FLORIDA STATE 38, BOSTON COLLEGE 7

MANUEL (Elsa/Getty Images)

Florida State qualified for a bowl for the 30th consecutive year on Thursday night, when EJ Manuel threw for one touchdown and ran for another to lead Florida State to a 38-7 victory over Boston College.

“That’s one of our goals we knew from the beginning of the year, and now we’ve knocked that one off,” coach Jimbo Fisher said after the Seminoles extended the streak that was already the longest in the NCAA. “Thirty years in a row. 


There’s something about that. Everybody says it’s no big deal, but don’t do it and see what happens.”

Manuel completed 12 of 16 passes for 180 yards and ran 16 times for 37 yards to help Florida State (6-3, 4-2 ACC) open a 28-0 halftime lead and coast to its fourth consecutive victory. 


The sixth win means the Seminoles are bowl-eligible; representatives of the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta were in the press box to scout the game.

To read more, click here.  

Best Racehorse Names of The Day

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf hopeful Somali Lemonade.

Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Game On Dude.  

(Photos by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Pictures Of The Day

Repsol Honda Team's (and T.A.H.'s all-time favorite bike racer) Australian Casey Stoner rides during MotoGP's first practice session of Valencia's MotoGP Grand Prix at Ricardo Tormo race track in Cheste near Valencia on November 4, 2011. (Photo by Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)

Josh Bordner #8 of the Boston College Eagles scrambles as Cameron Erving #98 of the Florida State Seminoles pressures on November 3, 2011 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Florida State Seminoles defeated the Boston College Eagles 38-7. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Goldikova, who is trying for a record fourth straight Breeders’ Cup victory, gallops on the track during the morning exercise session in preparation for the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs on November 3, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

T.A.H. Hits Weekly High Mark for 2011, Closing In On 500,000

About $1,381.60 U.S.

Today’s ACC Headlines, which started out as a newsletter between friends back in 2005, set a 2011 record for page visits last week as the now six-year-old blog (that’s 30 in newspaper years) steams toward 500,000 visits.

The weekly high for this year came last week when 3,796 fans visited T.A.H.  That number eclipsed the weekly tally of 3,598 which happened the first week of January (bowl games).  Another strong week is the ACC tournament which garnered 3,047.  The all-time weekly high is 6,000 and something – can’t remember exactly and the crack T.A.H. Research Department responded to the inquiry with a memo titled “Dunno.”

Thanks, guy, that’s REALLY helpful.

Total visits since we turned on the counter…sometime in 2005 or 2006 (who knows?)…is, as of this writing, 491,675.  That’s puts us three good weeks from the magic 500,000 visits (which is Joe Pa in newspaper years).  That runs us up to the first week of December, which already enjoys a great cause for celebration (the Editor/Publisher’s birthday, who will be 330 in newspaper years), so be prepared.

You can expect a party.

ACC Football Schedule

Thursday, Nov 3

FLORIDA STATE (-16) @ BOSTON COLLEGE, 8:00 PM, TV: ESPN, (Sirius 91//XM 91) – The Noles will win because they are…um…what’s the word we’re looking for?...oh yeah, better.  The Noles are better.  They win.  That’s it.

  

Saturday, Nov 5

NORTH CAROLINA (-6) @ N.C. STATE, 12:30 PM, TV: ACC Network, (Sirius 136//XM 191) – N.C. State has had the Tar Heels number for four straight.  Was it all of them, or just now transferred Russell Wilson? If UNC loses, Everett Wither’s head might explode.  T.A.H. in Raleigh for the game.  That said, don’t expect any additional coverage.  Blame the tailgate.

VIRGINIA (-2.5) @ MARYLAND, 12:30 PM, TV: ACC Network, (Sirius 134//XM 197) – We’re not saying it look like the Terps have quit on new task master Randy Edsall, but it looks like the Terps have quit on new task master Randy Edsall…Just sayin’.

