DEAR JIM SMITH

M-E-M-O

To: Jim Smith, Former Florida Attorney General and Gubernatorial Candidate and current Chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees

From: Editor, T.A.H. Knower-of-all-Things-ACC-Related.

Dear Mr. Smith:

Shut up. Right now.

Seriously, here are a few points to ponder:

1) Hiring and firing the head football coach is the responsibility of FSU's President and Athletic Director not the Board of Trustees or the chair of same. We know what you will eventually say -- that you were simply mouthing the words that the prez and A.D. were thinking. Maybe you are, but STOP doing it, it doesn't help.

2) Don't lose perspective 'cause you lost a couple of games you think the Noles should have won. Remember your coach is the second winningest of all time. He's won 21 bowl games. He put FSU football on the MAP. His players are a bunch of 19- and 20-year-olds, they screw up.

3) Speaking of "on the map," if it weren't for Bobby Bowden nobody outside of the state of Florida would know or care about Florida State. He has made the school MILLIONS and elevated both athletic and scholastic achievement for your university. Show a little respect.

4) Finally, get over the concept of dynasty football -- it's over. The reason you see so many upsets in NCAA football these days is NFLesque parody. There are big, strong, fast kids everywhere. So many of them, in fact, that every major college has big league athletes. The days of the a dozen dynasty programs like Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, USC, Alabama and Oklahoma ruling the gridiron world are OVER...Now, it's "any given Saturday."

In the immortal words of the Mighty Blaze: It is, what it is. The notion that you will hire a new coach and suddenly start to dominate national, regional or even Florida football is misguided and unrealistic. FSU created this "coach-in-waiting" mess, so find a viable solution (privately).

Good luck finding the next Bobby Bowden who will make you rich, make you famous, win a National Championship and 21 bowl games. We wager neither you nor T.A.H. lives long enough to see Bowden's records eclipsed.

So if FSU loses this weekend to Georgia Tech, take a page from the Bobby Knight playbook and throw something at an underling, but leave your coach alone until the season is OVER.

Sincerely,
EDITOR and PUBLISHER
T.A.H. Worldwide Media

ESPN: FSU WON’T OUST BOWDEN

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden will not be asked to step down this season, a source told ESPN's Shaun King on Tuesday. However, a succession plan for coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher to assume greater responsibility before next season has been discussed, though, according to the source.

If Bowden stays for the 2010 season, the source said, Florida State officials want a plan in place in which Fisher would have control over the Seminoles' football operations -- for example, recruiting, coaching and practice.

Fisher was deemed the head coach-in-waiting in 2007. If he does not succeed Bowden at the conclusion of the 2010 season, Florida State -- under the terms of its agreement with Fisher -- would have to pay him $5 million. FSU has begun working on the structure of a five-year pact that would settle how much Fisher is to be paid when he takes over, a person familiar with those discussions told ESPN's Joe Schad on Monday.

Bowden said Sunday he isn't planning on quitting anytime soon, but the chair of the university's board of trustees said Monday that the arrangement with Bowden as head coach and Fisher as offensive coordinator isn't working.

WEEK 5: ACC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSIVE BACK – Riley Skinner, Wake Forest, QB, Sr., 6-1, 210, Jacksonville, Fla. (The Bolles School) Wake Forest senior quarterback Riley Skinner earned ACC Offensive Back of the Week accolades for the second time this season (Sept. 14) after completing 31-of-45 passes for 361 yards—the second-best passing performance in the league in 2009—and three touchdowns in a 30-24 win against NC State. In the process, Skinner became Wake Forest’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (45) and total yards (8,041). Additionally, Skinner’s 45 attempts and 361 yards were both career-highs.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN – Jason Fox, Miami, OT, Sr., 6-7, 314, Fort Worth, Texas (North Crowley) Miami senior offensive tackle Jason Fox helped anchor an offensive front that paved the way for senior running back Javarris James’ 150 rushing yards against the nation’s top-ranked rushing defense in a 21-20 win against eighth-ranked Oklahoma. Aided by Fox’s performance at the tackle position, the 17th-ranked Hurricanes piled on 342 yards of total offense.

