The score was tied 21-21 after the first half. Wilson threw touchdown passes of 80 yards to Owen Spencer and 7 yards to Williams, and Jamelle Eugene added a 3-yard scoring run.

With the score tied 21-21, N.C. State linebacker Terrell Manning snapped Christian Ponder’s streak of 254 passes without an interception, giving the Wolfpack possession at the 46-yard line of Florida State in the final minute of the second quarter.

But O’Brien’s inexplicable failure to call timeout after a Donald Bowens catch with about a half-minute remaining in the half ruined a scoring opportunity in Florida State territory, and the score stayed tied at halftime.

N.C. State fell behind 38-28 early in the fourth quarter, but scored 14 straight points on Wilson scoring passes of 29 yards to George Bryan and 5 yards to Williams. After Williams’ score with 3:50 remaining put the Wolfpack ahead 42-38, Florida State raced down the field.

Reed scored on a 3-yard end around with 1:36 remaining, putting the Seminoles ahead 45-42.

In-game: N.C. State at Florida State

kentysiac — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:02:28 -0400

Russell Wilson and the N.C. State offense need to produce yet again.

Bert Reed ran 3 yards on an end around for a touchdown with 1:36 remaining to put Florida State back ahead 45-42.

N.C. State leads for the first time this afternoon.

After trailing by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack leads Florida State 42-38 with 3:50 remaining after Russell Wilson scrambled and found Jarvis Williams for a 5-yard touchdown pass.

It was Williams' third touchdown catch and the fifth touchdown pass for Wilson. Those are career highs for both players.

The obvious question was, how did he get so wide open?

Tight end George Bryan, N.C. State's leading receiver, didn't have a defender within 10 yards of him as he caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson. The Wolfpack cut Florida State's lead to 38-35 with 8:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Earlier. . .

For the first time this afternoon, somebody leads by double digits in Tallahassee.

Chris Thompson's 4-yard touchdown run extended Florida State's lead to 38-28 with 11:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. Despite a rib contusion and several hard hits from N.C. State defenders, Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder has stood in and directed his offense to another high-scoring game.

Earlier. . .

If holding Florida State to a field goal can be called progress, N.C. State's defense made progress late in the third quarter.

Dustin Hopkins kicked a 24-yard field goal for the Seminoles after a holding penalty wiped out a gain to the N.C. State 1-yard line. Florida State leads 31-28 with one minute remaining in the third quarter.

Earlier. . .

N.C. State's offense remains hot.

Russell Wilson passed 32 yards to a wide-open Darrell Davis to convert a third-and-11. On the next play, Jarvis Williams caught his second touchdown pass of the game, a 6-yarder.

Florida State and N.C. State are tied 28-28 with 7:42 remaining in the third quarter.

Earlier. . .

After a, replay review overturned an N.C. State fumble recovery at the Wolfpack 22, Christian Ponder nudged Florida State back into the lead with 10:34 remaining in the third quarter in Tallahassee.

With defensive end Willie Young closing in quickly Ponder tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Rod Owen for a 28-21 advantage.

N.C. State's Earl Wolff had recovered a fumble, but the officials ruled that Ponder was down on the play.

Earlier. . .

Key halftime stats with N.C. State and Florida State tied 21-21 at halftime:

For N.C. State, Russell Wilson is 9-for-15 with an interception and two touchdown passes and 228 passing yards. Owen Spencer has two catches for 141 yards and a score.

Florida State's Jermaine Thomas carried eight times for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Christian Ponder is 11-for-18 for 136 yards and had his streak of passes without an interception snapped at 254 when Terrell Manning picked him off in the final minute of the second quarter.

Earlier. . .

After a Terrell Manning interception gave N.C. State the ball at the Florida State 46-yard line, some atrocious clock management by Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien prevented the Wolfpack from having a chance to tie the game in the closing minute of the second quarter.

Russell Wilson completed an 8-yard pass to Donald Bowens with about 30 seconds remaining in the half and the clock running. Although N.C. State had all three timeouts left, O'Brien didn't call one.

About 20 seconds elapsed off the clock. The Wolfpack was called for an illegal shift. And Wilson threw a desperation pass that was intercepted on the final play of the half.

The score is tied 21-21 at halftime, with Florida State set to get the second-half kickoff. O'Brien (who called a timeout after the illegal shift penalty) never got a chance to use two of his first-half timeouts because of the way he bungled his clock management.

N.C. State's defense, which had given up three straight touchdown drives, finally held when Christian Ponder threw incomplete behind his receiver.

