Saturday, Oct 10
*In honor of BC’s Mark Herzlich #94, the Virginia Tech chapter of Uplifting Athletes is donating $9,494.94 to benefit research of Ewing’s Sarcoma.*Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is expecting the best from Florida State, despite the ongoing drama off the field in Tallahassee.
*Longtime Maryland booster Jack Heise passed away this week, but not before he had a chance to put his final letter in the mail to coach Ralph Friedgen wishing him good luck this weekend against Wake Forest.
*BC's defense has faced some good ACC quarterbacks already, but none of them have the feetlike Tyrod Taylor.
*Clemson could be making some changes to its offense this week, and it could include using the tight ends more.
*Has Wake Forest already found its next Alphonso Smith?
*For those of you who tried to stick a fork in Virginia, Al Groh said it might not be that easy.
*While Saturday's game between Miami and FAMU should be relatively uneventful on the field, it will spark a painful memory for the late Bryan Pata's brother, who is now the tight ends coach for FAMU.
*NC State coach Tom O'Brien needs a win on Saturday more than Duke's David Cutcliffe does.
*Of all the new coaches hired recently in the ACC, though, none of them had the instant success of Georgia Tech's Johnson.
Let's put this one to rest -- Chuck Amato and Jimbo Fisher never got into a fight. Hence the reason you never read about it here.
*Virginia Tech running backs Josh Oglesby #25 and Ryan Williams have different styles -- on and off the field.
"What we try to do with the walk-on guys, is get guys that we feel have a shot to earn a scholarship, and Cody (Grimm) #26 was certainly in that category. That scholarship has paid off very, very well for us. You are talking about a fantastic player that means a lot to your football team, that got to come here as a walk-on. We were the ones who got lucky there, I can tell you, because he is a real football player."
RUN OFF HOME RUN. Mark Teixeira #25 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a walk off home run in the eleventh inning against the Minnesota Twins in Game Two of the ALDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. 
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) 
Florida State Head-Coach-In-Leaving Bobby Bowden, Florida State Head-Coach-In-Waiting Jimbo Fisher, FSU President-In-Leaving T.K. Wehterell and FSU Chairman of the Board of Trustees-In-Need-Of-A-Gag-Order Jim Smith held a joint press conference at the Florida State Alumni Association Football Headquarters Facebook page earler this morning.
Loyal readers know that T.A.H. Worldwide Media Headquarters is located in beautiful downtown Warrenton, VA. The next town south of the central point of God’s chosen country via U.S. 29 is our red-headed-step-child sister city Cudpeppa (our arch-nemesis and long-time rival in the Hacks v. Hicks golf match.)
So Bono and his crew picked the Hazel River Inn (a good choice) and made a reservation under the name McMinnis. The staff figured out who it was not long after The Rock Star With One Name darkened the door.
Evidently, U2’s 170-ton stage, which is the largest ever to be used for a concert tour according to Rolling Stone, wreaks havoc and destruction on local football fields. According to the Washington Post, after U2 rolled through the area last week, Fed Ex Field, the Cavs’ Scott Stadium and the Wolfpack’s Carter-Finley are all having to replace part of the sod that covers their football fields.What, nobody grows sod in the Old Dominion?
No. 11 Elon’s Junior quarterback Scott Riddle of Ramseur, NC (hometown of T.A.H. Pop Culture Editor Young A.T.) grew up next door to T.A.H. loyalist and founding member John Allen (first cousin of T.A.H. Pop Culture Editor Young A.T.). Subsequently, we have been following his football career.For the year, that’s a 4-1 record and 131 for 201 for 1,579 yards and 11 touchdowns against TWO interceptions. That’s an average of 315 yards a game.
Nice, Scott, NICE!
*There are three coaches in the ACC who are feeling the heat right now, and considering Bobby Bowden is one of them, nobody is immune.
*It's taken some patience, but Maryland's defense has made progress in recent weeks under first-year coordinator Don Brown.
*Virginia Tech's offense, the missing link the past few seasons, appears to have figured things out this year. They're reaching marks they haven't met since 2005.
*Clemson running back C.J. Spiller has been the one constant for the Tigers' offense -- and he's not done yet.
*FSU's defense is hurting. No, really.
