NEWS FLASH: RON MEXICO IS A MORON

According to AP, a federal judge placed tighter restrictions on Michael Vick (aka Ron Mexico) on Wednesday after the Atlanta Falcons quarterback tested positive for marijuana. Because of the result, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson placed special conditions on Vick's release, including restricting him to his home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. with electronic monitoring and ordering him to submit to random drug testing.

Vick, who has admitted bankrolling a dogfighting operation on property he owns in Surry County in his written federal plea, is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 10. He faces up to five years in prison.

Because Vick violated the conditions of his release, Hudson could take that into consideration during sentencing, said Linda Malone, a criminal procedure expert and Marshall-Wythe Foundation professor of law at the College of William and Mary.

"Every judge considers pretty seriously if they feel that the defendant has flaunted the conditions for release," Malone said.

"It's certainly not a smart thing to do."

TAH BACK FROM IRELAND

Here’s how it goes. Five beautiful golf courses, 2 horse races the equivalent of our famous Virginia Gold Cup, 283 pubs (Irish Coffee optional), and the town where we are headquartered wins the All-Irish Gaelic Football Championship – their version of our Super Bowl. No, they didn’t have a parade. They had two. We were in it. It ended at a pub.

All you need to get around is a mini-van which after a few days smells like somebody opened a full service pub (smoking and drinking) inside the laundry basket in a high school boys' locker room...There's a golf ball in there somewhere...

Bring your Hokie and your rain suit.

Any questions?

GAVIN GRANT IS DRINKING THE KOOL-AID

NC State's Gavin Grant sees great things for the Wolfpack this upcoming ACC hoops season. He not only sees them as an NCAA tournament team, but much, much more.

In a recent ESPN interview he said: "With the incoming freshmen we have coming in here and what we have coming back, I don't see us losing any more than four games this year," Grant began. "Honestly. If we stay healthy, I think we have the talent to be a Final Four team and contend for a national championship."

Hmmm…Gavin, after a world class creampuff non-conference schedule, you open up conference play January 12th against UNC at Chapel Hill. Don’t count your Tar Heels, before they are hatched.

Where the heck is Julius “Snapple” Hodges when we need him?

WEEKEND GAMES

Saturday, Sept 29

North Carolina @ Virginia Tech (-18), 12:00 PM, Blacksburg, Va., TV: R/LF (XM 192) – Is there a slaughter rule?

Duke @ Miami (-24), 12:00 PM, Miami, Fla., TV: (XM 191) – See above.

Massachusetts @ Boston College (no line), 1:00 PM, Chestnut Hill, Mass., TV: ESPN 360 (XM 190) – Eagles working hard to impress BCS voters with b/b games against Army and U. Mass at home.

Maryland @ Rutgers (-16.5), 3:30 PM, Piscataway, N.J., TV: ABC (XM 191) – At least Maryland is pissed off. That should help.

Clemson (-3) @ Georgia Tech, 3:30 PM, Atlanta, Ga., TV: ABC (XM 192) – Tigers should romp, but it is an ACC game…

Louisville (-9) @ NC State, 3:30 PM, Raleigh, N.C., TV: ESPNU (XM 193) – Speaking of pissed off – the Cardinals have to be looking to take somebody out behind the wood shed.

Alabama @ Florida State (-2.5), 5:00 PM, Jacksonville, Fla., TV: CBS (XM 190) – Good news: Bama not that good (they should have beaten Georgia), Bad news: Noles not that good either.

Pittsburgh @ Virginia (-7), 7:00 PM, Charlottesville, Va., TV: ESPNU (XM 193) – Hmmm…

ACC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSIVE BACK--Eron Riley, Duke, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 200, Junior, Savannah, Ga. In Saturday's game at Navy, Riley caught six passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Duke still lost.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN--Christian Capote, Clemson, Offensive Tackle, 6-4, 300, Senior, Miami, Fla. Against NC State on Saturday, Capote led all offensive linemen with a 91 percent film grade. In the Tigers' 42-20 win, he registered a career-high 11 knockdown blocks as the Clemson offense totaled 340 yards rushing and 608 overall.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN--Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Virginia, Def. End, 6-3, 279, Sophomore, Richmond, Va. In the Cavaliers' 28-23 home win against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Fitzgerald scored a touchdown for the Virginia while collecting five tackles, including 2.5 for loss, a forced fumble and a sack.