CO-DEFENSIVE LINEMAN - Brad Jefferson, Georgia Tech, ILB, Jr., 6-2, 236, Wrightsville, Ga. (Johnson County) Georgia Tech junior inside linebacker Brad Jefferson tied a career-high with eight tackles, including seven solo stops and one for a loss, in a 42-31 win against Mississippi State. Jefferson also forced two Bulldog fumbles.

Matt Conrath, Virginia, So., DE, 6-7, 270, Oak Lawn, Ill. (St. Rita) Virginia sophomore defensive end Matt Conrath spearheaded a Cavalier defense that allowed only 175 total yards in a 16-3 win against North Carolina. Conrath helped the defensive front hold the Tar Heels rushing attack to just 39 yards, the fewest allowed by Virginia since giving up 19 to Richmond last season.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech, OLB, Sr., 5-11, 202, Fairfax, Va. (Oakton) Virginia Tech outside linebacker Cody Grimm registered a game and career-high 14 tackles in a 34-26 win against Duke. Among his 14 hits were two tackles for loss (six yards) and a forced fumble. Grimm helped the Hokie defense hold the Blue Devils to just 38 rushing yards on 31 attempts (1.2 yards per rush).

CO-SPECIALIST - Nick Ferrara, Maryland, P/PK, Fr., 6-1, 195, Hicksville, N.Y. (St. Anthony’s) Maryland freshman placekicker Nick Ferarra handled all three phases of the kicking game in a 24-21 win against Clemson. Ferarra punted eight times and averaged 43.2 yards per punt with a long of 61—the third highest mark in the league this season—and landed three kicks inside Clemson’s 20-yard line.

Robert Randolph, Virginia, PK, So., 5-10, 160, Naples, Fla. (Naples) Virginia sophomore placekicker Robert Randolph set a career-high by converting all three of his field goal attempts in a 16-3 win against North Carolina, a game that did not see a touchdown scored until the 5:49 mark of the fourth quarter. Randolph made a 36-yarder to give the Cavaliers a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter, then extended their lead to 6-0 on the last play of the first half with a 38-yarder. After North Carolina cut the lead in half at 6-3, Randolph again extended Virginia’s lead to six points with a career-long 43-yard field goal.
ROOKIE – Demetrius Hartsfield, Maryland, OLB, Fr., 6-2, 230, Raleigh, N.C. (Southeast Regional) Maryland freshman outside linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield is the first defensive player this season to take ACC Rookie of the Week honors after registering a team and career-high 10 tackles, eight solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss—including one sack—and one clutch play in a 24-21 win against Clemson.

TOBACCO ROAD RUNS THROUGH CORN COUNTRY

Six foot-six small forward Harrison Barnes of Ames, Iowa is good. How good?

So good that Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and North Carolina’s Roy Williams made in-home visits to scout.com’s top-ranked recruit in the 2010 class – on the same night.

Vance Downs, Barnes coach at Ames (Iowa) High, told ACC NOW in a phone interview that he was not present during Monday night's visits, but he briefly discussed it with his star player Tuesday morning."That’s all I know, is that they were both there … and it was a busy night," Downs said.

In August, Barnes narrowed his list of schools to six choices: UNC, Duke, Kansas, Oklahoma, UCLA and Iowa State. Downs said head coaches from all of the programs, except Iowa State, have now made in-home visits.

Downs also said Barnes has decided he will make his final decision before Nov. 16, his high school team’s first day of practice. "Originally, he had planned to wait until after the season, but he shared with me that he wants to wrap it up in November."

Head-to-head recruiting doesn’t happen as often as you might think, but it does happen. Other Tobacco road battles include Larry Miller (who chose UNC), Danny Ferry (Duke), Shane Battier (Duke) and Brandan Wright (UNC).

Barnes made his official visit to UNC last month, and is scheduled to visit Duke the weekend of Oct. 23.

TUESDAY'S ACC LINKS

From Heather Dinich and T.A.H.:

*Miami belongs in the top 10. T.A.H. agrees.

*Who’s the bigger puke-fest North Carolina or Florida State. Well at least the Tar Heels aren’t bickering publicly.