Russell Wilson immediately hit Owen Spencer for a 61-yard pass to the Florida State 19, and passed 7 yards to Jarvis Williams for a touchdown to tie the score at 21-21 with 1:29 remaining in the second quarter.

Spencer has two catches for 141 yards.

Earlier. . .

After five straight possessions with touchdowns in the game, Florida State's defense has forced N.C. State to punt.

With 6:22 remaining in the second quarter, the Seminoles have the ball and a 21-14 lead. That's not good for a Wolfpack defense that's struggling.

Earlier. . .

Less than a minute after N.C. State tied the game, its defense gave the lead back to Florida State.

Jermaine Thomas raced 54 yards for a Florida State touchdown; he has seven carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns. The teams have combined for five TDs in 6:06.

Florida State leads 21-14 with 9:48 remaining in the second quarter.

Earlier...

Woody Hayes, he of the three yards and a cloud of dust, would be physically ill watching this game.

It's entertaining, though, if you like lots of offense. A 27-yard Russell Wilson pass to Donald Bowens sparked N.C. State on a 76-yard touchdown drive. Jamelle Eugene scored on a 3-yard run to tie the score at 14-14 with 10:33 remaining in the second quarter.

Earlier. . .

Christian Ponder and Florida State's offense are making it look like it's easy to score against N.C. State's defense.

Which, looking back at the Wolfpack's last three ACC games, it probably is. After N.C. State tied the score with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Owen Spencer, Ponder zipped a 47-yard pass to Taiwan Easterling.

Three plays later, Chris Thompson scored on a 6-yard run. If you're keeping score at home, that's two Florida State touchdowns (and another by N.C. State) in 88 seconds.

Seminoles lead, 14-7, with 14:27 remaining int he second quarter.

It took N.C. State just 14 seconds to equal Florida State's opening touchdown.

Russell Wilson threw 80 yards to Owen Spencer on a career-long play for both players as the Wolfpack tied the score at 7-7 with 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Scoring quickly is obviously a good thing for the Wolfpack, except for the fact that it will put the defense right back on the field.

Earlier. . .

Florida State went 98 yards against North Carolina in one play last week.

This afternoon, the Seminoles capped a 98-yard drive that took almost six minutes with a 4-yard touchdown run by Jermaine Thomas. Florida State leads 7-0 with 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Earlier. . .

Midway through the first quarter, the high-scoring game some predicted at Florida State hasn't materialized.

N.C. State has failed to score on its first two drives, as a sack of Russell Wilson by Everett Dawkins drove the Wolfpack out of field goal range on its second drive. But Florida State also was forced to punt on its opening drive.

With 6;42 left in the first quarter, there's no score and the Seminoles are pinned on their own 2-yard line. But don't forget, they threw a 98-yard touchdown pass in their last game to spark a comeback win over North Carolina.

Update on offensive guard R.J. Mattes. He's out for the game with a knee sprain.

Earlier. . .

N.C. State got off to a rough start on its first drive.

Clem Johnson, who's returning kickoffs because of an injury to T.J. Graham, brought the ball out of the end zone when he shouldn't have and returned just 13 yards.

Donald Bowens dropped a third-down pass that forced a punt, and offensive guard R.J. Mattes left the field with an injury.

Earlier...

Coach Tom O'Brien and defensive coordinator Mike Archer haven't stopped tinkering with an N.C. State defense that has given up a total of 131 points in its three ACC losses.

The Wolfpack emerged from last week's open date with personnel changes in the secondary and at linebacker. Bobby Floyd has moved from safety to the backup position behind Audie Cole at field linebacker for today's game at Florida State.

Freshman Brandan Bishop is back in the starting lineup at field safety. And freshman Jarvis Byrd, a highly recruited cornerback who had been eligible for a redshirt, comes out of the open date likely to play with five games remaining.

Byrd is a backup to C.J. Wilson at boundary cornerback, the position where freshman starter Rashard Smith was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in the Wolfpack's last game, at Boston College.

As announced previously, N.C. State also has a new starter at middle linebacker because senior Ray Michel is out with an injury. Dwayne Maddox moves from boundary linebacker to the middle, and Terrell Manning will start on the boundary.

Earlier...

The showers that were in the forecast have held off so far in Tallahassee, Fla., as N.C. State prepares to play Florida State under mostly cloudy skies.

Stay tuned to ACCNow for in-game updates.