DEFENSIVE BACK--Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, Cornerback, 5-9, 191, Junior, Pahokee, Fl. With 1:10 remaining in the third quarter and his team down 24-3, Smith picked off a pass in his own end zone and raced 100-yards for the score.

SPECIALIST--Darrell Blackman, NC State, Wide Receiver, 5-10, 205, Senior, Williamsport, Pa. In the Wolfpack's home game against the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, Blackman had 200 yards of all-purpose yardage.

ROOKIE--Josh Adams, Wake Forest, Running Back, 6-0, 180, Freshman, Cary, N.C. Adams, a redshirt freshman from nearby Cary, N.C., carried the ball a career-high 20 times for 91 yards in Wake Forest's comeback victory over Maryland on Saturday

GREAT WALL OF BRONCO CRUMBLES

Clearly, with the President and Vice President of the Fauquier Youth Football Saturday Morning/Monday Morning Quarterback Club out of the country, the mighty-mighty Broncos lost their groove and their chance at the the Five- and Six-Year-Old Pee Wee/Instructional Football League National Championship Game.

On Saturday, September 15, the Broncos were obliterated by the Vikings. The Vikings broke every rule known to 5/6 youth football including completing FORWARD passes. (That's gotta be illegal!) Their defense figured out the Broncos signature scoring play, student body right, in short order. Unfortunately, the Broncos fared no better on the 22nd versus the Hornets. The loss really “stung” said several of the players. (Hey, they're 5 and 6, what do you want?)

Following the loss to the Vikings, the Broncos plummeted in the Sports Illustrated Kids magazine poll, and the Five- and Six-Year-Old Pee Wee/Instructional Football League National Championship Series Poll (56PWIFLNCS). All chances of a birth in the Bob The Builder Tootsie Pop 56PWIFLNCS Championship Game Bowl are all but out of reach.

Oddly, niether the kids nor thier parents seem to mind…

THE RIDDLE WATCH

Ramseur, NC local hero Scott Riddle threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns to Terell Hudgins, who set a single-game school record with 16 receptions Saturday as Elon routed Liberty 42-14.

Riddle, who completed 33 of 39 passes, led the Phoenix (2-1) to scores on their first two possessions. He capped a 69-yard drive with a 1-yard run with 9:09 left in the opening quarter. On Elon's next possession, Riddle hit Hudgins on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 4:27 left in the period. Riddle connected with Hudgins for a 24-yard score with 4:50 left in the half, and Riddle finished the half with a 5-yard dash with 47 seconds remaining.

Ah, hey Scott, Ralph Friedgen on line 2…

This week Elon has App State who is royally pissed (see below.)

OH NO, HE'S BACK..

Michael Vick (aka Ron Mexico) and three co-defendants were indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on state charges related to a dogfighting ring operated on Mexicos Virginia property.

Mexico, who already pleaded guilty in federal court to a dogfighting conspiracy charge and is awaiting sentencing on Dec. 10, was indicted for beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting.

The grand jury passed on indicting the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and two co-defendants on eight counts of animal cruelty, which would have exposed them to as many as 40 years in prison if convicted.

Any animal cruelty charge in Virginia is punishable by up to five years in prison. And in a written plea for the federal case, Mexico admitted helping kill six to eight dogs at the Surry County property. Similarly, the three co-defendants in the case have admitted their involvement and detailed what they claim was Mexico's role.

For county law enforcement officials who started the investigation with a raid on Mexico's property in late April, those signed statements provided ample evidence to support further prosecution.

Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter asked that the four be arraigned Oct. 3 and requested that each be released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond. None of the defendants nor their lawyers were in court.