*Got a bye week? Why not get married? It worked for UVA safety Brandon Woods.

*Because people are grumbling, that's why. Important people, like trustees. Money men. It was enough to hold a meeting Monday morning and talk about the state of Florida State.

*After Mississippi State racked up 487 yards of total offense on Georgia Tech's defense, it's time for a re-evaluation.

*BC, like usual, is in the mix for the Atlantic Division, and after two quality wins, the staff has some positives to build on.

*Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is not in panic mode -- yet. Ron Morris writes that you shouldn't be, either.

*NC State just recruited the best quarterback in the state, yet the Wolfpack already have one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC. But how long will Russell Wilson stay? There's a chance he will sign an MLB contract in 2010, opening the door for Tyler Brosius.

*Virginia has already forgotten about its win over UNC. The Cavs now have a new goal -- a winning streak.

*Miami freshman Ray Ray Armstrong wears the same number as Sean Taylor, and judging by the way Armstrong played on Saturday, it might be a fair comparison.

*UNC coach Butch Davis is ready to try some changes on offense, namely simplifying things.

*Virginia Tech's defense clamped down against Miami, but against Duke it started to allow those big plays again.

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

TOUCHE - LITERALLY. Stefano Barrera (r) of Italy completes against Dominik Behr (l) of Germany during their Men's Team Foil final at the World Fencing Championship in Antalya on October 6, 2009.

Ukraine's team (r) celebrate as Leonore Perrus (l) of France reacts to being defeated by Olga Kharlan of Ukraine during their Women's Team Sabre final at the World Fencing Championship in Antalya on October 6, 2009.

(Photo by Diitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. The Minnesota Twins celebrate their 12th-inning win in the tiebreaker game for the American League Central Division title in Minneapolis, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 after Alexi Cassilla hits a single to send home Carlos Gomez, right, for the winning run.

(AP Photo/Brian Peterson - Minneapolis Star Tribune)

FSU POISED TO THROW BOWDEN UNDER THE BUS?

One recent quote seems to say it all after a very uneven season that finds Florida State with a 2-3 (0-2 ACC) record.

Jim Smith (is that his real name?), the chairman of the Florida State University Board of Trustees wants Bobby Bowden to retire at the end of this season saying: “I take absolutely no pleasure in this…I love Bobby Bowden, but I tell you what, I love FSU more.”

Ouch.

Smith said Monday the arrangement with Bowden as head coach and his successor, Jimbo Fisher, as offensive coordinator isn’t working.

“We’ve got too many bosses out there,” Smith said.

“Jimbo is in a very, very tough situation where people assume he has a whole lot more authority than he really has,” Smith told The Associated Press. “He’s getting blamed for a lot of things that’s just not his fault.”

The Noles are off to their worst start since Bowden’s first year at Florida State in 1976.

Bowden said Sunday that he has no plans of quitting anytime soon. His 384 wins are three fewer than Penn State coach Joe Paterno, the career leader in victories among major college coaches. Bowden turns 80 in just over a month, and has a contract that gives him the option to return in 2010.

And while the school’s trustees don’t have immediate authority over coaches, they have significant influence since they are in effect the boss of university president T.K. Wetherell, who makes such hiring and firing decisions.

Smith said that arrangement has resulted in division among the Florida State staff, an accusation Seminole coaches have vehemently denied.

“I know coaches are sniping at each other and that’s just terrible,” Smith said Monday. “There are too many mixed signals.”

He also said fundraising has slowed significantly, and the school has an obligation to fans and alumni to be competitive.

(Editors Note: Dear Mr. Smith. Congratulations on your many achievements in life including becoming the chair of the FSU Board of Trustees. Now a) shut up and b) take a media training class. You aren’t as smart as you think and you aren’t helping the school you “love.” Enjoy your ego trip and your 15 minutes while you DESTROY what is left of the Noles’ season. So far, Bowden has handled the situation with both class and pluck – take a note Trustee Guy.)

MONDAY LINKS

When the hometown paper calls for Bobby Bowden to step down, you know things are bad in Tallahassee.