DUKE @ MIAMI (-14), 3:00 PM, TV: RSN, (Sirius 92//XM 190) – It would seem impossible that Miami could be so inconsistent that they could let the Blue Devils sneak into their half-empty stadium and upset them…

Notre Dame (Golden Domers, 11,773 students, South Bend, IN) (-13.5) @ WAKE FOREST, 8:00 PM, TV: ABC/ESPN2,  (Sirius 92//XM 190) – Notre Dame has also been inconsistent, but if they hold on to the ball they have too many weapons to make a Deacon upset likely.  One can always hope…

*Point spreads for recreational purposes only.

More ACC Football Matchups: Two Virginia QBs Match Up In NC Rivalry

GLENNON (Phil Sears/AP Photos)

Now transferred QB Russell Wilson helped his N.C. State squad beat North Carolina like a red-headed stepchild every time they met.  Now the Wolfpack will try to vanquish their Chapel Hill rival with a quarterback from Virginia in a match up of signal callers from the Commonwealth.

N.C. State QB Mike Glennon played for West Springfield and his Tar Heel counterpart played for Westfield High in Centreville. They faced off in the 2007 Virginia state high school playoffs, with Glennon's team winning 58-34.

It will be the first start for both in this Tobacco Road rivalry.

For a complete preview of all of this week’s games from Rivals.com, click here.   

For “What To Watch In The ACC: Week 10” by Heather Dinich, click here. 

Quote Of The Day

(Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer)

"When you have as many schools in this state as we have, and the recruiting base gets watered down a bit, I think the kids in this state need to know the flagship school in this state. They need to know it academically. If you look at our graduation rates, as opposed to our opponent's this week, graduation rates for athletics, for football, you'll see a difference...If you look at the educational environment here, I think you'll see a difference."

– UNC interim head coach Everett Withers yesterday on WFAN in Raleigh.

Followed closely by:

"I don't know why they're more motivated for us than any other game that they play."  

Hmmm...

Line Of The Week

(Otto Kittsinger III/Getty Images)

Look, we don’t advocate wagering on college football since we know (as do the Suits in Indianapolis [Formerlyu Kansas] that the game is a noble endeavor played by student athletes as pure as the driven snow.  We know (just like the Suits in Indianapolis [Formerly Kansas]) that money has NOTHING to do with college football.

With that as disclaimer, we do publish the line on ACC football games just to establish who the sharp guys think are going to win…see above.

That said, while perusing our source for point spreads (Americasline.com), we couldn’t help but notice this gem:

(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Boise State (-41) vs. New Mexico.

Ouch.

That’s the kind of line you see early in the season when Alabama plays the University of Phoenix or Oklahoma enjoys a visit from Strayer College.  Not what one typically sees in week 10 of any college football season.

Boise State is undefeated and again looking to crash the BCS National Championship.  UNLV is just bad. The Rebels are 2-5 and they gave up 51 points to Wisconsin, 59 points to Washington State and 41 points to Southern Utah and Wyoming.  Not coincidentally, they lost all of those games.  

ACC Football Links

(Anthony Bartham/Southcreek/ZumaPress.com)

BC freshman linebacker Sean Duggan has made the most of his unexpected opportunity in the starting lineup.

BC running back Rolandan "Deuce" Finch expects to be the center of Florida State's attention.

Sure, FSU quarterback EJ Manuel has been good during the Noles' winning streak, buthe's had some help from a deep receiving corps.

The Noles have been getting lots of balance out of their passing game.

David Teel makes another great point regarding conference realignment. It's time for a divorce in the Big East.

Were expectations too high for Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien this season? Randy Edsall seems to think so, but I respectfully disagree.

(Danny Walls/Icon/SMI)

Jim Grobe might have to -- gasp -- play a true freshman running back with only four games left in the regular season. Injuries can do that to a coach.

If Clemson wants to keep offensive coordinator Chad Morris around, it's probably going to have to pony up some cash.

Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh addressed a variety of topics recently.

It doesn't sound like Miami coach Al Golden is going anywhere.

Quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Bryn Renner are ready for their defining moments of the season.

With 13 players on its roster from Maryland, Virginia has made a recruiting home in the Terps' backyard. 