UPSET OF THE WEEK

OOPS. Appalachain State, hailed as the King of the New Football Mid Majors after beating Michigan at the big house, suffered a little letdown to Wofford College (Terriers, 1,350 students, Spartansburg, SC) losing by a score of 42-31. The Mountaineers were ranked #1 in the Football Championship Subdivision prior to the loss at the Terriers' Gibbs Field in front of a hostile crowd of 11,476.

Word is Iranian president Mahmoud "I Am Not a Kook" Ahmadinejad was elated.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

STOP. TAKE A FEW MOMENTS to look at this You Tube video about a horse racing on roller skates contest somewhere in Asia. It's hysterical. Stick with it as the commentary keeps getting funnier.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ralPAqUsEfo

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

HEY, CRAZY HAT DUDE, WE'RE TALKIN' ARMY HERE...A fan of the Boston College Eagles keeps his eyes on the action during a game against the Army Black Knights at Alumni Stadium September 22, 2007 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

TAH MAKES A BIRDIE. Count it. That would be one. At least it was at a famous hole. The Dell at Lahinch is world famous for a variety of reasons. It's a 156 yard par 3. For starters, one has no idea where the green is as it is completely hidden behind a three-story sand dune. There is a white aiming rock, that marks the pin's position. (The rock moves as the pin position changes). The green is about 30 yards wide and no more than 5 yards deep, it is tucked in a dell up against three tall dunes and the sensation of standing on it is sort of like standing in a room without a ceiling.

(This photo was taken from the #7 tee box. The tee box for The Dell is to the right of the big mound on the right)

Here's where it gets tricky. The tee box faces the ocean. The ocean is where the gale force winds come unabated from Greenland or some damn place out in the North Atlantic. The caddie instructed TAH to hit the 200+ club where we might normally hit either 8 or 9 depending on weather, BAC, general health conditions, etc. So, a 4-iron it is, and a rocket one at that. It landed about 15 feet behind the flag (along with Dr. Rob Ho Kee's rescue club shot). Lucked in the birdie putt.

156 yard 4 iron. Gotta love it.

MORON OF THE WEEK

No, the Moron of the Week isn’t Redskin offensive genius Al Saunders who’s 700 page playbook doesn’t include a quarterback sneak for 6’5” Jason Campbell, it’s this moron. Saunders finished a close second. The guy that made the Eagles wear those awful unis last Sunday was third.

From out friends at Deadspin:
The couple in this picture is Simone Callahan and Shane Warne. He's apparently one of the best cricket players in the world. She's his wife. Well, for now anyway.

Warne had split from his wife because of alleged philandering, but they gave it another shot late last year. And then he accidentally sent her the wrong text message from London.

As Callahan got the couple's three children ready for school in Melbourne, a text dropped into the inbox of her mobile phone, she told New Idea magazine. "Hey beautiful, I'm just talking to my kids, the back door's open," the message from Warne said.

We've never accidentally sent a text message to the wrong person, but we don't know anything about cricket either. It's possible it's just part of the sport…

NO NEW TAH UNTIL 9/24

The entire staff of TAH is heading to Ireland. Unfortuantley, they don't have high speed internet just yet. There are two guys in a pub talking about it over a pint (or 2/3/4/5/6/7/8), so it is expected to be up and running by 2041.

Instead, we will be here, here and over there.

WEB PAGE OF THE WEEK

Tonight, WVU comes to Maryland and that gives us pause to honor one of our favorite college sports web sites. www.WeMustIgniteThisCouch.com. It isn't all about torching the love seat, but it's full of good stuff.

Of course, our boys over in the Free State have been know to get a little loose with the sterno as well, and the Washington Post offers up some alternatives to couch ignition in this article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/09/AR2007090901376.html

PICTURE OF THE DAY

APPARENTLY, THERE IS A RIVALRY BETWEEN OUR ACC DARLINGS, MARYLAND, AND BIG EAST JUGGERNAUT, WVU...Just guessing...

Beautiful. Yes?

(Photo courtesy of WeMustIgniteThisCouch.com)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAM, Noel Devine, a freshman running back from Ft. Meyer, FL is 5'8" tall. According to the same program, Wes Lyons, a wide reciever from North Braddock, PA is 6'8" tall. It appears that the program is correct.