* Steve Ellis isn't the only one calling for the end of the Bowden era, as Jim Smith, a prominent alum and trustees chair, was quite outspoken about it.

*Georgia Tech might have won, but coach Paul Johnson is still looking for improvement.

*The fact that Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen feels the need to tell everyone he's a well-respected coach who can find another job if Maryland doesn't want him doesn't exactly send a message of job security.

*There's "something special brewing" in Chestnut Hill. Can the Eagles take it to Blacksburg?

*Clemson beat writer Paul Strelow had a little run-in with a turtle (seriously), but it was nothing compared to what the Tigers ran into.

*UNC coach Butch Davis and his offensive staff heard some boos on Saturday, and they were richly deserved, writes Caulton Tudor.

*Is it time for Air Tyrod?

*Miami seems capable of making it to a BCS bowl game -- an impressive accomplishment considering they haven't even won a bowl game yet under coach Randy Shannon and have only been to one.

*NC State has reasons for hope, but it's off to a rocky start against FBS opponents.

YOUNG MEDIA MOGUL-IN-THE-MAKING

Future multi-sport star at the University of North Carolina Toly Hansbrough's ten-year-old big sister was the "Junior Cheerleader" for Saturday's UNC v. UVA game (?).

The budding young media mogul used the opportunity to pull some of the spotlight off Super Toly (who greeted the players with high fives and who was celebrated at length at "Tar Heel Town") and to show the world her budding young mogul chops via her mad photography skills.

(If you're wondering why the Heels lost it could be because head coach Butch Davis missed the "high five" opportunity with the Tolmeister. Bad move.)

A.G. got to walk from the Old Well to the stadium with the cheerleaders and the football squad, and then, after tailgaiting with her adoring fans (family members, cousins, etc.), she went down on the field for pre-game warm ups.

It's good to be A.G.

Toly Hansbrough said he enjoyed the day out of the spotlight.

(Photo #1 by Mom/Young A.T., Pop Culture Editor, T.A.H. Worldwide Media)

(Photo #2 & 3, by Dad/Publisher, T.A.H. Worldwide Media)
(All other photos by Anna Banana, Junior Photographer, T.A.H. Worldwide Media)

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

HOMECOMING OF SORTS. Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings lines up during the Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers on October 5, 2009 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Favre’s first game against his former team was all fun for the Minnesota Vikings and all frustration for the Packers, as the graying quarterback kept his cool and connected for three touchdown passes and 271 yards in a 30-23 victory on Monday night.

(Photos by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

WEEK 5: A QUICK LOOK BACK

VIRGINIA 16, NORTH CAROLINA 3 – The Tar Heels simply have no running game and hence no offense.

#6 VIRGINIA TECH 34, DUKE 26 – Like it or not, Duke is getting better.

MARYLAND 24, CLEMSON 21 – You figure these two out, let us know.

WAKE FOREST 30, N.C. STATE 24 – Wolfpack not as good as we thought. Russell Wilson is human after all.

BOSTON COLLEGE 28, FLORIDA STATE 21 – B.C. is working through their QB issues. FSU just has issues.

#25 GEORGIA TECH 42, Mississippi State 31 – When Georgia Tech PASSES for 266 yards, look out!

#17 MIAMI 21, #8 Oklahoma 20 – We’re not sure what this means, but we think it means the Canes are pretty good.

(Incredibly awesome photo taken on the field by A.G. Petty [10-yrs-old]/T.A.H. Worldwide Media)

TOUR DE NORTH CAROLINA PART XCVII

The entire staff of T.A.H. is headed off to Chapel Hill, NC for the Tar Heels game with the Cavs. That blessed event will be followed by a quick trip to Raleigh to see U2 at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Subsequently, T.A.H. will not publish again until late Sunday or Monday.

Have a great weekend.

We hope your team wins!