Wall cleared to play at UK

rpickeral — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:02:31 -0400

Former Word of God basketball star John Wall has been cleared to play this season — after he sits out an exhibition game and regular season game, and pays back almost $800 in travel expenses "incurred during Wall's unofficial visits to various institutions during his junior year at Word of God Christian Academy."

Here's the full news release from Kentucky:

University of Kentucky men's basketball student-athlete John Wall has been certified with conditions by the NCAA. The conditions are repayment of expenses and a two-game withholding, including the first exhibition game versus Campbellsville (Nov. 2) and the first regular-season game against Morehead State (Nov. 13).

Wall, a 6-4 freshman point guard from Raleigh, N.C., was one of five freshmen on the Naismith Preseason watch list. A pre-season All-American according to several national publications, Wall was the top recruit in the country last season according to Rivals.com.

"I'm grateful to have this decision behind me. All I ever wanted was to go to school and play ball with my team," said UK freshman John Wall. "This has been really hard for my mom and I want to thank her for her support during this process."

The repayment of expenses includes a total of $787.58, consisting predominantly of travel expenses incurred during Wall's unofficial visits to various institutions during his junior year at Word of God Christian Academy.

"We're appreciative of the process and the NCAA's willingness to listen," said UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart. "The NCAA staff worked to keep the welfare of the student-athlete in mind throughout this process. I'm happy for Coach Calipari and John Wall that he will get a chance to represent the Wildcats this season. He's a great young man and deserves to be able to concentrate fully on his academics and basketball."

"John Wall is a great kid who always tries to do the right thing and his mother is a great lady," said UK head coach John Calipari. "I'm just happy this is behind us."

Lowe has mixed feelings on recruiting rules

kentysiac — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:28:27 -0400

N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe is glad to see the NCAA trying to clean up men’s basketball recruiting, but also is concerned that in some cases the college sports governing body is throwing out the baby with the bath water.

On Thursday, the Division I Board of Directors approved rules meant to stop college programs from funneling money to associates of recruits. College coaches who run afoul of the rules could be suspended from postseason or even regular-season games.

Here are some things the NCAA is targeting:

- Hiring associates of recruits to non-coaching staff positions at their schools, and employing them at camps and clinics.

- Donating to non-profits (Summer club basketball programs for top high school-aged players often are run as nonprofits.

- Subscribing to recruiting services that don’t provide much useful information (these services sometimes are run by club basketball coaches).

It appears the rules would have prevented Baylor, for example, from hiring Dwon Clifton to a director of player development position. Clifton was serving as the club coach for Greensboro-based D-One Sports, which had highly recruited guard John Wall of Raleigh on its roster.

Wall went to Kentucky despite Baylor’s hiring of Clifton.

"I think what they’re trying to do is eliminate any wrongdoing, and for that, it’s hard to question the NCAA and what they’re trying to do,” Lowe said. “There certainly needs to be something done to get a hold of it.”

At the same time, Lowe laments the loss of opportunities for high school or club coaches who are doing things the right way to get a foot in the door at college programs.

"That’s a tough deal because you do have some high school coaches and you do have some AAU guys who do a nice job with their program,” Lowe said. “A lot of them are striving to become college basketball coaches. If you, I guess, discriminate against them, how do they ever get an opportunity to move to the next level?”

Although some deserving, up-and-coming coaches might be adversely affected, conference commissioners, that Amateur Athletic Union and basketball coaches backed the proposal, according to the NCAA. Lowe understands, but he also has reservations.

"I think it’s tough,” he said. “I know what they’re trying to do, and definitely there needs to be something done about the stuff that’s going on, but I think. . .it would really impact some people that probably are unfairly judged.”

2009-10 AP preseason women's basketball poll

egrobinson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:13:14 -0400

The top 25 teams in the The Associated Press' preseason 2009-10 women's college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, final 2008-09 records, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last year's final ranking:

	Record	Pts	Fin
1. Connecticut (40)	39-0	1,000	1
2. Stanford	33-5	951	2
3. Ohio St.	29-6	862	10
4. Notre Dame	22-9	799	23
5. North Carolina	28-7	798	11
6. Duke	27-6	772	6
7. Baylor	29-6	744	5
8. Tennessee	22-11	676	18
9. LSU	19-11	600	—
10. Michigan St.	22-11	521	—
11. Xavier	25-7	492	20
12. Texas	21-12	487	25
13. Oklahoma	32-5	444	4
14. Virginia	24-10	394	24
15. Florida St.	26-8	385	12
16. Arizona St.	26-9	317	19
17. DePaul	23-10	301	—
18. California	27-7	294	13
19. Georgia Tech	22-10	262	—
20. Kansas	22-14	241	—
21. Georgia	18-14	201	—
22. Vanderbilt	26-9	165	14
23. Louisville	34-5	156	7
24. Middle Tennessee	28-6	143	—
25. Rutgers	21-13	138	—