For at least one Cavalier, former Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen made the decision to choose Virginia easy.

Virginia's freshmen have become regular contributors this year.

After taking a lot of heat, Georgia Tech's special teams got some redemption against Clemson.

NC State is doing its best to move on after the loss to FSU.

UNC interim coach Everett Withers is taking a different approach to the rivalry game than his predecessor -- he's acknowledging it.

(Hans Pennink/AP Photos)

Clemson running back Andre Ellington should be full strength for the Wake Forest game.

David Teel says no running back in the country is better than Virginia Tech's David Wilson.

The Hokies are resting and getting ready for Georgia Tech.

Miami coach Al Golden is tired of his "clock-punchers." Get ready for some pink slips.

FSU coach Jimbo Fisher isn't a big fan of the five-day turnaround.

The Terps have hit rock bottom, but hey, there's a quarterback controversy worth watching.

Tar Heel Mom Entered In $1 million Breeders’ Cup Race

TAR HEEL MOM (G.Petty/T.A.H. Worldwide Media)

T.A.H.’s favorite racehorse, Tar Heel Mom, is scheduled to make the final start of her very successful career tomorrow in the $1 million Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Turf Sprint G1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.

Tar Heel Mom is no slouch having made 30 career starts with 11 wins, 8 seconds and five thirds.  Do the math and she has been first, second or third in 24 of her 30 outings.  Her lifetime bankroll currently sits at $832,892.  Last time we looked, that was real money.  

In all likelihood, following this race, the now six-year-old mare will retire to Kentucky to start making Tar Heel Girls and Tar Heel Boys.

Good luck, THM!

Pictures Of The Day

Horses train on the track during morning workouts for the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs on November 3, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Because they can…Duke students taunt Shaw (Bears, 2,800 students, Raleigh, NC) point guard Tony Shaw as he tries to inbound the ball during a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Duke won the exhibition game 80-66. (Photo by Rob Kinnan/US Presswire)

Hello, World Cup…um…we have a little problem… The slalom run at Levi in Finland sits devoid of snow following unseasonal warm weather on November 3, 2011. The organisers of the World Cup slalom event were forced to cancel next weekend’s event due to the lack of snow. (Photo by Janne Koskenniemi AFP/LEHTIKUVA)

The field rounds the bend in the Emirates Melbourne Cup during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 1, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Fake Facebook Page Of The Day

Hey, it’s funny and it sort of has something vaguely to do with basketball…Again, it’s FUNNY.

To see the page in its entirety, click here.

To calculate how long you have been married in “Kardashians” (a new unit of measure), click here.

AP Poll And BCS Standings

(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

After Clemson’s loss to Georgia Tech any BCS Championship Game for the ACC is all done for 2011-12.  That said, here’s where everybody stands that is still standing...The Yellow Jackets returned to the poll after falling out after two straight losses.  Florida State got some votes as well...

1. LSU; 2. Alabama, 3 Oklahoma State, 4. Stanford, 5. Boise State, 6. Oregon, 7. Oklahoma, 8. Arkansas, 9. Nebraska, 10. South Carolina,

11. CLEMSON

12. VIRGINIA TECH

13. Michigan, 14. Houston, 15. Michigan State, 16. Penn State, 17. Kansas State, 18. Georgia, 19. Wisconsin, 20. Arizona State, 21. USC,

22. GEORGIA TECH

(Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

23. Cincinnati, 24. West Virginia, 25. Auburn.

Others Receiving Votes:

Texas 99, Southern Miss 67, Washington 52, Ohio St. 37, TCU 26, Texas A&M 25, FLORIDA STATE 4, Notre Dame 1

BCS STANDINGS

1. LSU, 2. Alabama, 3. Oklahoma State, 4. Stanford, 5. Boise State, 6. Oklahoma, 7. Arkansas, 8. Oregon, 9. South Carolina, 10. Nebraska

11. CLEMSON

12. VIRGINIA TECH 

ACC Players Of The Week

FINCH (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

OFFENSIVE BACK – Rolandan Finch, Boston College, So., RB, 5-10, 209, New Albany, Ind. Finch rushed for 243 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries in Boston College’s 28-17 win at Maryland, establishing career highs for yards, carries and touchdowns and achieving the most yardage by a running back in the ACC this season. Finch’s rushing yardage ranks third on the school’s single-game list.