ACC FOOTBALL: WEEK 5

Saturday, Oct 3

VIRGINIA @ NORTH CAROLINA (-13.5), 12:00 PM, TV: RAYCOM (XM 190, Sirius 211)

#6 VIRGINIA TECH (-16.5) @ DUKE, 12:00 PM, TV: ESPN360.com (XM 192, Sirius 213)

CLEMSON (-13.5) @ MARYLAND, 12:00 PM, TV: ESPNU (XM 191, Sirius 212)

N.C. STATE (-1) @ WAKE FOREST, 3:30 PM, TV: ESPNU (XM 190, Sirius 210)

FLORIDA STATE (-4.5) @ BOSTON COLLEGE, 3:30 PM, TV: ABC (XM 191/192, Sirius 127)

#25 GEORGIA TECH (-4.5) @ Mississippi State (Bulldogs, 18,601 students, Starkville, MS – state motto: “Come Visit And Feel Better About Your Own State”), 7:30 PM, TV: CSS (XM 190, Sirius 211)

#8 Oklahoma (Sooners, 29,931 students, Norman, OK – state motto: “Like The Play, But No Singing”) (-6.5) @ #17 MIAMI, 8:00 PM, TV: ABC (XM 191, Sirius 127)

*wagering lines for recreational purposes only.

THE ACC.COM - THE HOT LIST

1) N.C. State leads the nation this week in total defense. The Wolfpack is allowing only 201.25 yards per game. Clemson's C.J. Spiller also leads the nation in punt returns this week, averaging 36.4 yards per return.

2) Duke senior CB Leon Wright helped seal the Blue Devils 35-19 win over Army by returning two pass interceptions for touchdowns on back-to-back plays from scrimmage on returns of 33 and 51 yards. It is believed to be the first time this has been accomplished in NCAA history.

3) Virginia Tech freshman TB Ryan Williams has rushed for 100 or more yards in three of his first four college games. Williams leads the ACC this week in rushing, averaging 123 yards per game.

4) Just three weeks into the 2009 season and ACC punt returners had already recorded more touchdowns on returns than were scored in all of the 2008 season. Four league returners matched that total on the first weekend of the season.

5) Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer broke the 100-yard rushing mark for the 11th time in his career after rushing for 158 yards on 19 carries against North Carolina. Dwyer also topped the 2,000-yard mark for his career and now has 2,157 career rushing yards.

6) NC State quarterback Russell Wilson has thrown 12 touchdown passes in his last three games. Wilson has thrown four TD passes each in wins over Murray State, Gardner-Webb and Pittsburgh.

1...2...3...LINK!

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich.

ACC: Did You Know?

*Wake Forest will be without running back Kevin Harris and tight end Cameron Ford for the NC State game because of injuries. So far this season, the Deacs just haven't looked like disciplined Jim Grobe teams of the past.

*UNC's defense has been the team's strength this season, but even it has a weakness -- creating turnovers.

*Maryland has lots of room for improvement, and coach Ralph

*Friedgen is changing his practices a bit to inspire his players -- and hold them accountable for turnovers.

*Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring may have made the best call of his career -- admitting "it's a bad call" to his players.

*Clemson's offseason concerns about its wide receivers have come to fruition.

*Duke's quarterback of the future started his career with a bang, but starter Thaddeus Lewis only sees the strong play by backup Sean Renfree as competition, not a controversy.

*FSU running back Jermaine Thomas told the Tallahassee Democrat he felt like he let a lot of people down. This week, he's been trying to redeem himself. The running game isn't the only thing that's struggled recently for FSU ...

*Do your job or sit down, that's Mickey Andrews' message to his defense this week.

*Miami quarterback Jacory Harris is ready to move on from the loss to Virginia Tech.

*Virginia Tech running backs coach Billy Hite knew from the beginning that Ryan Williams was a special player. So far, Williams has delivered.

*NC State freshman Brandan Bishop has accomplished his goal of playing early, and he's made key contributions to the Pack's secondary in the process.

*Is 32 carries too many for a quarterback in Paul Johnson's offense? Josh Nesbitt says he can take it.

PICTURE(S) AND VIDEO OF THE DAY

U2FO? U2 at Scott Stadium at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA on October 1, 2009.

(Photos by T.A.H. Worldwide Media)

PICTURE OF THE DAY 2

HUEY LEWIS AND THE UGLY SHOES. U.S. pop star Huey Lewis plays his second shot to the first green during the second round of The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at The Old Course on October 2, 2009 in St. Andrews, Scotland.

(Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

DAMN, THOSE VICK SNEAKERS WERE GONNA BE KILLER!

Evidently…according to ESPN and other reliable sources (read that: “not Michael Vick’s agency”), Nike does not have a "contractual relationship" with Michael Vick. This according to the swooshers in Oregon, just a day after the quarterback's agency announced a deal with the manufacturer.

In a statement released Thursday morning, Nike said it has "agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike."

On Wednesday, Michael Principe, the managing director of BEST, the agency that represents Vick, announced that the beleaguered former Hokie had a new deal with Nike during a panel discussion at the Sports Sponsorship Symposium.

Nike, which signed Vick as a rookie in 2001, terminated his contract in August 2007 after he filed a plea agreement admitting his involvement in a dogfighting ring.

In July, Vick filed for bankruptcy protection while serving a 23-month prison sentence, saying he owed between $10 million and $50 million to creditors.

NEW HOOPS COACH BENNETT, UVA CONTINUE TO HONOR LITTLE KNOWN “RALPH SAMPSON RULE”

Way back in the late 1970’s and early 80's, 7’ 3” center Ralph Sampson out of Harrisonburg High School was arguably the most heavily recruited college and later professional basketball prospect of his generation. To that end, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated an unprecedented six times in a span of less than four years.

Sampson was already 6-foot-7 by the ninth grade, and he averaged nearly 30 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots as a senior leading his team to state AA basketball championships in 1978 and 1979. His senior year he lost the High School Player of the Year award to another talented center, Sam Bowie.

Miraculously, Sampson chose UVA over a passel of suitors. Playing his least favorite position, center, he led the Cavaliers to an NCAA elite 8 appearance in 1983. Sampson earned three Naismith Awards as the National Player of the Year, only the second athlete to do so, and an unprecedented pair of Wooden Awards.

In spite of his personal success, however, Sampson was criticized (mostly by Wahoo fans, alums, donors, students, players, coaches and administrators) for not leading Virginia to an NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball National Championship like the 2005 and 2009 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball National Champion University of North Carolina Tar Heels among other ACC schools.

Today, the Washington Post ran a story lauding the recruiting efforts of UVA rookie head coach Tony Bennett and his first group of new hoopsters heading to Charlottesville.

Noting that the honeymoon is in full-swing as Bennett “hasn’t lost a game yet,” the Post points out that the Wahoos and Bennett have recruited the18th best recruiting class nationally as ranked by Scouts Inc.

Six ACC schools are ranked ahead of Virginia, including Maryland, North Carolina and Duke, but Bennett's recruiting success without having coached a game with the Cavs is being seen as a positive sign. Bennett won 69 games in three seasons at Washington State largely with unheralded recruits.

Bennett's first UVA recruiting class, which will join the team for the 2010-11 season, will include 6-foot-9 forward James Johnson from Wildomar, Calif.; 6-8 forward Will Regan from the Buffalo area; 6-6 guard Joe Harris from Chelan, Wash.; and 6-4 guard K.T. Harrell from Montgomery, Ala.

Of course, none of the new recruits is taller than 6’9” and that is not a coincidence.

Secret documents discovered by T.A.H. reveal that part of the recruiting deal that landed the Hoos Lord Sampson back in 1979 was the little known, and never publicly discussed, “Sampson Rule” which prohibited The University from giving a scholarship to any basketball player taller than 6’ 11” during Sampson’s life time.

The contract, which includes a section called “Penalties,” points out that if the Cavaliers recruit, and ultimately reward a full scholarship to, a player who is 7’ or taller, the University will have to hire Sampson as the Athletic Director and head basketball coach and promote him as Player and Coach of the Year while they petition the NCAA for additional eligibility for the retired star. The contract goes on to state that if said eligibility is granted by the suits in Kansas, Sampson will start at his favorite position – point guard – for “as long as the NCAA will allow.”

MR. REIDY, MEET MR. WARHOL

Matt Reidy was a running back at Damascus High School in Maryland. Good, but not good enough to merit a scholarship at a powerhouse like Virginia Tech, Reidy walked on and made the team.