(Photo courtesy of WeMustIgniteThisCouch.com)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

HMMM…How about a YOU WRITE THE CAPTION CONTEST? Write your own caption, and post it here. The winner gets a free subscription to TAH, and a small piece of petrified horse poop from Ireland. OK, maybe a beer at Molly’s

(Photo courtesy of WeMustIgniteThisCouch.com)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 4

GREAT SCHOOL SPIRIT…As always, a capacity crowd showed up first thing this morning at Mountaineer Field to get “ready” for tonights big game with neighbor rival Maryland.

Umm...fellas, the game is AT Maryland. Good try, though. Even got the band up early!

(Photo courtesy of WeMustIgniteThisCouch.com)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 5

NOW, THAT'S NOT NICE...funny, but not nice.

(Photo courtesy of WeMustIgniteThisCouch.com)

GAME OF THE WEEK: TECH v. LSU

by JOHN CLARK - TAH Special Correspondent.

At least LSU was a good host, parachuting in 3 guys with one carrying a VT flag, and, for the first time in its 114 year history, the LSU marching band played the opposition's alma mater. Unfortunately for VT, that was the end of anything positive for the Hokies, and the game hadn't even started yet.

As I'm sitting on my porch enjoying a tasty heater, here's a transcript of an actual phone conversation between your humble correspondent and our very own Sexy Rexy Cooper after LSU's first TD:

Me: "Uh, Sexy, VT is going to get crushed tonight."
Sexy: "C'mon, man, there's still 10:55 left in the FIRST QUARTER....oops, no, you're right."
Me: "Why?"
Sexy: "LSU just gained 50 yards on one play."
Me: "Ouch."

(Editor’s Note: For the second week in a row, our correspondent has yet again revealed that he wasn’t actually watching the game!)

Ouch is right, people of TAH. In the most lopsided loss since Beamer took the VT job in 1987, LSU was up 24-0 after the first 18 minutes. Tech was outgained 327 - 40 yards in the first half. In fact, VT didn't score until 4:38 was left in the third quarter, but anyone watching knew that no momentum shifted when they did score.

LSU's starting QB, Matt Flynn, led LSU to scores on four of its first five possessions. Not needing Mr. Flynn anymore, backup QB Ryan Perrilloux entered the game and put up 2 passing TDs. And the second one was to a freshman. Ouch.

LSU's sophomore RB, Keiland Williams, ran for 127 yards and 2 TDs. On SEVEN carries. That's an average of 18.1 yards per carry, folks. 18.1. Ouch. Where was VT's heralded D?

There is literally nothing to write that is positive for VT. This was complete domination. When recaps use phrases like "hapless Hokies" and "overwhelming performance," your team just didn't have a good night. VT only had 149 yards of total offense, a number that LSU doubled in the air alone. Is VT that bad, or is LSU that good? I think it is a combination of VT being overrated and LSU just being that good.

I'll hand it over to Coach Beamer now: "They really took it to us." No S!@&, Coach Beamer, No S!@&.

The ACC isn't looking so good so far this year. But let's move on.

Next week, break out your bow ties and your Zima: even though the best game will probably be GT v. BC, I'm going with UVA v. UNC. That game has more interest in our particular geographic area, and I don't want the Editor to have to write up the UNC game if they lose--he might have to find somewhere else to sleep.

HOKIES LOSE NCEG

The ACC had a chance yesterday to show their pigskin metal, but they failed to deliver. Miami got crushed by Okalhoma, and the Hokies got run off the field by LSU. Unfortunately, the Hokies lost the first National Championship Elimination Game (NCEG), and in doing so they proved two things: 1) they’re not as good as everybody thought and 2) LSU is as good, if not better, than everybody thought. The Hokies should have been warned by the simple fact that ECU, at home, needed a last second field goal to scrape by North Carolina. So the Pirates aren’t as good as Hokie Nation had hoped, and LSU is as good as they feared. Oklahoma made Miami look slow, and that’s just plain scary. Both former Big East stalwarts were in good company as Saturday was the first time since 1979 that football powerhouses Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame and Michigan all lost on the same day.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
WAKE FOREST – Late interception prevents #16 Nebraska from losing to the Deacons. Wake spent a fair amount of time in the red zone, but failed to capitalize. This was a game they could have, and should have, won. "Sometimes you're going to have to come away with a character win, and we did that today," Corhusker QB Sam Keller said. "Somebody had to step up, and we did. … You come into the defending ACC champions' house and take one from them -- that's big time." Really now?