RECEIVER – Tommy Streeter, Miami, Jr., WR, 6-5, 215, Miami, Fla. Streeter ended the game with 176 yards on seven receptions and two touchdowns in the loss to Virginia on Thursday night. Entering the game, the Miami native ranked fifth nationally with a 20.4 yards per reception average. Of Streeter’s 28 receptions on the season, 12 have gone for 25-yards or more, including catches of 57, 51 and 26 yards against Virginia. Streeter’s 176 yards were a career-game high and his first 100-yard receiving game.

STREETER  (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Oday Aboushi, Virginia, Jr., OT, 6-6, 310, Staten Island, N.Y. Aboushi graded out 89 percent on 64 plays and had 11 knockdown blocks to lead the UVa offensive line as it controlled the line of scrimmage in the Cavaliers' 28-21 victory at Miami. Virginia managed to rush for 207 yards, pass for 263 yards and pile up 470 yards of total offense against the Hurricanes. Aboushi and his line mates did not allow a sack against a Miami defense ranked No. 3 in the ACC, averaging 2.71 sacks per game.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Timmy Jernigan, Florida State, Fr., DT, 6-3, 297, Lake City, Fla. Continuing his impressive true freshman campaign, Jernigan was once again a force in the middle from his defensive tackle position. Jernigan finished with a season-high five tackles (3 solos, 2 assists), including two tackles for loss and one sack for minus-9 yards. He also scooped up a Mike Glennon fumble and returned it 12 yards to set up a score as the ‘Noles forced a season-high three turnovers against NC State.

BROWN (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer)

LINEBACKER – Zach Brown, North Carolina, Sr., LB, 6-2, 230, Columbia, Md. Senior linebacker Zach Brown finished with nine tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, in North Carolina's 49-24 win over Wake Forest. UNC scored on both of the possessions following Brown's turnovers. Brown now has a team-high 62 tackles this season with team-highs of 5.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Jemea Thomas, Georgia Tech, So., DB, 5-10, 190, Fitzgerald, Ga. Thomas, who made his first career start, recorded the first two interceptions of his career en route to arguably Georgia Tech’s top individual defensive performance of the season. Thomas had five tackles, a tackle for loss, forced a fumble, broke up two passes and was the first Tech player in more than a year to pick off two passes in a game. Both of his INTs came in the fourth quarter – the first one in the end zone that foiled Clemson’s chance to pull within a touchdown.

JERNIGAN (Phil Sears/AP Photo)

SPECIALIST – Shawn Powell, Florida State, Sr., P, 6-4, 235, Rome, Ga. Powell punted only three times for a 41.3 yard average, but his contributions far exceeded the numbers. Two of his punts were of the rugby variety, aimed at neutralizing NC State return sensation T.J. Graham, and proved quite successful. Graham managed just one punt return for 1 yard. His 41.0 net punting average for the game matches FSU’s net punting average on the season, which ranks sixth among all FBS schools. Powell continues to lead the ACC with a 45.2 punting average and is currently the top-ranked punter, by average, in Florida State history.

ROOKIE – Giovani Bernard, North Carolina, Fr., TB, 5-10, 205, Davie, Fla. Redshirt freshman tailback Giovani Bernard had 27 carries for 154 yards and two rushing touchdowns in North Carolina's 49-24 victory over Wake Forest. Bernard also had his first touchdown reception, a 7-yard catch in the first quarter.  Bernard’s 154 rushing yards were the most by a Tar Heel against Wake Forest since Ronnie McGill rushed for 244 yards in 2003. It was the most rushing yards allowed by the Deacons this year (previous was 136 by Virginia Tech’s David Wilson). Bernard has rushed 168 times for 965 yards and 11 touchdowns this year, an average of 5.7 yards per carry and 107.2 yards per game.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

BARNES (Steeter Lecka/Getty Images)

“Coming into last year, there was a lot of expectations, but we didn’t know what to expect and we didn’t know how things went.  There wasn’t really anybody we could talk to on the team who had been through that…I think this year we kind of know what to expect. We’re not looking at it as championship or bust. We’re looking at it as go out and play the best basketball we can.”