*Meanwhile, Miami's secondary is getting better. After all, they're going against some of the top receivers every day.
*Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer and Bowden have gone in different directions over the past decade.
*NC State safety Bobby Floyd #31 is one of the most productive former walk-ons in the ACC.
*UNC offensive lineman Greg Elleby has made the move from defensive end, and even he can't believe he'd be playing so much so early.
*Boston College got a little extra inspiration this season from one of my colleagues.
*Georgia Tech safety Cooper Taylor has had some heart problems that have kept him sidelined for the past three weeks, but he still expects to play this season.
FLYING FROG. Tanner Brock (35) of TCU gets flipped in a futile attempt to block a punt by Matt Szymanski of SMU.
UPSIDE DOWN. Baltimore's Derrick Mason, wearing pink gloves to honor National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, stood on his head as he rolled into the end zone after a 20-yard, first-quarter reception against the New England Patriots on Oct. 4.
Well, it had to happen...actually both things had to happen.
"I just want people to really get to know me as an individual. What I want to do is change the perception of me. I am a human being. I've made some mistakes in the past, and I wish it had never happened. But it's not about how you fall, but about how you pick yourself up."PETA spokesman Dan Shannon begged to differ saying that "people who abuse animals don't deserve to be rewarded. They shouldn't be given multimillion-dollar contracts…or given the privilege of being a role model."
Charlotte Bobcats have a few North Carolina connections of the Tar Heel variety. Michael Jordan is part owner, point guard Raymond Felton was a member of the team that won the 2005 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball National Championship, head coach Larry Brown is a UNC guy as are two of his assistants (including the legendary Phil Ford).
On the court in Cleveland on Tuesday night in the first semi-official minute of his NBA career, Henderson enjoyed another welcome from a NBA veteran – this one from L.S.U.
In yet another attempt to mitigate the negative effects of the current recession, the ACC is attempting to turn traditional non-revenue sports into revenue producers the likes of men's basketball and football. Of course, all the while being mindful of the needs of the student athletes.
A sample of ACC wrestling coaches and wrestlers generally called the proposed uniforms "f***ed up."
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich and T.A.H.*Bobby Bowden isn't the only one at Florida State whose status is uncertain. Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews might retire at the end of the season, too. Of course, if Bowden wants Andrews to come back, doesn't that mean he wants to come back, too?
*Georgia Tech safety Morgan Burnett expects the Noles to come prepared to play, despite all of the distractions this week.
*Maryland doesn't know whether or not it will have Bruce Campbell back at left tackle in time for Wake Forest, but Paul Pinegar has been getting the reps there this week.
*Wake Forest will be looking for more from its running game on Saturday against the Terps.
With a full-grown beard and a bald head, Duke receiver Austin Kelly looks like the old man of the group, but now he's starting to play like it.
*Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple's standards are higher than yours, believe it or not, and right now, he says the offense isn't very good.
*Virginia Tech split end Jarrett Boykin #81 has hands so big they rip through his XXXL gloves, the largest size Nike makes. If you're a receiver, that's a good thing.
NICE CATCH. Nice gloves. Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals hauls in a one handed catch for a first quarter touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during their game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio.
LONG LIVE THE KING. After a no-catch game, Browns’ WR Braylon Edwards went to a Cleveland Club and got into a fight with a member of LeBron James’ posse. LeBron was not amused that the 6’2” 215 lbs Edwards went whoopin’ on his 5’7” 135 lbs home boy. The next day, Edwards was traded to the New York Jets.
WINNER, WINNER. (L-R) James Loney #7, Casey Blake#23, Andre Ethier #16, Rafael Furcal #15 and Manny Ramirez #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in Game One of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium on October 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Cardinals 5-3.
M-E-M-O
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.
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.
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.
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.
Six foot-six small forward Harrison Barnes of Ames, Iowa is good. How good?
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.
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. 
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.
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.
The Noles are off to their worst start since Bowden’s first year at Florida State in 1976.
“I know coaches are sniping at each other and that’s just terrible,” Smith said Monday. “There are too many mixed signals.”
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.
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 (?).
Davis missed the "high five" opportunity with the Tolmeister. Bad move.)
(All other photos by Anna Banana, Junior Photographer, T.A.H. Worldwide Media)
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