VIRGINIA v. DUKE – Obviously, the Commonwealth has a dearth of opportunities to spend one’s entertainment time and money as 58,554 citizens of our fair state turned out for this stinker. Somehow, Al Groh managed to stretch his skin back over his dilapidated skelton as the Hoos cranked up over 325 yards of offense. Duke hasn’t won a game since Brittney Spears had a hit song (or so it seems).

OKLAHOMA v. MIAMI – Be afraid, be very afraid of the Sooners. Not only did they demolish the Canes, they did so by throwing FIVE touchdown passes. We didn’t think Oklahoma was allowed to pass…Doesn’t the Big 12 have a rule against that?

CLEMSON v. ULM -- Speaking of five touchdowns, Cullen Harper pitched a Cinco de Septembre for a school record in an easy win over Louisana – Monroe (Warhawks, 8,146 students, Monroe, LA)

BOSTON COLLEGE v. N.C. STATE -- Tom O'Brien's players gave Boston College another victory Saturday. Only this time he was coaching the other team. The winningest coach in Eagles history watched his new North Carolina State team turn the ball over seven times…Ouch.

GEORGIA TECH v. SAMFORD – The Jackets did it the old fashioned way…NINE rushing touchdowns. Samford: Bulldogs, 2,588 students, Homewood, Alabama – in case you were wondering.

FLORIDA STATE v. UAB – Speaking of not very good…FSU was losing this game in the second quarter to the Blazers (14,114 students, Birmingham, AL)…Ultimately, Drew Weatherford threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns as the Noles rallied from the early deficit. Just the same Seminole Nation still hates him, and blames him for every loss since 1989.

MARYLAND v. FIU – Oh yes, the fighting Golden Panthers…and we do mean fighting. Alas, there were no fisticuffs as Keon Lattimore ran for 111 yards and Coach Fridge ate 46 Twinkies at half-time as Maryland held off pesky Florida International (31,000 students, University Park, FL).

UNC SUSPENDS RUGBY TEAM

The University of North Carolina has indefinitely suspended the men’s rugby team from participating in team-related events because members have been accused of unlawful acts of hazing, club actions that violate the university's alcohol policy and misrepresentation of the university and club locally and abroad, the school confirmed Thursday. The team is a club team, not a varsity sport.

Team President Rufaro Sikipa told The Daily Tar Heel: "There's absolutely no hazing with initiation into or continued membership of UNC rugby.” (He lied). He told the DTH the team does not condone underage drinking. (He lied again) The team is suspended from practicing, playing games and using university facilities under the team name.

Winston Crisp, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, and Jason Halsey, director of sports clubs, met Tuesday with the team of about 50 players to discuss the allegations and the suspension. Senior Jose Estrada told the DTH, " As a team, we were just incredibly upset with what we'd been told, especially the indefinite suspension," Estrada said. "We just want to play rugby (and haze new members, and drink).”

THE GREAT WALL OF BRONCO

Obviously, the bye week did not negatively effect the #1 ranked Fauquier Pee Wee Broncos. The Broncos crushed the Cavaliers 70-14 or 77 to 7 (depending on who you ask) in their second regular season game on Saturday. The Cavaliers played as bad as their woeful namesakes, the University of Virginia Boo-Hoos (as in boo-hoo, we suck again!)

The Broncos offense was unstoppable as they scored on their first five plays. The Cavs never got the ball out of their own backfield the entire first half. We aren’t sure if that was due to the Broncos suffocating defense or their own inability to figure out which way to run. Part of the problem could have been that the two teams' unis (one red, one dark orange) made them hard to tell apart. This problem, however, did not seem to impede the Broncos in any way.

No doubt Sports Illustrated Kids magazine, and the Five- and Six-Year-Old Pee Wee/Instructional Football League National Championship Series Poll (56PWIFLNCS) will again have the mighty Broncos in the top spot.

Way to go, Broncos.

THE RIDDLE WATCH

In his second collegiate start, Scott Riddle passed for a career-high 362 yards and three touchdowns and Elon exploded for 42 second-half points, propelling the Phoenix to a 59-16 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan Saturday evening at Rhodes Stadium.

Elon’s 59-point outburst marked the program’s most since the Phoenix posted a 59-0 triumph at Morehead State on Oct. 3, 1998. Elon (1-1) last broke the 60-point plateau with a 63-13 home win over Lenoir-Rhyne on August 30, 1997.

Riddle’s 362 aerial yards in three quarters fell just shy of Heath Hewett’s program-record 386 passing yards against Catawba in 1990.

Riddle completed 23 of his 34 passes (.676) while surrendering one interception and two sacks.

Officials at Elon promised to turn the lights up just a little brighter for the next game.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

TURN LEFT, TURN LEFT, TURN LEFT...no, I mean timeout, timeout, timeout. Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs calls for a timeout on the game winning drive in overtime against the Miami Dolphins at FedEx Field. The Redskins defeated the Dolphins 16-13.

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

DEAR MR. SNYDER: Am I imagining things or did Andre Carter tackle Dolphin QB Trent Green behind the line of scrimmage in the FIRST HALF? Isn't that called a SACK? If I'm not mistaken, we had TWO of 'em. And...this is really hard to believe...we had a TURNOVER. We only had 12 of those (a new modern record for futility) all LAST year. If Freddy Smoot (who we love) could CATCH, the Skins would have had TWO turnovers and all the overtime business would have been unnecessary. HELL, Freddy may have even organized a little BOAT ride!Congrats on a NICE win. Nice, Mr. Snyder, NICE! -- A Loyal Fan.

(By Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 3

FIRST GAME, HORRIBLE CALL. Trailing the Bears in the third quarter, the Chargers were about to score a touchdown when the zebras all blinked at the same time. One of the Bears defensive lineman jumped the snap, caused the Chargers to fumble said snap, and the Bears recovered. The Bear in question was clearly in the neutral zone when the ball was snapped...you can't break up the exchange between the center and the QB and not be in the neutral zone. The refs were having none of it even when Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, left, and coach Norv Turner, right, tried to point out the obvious blown call to side judge Jeff Lamberth on the Jumbotron. The Chargers won anyway...

(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 4

HEY, HONEY I'M HOME WITH A COOL NEW TROPHY FOR THE FAMILY ROOM...Jimmie Johnson, winner of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCR Nextel Cup auto race, poses with the trophy at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007.

(AP Photo/Wayne Scarberry)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 5

LIGHT IT UP. The 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup football tournament Group A match at the Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai, 10 September 2007.

(Photo credit MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 6

YOU GO, GIRL! Oprah Winney (not kidding) ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez wins the Schenectady Stakes at Belmont Park in New York on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007.

(AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

FOOTBALL ON SATURDAY

MIAMI @ Oklahoma (-11), noon, Norman, Okla., TV: ABC (XM 191)

DUKE @ VIRGINIA (-17.5), noon, Charlottesville, Va., TV: R/LF (XM 192) – who’s really horrible?

Nebraska (-9) @ WAKE FOREST, noon, Winston-Salem, N.C., TV: ESPN (XM 190) – Wake’s starting QB is injured.

ULM @ CLEMSON (-27), 1:00 PM, Clemson, S.C.Samford @ Georgia Tech, 1:30 PM, Atlanta, Ga., TV: ESPNU (XM 232)

NC STATE @ BOSTON COLLEGE (-14), 2:30 PM, Chestnut Hill, Mass., TV: ESPN2 – State’s sarting RB out for season.

UAB @ FLORIDA STATE (no line), 5:00 PM, Tallahassee, Fla., TV: ESPNU (XM 190) - FSU's starting QB is (not) hurt.