Others receiving votes: Texas A&M 137, Maryland 114, Mississippi St. 110, San Diego St. 78, S. Dakota St. 70, Pittsburgh 48, Purdue 45, Kansas St. 33, Gonzaga 30, Marist 26, UCLA 26, Michigan 16, Iowa St. 14, Minnesota 14, Boston College 12, Louisiana Tech 11, Tulane 9, Bowling Green 8, Arkansas 7, TCU 7, Wis.-Green Bay 7, Auburn 6, Nebraska 6, Texas Tech 6, Southern Cal 5, Florida 3, Fresno St. 3, Oklahoma St. 3, Delaware 1, Florida Gulf Coast 1, Temple 1.

Heels' linebacker a class act

kentysiac — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:43:22 -0400

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.

Pack's Michel, Graham out for FSU

kentysiac — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:47:30 -0400

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.

UNC 20, Virginia Tech 17

rpickeral — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:08:11 -0400

Staff photo by Robert Willett

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Almost five years to the day since Connor Barth
kicked a 42-yard game winner to beat Miami, little brother Casey made a 21-yarder to beat No. 14 Virginia Tech on Thursday night. The Tar Heels
won 20-17.

UNC led 7-0 at halftime, but found itself trailing
17-14 after quarterback T.J. Yates was picked off by Hokie Rashad
Carmichael early in the fourth quarter, setting up the second of two
Tyrod Taylor 1-yard touchdown runs.

With 2:52 left, Barth knotted the score 17-17 after Yates systematically pushed the team down the field.

Then with 2:02 left, Hokie tailback Ryan Williams’ fumble was recovered by UNC’s Deunta Williams at the Virginia Tech 24.

“The ball came out, and I almost tripped over it,’’ Williams said. “So
I picked the ball up, everything parted like the red sea. I started
running, but someone grabbed me from behind."

earlier...

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.

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.

Tight end commits to Duke

kentysiac — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:26:22 -0400

Forsyth Country Day tight end Nick Sink has accepted a scholarship to Duke, his coach said.

Sink, who is 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, was also being heavily recruited by North Carolina and Kentucky, although neither had offered a scholarship yet.

"Duke’s been recruiting him from Day One,” said Country Day coach Mark Moroz. “This was pretty much a dream come true for him. His grades are fantastic. And he certainly has the ability to play in the ACC.”

Moroz said the Blue Devils offered two nights ago, and that Sink accepted Wednesday night. Duke plans to start him out at tight end.

In nine games this season, Sink has 26 catches for 426 yards and four touchdowns. He also plays defensive end, where he has 43 tackles, including three sacks and 13 tackles for loss.

How athletic is Sink? He also starts for the varsity at power forward, and holds the school record for three-pointers. And he puts the shot for the track team.

Moroz said a very specialized skill could help Sink play beyond college. While he doesn’t play center, Sink, a fine athlete who is all-state in basketball, has developed into a remarkable long snapper.

"His long snapping ability is one of the best I’ve ever seen,” said Moroz, who has seen a lot of snaps in his days as a Wake Forest standout, a brief NFL appearance with Tampa Bay and several seasons in the CFL.

"In the NFL, the average long snapper gets the ball where it’s going in 0.72 seconds,” Moroz said. “Nick gets it there in 0.74. That could be his ticket into the league.”

Lots of players who couldn’t get on an NFL field any other way turn long snapping into a good career—think of former Carolina Panthers long snapper Jason Kyle.

- Stan Olson

Duke injury report

egrobinson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:28:59 -0400

Duke Football Injury Report

Duke vs. Virginia -- October 31

RB Re'quan Boyette (knee) -- Questionable
CB Lee Butler (leg) -- Doubtful
LB Abraham Kromah (leg) -- OUT
WR Tyree Watkins (leg) -- OUT
RB Kyle Griswould (leg) -- OUT FOR SEASON
S Anthony Young-Wiseman (knee) -- OUT FOR SEASON

Amato issue fades for N.C. State

kentysiac — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:10:46 -0400

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 his the angle of his meeting with his former team hasn't gained much traction this week.

Chick-fil-A Bowl secures prominent ACC slot

kentysiac — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:27:38 -0400

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.