-- Harrison Barnes after again being chosen for the AP Preseason All-America team.  Barnes received the second highest number of votes (63) from the 65-member national panel.  Jordan Taylor, a senior guard at Wisconsin, was a unanimous (65) pick.  The other first teamers are Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, Terrence Jones of Kentucky and Jeremy Lamb of UConn.  

No. 6 Duke Defeats Reigning Champions

CURRY (Gerry Broome/AP Photo)

OK, it was an exhibition game and the reigning champs were Division II Bellarmine…

Seth Curry scored 18 points to help No. 6 Duke beat Bellarmine 87-62 in an exhibition game Saturday night.

Mason Plumlee added 16 points on 8-for-8 shooting for the Blue Devils, who pulled away with an 18-2 run midway through the second half. Miles Plumlee had 14 points and Austin Rivers had 13 points.

The Blue Devils shot 56 percent from the floor despite a 2-for-14 effort from 3-point range. Duke, which missed its first 11 3s, got its first from Tyler Thornton with 8:43 to play.

Curry delivered a four-point play on Duke’s next possession to push the lead to 73-52.

Jeremy Kendle and Luke Sprague scored 13 points each for Bellarmine, the reigning Division II champion.

The Knights weathered a 15-0 run by the Blue Devils early in the first half, pulling to 32-31 before Duke extended its advantage to 38-33 at halftime. 

Dear Mr. Snyder:

(Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

WTF?

Sincerely,

Your (Remarkably Still) Loyal Fan

Picture Of The Da(l)y

John Daly of the US wears flag pants as he prepares to putt at the 4th hole during the final day of the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters golf tournament in Shanghai on October 30, 2011.  (Getty Images)

Pictures Of The Day

 Bummer.  Garry Peters #38 of the Clemson Tigers looks on from the sideline in the final minutes of their 31-17 loss to Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 29, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

 Florida State cheerleader performs prior to the FSU v N.C. State game at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.  (Photo by Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT/ZumaPress.com)

Kerrin McEvoy and Applegate narrowly win the Emirates Airline Stakes over Craig Newitt and Snitzerland during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

A motocross competitor gets big air during the 29th French Supercross at the Bercy sport hall in Paris.  (Photo by Stephane Allaman/ABACAUSA.com)

Heguy of Indios Chapaleufu attempts to strike the ball during the final match against Algeria at the Hurlington Open 2011 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  (Photo by Grupo44/Latin Content/Getty Images)

Manager Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals rides with the Budweiser Clydesdales during a parade celebrating the team's 11th World Series championship October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri.  (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images North America)

Safety Matt Daniels #40 of the Duke Blue Devils defends against a pass to split end Jarrett Boykin #81 of the Virginia Tech Hokies October 29, 2011 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The Hokies won 14-10.  (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images North America)

Manager Tony La Russa talks to the media ahead of Game 6 of the 2011 MLB World Series between the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 25, 2011 in St Louis, Missouri. La Russa and the Cardinals announced October 31, 2011 that he will retire after 16-years at the helm of the St Louis baseball team. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

This Sept. 23, 1983 file photo shows Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa.  We’re diggin’ the uni.  (AP Photo)

It's Almost Basketball Season

...and the rivalries don't rest on Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

More news and commentary later...

ACC Football Scoreboard

(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Saturday, October 29th:

FLORIDA STATE 34, N.C. STATE 0

VIRGINIA TECH 14,  DUKE 10

BOSTON COLLEGE 28, MARYLAND 14

NORTH CAROLINA 49, WAKE FOREST 24

GEORGIA TECH 31, CLEMSON 17


To read more, click here.