NORTH CAROLINA @ East Carolina (-5), 6:00 PM, Greenville, N.C., TV: CSTV (XM 191) – UNC starting LB out for season.

MARYLAND @ FIU (no line), 7:00 PM, Miami, Fla., (XM 192) Toly Petty will probably (not) start at QB.

VIRGINIA TECH @ LSU (-11.5), 9:15 PM, Baton Rouge, La., TV: ESPN (XM 190) - LSU favored by 13.

BRONCOS (-72) v. Cavaliers, 8:45 AM, Bealton, VA, TV: None, Radio: None. – Toly Petty will probably (not) start at QB.

ACC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Atlantic Coast Conference Announces ACC Football Players of the Week for September 4. Noticebly absent: Seminoles and Wahoos.

OFFENSIVE BACK - Matt Ryan, Boston College, Quarterback, 6-5, 218, Senior, Exton, Pa.
A senior from Exton, Pa., Ryan led the Eagles to a hard fought 38-28 win over the 2006 ACC Champion Demon Deacons of Wake Forest. He completed 32-of-52 passes for a career-best 408 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the first Boston College quarterback to throw five or more touchdown passes since Doug Flutie in 1984. With his performance, Ryan also passed the 5,000 yard passing mark for his career.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN - Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech, Offensive Tackle, 6-6, 298, Junior, Tyrone, Ga.
Gardner, a junior from Tyrone, Ga., helped pave the way for Georgia Tech running backs to pile up 265 yards on the ground in Tech's 33-3 win at Notre Dame. Gardner played in 61 snaps during the game, registering 11 knockdowns and providing the blocking that allowed the Georgia Tech offense to accumulate 386 yards on the day.

DEFENSIVE BACK - Dejuan Tribble, Boston College, Cornerback, 5-9, 190, Senior, Cincinnati, Ohio. (pictured above). Tribble, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, picked off three Wake Forest passes, including one in the end zone that denied the Deacons a score. Tribble's three interceptions give him 14 for his career and tied his career-high, set last year at Miami. He also added seven tackles, including one for a loss an returned the three interceptions a total of 42 yards.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN - Philip Merling, Clemson, Defensive End, 6-5, 270, Junior, Memphis, Tennessee
Merling, a junior out of St. Matthews, S.C., helped the Tigers to a 24-18 victory against No. 19 Florida State registering eight total tackles, include five solo ones, one sack and two tackles for a loss. He also was credited with a forced fumble.

SPECIALIST - Travis Bell, Georgia Tech, Placekicker, 6-0, 220, Senior, Roswell, Ga. Bell connected on four field goals in five attempts, making three-pointers from 29, 32, 39 and 40 yards. He also was perfect on all three PAT attempts which extended his current string to 104 extra points without a miss.

ROOKIE - T. J. Yates, North Carolina, Quarterback, 6-3, 205, Freshman, Marietta, Ga.
Yates, from Marietta, Ga., led the Tar Heels to a 37-14 win over James Madison on Saturday, completing 13 of 18 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns. With his first-ever pass attempt as a college quarterback, Yates hooked up with receiver Brooks Foster on a 65-yard pass play to give the Tar Heels a 7-0 lead. He also threw touchdown passes of 28 and eight yards. After the season's first week of games, Yates leads the ACC and ranks sixth in the nation with a 217.84 pass efficiency rating.

THE RIDDLE WATCH

Forget the Heisman Watch, we’ve got the Riddle Watch…

Following his record-breaking performance against the University of South Florida, Elon University quarterback Scott Riddle (Ramseur, N.C./Eastern Randolph) was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Week on Tuesday morning by the league office.

The 6-0, 201-pound true freshman set a school record with 33 completions in the Phoenix’s season-opening 28-13 loss to the NCAA Division I FBS Bulls on last Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. Riddle finished 33-for-54 (.611) for 210 yards and one touchdown against USF.

Making the most of his first collegiate start, Riddle easily eclipsed the previous Elon milestone of 30 completions, set by Wes Pope against Wofford last season. He also fell just one toss shy of the program-record 55 pass attempts by Heath Hewett against Catawba in 1990.