Now he’s a special teams tiger on a squad that prizes good special teams play. Reidy, a fifth-year senior linebacker-rover earned a scholarship last year, primarily for his yeoman's duty on "teams."

He was a regular participant on four kicking-team units last season, and his 217 plays on special teams ranked second on the squad.

After scoring a touchdown on a blocked punt in the Hokies win over Miami, Mr. Reidy is something of a celeb in Blacksburg.

To read the story from the Roanoke Times, click here.

HUMPDAY LINKS

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich.

*As if Duke didn't have enough obstacles to overcome on Saturday against Virginia Tech, the Blue Devils will enter that game with their top three running backs hurting.

*Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe has a reputation for redshirting freshmen, but he's willing to give three of them a closer look this week.

*When Virginia walk-on receiver Ray Keys played against Southern Miss, he and his father became the first black father-son duo to play for the Cavaliers.

*Georgia Tech linebacker Kyle Jackson will have surgery today and is out for the season. Big loss for the Jackets and Jackson. He's a good player and a great person. I got a chance to chat with him a bit this summer.

*Meet UNC's version of "Hercules," defensive end Robert Quinn. Everyone -- but Quinn -- raves about him.

*You know that unofficial "state championship" going on in North Carolina? Well, Tom O'Brien is winning the recruiting one, too.

*Will Clemson repeat the old Tommy Bowden mantra "one play away" under Dabo Swinney? He said if it does, find somebody else in three years.

*Maryland quarterback Chris Turner is getting a little skittish, and offensive coordinator James Franklin can't exactly blame him. Who could? Turner has been sacked 14 times. It's amazing he can still walk.

*One person who wasn't surprised by Florida State's struggles up front with South Florida was offensive line coach Rick Trickett.

T.A.H. COMMERCIALS OF THE YEAR

Here at T.A.H. Worldwide Media our staff of media experts is constantly monitoring “worldwide media” (duh) in search of the very best-of-the-best to bring to you – loyal reader of Today’s ACC Headlines, the best and funniest ACC sports blog on planet Earth.

Recently, our Television Commercial Division staffers came across these two gems and immediately nominated them for the prestigious T.A.H. Commercial(s) of the Year Award.

The commercials, coincidentally, are for Fauquier Health, a local hospital, coincidentally, located within view of T.A.H. Worldwide Media Headquarters. There, coincidentally, the Director of Marketing just happens to be T.A.H. Pop Culture Editor and in-house UNC historian Young A.T. The Youngster recently travelled to Toronto to make these clever, edgy and funny commercials.

Now when you think of three words that describe all things T.A.H., surely you think “clever, edgy and funny.” Don’t believe us? Just ask Ralph Sampson and anybody who works for the NCAA.

(A quick note on the pronunciation of Fauquier – something you will need to know when these commercial become worldwide viral video sensations. Fauquier is pronounced Faw-kyeer. So Fauquier Health is Faw-kyeer Health, not “Fuc Yer” Health as some advertising agency moguls in Manhattan (and a few other folks) seem to think.

Our beloved county is the last bastion of civilization in the Washington metro area some 50 miles from the Capitol of the Free World located approximately halfway between the Universities of Maryland and Virginia.

The county is named after Francis Fauquier who was Lieutenant Governor of Virginia at the time the county was established. Lucky for us, Lord Thomas Culpeper (pronounced Cud-peppa) was governor at the time and our red-headed-stepchild-sister county to our south (Culpeper County, pronounced Cudpeppa Count-teee) beat us to the punch.

Have some more cudpeppa dude, and fuc yer health!)

Enjoy!

PICTURE(S) OF THE DAY

ROLLER GIRLS. Welcome to Gotham Girls Roller Derby, where some of the toughest girls in New York battle it out on the flat track. Thousands of fans pack it in each night to see two of the league's six teams vie for glory. And on Sept. 26, they got quite a show as the Brooklyn Bombshells (blue) breezed past the Queens of Pain (black).

Nice, Brooklyn Bombshells, NICE!

(Photos by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated)