TODAY'S ACC HEADLINES

Tuesday Night ACC Basketball: The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight

2012-02-01T11:35:00.006-05:00

ZELLER MAKING A SHOT! (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer)

#5 NORTH CAROLINA 68, WAKE FOREST 53 - If you didn't watchthis game it looks like a typical lopsided Tar Heel win. If you did watch it, you know it was atypical lopsided Tar Heel win in spite of the fact that Ol' Roy's guys couldn'thit the broad side of a barn with a beach ball from point blank range. But then, Wake couldn’t shoot either.

Ugly.

How ugly? Well, checkout these numbers. UNC shot34% in the first half and 27% in the second half after scoring just one basket(1-13) in the first nine minutes of the second stanza. They shot 31% for thegame and 21% (4-19) from behind the arc.

The Deacons were no better shooting 29% for the game and awoeful 11% (2-18) from behind the three-point line.

The most telling stat is that the two teams had a combined95 rebounds. That’s not a misprint, that’s NINETY-FIVE. That’s a lot of missed shots.

That said, Tyler Zeller had 18 points (5 of 13) and acareer-best 18 rebounds and John Henson added 14 points (6 of 16) and 12rebounds for the Tar Heels (19-3, 6-1 ACC) who won their fourth straight game.

Harrison Barnes added 13 points (4-12, there’s a theme here)for the Tar Heels and played most of the second half despite rolling his leftankle midway through the first half.

HARRIS (Andrew Shurtleff/AP Photo)

C.J. Harris scored 19 points (5-11, 1-6 3-Pts) to lead theDemon Deacons (11-11, 2-6). Reggie Bullock did a good job defensively on Harriswho left the game after scoring his 1,000 career point.

#16 VIRGINIA 65, CLEMSON 61 - Senior forward Mike Scott hadgame-high totals of 23 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore guard Joe Harrisscored 19 points to lead the Virginia men's basketball team to an ACC victoryover Clemson Tuesday night at John PaulJones Arena.

The game was the 100th men's basketball game played at JPJAwhere the Cavaliers have a record of 71-29. Devin Booker led Clemson with 16 points.

The victory improves UVa's overall record to 18-3 and theCavaliers are now 5-2 in the ACC. It was the third ACC win in the last six daysfor the Cavaliers.

Virginia's 18-3 start is its best since going 27-3 to openthe 1982-83 season. Yes, that WAS theRalph Sampson era.

Things That Make You Go…

2012-02-01T11:32:00.003-05:00

(Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Hmmm…

So now, evidently, the network that televises the Super Bowlhas a presser so the press can ask questions to the press who's covering thegame…All this time, we thought the folks that broadcast the game weredescribing the story, not part of the story…

Here, NBC Cris Collinsworth, Rodney Harrison, MicheleTafoya, Al Michaels, Bob Costas, Tony Dungy, Peter King and Dan Patrick posefor a group photo during the Super Bowl XLVI Broadcasters Press Conference atthe Super Bowl XLVI Media Center in the J.W. Marriott Indianapolis on January31, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Word has it that the Super Bowl XLVI Ushers and SecurityTeam Press Conference will be held at the Super Bowl XLVI Media Center II inthe Red Roof Inn on February 1, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The concession workers cancelled their news conference whenthe couldn’t get the syrup-to-soda ratio right in the fountain drinks…

Pictures Of The Day

2012-02-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

This photo may explain why North Carolina shot so poorly inlast night’s game in Winston-Salem. (Original photo by Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer, slightlytampered with by T.A.H.)

Former Tar Heel Danny Green fights for a rebound with Sam Young of the Mephis Grizzzlies at FedEx Forum in Memphis. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images)

Top-ranked Kentucky extended their home win streak to 48-games in spite of these ridiculously ugly unis. Swin and a miss, UK. (Photo by Kentucky Basketball)

Fans of the New England Patriots hold up giant cartooncutouts with the liknesses of New England Patriots players including Tom Brady(L) and Arron Hernandez (R) during Media Day ahead of Super Bowl XLVI againstthe New York Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 31, 2012 in Indianapolis,Indiana. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images)

ACC Players Of The Week

2012-01-31T13:15:00.001-05:00

PLUMLEE (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer)

Duke’s Mason Plumlee has been named ACC Player of the Weekwhile teammate Austin Rivers was selected ACC Rookie of the Week.

Plumlee averaged 19.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 3.0 assistsper game in leading Duke to wins over Maryland and St. John’s. The Warsaw,Ind., junior opened the week with a 23-point, 12-rebound and four-assist performancein a 74-61 ACC road win at Maryland. He was 9-of-13 from the field and knockeddown all five free throws in the contest.

In Saturday’s 83-76 win over Big Eastfoe St. John’s, Plumlee recorded his ACC-leading ninth double-double of theseason with 15 points and a career-best 17 rebounds. On the week, Plumlee shot66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the field and 71.4 percent (10-fo-14) from thefoul line.

In earning the league’s rookie award for the second-straightweek and fifth time overall, Rivers averaged 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0assists in leading Duke to wins over Maryland and St. John’s. The Winter Park,Fla., native had 10 points, a career-high five rebounds and three assists in 38minutes of action in the road win over the Terrapins.

Against St. John’s,Rivers finished with 12 points, three rebounds, one steal and a game-high fiveassists. Rivers has now scored in double figures 17 times this season andcurrently leads the Blue Devils in scoring at 14.1 points per game. He islooking to join Johnny Dawkins (1983) and Bill Sapp (1945) as the only freshmento lead the team in scoring in a season.

Former Heels Among Youngest Coaches in NCAA D1 Basketball

2012-01-31T13:11:00.003-05:00

MILLER (UNCG Photo)

Greensboro native and former Tar Heel Wes Miller is back athome now as interim coach of UNC – Greensboro. Miller, who turned 29 last Saturday, started his career at James MadisonUniversity where he played 17 minutes a game and scored 4.1 per.

He transferred to North Carolina and eventually played forthe National Championship of 2005 as a sophomore. He saw significant playing time the next year– Tyler Hansbrough’s freshman year - -when he averaged 22 minutes and scored7.2 points per game.

Miller played professionally for London Capitals of theBritish Basketball League. He is currently the interim head coach at UNC Greensboro,stepping in for former coach Mike Dement after he resigned on December 13,2011. Previously, he was an assistant coach at Elon University under headcoach, Ernie Nester, for the 2008-2009 season and most recently, an assistantcoach under head coach, Scott Cherry, a former UNC player, for the 2009-2010season.

Miller graduated in 2007 and wrote a book titled The Road toBlue Heaven about his journey from JMU to UNC and his years playing there.

Recently, Miller’s UNCG team (6-6 since Miller took over,but the winners of five straight conference games) defeated Appalachian Statein overtime. Happy Appy is also coachedby a former Tar Heel – Jason Capel. Miller and Capel are two of the three youngest coaches in Division Ibasketball. Capel is the youngest.

Capel was an assistant for former UNC player and nowUNC-Wilmington head coach Buzz Peterson at Appalachian prior to being namedhead coach. Capel is only one of nineplayers to ever start for UNC's basketball team in all four years of hiseligibility. He led the Tar Heels in scoring in his senior year with 15.6points per game. He also played in the NCAA Final Four in 2000.

Capel was undrafted in 2002 and briefly made the CharlotteBobcats' roster, but he never played in an NBA game. He then turned down morelucrative offers in Europe to play basketball in the NBA D-League for theFayetteville Patriots, a team coached by his father Jeff Capel II. After twoyears in the D-League (2002–04) he played professionally in Japan, Italy and Serbiauntil 2007.

From 2007 to 2008, Capel did color on Raycom Sports ACCbasketball broadcasts before joining the Appalachian coaching staff in 2009.

To read more, clickhere.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-31T12:55:00.004-05:00

Bowlers knock down some pins during the Stars and Strikes Celebrity Bowling Tournament at Bowlmor Lanes in Tustin, CA. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/Orange County Register/ZUMA)

British canoe slalom athletes David Florence and Richard Hounslow in action during training at the Lee Valley White Water Centre on November 17, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

UConn ended Duke’s 34-game winning streak in Cameron last night. Here, Duke forward Haley Peters (33) and teammate guard Chelsea Gray (12) crash the boards with Connecticut center Kiah Stokes (41). (Photo by Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer)

Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots answers questions from the media during Media Day ahead of Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 31, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

A fan rides a zip line as part of the Super Bowl XLVIfestivities in Indianapolis, IN. (Photoby Jim Young Reuters)

ACC Sunday Night Basketball

2012-01-30T07:51:00.002-05:00

BARNES (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

#7 NORTH CAROLINA 93, GEORGIA TECH 81 - Harrison Barnes scored 23 points and North Carolina hit 10 3-pointers in a lopsided victory over Georgia Tech on Sunday that ended a four-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets.

Tyler Zeller added 17 points for the Tar Heels (18-3, 5-1 ACC), who have won 12 of 13 games and extended their school-record home winning streak to 31 games. North Carolina shot 54 percent, led by 20 points at halftime and by 24 in the second half of a win that moved the Tar Heels into a tie with Duke and Florida State atop the ACC standings.

John Henson had 13 points and Reggie Bullock added 11 for the Tar Heels, while Kendall Marshall had 12 assists.

The outside shooting was the most obvious development for UNC. They hit 10 of 16 shots from behind the arc, their best total in a league game and one off a season high.

Barnes hit all three of his 3-point tries, while Bullock went 3-for-6 on the way to 11 points in his second straight start. Freshman P.J. Hairston added two more 3s against the Yellow Jackets (8-13, 1-6).
MIAMI 76, BOSTON COLLEGE 54 – Malcolm Grant scored seven ofhis 16 points during a game-breaking 14-0 run and Durand Scott had four of his19, carrying Miami to a win over Boston College on Sunday.

Kenny Kadji finished with 14 points and seven boards for theHurricanes (12-7, 3-3 ACC) and Reggie Johnson added 12 points.

Matt Humphrey had 13 points to lead Boston College (7-14,2-5). The Eagles have lost four straight since beating Clemson and VirginiaTech in consecutive home games earlier this month.

The game was tied at 49 before Miami took control by scoringthe 14 unanswered points.

The Hurricanes outscored Boston College 27-5 over the final7 minutes.

Grant's 3-pointer from the top of the key - the Hurricane'sfirst of the second half - pushed Miami ahead 52-49 with 6:17 to play.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-30T07:49:00.003-05:00

Corey Graham #21 of the Chicago Bears reacts to Brandon Marshall #19 of the Miami Dolphins catching a loose ball in the endzone during the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 29, 2012 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Marshall caught four TD passes and was named the games MVP. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The national anthem is sung before the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets against theNorth Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on January 29, 2012 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the trophy after his victory over Rafael Nadal of Spain in the men's final match on day 14 of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament early on January 30, 2012. Djokovic won the championship 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in the longest match ever played in a Grand Slam event...just under six hours. (Photo by William West/AFP/Topshots)

A competitor runs through water during the Tough Guy Challenge endurance race on January 29, 2012 in Telford, England. Every year thousands of people run the 8 mile assault course which involves freezing temperatures, fire and ice. (Photo by Alex Morton/Action Images)

As part of the Coaches v. Cancer weekend, the Tar Heels were rockin' the pink sneaks. (Photo by Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer)

Saturday ACC Basketball

2012-01-29T08:56:00.002-05:00

PLUMLEE (Chuck Liddy/RaleighNews & Observer)

#8 DUKE 83, ST. JOHN’S 76 - Mason Plumlee had 15 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, and No. 8 Duke held on to beat St. John's on Saturday.

Ryan Kelly scored 16 points and Andre Dawkins added 14 for the Blue Devils (18-3), who led by 22 with 17 minutes left but shot just 30 percent in the second half while the Red Storm rallied.

Moe Harkless had 30 points and 13 rebounds for St. John's (9-12). He and D'Angelo Harrison each hit 3-pointers in the final minute to make things tense.

#19 VIRGINIA 61, N.C. STATE 60 - Mike Scott scored 18 points to help No. 19 Virginia beat North Carolina State 61on Saturday night.

Joe Harris and Sammy Zeglinski each added 12 for the Cavaliers (17-3, 4-2 ACC), who shot 60 percent in the first half to take the lead and then turned away a second-half rally for the road win.

Virginia led by 10 with about 6 1/2 minutes left before the Wolfpack (15-7, 4-3) pushed back. Scott Wood shook off a game's worth of shooting struggles to bury a 3-pointer off a loose rebound to cut the deficit to 61-60 with 46.3 seconds to go, then Zeglinski missed a step-back jumper with the shot clock winding down to give the ball back to the Wolfpack with a chance to win.

STOGLIN (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

MARYLAND 73, VIRGINIA TECH 69 - Terrell Stoglin scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half, and Maryland never trailed in their victory over slumping Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Sean Mosley had 15 points for the Terrapins (13-7, 3-3 ACC), who snapped a three-game skid.

Maryland let a 15-point cushion dwindle to two with five seconds left, but Stoglin made two foul shots with 3.6 seconds remaining to secure the win.

It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Hokies (12-9, 1-5), who fell into a last-place tie with Georgia Tech. Erick Green led Virginia Tech with 18 points, and Dorenzo Hudson and Victor Davila each scored 14.

BROWNELL (Mark Crammer/AP Photo)

CLEMSON 71, WAKE FOREST 60 - Brad Brownell was not happy with the look in his team's eyes while they were warming up prior to Saturday's noon tipoff against Wake Forest. Something was missing, so he addressed the issue with his coaches before his team's entrance a few minutes before game time.

Brownell's fear came true once the game started as the Tigers missed 15 of their first 16 shots and the Demon Deacons built an early eight-point lead. But Brownell teams are known for leaning on their defense when things are not going well offensively, and thanks to a Devin Coleman steal and then a three-pointer from Andre Young, Clemson had its energy and never again let up in a 71-60 victory at Littlejohn Coliseum.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 11-9 overall and 3-3 in the ACC, while Wake Forest fell to 2-5 in ACC play and 11-10 overall.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-29T08:52:00.005-05:00

A Cameron Crazy establishes intellectual superiority once again with this eloquent description of a dunk during yesterday’s game against St. John. Sources tell T.A.H. he worked on this clever sign "all night." (Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer)

Virginia's Sammy Zeglinski (13), left, celebrates as N.C. State's DeShawn Painter (0) shot is after the buzzer sounds at the end of the game. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

N.C. State students Haley Wells, left, and her sister Allison watch before N.C. State's game against Virginia Saturday, January 28, 2012, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

Wake Forest head coach Jeff Bzdelik, standing, and the Wake coaching staff wear sneakers as part of a 'Coaches versus Cancer' game event during their NCAA college basketball game against Clemson on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Anderson Independent-Mail, Mark Crammer)

Wayne Hutchinson riding Bless The Wings (L, red, yellow cap) on their way to winning The Timeform Novices Handicap Steeple Chase at Cheltenham racecourse on January 28, 2012 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Horses and jockeys negotiate their landings during the Pertems Handicap in Huntington, England. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Daiki Ito of Japan takes flight during practice for the 18th FIS World Cup ski jumping large hill individual competition in Sapporo, Japan. (Photo by Kimimasa Mayama/EPA)

Mark McMorris of Canada soars over a feature as he practices for the men’s snowboard slopestyle finals during Winter X Games 2012 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

ESPN personaity Trey Wingo, second from left, seven-Time Pro Bowler Warren Sapp, center, and celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez pose with the Bud Light Lime surf team on Oahu's North Shore, January 28, 2012 in Haleiwa, Hawaii. (Photo by Marco Garcia/Getty Images North America)

N.C. State's Mark Gottfried can't believe a foul was called on the Wolfpack. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

Wolfpack's 80 Footer At The Half Buzzer

2012-01-27T12:18:00.002-05:00

N.C. State’s Lorenzo Brown banked in an 80-foot heave tobeat the halftime horn in last night’s game.

Thursday Night ACC Basketball

2012-01-27T08:38:00.001-05:00

ZELLER (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

#7 NORTH CAROLINA 74, N.C. STATE 55 -- Tyler Zeller had 21 points and a career-best 17 rebounds to help UNC to their 11th straight victory in this series.

Reggie Bullock added 11 points in his first career start for the Tar Heels (17-3, 4-1 ACC), who dominated almost the entire night in their first game without injured starter Dexter Strickland. North Carolina’s defense shut down the Wolfpack (15-6, 4-2) with one of its better performances of the season, while the offense got plenty of chances around the rim.

North Carolina shot 48 percent and led by 31 points in the second half.

N.C. State was off to its best start in the league in six years under new coach Mark Gottfried and had lost just once since falling to then-No. 1 Syracuse on Dec. 17. But N.C. State never threatened to earn its first win over the Tar Heels since 2007 or its first win in Chapel Hill since 2003.

Wood scored 11 points to lead the Wolfpack, whose only real highlight came when Lorenzo Brown banked in an 80-foot heave to beat the halftime horn. By that point, however, the Tar Heels led by 14 points and were on the way to turning the entire second half into a crowd-pleasing romp.

ZEGLINSKI (Andrew Shurtleff/AP Photo)

#19 VIRGINIA 66, BOSTON COLLEGE 49 -- Sammy Zeglinski hit three-pointers 55 seconds apart in a 20-3 run late in the game and Mike Scott scored 18 points as the Cavaliers beat the Eagles for only the second time in seven tries.

Virginia (16-3, 3-2 ACC) matched it victory total of last season and rebounded from a home loss to Virginia Tech on Sunday night in which they managed just 45 points.

“Coming off the Virginia Tech game, I told our guys this is when you’ve got to step up,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said, looking at a box score that showed several players made large contributions.

Akil Mitchell, who replaced Sene in the lineup but was a non-factor against the Hokies, scored a career-best 10 points and added five rebounds and two assists. Point guard Jontel Evans continued to heed Bennett’s advice to play aggressively at both ends and had 10 points, six assists and three steals.

Zeglinski had four steals by halftime, and guard Malcolm Brogdon got seven rebounds.

Ryan Anderson had 12 points for Boston College (7-13, 2-4), which rallied from a 44-36 deficit to pull even on a 3-pointer by Danny Rubin with 10:25 to play. The Eagles hit seven 3-pointers in the game, but managed just one other field goal over the next 10 minutes as the Cavaliers pulled away.

Clemson’s Hall To Have Knee Repaired

2012-01-27T08:36:00.002-05:00

Clemson safety Rashard Hall will miss spring practice after having surgery on a left knee that bothered him most of this past season.

Hall had 89 tackles last season to lead the Tigers as they won their first Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 20 years. The school said Hall had surgery earlier this week. He is expected back for his senior season.

Hall hurt the knee in Clemson's season opener against Troy. He missed the following week's game against Wofford before returning to play the final 12 games. He made at least eight tackles in each of the Tigers' final five games last season.

Hall has started 31 of his 40 games at Clemson.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-27T08:35:00.002-05:00

John Henson #31 of the North Carolina Tar Heels winks after a dunk against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during play at the Dean Smith Center on January 26, 2012 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The North Carolina Tar Heels huddle just off of the court before a game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at the Dean Smith Center on January 26, 2012 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Lindsey Vonn of the USA during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Super Combined on January 27, 2012 in St.Moritz, Switzerland. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts while playing against Andy Murray of Britain in their men's singles semi-final match on day 12 at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 27, 2012. (Photo by Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images)

Jockey Dwayne Dunn rides Rainbow Styling to win race 1 Catanach's Jewellers Handicap during Greater Dandenong Race Day at Caulfield Racecourse on January 26, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images AsiaPac)

A musher and his dogs negotiate a snowy hill duirng the Sedivackuv Long Dog Sled Race in the village of Destne in the Orlicke mountains of the Czech Republic. (Photo by Petr Josek/Reuters)

Richard Johnson riding Arctic Ben on their way to winning The Contract Fire And Security Handicap Steeple Chase at Warwick racecourse on January 26, 2012 in Warwick, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

R.I.P. Dick Tufeld 1926-2012

2012-01-26T11:54:00.002-05:00

Longtime radio and T.V. announcer Dick Tufeld hasdied at 85.

You would recognize his voice: “Danger, Will Robinson!”

...as oft quoted from Lost In Space.

Ahhh...Some Things Never Change...

2012-01-26T11:43:00.002-05:00

Rumor has it that those crazy kids in College Park don't care for Duke. Could have something to do with the Blue Devils constantly kicking their Terp rear ends. At least, based on last night's game, they gap may be closing up a bit...

(Flickr: Diamondback Photo)

To see more Maryland fan photos from last night's game, click here.

Wednesday Night ACC Basketball

2012-01-26T08:10:00.003-05:00

MASON PLUMLEE (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

#8 DUKE 74, MARYLAND 61 -- Mason Plumlee scored 23 points and No. 8 Duke averted its first losing streak of the season by pulling away from Maryland in the second half on Wednesday night.

Seeking to rebound from a rare home loss, the Blue Devils trailed 47-46 with 12:54 left but outscored Maryland 28-14 the rest of the way.

Ryan Kelly had 14 points and Austin Rivers contributed 10 for Duke (17-3, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). The Blue Devils have dominated this rivalry of late, winning four straight and 10 of 11.

#23 FLORIDA STATE 75, Wake Forest 52 -- In this week's issue, the No. 23 Florida State men's basketball team is featured as one of the hot teams in the country in Sports Illustrated's "what's hot and what's not" list.

After walloping Wake Forest, 75-52, Wednesday night in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Seminoles are well on their way towards a repeat performance inside the magazine's pages.

Winners of five in a row - a streak that is the team's longest since 1993 - FSU (14-6, 5-1 ACC) has now scored at least 75 points in four consecutive games and has defeated Wake Forest (11-9, 2-4) four consecutive times - a feat that has not occurred since the 1993-94 season.

BYU (Cougars, 31,140 students, Provo, UT) 70, VIRGINIA TECH 68 -- Over the past three years, these are the type of losses that have kept the Hokies out of the big dance...Robert Brown's game-winning three-point attempt at the buzzer glanced off the rim, and the Virginia Tech dropped a heartbreaker to Brigham Young in a non-conference game Wednesday night at Cassell Coliseum.

With the loss, Tech fell to 12-8 overall on the season. BYU moved to 18-5.

The Hokies trailed 70-66 after BYU's Brock Zylstra buried a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left - his only basket of the game - and Noah Hartsock hit one of two free throws with 15.9 seconds remaining. But Erick Green answered for Tech on a layup with 10 seconds remaining, and on the ensuing inbounds play, the Hokies forced a BYU turnover with 9.8 seconds to go, giving them a final attempt at a tie or win.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-26T08:05:00.001-05:00

Mourners line the sidewalks of College Avenue on the campus of Penn State, as the procession carries former Penn State Football coach Joe Paterno from the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center to his burial site, January 25, 2012 in State College, Pennsylvania. Paterno, who was 85, died due to complications from lung cancer on January 22, 2012. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

A mourner ducks his head after paying respect to former Penn State Football coach Joe Paterno during the second public viewing at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the campus of Penn State on January 25, 2012 in State College, Pennsylvania. Paterno, who was 85, died due to complications from lung cancer on January 22, 2012. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Two wrestling camels fight at the Pamucak arena during the Selcuk-Efes Camel Wrestling Festival in the town of Selcuk, near the western Turkish coastal city of Izmir, on January 15. Hundreds of wrestling camels competed in the annual event watched by thousands of enthusiasts in western Turkey.

(Photo by Murad Sezer/Reuters)

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return against Roger Federer of Switzerland in their men's singles semi-final match on day 11 of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2012. Nadal won in four sets. (Photo by Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images)

A 'Blue Marble' image of the Earth taken from the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA's most recently launched Earth-observing satellite - Suomi NPP. This composite image uses a number of swaths of the Earth's surface taken on January 4, 2012. The NPP satellite was renamed 'Suomi NPP' on January 24, 2012 to honor the late Verner E. Suomi of the University of Wisconsin.

South squad defensive lineman Quinton Coples, left, of North Carolina, battles Cordy Glenn, of Georgia, during Senior Bowl South Squad NCAA college football practice at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. (AP Photo)

Former Maryland head coach Gary Williams waves to fans during a ceremony to dedicate the court in his name before an NCAA basketball game between Maryland and Duke in College Park, Md., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. Williams, who retired in May with more wins than anyone in the history of the program, led Maryland to the Final Four in 2001 and a national title in 2002. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photos)

Tuesday Night ACC Basketball

2012-01-25T08:55:00.002-05:00

KADJI (Gregory Smith/AP Photo)

MIAMI 64, GEORGIA TECH 49 - Kenny Kadji scored 21 points, Malcolm Grant had 16 and Miami beat Georgia Tech on Tuesday night to leave the Yellow Jackets in last place in the ACC.

Miami (11-7, 2-3) has won two of three. The Hurricanes took only their second road win in seven tries.

Mfon Udofia had 14 points for Georgia Tech (8-12, 1-5). The Yellow Jackets have lost four straight and eight of nine.

Georgia Tech trailed 49-39 after a free throw by Glen Rice Jr. with 7:12 remaining. Back-to-back baskets by Kammeon Holsey cut Miami's lead to 54-45 with 4:26 remaining, but the Hurricanes answered with six straight points to push the lead to 15 points.

Kadji, who had 14 points in the second half, led Miami with eight rebounds.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-25T08:54:00.003-05:00

Students leave notes on a cardboard cutout of former Penn State Football coach Joe Paterno in the Pattee and Paterno Libraries on the campus of Penn State on January 24, 2012 in State College, Pennsylvania. Paterno, who was 85, died due to complications from lung cancer on January 22, 2012. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Mourners pay respect to former Penn State Football coach Joe Paterno during a public viewing at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the campus of Penn State on January 24, 2012 in State College, Pennsylvania. Paterno, who was 85, died due to complications from lung cancer on January 22, 2012. (Photos by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Haiti Photo Diary

2012-01-23T12:17:00.001-05:00

Here is the link to my photo diary with a completedescription of my trip to Haiti. In the future, I will be looking for allmy friends to help me build a few wells…

Clean water is a life saver in theremote villages of this country devastated by hundreds of years of predatoryand corrupt government, natural disasters, etc. I realize we have plentyto do to help folks here at home (plug for Mr. Anderson’s Habitat ForHumanity), but the children of Haiti are pretty irresistible… -- GP

http://warrentonhaiti2012.blogspot.com/

Hereis the public link to my Facebook photos again as some of you couldn’t get itopen…who knows why? I blame Kim Dotcom…but that’s just me.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2932169139995.151506.1134007984&type=3&l=4b9e7be547

Sunday ACC Basketball

2012-01-23T12:14:00.003-05:00

HUDSON (VT Photo)

VIRGINIA TECH 47, #15 VIRGINIA 45 – The roundball version ofthe Commonwealth Cup was almost as hard to watch as the football version. But this wasn’t lopsided like its pigskin cousin, it was just plain ugly. TheWahoos came into the game with one of the best defenses in the country givingup 50.4 points per game, but their offense failed to fire scoring 45 pointsagainst a Hokie defense that gave up 48 points in the second half earlier inthe week against North Carolina.

The Wahoos shot 25% in the first half and 33% for thegame. They were 1 for 14 from behind thearc. That’s 7.1% for those of youkeeping score at home.

Game over.

Now streaking Virginia Tech guard Dorenzo Hudson drained athree-pointer with 16.5 seconds left, and that turned out to be the game winner.

With the win, Tech snapped a four-game losing streak, movingto 12-7 overall, 1-4 in the ACC. Virginia, which swept the season series fromTech a year ago, fell to 15-3 overall, 2-2 in the league.

The win marked Tech's first over a ranked team on the roadsince beating No. 12 Clemson on Feb. 25, 2009.

In a nip-and-tuck affair, Erick Green gave the Hokies a42-41 lead on two free throws with 1:52 remaining. UVa's Mike Scott then turnedthe ball over, and Tech capitalized, as Hudson hit a short shot with 1:11 leftto give the Hokies a 44-41 lead.

GOTTFRIED AND WOOD (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

N.C. STATE 78, MIAMI 73 – Scott Wood scored 21 points to lead North CarolinaState to a victory over Miami on Sunday.

The Wolfpack led 55-41 midway through the second half andwithstood a late Miami rally. Kenny Kadji's dunk with 1:44 remaining got theHurricanes to within 72-68.

N.C. State (15-5, 4-1 ACC) responded with five unansweredpoints, capped by Wood's two free throws with 18 seconds left.

"I thought it was a gutsy win for us; I'm proud of ourteam," head coach Mark Gottfried said. "They made a charge, we wereable to withstand it and still found a way to win. I like that about ourteam."

Earlier in the game, Wood's second of three free throws setthe ACC all-time consecutive free-throw record of 55 after he was fouled on anattempted 3-pointer with 5:21 remaining. He increased the mark to 58 by game'send. Duke's J.J. Redick set the previous record of 54 in 2003-04.

The Joe Pa Dilemma

2012-01-23T12:11:00.001-05:00

(Mark/Centre Daily Times/ZUMA)

Thousands of people gathered for a candlelight vigil inremembrance of former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno in State College,PA yesterday.

There are those who worship Joe Paand those who are angry with him for not doing more to stop JerrySandusky. It’s a slippery slope.

We surmise any poor decisions Joe Pa madelate in his career were more likely related to his age and unfamiliarity withthe likes of sex crimes than his desire to protect his legacy. The bottom line is that, while we remainadvocates of the simple fact the extremely successful people should be allowedto orchestrate their own exit, there is a point where everybody is simply tooold to perform effectively in such a complicated arena.

“I didn’t know exactly how to handle it, and I was afraid todo something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was,” Paternotold The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins when discussing theSandusky scandal. “So I backed away and turned it over to some other people,people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn’t workout that way.”

“I should have said ‘Hey where are we with this thing?’ ”Paterno said. He described himself as paralyzed by the unthinkable subjectmatter. He had “backed away,” he said, and trusted his bosses to handle it.

“I didn’t know which way to go,” he said. “And rather thanget in there and make a mistake . . .”

We wish Joe Pa had called it quits three or four-years ago…

To read an excellent obituary written by Len Shapiro for the Washington Post, click here. The T.A.H. editorial staff spent some time with Len and his wife Vicky Moon last year at Saratoga and we thoroughly enjoyed his comprehensive view of the world of sports.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-23T12:09:00.005-05:00

Tom Brady leaps over the goal line with the go ahead touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. (Photo by Al Tielemans/Sports Illustrated)

Lawrence Tynes #9 and Steve Weatherford #5 of the New YorkGiants celebrate after Tynes kicked the game-winning field goal in overtimeagainst the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship Game at CandlestickPark on January 22, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by JamieSquire/Getty Images)

R.I.P. Joe Pa 1926 - 2012

2012-01-22T13:19:00.004-05:00

(AP file photo)

Saturday ACC Basketball

2012-01-22T10:05:00.002-05:00

SNAER (Gerry Broome/AP Photos)

FLORIDA STATE 76, DUKE 73 – Behind Michael Snaer'sbuzzer-beating 3-pointer, the Florida State men's basketball team upset No. 4Duke, 76-73, to snap the Blue Devils' 45-game winning steak at Cameron IndoorStadium. The Noles have won three gamesin their Saturday-to-Saturday blitz defeating nationally ranked Duke and NorthCarolina as well as Maryland.

Nice, Florida State, NICE!

Ending such a stellar run by one of college basketball'spremier programs is one thing. The manner in which the Seminoles accomplishedthat task is another.

After Duke's Seth Curry hit a lay-up to tie the game at 73-73with less than five seconds left on the game clock and with no timeouts to use,Luke Loucks took FSU's inbounds pass hastily across mid court where BernardJames' well-placed screen gave him the necessary room to find the game'ssoon-to-be hero.

Snaer released the shot with .02 left on the game clock. Ironically, it was a three-pointer.

C.J. HARRIS (Stephan Savoia/AP Photos)

WAKE FOREST 71, BOSTON COLLEGE 56 – Wake Forest's TravisMcKie posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Ty Walkerfinished with 11 rebounds and six blocks to lead the Demon Deacons to a win atBoston College on Saturday afternoon at Conte Forum.

McKie finished 9-for-18 from the floor and added threeblocks, as the sophomore forward fueled an early run that gave the Deacons theadvantage in the first half. Wake Forest (11-8, 2-3 ACC) never trailed in thegame, led by as many as 17 and staved off a second-half BC rally to post theroad conference victory.

Behind the play of Walker, the Deacons dominated the paint.Wake out-rebounded Boston College (7-12, 2-3 ACC), 42-37, and outscored theEagles 40-24 in the paint. Carson Desrosiers was also solid inside, pullingdown eight boards with a block off the bench.

Temple 73, MARYLAND 60 – Terrell Stoglin scored 20 pointsand Pe'Shon Howard had 15, but Maryland fell to Temple Saturday morning at thePalestra.

James Padgett added 10 points and Sean Mosley had aseason-high 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome Temple's Khalif Wyattand Ramone Moore, who scored 20 points each.

Juan Fernandez added 14 points and Aaron Brown had 12 forthe Owls (13-5), who won for the seventh time in nine games. Temple had a10-point lead sliced to one in the second half until Wyatt and Moore hitconsecutive 3-pointers to give them some needed breathing room.

TANNER SMITH (Anderson Independent Mail/Mark Crammer/AP)

CLEMSON 64, GEORGIA TECH 62 – All Andre Young needed to end his three-game shooting slump was a power outage - a power outage at Littlejohn Coliseum to be more specific. But after a power surge on the Clemson campus turned off the lights at the 5:56 mark in the first half Saturday, Young's shooting was turned on.

After a 23-minute delay, Young came out red hot, as he scored 15 straight points for the Tigers on his way to career-high 29 points and a personal best seven three-pointers as Clemson beat Georgia Tech 64-62.

With the win, Clemson improved to 10-9 and 2-3 in the ACC, while the Yellow Jackets slipped to 8-11 and 1-4 in the ACC.

Joe Pa’s Condition Called “Serious”

2012-01-22T10:04:00.004-05:00

Candles circle the statue of Joe Paterno, the former PennState football coach, outside of Beaver Stadium in the early hours of January22, 2012 in State College, Pennsylvania. The community was reacting to newsthat Joe Paterno, who is suffering from lung cancer and who was fired inNovember in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against a formerassistant, was in serious condition.

To make matters a little worse, A student-run newsorganization that covers Penn State has posted a letter online from itsmanaging editor announcing his immediate resignation after the publication’sTwitter account sent messages saying former coach Joe Paterno had died.

Paterno’s sons disputed Onward State’s Saturday posts, andthe publication recanted. But not before the erroneous information was reportedand amplified by many media organizations across the country and retweeteduncounted times. The Associated Press did not publish the report.

Devon Edwards says in the letter that he takesresponsibility and “never, in a million years, would have thought that OnwardState would be cited by the national media.” He did not explain how the erroroccurred.

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-22T10:01:00.001-05:00

Missouri 's Kim English (24) looks on as teammates Phil Pressey (1) and Ricardo Ratliffe (10) celebrate after Baylor's Pierre Jackson (55) fouled Pressey in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Waco, Texas. Missouri won 89-88. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Cameron Crazies taunt Luke Loucks #3 of the Florida State Seminoles as he attempts to inbound the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during the final seconds of play at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 21, 2012 in Durham, North Carolina. Florida State won 76-73 to end Duke's 44-game home winning streak. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Austin Rivers of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a loss to the Florida State Seminoles at the buzzer at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 21, 2012 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Mason Plumlee #5 of the Duke Blue Devils goes up for a dunk over Deividas Dulkys #4 of the Florida State Seminoles during play at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 21, 2012 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles huddles with his team against the Duke Blue Devils during play at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 21, 2012 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Notre Dame students rush the court following their 67-58victory over Syracuse of an NCAA college basketball game Syracuse, SaturdayJan. 21, 2012, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

Florida State Ends Duke's Home Winning Streak

2012-01-21T21:34:00.002-05:00

Michael Snaer #21 of the Florida State Seminoles scores thegame-winning basket over Andre Dawkins #20 of the Duke Blue Devils as timeexpires at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 21, 2012 in Durham, NorthCarolina. Florida State won 76-73 to end Duke's 44-game home winning streak.

Wake Forest beat Boston College, Clemson beat Georgia Tech and Maryland lost to Temple.

More later.

(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

UNC’s Strickland Out For Year With Torn ACL

2012-01-21T08:50:00.000-05:00

(Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer)

University of North Carolina guard Dexter Strickland torehis right anterior cruciate ligament in Thursday's win at Virginia Tech andwill be unable to play the rest of the 2011-12 season.

Strickland, a junior from Rahway, N.J., suffered the injuryearly in the second half in Blacksburg as he drove to the basket.

He started every game this year for the 16-3 Tar Heels andshared the team lead in steals with 25 and was second in assists with 39. Hewas shooting a team-high 57 percent from the floor and was averaging 7.5 pointsper game.

Strickland is regarded as UNC's best perimeter defender. Healso has filled in at point guard at times this season for Kendall Marshall,who was averaging 30.9 minutes of playing time entering Thursday night.Marshall played 37 minutes against Virginia Tech given Strickland's first-halffoul trouble and, later, his injury.

Surgery to repair the torn ligament has not been scheduled.

Thursday Night ACC Basketball

2012-01-20T08:52:00.000-05:00

DAWKINS (Grant Halverston/Getty Images)

#4 DUKE 91, WAKE FOREST 73 – Andre Dawkins kept knockingdown 3-pointers for No. 4 Duke, and those noisy Cameron Crazies chanted"'Dre all day."

Turns out his hot streak only lasted one half-but that wasmore than enough to help the Blue Devils beat Wake Forest again.

Dawkins scored all 21 of his points in the first half, andDuke routed the Demon Deacons 91-73 on Thursday night for its 45th straightvictory at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

#15 VIRGINIA 70, GEORGIA TECH 38 – No, sorry Yellow Jacketfans, that’s not a misprint, that’s 38 points total.

SCOTT (John Bazemore/AP Photos)

Mike Scott scored 18 points and No. 15 Virginia bounced backfrom a tough loss at Duke, blowing out Georgia on Thursday night.

The Cavaliers (15-2, 2-1 ACC) were never seriouslychallenged by the Yellow Jackets, who put up their lowest-scoring game since a53-38 loss to Wake Forest on Feb. 6, 1982, during Bobby Cremins' first seasonas coach.

Virginia was coming off a 61-58 defeat at Cameron IndoorStadium that snapped a 12-game winning streak. The Cavs wasted no time gettingstarted on a new streak, taking advantage of a team that doesn't have a truehome arena.

N.C. STATE 76, BOSTON COLLEGE 62 – N. C. State'swell-balanced attack overwhelmed youthful Boston College offensively anddefensively on Thursday night at the RBC Center, as the Wolfpack picked up itsthird ACC victory of January with a win over the Eagles.

WOOD (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

Junior Scott Wood led four Wolfpack players in doublefigures, scoring a game-high 16 points in the contest, thanks in part to hisfour 3-pointers. The Wolfpack, the ACC's second-highest scoring team, sizzledall night on offense, shooting 51.3 percent from the field on the night, whileholding the Eagles to 40.3 percent shooting from the field.

Sophomore C.J. Leslie added 14 points, while junior RichardHowell had his sixth double-double in the Pack's last eight games, with 11points and 16 rebounds. Sophomore Lorenzo Brown also had nine points and 11assists, his first double-figure assist total against an ACC opponent.

#8 NORTH CAROLINA 82, VIRGINIA TECH 68 – It appeared that theTar Heels remained hung over from Saturday’s drubbing at Florida State as theylooked to be lethargic while the Hokies made seemingly every shot they put upas Dorenzo Hudson scored 16 points in 8 minutes…

BARNES (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer)

Then halftime happened.

Game over.

The Heels came out of a presumably blistering locker roomand went on a 19-0 run to take control of the game.

Harrison Barnes scored nine of his 27 points and John Hensonadded 16 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks for the Tar Heels (16-3, 3-1 ACC),who trailed 44-36 before Barnes started the run with two free throws, a jumperand a dunk. Before it was over, it stretched to 31-5 and a 67-49 lead with 8:23remaining.

HUDSON (Don Pederson/AP)

The Hokies (11-7, 0-4) missed 15 straight shots during therun and lost their fourth straight. They are off to their first 0-4 start inleague play since the 2006 team lost its first six.

Pulled from the starting lineup in favor of Robert Brownafter 0-8 three-point shooting in Virginia Tech’s prior three games, Hudson washonored before the game for joining Virginia Tech’s 1,000-point club. When hechecked in at the first media timeout, he quickly established that he wanted toget busy on the scoring the next 1,000.

Happy 25th Birthday three point shot: The Hokies made 8 of 16 from behind the arcin the first half – 24 of their 39 first half points were from threepointers. The Heels were of 1-8 in thefirst half and 3 of 6 in the second while the Hokies hit just 5 out of the 15three pointers they attempted in the second stanza. Sometimes we take for granted, how much thethree-pointer impacts the game…

Quote of the Day

2012-01-20T08:48:00.001-05:00

(Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer)

“People had some looks on their faces that aren’t reallyindicative of what we needed to do, and I think we came out in the second halfand said, `We’re not going to let this happen again.’ I think something justclicked. I don’t know what it was. We kind of had a moment of truth.”

-- UNC’s John Henson.

Time will tell…

Media Continues To Fawn Over Duke

2012-01-20T08:43:00.001-05:00

JEEZ...LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS SHOT BEFORE...

Even though the Duke Blue Devils aren’t the #1 team in the country, some mainstream media outlets continue to treat them as though they are.

Last night the #4 Blue Devils routed the lowly Demon Deaconsand Yahoo! Sports included 34 photos of their rout. Conversly, the #15 Virginia Cavaliers crushedGeorgia Tech, a victory worthy of 10 photos.

#8 North Carolina got back on track in Blacksburg and theobviously pro-Duke editors at Yahoo! Sports deemed that effort worth threephotos.

Unranked N.C. State whipped up on BC and was rewarded withtwo images.

While it makes sense that the highest ranked teams get the mostink (a policy we follow at T.A.H., see Clemson and Virginia Tech duringfootball season and UNC and Duke during basketball season), is Duke rankedthree times higher than Virginia and ten time higher that North Carolina?

BEDEVILED.

Well…no.

And before you say it, it has nothing to do with thegeographic location of the event and the availability of photographers to AP,Getty or US Presswire. Durham, NC ishardly a media center.

So, we have tasked our crack T.A.H. Research Department toinvestigate where the top honchos at Yahoo! Sports went to school and if thatplays a role in their obvious pro-Duke bias…

Ok, ok, we’re kidding.

(Sort of kidding…)

You know, satire, parody, humor that sort of thing.

(Not really)

(Editor's Note: The published photos of the Duke/Wake game were taken by Grant Halverston for Getty Images...we aren't bustin on the photog, he did some great work.)

Things That Make You Go…

2012-01-20T08:41:00.003-05:00

Hmmm…

Yuri Gilitski and Eugenia Tkachenka of Belarus perform inthe Ice Dance Free Dance Figure Skating (Animal Print Division) during theWinter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-20T08:29:00.005-05:00

N.C. State fans try to distract Boston College's Ryan Anderson (12) as he shoots a free throw during the first half. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

Fans in the Virginia Tech student section show their colors as they wait for the start of the Hokies' game against North Carolina. (Robert Willett/Raleigh News & Observer)

Kev Spooner and his team of Huskies get in some practice prior to the 29th Annual Aviemore Husky Sled Dog rally in Aviemore, Scottland. (Photo by Russell Cheyne/Reuters)

Milwaukee Buck Brandon Jennings grabs the jersey of former North Carolina Tar Heel Ty Lawson as Carlos Delfino look on during an NBA game a few nights ago. (Morry Gash/AP Photos)

University of Miami center Tyler Horn (65) blocks a fellow Hurricane in preparation for the East West Shrine College Football Classic in St. Petersburg. (Chris O’Meara/AP Photos)

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark hits a return in a singlesmatch at the Australian Open in Melbourne. (Mark Blinch/Reuters)

Wednesday ACC Basketball

2012-01-19T07:25:00.002-05:00

GRANT (Andrew Boch/Miami Herald)

MIAMI 76, CLEMSON 73 –Malcolm Grant scored 16 points andmade the game-clinching interception with less than 5 seconds left Wednesday tohelp the Miami Hurricanes beat Clemson.

Hurricanes freshman Shane Larkin sank both ends of aone-and-one - his only points - for the game's final points with 5.4 seconds togo. Grant then picked off a pass by Tanner Smith.

Miami (10-6, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) won for thefirst time in six games against Clemson since February 2008. The Tigers (9-9,1-3) are on the verge of falling below .500 for the first time this season.

ACC Players Of The Week

2012-01-19T07:23:00.001-05:00

DULKYS (Steve Cannon/AP Photos)

Florida State’s Deividas Dulkys has been named ACC Player ofthe Week and Boston College’s Dennis Clifford was selected ACC Rookie of theWeek.

In earning Player of the Week honors for the first time inhis career, Dulkys scored a career-high 32 points in Saturday’s 90-57 win overthird-ranked North Carolina. The Silute, Lithuania, senior hit on 12-of-14 fromthe floor, including 8-of-10 from 3-point range, and had four steals and fourassists in a season-high 33 minutes as the Seminoles won for the third time infour games. Earlier in the week, Dulkys had four points, six rebounds and fiveblocked shots in a 63-59 win over Virginia Tech Tuesday.

Clifford averaged 15.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game asthe Eagles posted wins over Clemson and Virginia Tech. The Bridgewater, Mass.,freshman had 15 points and seven rebounds in Thursday’s 59-57 win over theTigers and 15 points and four rebounds in a 61-59 victory over the HokiesSaturday. On the year he is averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per games andis shooting .592 from the floor.

Quote Of The Day

2012-01-19T07:20:00.001-05:00

(Phil Sears/U.S. Presswire)

"I said, 'Guys, I apologize. There was amiscommunication between (assistant) coach (Joe) Holladay and myself. I wouldnever have left you out there to play the game,' " – UNC head coach RoyWilliams who took his team off the floor to avoid FSU fans storming the court,but left behind the five players still on the court.

Williams said he started to become concerned about theraucous crowd toward the end of the game. At the end of UNC's loss to UNLV inLas Vegas earlier this season, a female manager got pushed to the ground byrushing fans, and Williams said he was trying to avoid a repeat of that.

Williams says he tried to explain the issue to an officialstanding in front of the team's bench, but said the referee respondedwith,"I don't know what to tell you."

During a dead ball timeout, Williams said he spoke withFlorida State coach Leonard Hamilton about his concerns and Hamilton agreedthat Williams should take his players off the court…

Needless to say, Ol’ Roy took some heat from the fan baseback in Chapel Hill…especially from the group that thinks the Tar Heels shouldbe undefeated National Champions EVERY year.

To read more, clickhere.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-19T06:40:00.000-05:00

Here's a sample photos from T.A.H.'s editor/publisher's recent trip to Terrier Rouge, Haiti. Click here, then click on the first photo to see them in slide show format.

Back From Haiti

2012-01-16T15:35:00.001-05:00

THE PUBLISHER. THE JMU SHIRT STAYED IN HAITI

I spent last week in Haiti as the guest of Pere Jean M. Bruno and the Ecole St. Barthélémy school in Terrier Rouge.

This village in northeast Haiti is 70 air miles from Port-au-Prince but it takes 8 hours to get their by car. One of the first things I learned about Haiti is that there are large mountains in the interior of the island– up to 8,500 feet tall. By way of reference, ski town Park City, Utah is at 7,500 feet. So, you've heard the saying "you can't get there from here"? Well, you can't.

So we flew into Santiago, Dominican Republic which looked like a wild west town when we arrived and like the U.S. with armed guards when we returned. That is how much one's perspective changes after a week in Haiti. Santiago seemed dirty, primitive and dangerous on arrival and well-organized, clean and down right orderly when we returned. I even got used to the guys with the big guns guarding the hotel, the neighborhood restaurants, and my favorite, the valet parking.

THE CHAOS JUST INSIDE HAITI

We traveled by bus to Haiti where the crossing over the border is best described as a "scene out of Dante's Inferno." I lack the vocabulary to accurately describe the chaos, the crowds, the trash and the craziness. It was very dramatic...for lack of a better word. We headed off to Terrier Rouge in the back of a flat bed truck which afforded us a safe haven and a great view. Until it rained. Oh well, at least it was warm.

Terrier Rouge is about an hour away. It is a fairly large town (20,000 in the region) which lacks both running water and electricity. It is located about 30 miles from Haiti’s second largest city Cap Haitien.

NEAR TERRIER ROUGE

"Cap" is located on the water pressed up against the mountains. It was not impacted by the 2010 earthquake, but it is quite similar to Port-au-Prince in its sprawl and poverty. Over 200,000 people and not a stop sign or traffic light to be seen which makes it the most chaotic place I’ve ever been. Not to mention dangerous. An earthquake of any scope would devastate the place. Especially the houses hanging precariously from the hills above the city…They would simply roll down the mountain into the sea port.

Pere Bruno is one of those amazing people who quietly changes the world. His school is a project done in partnership with Bethlehem Ministry, Inc., a non-profit organization out of Atlanta, created for the sole purpose of aiding Haiti's poor. He was recently quoted saying, “if you have faith, and do not doubt, you can say to this mountain jump into the sea. And it will." After spending a week with this man and seeing all he has accomplished and all he aspires to accomplish in the future, I believe him. If Pere Bruno decides the mountain is moving, it’s going to get wet. And, in typical Pere Bruno fashion it will happen calmly and deliberately with minimal fanfare.

PERE BRUNO (Center, beard, white shirt)

Bethlehem's Haitian efforts started some 25 years ago when they partnered with Bruno to establish a series of elementary schools in some of the Haiti's less recognized and lesser served regions. Over time they have established a Montessori based pre-K through 8th grade school (Ecole St. Barthélémy); an income generating, sustainable agricultural project (Jatrofa Pepinyè); and a medical clinic (Clinique Espérance et Vie), which seems to be making great strides at meeting the health and wellness needs of the local population.

Construction has begun on a high school adjacent to the Ecole St. Barthélémy and the first $70,000 of the $200,000 needed to complete the project has been raised. Currently, Ecole St. Barthélémy is educating and, more importantly, feeding 700 students per day. To attend, students need $250 in tuition and a uniform. Uniforms and backpacks have been donated by various entities and some students are sponsored.

HAPPY STUDENTS

The project’s intent is fairly straight-forward. Both Bethlehem and Pere Bruno recognized years ago that education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty in Haiti – a country devastated by a harsh environment, a long-series of corrupt governments with little interest in helping its people, limited public utilities and transportation, no widespread individual agricultural efforts that can be utilized to feed it’s masses, a unique language that isolates them and a host of odd traditions and superstitions fueled by voodoo among other things. Suffice to say, it’s a complicated place with complicated problems.

That said, they are making great strides. The power lines are up in Terrier Rouge although nothing runs through them. Ironic at best. About six miles down the road, a new university opened on January 12th – the two year anniversary of the Port –au-Prince earthquake. Both the presidents of Haiti and the Dominican Republic visited the area while we were there (lots of helicopters which is odd for Haiti) as did former U.S. President Bill Clinton. That said, the primary mode of transport remains horses (ponies really and donkeys)

TERRIER ROUGE

I was part of a mission trip sponsored by the Warrenton Rotary and the Warrenton Presbyterian Church. We were an eclectic group – old, young, black, white, men, women and a variety of religions. Our primary mission was to learn about the various projects going on in the area and to take these stories back to the U.S. As I told a fellow traveler “This is about branding Haiti and all of us are part of that effort.”

We saw many amazing things, places and people and had a wonderful grounding experience. One of our treks was up the mountain to a very remote village that previously had a broken well. The Warrenton Rotary raised $2,000 last year to get the villagers a new well, so we went to see how it was doing. The residents were delighted to see us and explained (not to me, I don’t speak Creole or French) that the new well had all but wiped out Cholera there and generally improved the health of everyone. We were very welcomed guests, and I left there resolved to build some additional wells in other local villages…

WAITING A TURN IN PHAETON

On the second anniversary of the 2010 earthquake we attended a moving service at the school before heading off to do a food drop at two isolated villages. The night before we had repackaged over a ton of food in to individual bags for distribution to those in need - rice, beans, oil, pasta and salt herring. A community leader distributed chits to various needy folks and they were lined up waiting for us when we arrived.

Both of these villages, Phaeton and Paulette, were both "company towns" for a factory that manufactured rope from a local plant. When synthetic rope became less expensive to produce the factory went out of business leaving it's employees with no way to make a living. As a result, the overwhelming majority of the food was distributed to elderly people who once worked for the rope plant. This is something Pere Bruno does whenever he has the extra cash to buy the food and it is very moving to see and always leaves at least one volunteer in tears and the rest not far behind...

EVERYBODY LOVES BALLOONS

We also built a garden for the clinic specifically for fruit trees and medicinal herbs. I can’t say I was particularly pleased with my design (done over a bowl of delicious pumpkin soup at lunch), but I’ll be delighted if it’s there and functioning as intended next month, next year and ten years from now…The Warrenton Presbyterians coming in behind us will plant it and hopefully a few of our new Haitian friends will tend it from there. Richard, who manages the clinic, did get some barbed-wire so he could keep the goats and pigs out…hopefully.

While in Cap Haitien we visited the Kay Anj (Angel House) Orphanage established by four folks from Haymarket, VA. It was, as all visits to orphanages are, both inspiring and distressing at the same time. This particular place is a wonderful oasis in the middle of a hillside slum. I feel badly about calling the area a "slum" since everyone seems to be doing the very best they can, but I don't know a better word to describe it. The children were sweet and loving and leaving them was difficult. To read more about this amazing project, click here.

As guest of the school, we had deluxe accommodations – electricity (solar and generator), running water (no hot water), three square meals a day, briefly sort of cold beer each evening, an all important ceiling fan…and, yes, believe it or not, WiFi! So we were hardly roughing it. Cell phones worked perfectly in not inexpensively.

Outside the compound was a very different story…

That said, one of the great things about the projects tackled by Pere Bruno is he knows his limitations. He thinks globally and acts locally and he only tackles the mountains he knows he can move so efforts in Terrier Rouge, at the school and farm and the clinic all produce achievable goals and eventual results.

WAITING THEIR TURN AT CLINIQUE ESPERANCE ET VIE

My first goal is to raise enough money to provide several remote villages with clean water under Pere Bruno's direction. We had tried to visit such a village last week, but it had rained there and the road (as it is) was a giant bog and impassable.

Each well costs about $2,000. If you would like to help, feel free to send a contribution to T.A.H.'s “Wells of Health and Hope,” c/o GPetty-VTA, 38 Garrett Street, Warrenton, VA 20186.

To read more about Terrier Rouge, click here and here.

For more info about the school, farm and clinic, click here and scroll down a little or here.

-- Glenn Petty/T.A.H.

T.A.H. On Sabbatical

2012-01-07T10:27:00.001-05:00

(http://pastorcarrieinhaiti2012.blogspot.com)

Yeah, we know we just got back from a holiday vacation, but this is a little different. T.A.H.’s editor and publisher are headed off to Haiti on a mission trip with the local Rotary Club and the Presbyterian Church. (The link under the photo takes you to Pastor Carrie's blog about the trip.)

We are going to Terrier Rouge, Haiti to help a school and an orphanage there.

Evidently, Sean Penn can’t do it all himself and really does take a village. Why not join the village?

So we have gotten all our vaccinations, taken our malaria pills and packed according to the instructions of former missionaries....What could possibly go wrong?

Terrier Rouge is in northeast Haiti and a good poke from the earthquake devastated areas around Port Au Prince, but it still remains one of the poorest regions in the world. Unemployment is at a staggering 85% and simple things like utilities, while available in some places, are still hard to come by...Don't stand around waiting for the trash pick up or pizza delivery...

Needless to say, WiFi is not a Haitian priority.

We will be back on line on Monday, January 16.

Don’t panic, you will be fine. The ACC has no dog in any remaining bowl fights and the hoops’ regular season is just getting started.

When we return, we will post info on how you to can help the people of Haiti working hard to help themselves.

What’s Wrong With ACC Football

2012-01-06T09:48:00.001-05:00

(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

While we don’t have the time, inclination or intellect to effectively cogitate on such weighty matters, others do. Caulton Tudor of the Raleigh News & Observer published a column today titled “Here’s why the ACC was bowled over.”

It’s an interesting read as it points out that, like most things in this world, there is more than one force at work impacting this particular outcome. There are a variety of reasons for why ACC football seems to be in a bad place in comparison to the other major conferences.

Among others, the ACC has four private institutions (Wake Forest, Duke, Boston College and Miami) while the S.E.C. (Vanderbilt) and the Big Ten (Northwestern) each have just one...

Quote Of The Day

2012-01-06T09:46:00.002-05:00

(Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer)

“We have to fight. When we fight, we’re a really tough team to beat. When we don’t, we’re very beatable. We have to come out strong. At halftime, we’re only down two. We come out like we’re down 30 or something and our heads are down for no reason. It was a two-point game. It’s a one-possession game, and we came out and we were slow. They just kept extending the lead and they were excited. They played harder.”

-- Duke freshman Austin Rivers on the Blue Devils loss to Temple.

ACC Regular Season Basketball Opens Saturday

2012-01-06T09:45:00.002-05:00

Here’s the long and short of it...The two top teams are again Duke and North Carolina. The interesting questions involve who will finish third through fifth and find their way to the Big Dance.

To date, it looks like Virginia, Florida State and Virginia Tech are the most likely middle tier teams, but the jury is still way out on the three squads with new head coaches -- Miami, Maryland and N.C. State.

It looks pretty grim for Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Boston College. B.C. is the only team in the league with a losing record, and they open Saturday in Chapel Hill...Ouch.

To read a much more comprehensive season preview from Yahoo! Sports, click here.

Saturday, Jan 7

Duke @ Georgia Tech, 12:00 PM, ESPNU

Virginia Tech @ Wake Forest, 12:00 PM, ACC Network/ESPN3

Boston College @ North Carolin, 2:30 PM, ACC Network/ESPN3

Florida State @ Clemson, 4:00 PM, ESPN2

Miami @ Virginia, 6:00 PM, ESPNU

Sunday, Jan 8

Maryland @ N.C. State, 6:00 PM, ESPNU

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-06T09:39:00.000-05:00

David Casteu of France and Yamaha Racing France/ELF in action during stage five of the 2012 Dakar Rally from Chilechito to Fiambala on January 5, 2012 in Fiambala, Argentina. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images South America)

Young fans of the Clemson Tigers show support for their team against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 4, 2012 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

(January 3, 2012 - Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America)

Wellcome to the ACC...Former Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Dan Marino greets head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers prior to Clemson playing against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Discover Orange Bowl. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America)

Current Buffalo Bills and former Clemson Tigers running back C.J. Spiller signs autographs for fans prior to Clemson playing in the Discover Orange Bowl. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images North America)

Jockey J.D. Acosta rides Rapid Redux to win the 6th race at Laurel Park for his record-setting 22nd consecutive victory on January 4, 2012 in Laurel, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)

Tough Night For Top ACC Teams

2012-01-05T11:31:00.002-05:00

In the immortal words of Mad Men’s Peggy Olson “It was goinggreat, until it wasn’t”*

CLEMSON PRE-GAME TAILGATE (J. Meric/Getty)

And the halftime show was nice...

HALFTIME...OOOOH, FIREWORKS!!! (J. Meric/Getty Images)

*Mad Men: Public Relations (#4.1)" (2010)

Let’s Go Bowling

2012-01-05T11:27:00.003-05:00

HOLGORSEN and SMITH (J. Meric/Getty Images)

On second thought, let’s not...

#23 West Virginia 70, #14 CLEMSON 33 -- Clemson, playing intheir first major bowl game in 30 years, jumped out to an early 14-7 leadbefore committing three turnovers and giving up a record five Mountaineertouchdowns in the second quarter.

Game over. Way, way,way over.

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith tied the record for any bowl game with sixtouchdown passes, and the No. 23-ranked Mountaineers set a bowl scoring recordWednesday night with their high-powered offense. That said, it was safetyDarwin Cook’s pivotal play returning a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown to breakthe game open.

Cook collided comically with mascot Obie after scoring oneof the Mountaineers’ five TDs in the second quarter, including three in thefinal 2:29 for a 49-20 lead. It was the highest-scoring half by a team in abowl game. EVER.

COOK'S GAME CHANGING PLAY (J. Meric/Getty Images)

In all the best team from the now second-worse B.C.S.conference set or tied nine records. No, that’s not a misprint, that’s NINE.

Nice, Clemson, NICE.

Now look, we knew the Tigers (10-4) defense was suspect asthey lost three of their last four games and allowed six opponents to scoremore than 30 points, but this game was either the greatest display of offenseever, the worst display of defense ever or some wretched combination of the two...

West Virginia’s Tavon Austin (who evidently is unable tostep out of bounds, even accidentally) scored every time he touched the ball --not really, it just seemed like it. Hedid tie the record for any bowl game with four touchdown catches. Smith went 31for 42, and had 401 yards passing to break Tom Brady’s Orange Bowl record.Smith also ran for a score, helping West Virginia break the bowl record forpoints established six nights earlier when Baylor beatWashington 67-56 in theAlamo Bowl.

SMITH (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Mountaineers (10-3) won in their first Orange Bowlappearance and improved to 3-0 in Bowl Championship Series games. The ACC’s overall record in BCS games fell to2-13.

“We’re a better team than we played tonight,” coach DaboSwinney said. “Just too many mistakes. But we’ll be back.”

The game featured over 1,000 yards of total offense. WestVirginia totaled 589 yards and 31 first downs and QBSmith was chosen the game’soutstanding player.

The Tigers put up443 yards.

So Where Does That Leave Maryland?

2012-01-05T11:22:00.001-05:00

OH WELL, AT LEAST THE TERPS LOOKED GOOD (?)

Now that the ACC is 2-13 in B.C. S. bowls with bothvictories coming over teams from the Big (L)East, it would seem appropriate toask what is the state of the worst team in the worst B.C.S. conference?

Unfortunately, the Terps at 2-10 fit that description.

As for the rest of the league the football inferioritycomplex seems to be thriving. Between the Hokies itchy finger on the panicbutton and their on-going QB fixation which seemingly cost them the Sugar Bowl and the Tigers statisticallymind blowing collapse last night, ACC football is in a very dark place.

The good news is regular season ACC basketball get infull-swing Saturday.

Dribble, dribble, fake, shoot. Repeat.

Wednesday Night ACC Basketball

2012-01-05T09:42:00.005-05:00

WYATT (Tom Mihalek/AP Photo)

Temple (Owls, 27,803 students, Philadelphia, PA) 78, #5 DUKE73 – Fundamental basketball truth: If you shoot 56% you win damn near everygame. And, that is exactly what Templedid.

Khalif Wyatt scored 22 points and Rahlir Hollis-Jeffersonhad 17 to help the Owls knock off No. 5 Duke.

Using tough man-to-man defense that limited Duke'slong-range shots, the Owls (10-3) grabbed the lead midway through the firsthalf and never let it go. When the Blue Devils (12-2) crept within three pointsin the waning minutes, Wyatt hit consecutive 3-pointers for a 66-57 lead.

The Owls had lost nine straight times to Duke, and hadn'tbeat the Blue Devils since Jan. 25, 1996. This decisive win in front of morethan 20,000 fans gave the Owls wins over Top 10 teams for the fourth straightseason, all in Philadelphia.

Miles Plumlee scored 17 points, while Mason Plumlee had 16points and 13 rebounds for the Blue Devils.

FLORIDA STATE 85, Auburn (Tigers, 20,446 students, Auburn, AL)56 – Looking to avoid its thirdconsecutive loss and looking for answers, the Florida State blasted Auburn85-56 at the Donald L. Tucker to end their two-game skid and effectively erasethe memory of what transpired less than a week prior.

FSU (9-5) needed three extra periods to reach 75 points inthe loss to Princeton and scored just 10 points by halftime in that game. Butagainst the Tigers (10-4), the 'Noles didn't have that same difficulty scoringthe basketball and scored a season high.

LESLIE (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

Paced by Michael Snaer's career high 22 points, FloridaState built a 50-16 lead at halftime and were never tested by the previouslyuntested Tigers in the second period.

N.C. STATE 78, Delaware State (Hornets, 4,179 students,Dover, DE) 44 – Scott Wood and C.J. Leslie shared leading scorer honors with 14a piece, but Richard Howell’s 12 point, 12 rebound performance took centerstage. Howell notched double-digit rebounds for the fifth-straight game, andthe Pack improves to 6-0 this season when the junior captures 10 or moreboards.

Wood’s 14 came on 5-of-12 shooting (4-of-11 from beyond thearc), while Leslie went 6-of-12 and snagged eight rebounds.

Delaware State broke an over seven-minute long scorelessstreak early in the second half before NC State cruised on an 18-6 run from the17-minute mark to less than nine minutes remaining. The run culminated with thePack holding a 64-30 advantage with 9:02 remaining.

Tee-Shirt Of The Day

2012-01-05T09:42:00.002-05:00

Geno Smith celebrates. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Tavon Austin of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrateswith fans. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Hey, at least they didn't misspell Virginia as they did following the Mountaineers N.I.T. victory in 2007.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-05T09:40:00.009-05:00

Fans of the Clemson Tigers look on dejected during the Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium onJanuary 4, 2012 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Stedman Bailey #3 of the West Virginia Mountaineers scores a3-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against Bashaud Breeland #17and Xavier Brewer. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Geno Smith #12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrateswith teammates after he scored a 7-yard rushing touchdown in the second. (Photoby Streeter Lecka/Getty

Tavon Austin #1 and Geno Smith #12 of the West VirginiaMountaineers celebrate after Austin caught a 37-yard touchdown reception thrownby Smith in the third quarter. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Tavon Austin #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers scores a37-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages)

Sammy Watkins #2 of the Clemson Tigers makes a receptionagainst Brodrick Jenkins #23 of West Virginia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages)

Shawne Alston #20 of the West Virginia Mountaineers rushesfor a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter while Clemson DT Brandon Thompsonhelps officiate the game...? (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Darwin Cook #25 of the West Virginia Mountaineers returns afumble 99-yards for a touchdown in the second. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/GettyImages)

Sammy Watkins #2 of the Clemson Tigers runs for yards afterthe catch in the first quarter against Eain Smith. (Photo by StreeterLecka/Getty Images)

Andre Ellington #23 of theClemson Tigers runs for a 68-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter.(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Tavon Austin #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers scores an8-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages)

Willie Milhouse #85 of the West Virginia Mountaineers makesa reception in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the DiscoverOrange Bowl. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Tajh Boyd #10 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates with the Clemsonmascot. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Sugar Bowl Explained...

2012-01-04T08:46:00.001-05:00

The short version from the Virginia Tech perpective...

Some things just make you want to scream!

(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Let's Go Bowling

2012-01-04T08:43:00.001-05:00

THOMAS (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

#13 Michigan 23, #17 VIRGINIA TECH 20 - OT.

In a game dominated by the Hokies, the Virginia Tech coaches seemed to have one hand very close to the panic button at all times. As is their tendency, the Hokie's coaching staff tends to rely too much on their quarterback, and last night first-year starter Logan Thomas simply couldn’t make enough big plays to win the game.

A fourth-and-one attempt with the Hokies leading 6-0 and controlling the game in the second quarter was anticipated and successfully stopped by the Wolverines defense which, in spite of a rather odd formation, quickly converged on the center of the line. We predict everybody on the Michigan coaching staff, in the stadium and watching on television knew who was going to handle the ball.

A fourth quarter failed faked punt with the game tied 17-17 seemed another example of the Hokies’ impatience and reluctance to rely on their stingy defense. Both plays led to Michigan scores.

GIBBONS (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

By contrast, Michigan couldn’t stop the Hokies, but somehow foiled both their opponents long drives and trickeration while making enough big plays to win the Sugar Bowl in OT.

Michigan’s Brendan Gibbons drilled a 37-yard field goal down the middle in overtime to lift Wolverines to a 23-20 victory over Virginia Tech leaving the ACC’s BCS record at a dismal 2-12. The conference is a mere 2-5 this bowl season with only Florida State and N.C. State logging wins.

The victory capped an impressive debut season for Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, who has led the Wolverines (11-2) back to prominence with a BCS bowl victory.

Denard Robinson highlighted an otherwise unspectacular night with touchdown passes of 45 and 18 yards to Junior Hemingway.

Virginia Tech (11-3) had more than double Michigan's total yards, 377-184, and had 22 first downs to Michigan's 12 but settled for four field goals in regulation by third-string kicker Justin Myer.

(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

However, Myer was unable to connect on his fifth try from 37 yards away in the opening possession of overtime.

Robinson finished 9 for 21 for 117 yards passing and threw an interception. He rushed 13 times for a season-low 13 yards.

Virginia Tech first-year start Logan Thomas was 19 of 28 of 214 yards with one interception.

Thomas scored Tech's only touchdown on a 1-yard keeper that tied the game at 17 - after a 2-point conversion - early in the fourth quarter, but it seemed that the Hokies relied too much on their new QB’s legs and on many occasions the Michigan defense saw Thomas coming...

Virginia Tech senior receiver Danny Coale, who ranks second all-time for the Hokies in catches and yards receiving, had eight catches for 117 yards, and nearly made a spectacular diving catch for a touchdown in overtime. Coale held on to the ball for what was initially ruled a score, but the play was overturned on video review, which showed the receiver narrowly landed on the sideline.

COALE (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The result of that third-down play forced Tech to try for Myer's failed field goal.

Michigan then ran three conservative runs to set up Gibbons in the middle of the field. As his kick sailed through, Gibbons sprinted toward the Michigan sidelined and was mobbed by teammates while the Michigan band belted out the school's famous fight song.

Game over.

Quote Of The Day

2012-01-04T08:34:00.001-05:00

(Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

"My kickers are not bad guys. They just made bad decisions. And young people do that."

-- Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer who was forced to rely on third-string place kicker Justin Meyer in last nights game. Myer has been kicking off for the Hokies since he transferred in 2009 from Murray State.

On December 30, Hokie Senior Tyler Weiss got sent home on a Greyhound bus Thursday after missing the team's 1 a.m. curfew.

The punishment comes a week after starter Cody Journell was arrested and arraigned on charges of entering a Blacksburg house with the intent to commit a felony. Journell, who was released from Montgomery County jail Wednesday on a $100,000 secured bond, is suspended indefinitely from the team.

ACC Tuesday Night Basketball

2012-01-04T08:25:00.004-05:00

MOSELY (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

MARYLAND 70, Cornell (Big Red, 13,935 students, Ithaca, NY) 62 -- Sean Mosley scored 19 points, Alex Len had 15 points and nine rebounds and Maryland beat Cornell Tuesday night.

Terrell Stoglin added 14 points and four assists for the Terrapins (10-3), who scored the game's first 16 points but had to hang on late for their seventh consecutive victory.

After the Big Red closed to 47-46, Len -- a 7-foot-1 freshman -- made a pair of three-point plays in an 8-4 spree that helped put momentum back on Maryland's side.

But the outcome wasn't decided until Stoglin hit a 3-pointer with 1:49 left and Pe'Shon Howard followed two Cornell misfires with a pair of foul shots for a 66-60 lead with 31.8 seconds remaining.

Chris Wroblewski scored 15 for Cornell (4-9) and Devin Cherry added 14. The Big Red have lost five straight, all on the road, where they are 0-8 this season.

Alabama (Crimson Tide, 26,234 students, Tuscaloosa, AL) 73, GEORGIA TECH 48 -- Trevor Releford scored 17 points, Tony Mitchell added 14 and Alabama coasted to an easy victory over Georgia Tech Tuesday night.

JaMychal Green, a first-team All-Southeastern Conference forward, finished with nine points and five rebounds in 22 minutes for the Crimson Tide (11-3). Green did not start, but played for the first time since injuring his right shoulder in a Dec. 17 loss to Kansas State.

Kammeon Holsey finished with 14 points for Georgia Tech (7-7), which has lost three straight. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 0-2 at Philips Arena, where they will host No. 5 Duke in both schools' ACC opener Saturday.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-04T08:23:00.001-05:00

Junior Hemingway #21 of the Michigan Wolverinescores a 18-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against Antone Exum #1 of the Virginia Tech Hokies during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 3, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Logan Thomas #3 of the attempts to reach for extra yardage as he is tackeled by Ryan Van Bergen #53 and Mike Martin #68. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Fans of the Virginia Tech Hokies support their team against the MichiganWolverines during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 3, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Kicker Brendan Gibbons #34 (C) of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with his teammates after he kicked a successful game-winning 37-yard field goal in overtime to win 23-20. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jayron Hosley #20 of the Virginia Tech Hokies intercepts a pass in the third quarter. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Brendan Gibbons #34 and Drew Dileo #26 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate after Gibbons kicked a successful 37-yard game-winning field goal in overtime. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Justin Myer #48 of the Virginia Tech Hokies walks off the field after he missed a field goal attempt in overtime. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Jayron Hosley tips the ball away from Roy Roundtree. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Icon SMI)

Mercedes Rubio, fan of the Michigan Wolverines and and Nicholas E. Saunders Jr., fan of the Virginia Tech Hokies sit in the stands as they wait for their teams to play during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 3, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Kyle Fuller #17 of the Virginia Tech Hokies intercepts a pass in the first half against Junior Hemingway. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

David Wilson #4 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs the ball against Thomas Gordon #30 and Jake Ryan #90 of the Michigan Wolverines in the second quarter. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Vincent Smith #2 of the Michigan Wolverines is stopped short of the endzone on the 2-yard line as he is tackeled by Eddie Whitley #15 and Tariq Edwards #24 of the Virginia Tech Hokies. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Logan Thomas #3 of the Virginia Tech Hokies attracting a lot of attention. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Head coach Frank Beamer, Chase Williams #36 and Logan Thomas #3 of the Virginia Tech Hokies look on from the sideline in overtime. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ACC Players Of The Week

2012-01-03T14:16:00.001-05:00

BROWN (Ethan Hyman/News & Observer)

N.C. State’s Lorenzo Brown has been named ACC Player of theWeek, while Duke’s Quinn Cook was selected ACC Rookie of the Week.

Brown averaged 19.0 points, 8.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds inleading the Wolfpack to 2-0 record last week with victories over Campbell,87-81, and Western Carolina, 82-55. The Roswell, Ga., sophomore shot 63 percent(12-of-19) from the floor and 88 percent (14-of-16) from the free-throw line.In Thursday’s win over Campbell, Brown had 24 points, eight assists and eightsteals. Two nights later, he had 14 points and eight assists in only 28 minutesagainst Western Carolina.

In earning the rookie award for a second-straight week, Cookaveraged 11.0 points, 8.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds as Duke moved to 12-1 on theyear with a pair of non-conference wins. The Bowie, Md., freshman had 17assists with no turnovers in the two games. In Friday’s 110-70 victory overWestern Michigan, Cook had a career-high 16 points, eight assists and fourrebounds. Two nights later, he finished with six points and a career-high nineassists in a 85-55 victory over Pennsylvania.

Monday Night ACC Basketball

2012-01-03T14:14:00.003-05:00

(Bill Feig/AP Photos)

#21 VIRGINIA 57, LSU 52 -- Sammy Zeglinski scored 17 points,including a big 3-pointer late in the game, to help No. 21 Virginia beat LSUMonday night.

Joe Harris added 14 points, also hitting a 3-pointer late,for the Cavaliers (13-1), who have won 11 straight games.

With their lead down to one, Zeglinski made his fourth 3 ofthe game to put the Cavaliers on top 51-47 with 3:25 remaining. A 3-pointer byAnthony Hickey again reduced Virginia's lead to a single point before Harrismade his 3-pointer with 1:30 left.

The Tigers cut their deficit in half at 54-52 on a fieldgoal by Justin Hamilton with 51 seconds remaining. LSU got the ball back whenRalston Turner blocked a shot by Harris and Hamilton grabbed the ball. However,Hamilton immediately lost the ball.

Game over.

Wofford 56, WAKE FOREST 52 -- Wake Forest battled back froma double-digit halftime deficit, but could not overcome the Wofford Terriers at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

The Demon Deacons received a career-high tying 25-pointeffort from sophomore forward Travis McKie and a career best 12 rebounds bysenior center Ty Walker. It wasn't enough, however, as the Deacons fell to 9-5on the year and the Terriers took a game from Wake Forest for the first timesince 1906 - the Deacons' inaugural intercollegiate season.

Wofford was paced by senior guards Brad Loesing and KevinGiltner, who had 17 and 11 points respectively as the Terriers improved to 8-6on the season.

MIAMI 99, UNC Greensboro 89 -- Kenny Kadji scored 30 points to lead Miami past NorthCarolina-Greensboro Monday night.

(Bill Feig/AP Photos)

The Hurricanes (9-4) withstood an upset bid by the Spartans,who have lost 10 straight.

UNC Greensboro (2-13) cut a 93-80 deficit with sevenunanswered points late in the second half. David Williams' layup with 1:36remaining ended the spurt and got the Spartans to within 93-87.

Durand Scott secured the Miami win with four free throws,finishing with 17 points. With a pair offree throws in the second period, Scott became the 33rd Cane in history to topthe 1,000 mark.

Rhode Island 78, BOSTON COLLEGE 72 -- Freshman Ryan Andersonrecorded his third double-double of the year with career highs in points (18)and rebounds (14) as Boston College lost to visiting Rhode Island in doubleovertime.

Anderson went 7-for-12 from the field and added three blocksand two steals. Freshmen Dennis Clifford and Lonnie Jackson both had 12 points,and classmates Jordan Daniels and Patrick Heckmann both had 11.

Let's Go Bowling

2012-01-03T14:10:00.002-05:00

Wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei #80 of the Oregon Ducks holds up the trophy as the Ducks celebrate their 45-38 victory against the Wisconsin Badgers at the 98th Rose Bowl Game on January 2, 2012 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Ommarius Hines #82 of the Florida Gators runs upfield past Ohio State Buckeyes defenders Ryan Shazier #10 and Garrett Goebel #53 during the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl at EverBank Field on January 2, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Case Keenum #7 of the Houston Cougars celebrates with his team and the TicketCity Bowl trophy after a 30-14 win against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Cotton Bowl Stadium on January 2, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Cornerback Brandon Boykin #2 of the Georgia Bulldogs tackles wide receiver Keshawn Martin #82 of the Michigan State Spartans for a sack in the Outback Bowl January 2, 2012 at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Michigan State’s Le’Veon Bell stiff arms Georgia’s Alec Ogletree during overtime of the Outback Bowl. (Photo by Kim Klement/US Presswire)

Wide receiver Nick Toon #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers catches an 18-yard touchdown against Ifo Ekpre-Olomu #14 of the Oregon Ducks in the third quarter at the 98th Rose Bowl Game on January 2, 2012 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Quinn Sharp #13 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys kicks a successful 22-yard field goal in to win the game in overtime against the Stanford Cardinal during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 2012 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal reacts after Stanford fumbled the ball with in their own 5-yard line in the third quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 2012 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

DeAngelo Smith #6 of the South Carolina Gamecocks misses a catch defended byAndrew Green #11 and Daimion Stafford #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskersduring the Capitol One Bowl at FloridaCitrus Bowl on January 2, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Quarterback Russell Wilson #16 of the Wisconsin Badgerslooks to pass the ball in the second quarter against the Oregon Ducks at the98th Rose Bowl Game on January 2, 2012 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by HarryHow/Getty Images)

Tee-Shirt Of The Day

2012-01-03T12:44:00.003-05:00

Kye Staley of the Oklahoma State Cowboys models the Tee-Shirt Of The Day as he celebrates afterhis Cowboys won 41-38 in overtime against the Stanford during the Tostitos (Nacho Cheese?) Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 2012 at University of PhoenixStadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Miamigate: Easy Come, Easy Go

2012-01-03T12:40:00.000-05:00

SHAPIRO (R)

The University of Miami is giving back $83,000 it says itreceived "directly and indirectly" from Nevin Shapiro, the formerHurricanes booster and convicted Ponzi scheme architect whose claims of givingathletes and recruits extra benefits for nearly a decade sparked an NCAAinvestigation.

Court records show the agreement between the school andbankruptcy trustee Joel Tabas was filed last week. Once the agreement becomesfinalized, Miami would have 14 days to make payment to Tabas, who is overseeingthe effort to recoup money that Shapiro's investors lost.

The NCAA said in August that eight players would besuspended for either one, four or six games -- most got only one-game bans --and that they and four others would have to pay back what they received fromShapiro, who claimed to give extra benefits to 72 players and football recruitsduring his time as a booster, along with contributions to the university'sathletic department.

As a condition of the agreement, once it becomes final, thetrustee "releases the University and the Athletes from any and all claims,counterclaims ... whether liability be direct or indirect." In short, thatmeans the value of the gifts past and present players received from Shapirowill likely not be pursued by the trustee.

Shapiro said he gave athletes money, cars, yacht rides andother benefits from 2002 through 2010. He is serving a 20-year prison term foroverseeing a $930 million Ponzi scheme, and involuntary bankruptcy proceedingsto recover at least some of the money his investors lost were initiated in2009. When he was sentenced, federal officials said his grocery-distributionscam led to investor losses of at least $80 million.

The NCAA is expected to levy sanctions against Miami whenits inquiry into the school's compliance practices concludes. Miami's footballteam did not make itself eligible for selection to a bowl game this season, aself-imposed penalty related to the NCAA investigation.

R.I. P. Bob Anderson/Darth Vader

2012-01-03T12:39:00.001-05:00

Bob Anderson, Olympic fencer and movie sword master whodonned Darth Vader's helmet for all of the light saber fight scenes in StarWars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return ofthe Jedi, has passed away at the age of 89. Cause of death was not disclosed tothe public.

Bob Anderson worked as a sword master, fight director, andstunt performer for over five decades in cinema, appearing alongside ErrolFlynn, Antonio Banderas, and Mark Hamill.

It was Mark Hamill who outted Bob Anderson as the thirdpiece of the Darth Vader persona in 1983. The actor was joined by James EarlJones as the voice and David Prowse as the body in creating one of the greatestvillains of all time.

According to Bob Anderson's former assistant Leon Hill,David Prowse wasn't good with a sword, and he was unable to properly learn themoves needed for the climatic end fight scene in Star Wars: Episode V - TheEmpire Strikes Back. So, despite being several inches shorter and nearing 60years of age, Bob donned the costume and did the scenes himself opposite MarkHamill, whom he also trained.

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-03T12:37:00.005-05:00

Head coach Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins suddenly realizes that he doesn’t have a starting quarterback during the final game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What? Grossman, Beck? That’s all we’ve got? Who’s in charge?!?!? (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)

The Philadelphia Flyers take on the New York Rangers during the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers line up for the National Anthem during the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Marc-Andre Bourdon #43 of the Philadelphia Flyers fights forthe puck against Artem Anisimov #42 of the New York Rangers during the 2012Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012 inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

New Year’s Day ACC Basketball

2012-01-02T11:48:00.001-05:00

HENSON

#5 NORTH CAROLINA 102, Monmouth 65 – John Henson scored 21points as the Tar Heels beat Monmouth on Sunday for their 26th straight victoryat the Smith Center.

Harrison Barnes added 18 points for the Tar Heels (13-2).They shot 54 percent, built a 55-26 rebounding advantage, used a 33-10 run latein the first half to take a 31-point halftime lead. They cruised from there tobreak the arena record established from 1992-94 - a mark two Monmouthassistants had a role in setting.

P.J. Hairston had 16 points for North Carolina, which wonits seventh straight overall and hasn't lost in its nearly 26-year-old buildingsince Florida State won there on Feb. 24, 2010.

#4 DUKE 85, Pennsylvania 55 – Ryan Kelly had 18 points and12 rebounds to help No. 7 Duke beat Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Seth Curry added 15 points for the Blue Devils (12-1), whoscored 20 of the game’s first 24 points to run out to a big early lead. Dukeled by 18 points at halftime and by as many as 34 points after the break,sending the Blue Devils to their fifth straight victory overall and 43rdstraight at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Zack Rosen had 11 points for the Quakers (6-8), who playedthe Blue Devils almost even for the rest of the half after the opening flurry.But Penn’s undersized front line couldn’t keep Duke off the boards, with theBlue Devils finishing with a 47-29 rebounding advantage and getting severalquick second-chance baskets that helped them take control.

Somewhere, Jon Scheyer made a crazy face.

BOOKER (Ken Ruinard AP Photo)

CLEMSON 65, East Tennessee State 58 – Devin Booker scored a career-high 22 points andClemson held East Tennessee State to 26 points in the second half in a victoryover the Buccaneers on Sunday at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Tigers overcame afour-point halftime deficit and a nine-point disadvantage in the second halfalone. It was Clemson's second come-from-behind win in the last three games.Clemson improved to 8-6 with the win, while ETSU fell to 5-7 overall.

Booker made 8-of-12 from the floor and six of his eightattempts at the free throw line for his 22-point total. His previous best was16 points, which he accomplished four times. Booker added seven rebounds andfour blocked shots in 38 minutes of play. Also in double figures Sunday for theTigers was freshman T.J. Sapp, who earned his fourth start of the season. Heresponded in a positive manner, hitting 4-of-5 from behind the arc. He matchedhis season-best with 13 points.

Andre Young hit two three-pointers in the second half,giving him 199 for his career, and finished the game with 12 points. He addedeight rebounds, seven assists and a steal in a fine all-around effort.

Let’s Go Bowling

2012-01-02T11:45:00.003-05:00

HYUNDAI SUN BOWL

Utah 30

GEORGIA TECH 27 – OT

(Matt Kartozian/US Presswire)

John White plowed into the end zone from 8 yards out to giveUtah a 30-27 overtime victory against Georgia Tech on Saturday in the HyundaiSun Bowl. It was the Jackets seventhstraight bowl loss.

Justin Moore kicked a 34-yard field goal in Georgia Tech'sovertime possession to take a three-point lead, but White finished a 115-yardrushing day with the game-winning score on his 26th carry.

The Utes (8-5) tied it in regulation when Jon Hays hit DeVonteChristopher with a 28-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-14 with 1:32 left inthe fourth quarter.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson was disappointed with histeam's play in the fourth quarter.

"We couldn't block in the fourth quarter and the playswe needed to make just didn't happen," Johnson said. "It feels likesomebody kicked you in the gut. When you are competitive, it really hurts."

The Yellow Jackets (8-5) drove to the Utah 31 with 2 secondsleft, but David Scully missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt as time expired tosend the Sun Bowl to overtime for the first time in its 77-year history. Moorehad earlier missed two 42-yard tries for Tech.

"I thought (Scully) hit the ball good and I actuallythought it went in but I guess it was a few feet to the right," Johnsonsaid. "We didn't make enough plays and we missed three field goals."

Pictures Of The Day

2012-01-02T11:43:00.002-05:00

FSU Center Jon Kreft misses a dunk against Princeton. (Photo by Phil Sears/US Presswire)

Duke Blue Devile Ryan Kelly puts up a three-pointer against Western Michigan. (Photo Lance King/Getty Images)

Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade dunks the ball during the firsthalf against the Charlotte Bobcats. (Photo by Steve Mitchell/US Presswire)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T12:35:00.001-05:00

COZUMEL, December 31, 2011

BREAKING NEWS: Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, who took theTigers to 10 wins, including a win over Virginia Tech in the Atlantic CoastConference championship game, has been named the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year.

Swinney was announced as the unanimous winner of the award,which recognizes “the highest ideals on and off the field,” at halftime ofSaturday night’s Chick-fil-A Bowl.

The winner of award is picked each year by votes from apanel which includes previous winners.

Led by Swinney, Clemson (10-3) will play West Virginia inthe Orange Bowl on Wednesday. The award will be presented to Swinney on theClemson campus in March.

Boise State’s Chris Petersen won the 2010 award.

Let’s Go Bowling

2012-01-01T12:31:00.002-05:00

NIGEL BRADHAM (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL

FLORIDA STATE 18

Notre Dame 14

FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL

Mississippi State 23

WAKE FOREST 17

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL

Auburn 43

VIRGINIA 24

ACC Basketball Scores

2012-01-01T12:29:00.002-05:00

#5 DUKE 110, Western Michigan 70

MIAMI 84, AppalachianState 54

#6 NORTH CAROLINA 100, Elon 62

#23 Harvard 67, BOSTON COLLEGE 46

N.C. STATE 87, Campbell 81

WAKE FOREST 72, Yale 71

Fordham 72, GEORGIA TECH 66

Princeton 75, FLORIDA STATE 73

#24 VIRGINIA 57, Towson State 50

N.C. STATE 82, Western Carolina 55

MARYLAND 75, Samford 63

VIRGINIA TECH 67, Oklahoma State 61

Let’s Go Bowling

2011-12-28T12:48:00.003-05:00

BELK BOWL

N.C. STATE 31

Louisville 24

(Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Mike Glennon threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns andDavid Amerson returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown as NorthCarolina State defeated Louisville 31-24 in the Belk Bowl.

T.J. Graham made the most of his final game at NC State withseven catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard score on anifty catch-and-run, as the Wolfpack (8-5) overcame a series of special teamsblunders to hold off a late charge from the Cardinals (7-6).

Amerson had two more interceptions to give him 13 for theseason, the most in the country, while setting a new ACC record.

Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater, who threw for 274 yards andtwo touchdowns and ran for another, nearly brought the Cardinals back from a21-point deficit, but his final heave on fourth-and-23 was picked off byAmerson with 41 seconds left.

Louisville used a fake punt and recovered an onside kick toget back in the game after falling behind 31-10.

Bridgewater threw a pair of 2-yard touchdown passes to closethe gap to 31-24 with 3:55 left in the game.

The Cardinals had once last chance to send the game intoovertime after stopping NC State on fourth-and-2. However, on a third-and-12Dontae Johnson sacked Bridgewater for an 11-yard loss setting up Amerson'sclinching interception.

Tuesday Night ACC Basketball

2011-12-28T12:46:00.001-05:00

DARION ATKINS (Jim Daves/UVa Media Relations)

#23 VIRGINIA 69, MDEastern Shore 42 – Senior Senior forward Mike Scott scored 17 points and hadsix rebounds, and freshman forward Darion Atkins had career highs with 13points and seven rebounds to lead Virginia to victory over Maryland-EasternShore Tuesday night (Dec. 27) at John Paul Jones Arena.

The victory was the ninth in a row for the Cavaliers andimproved their record to 11-1 on the season. Virginia is ranked No. 23 in thisweek's Associated Press poll and No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. Theloss dropped Maryland-Eastern Shore's record to 3-10.

Virginia's nine-game winning streak is the longest for theCavaliers since 2001-02 and UVa is 11-1 for the first time since the 2000-01season. The Cavaliers have won their last eight home games.

Sophomore guard Joe Harris added 10 points for Virginia andsophomore forward Akil Mitchell tied his career highs with nine points and ninerebounds for the Cavaliers.

Senior guard Hillary Haley was the only player to score indouble figures for Maryland-Eastern Shore with 11 points.

T.A.H. Goes All Griswold

2011-12-27T09:37:00.003-05:00

Yes, the executive staff of T.A.H. and the entire vauntedResearch Department is taking a Christmas vacation.

We will try to update T.A.H., but don’t holdyour breath as there are still ports of call in this hemisphere with limitedinternet access. Tomorrow we are boundfor several of those places.

Have a great holiday, and the normal T.A.H. daily publishingschedule will resume on January 2nd or 3rd.

Let’s Go Bowling

2011-12-27T09:31:00.003-05:00

FRANKLIN

Missouri (Tigers, 33,805 students, Columbia, MO) 42, NORTH CAROLINA 24 – Underdog North Carolina scored on their firstpossession to take an early lead, but Missouri scored on their first fivepossessions of the first half.

Game over.

James Franklin's hard running and timely passing ledMissouri to an easy win in its final game as a member of the Big 12. It alsogives the Tigers plenty of hope heading into their new home in the SoutheasternConference.

Franklin ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, andthe Tigers easily beat North Carolina 41-24 in the Independence Bowl on Mondaynight.

Missouri (8-5) ends the season on a four-game winning streakfor the first time since 1965. The Tigers will join the SEC next fall andshowed one reason they should be a factor immediately: The 6-foot-2, 225-poundFranklin, a sophomore who generally did as he pleased in both the running andpassing games.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said Franklin has just started torealize his potential.

Franklin, named the game's offensive Most Valuable Player,rushed for 142 yards and threw for 132 despite less than ideal conditions inthe cold and rain at Independence Stadium. He led the Tigers to 31 first-halfpoints -- an Independence Bowl record.

For North Carolina (7-6), a season that started with apromising 5-1 record ends with a lopsided loss. The Tar Heels lost five oftheir final seven under interim coach Everett Withers, who leaves to becomedefensive coordinator at Ohio State under Urban Meyer.

The Heels had the ACC'ssecond-best rushing defense, giving up just 106.2 yards per game. But theTigers found plenty of running room with Franklin and Kendial Lawrence,repeatedly gashing the Tar Heels for big gains.

Picture Of The Day

2011-12-27T09:25:00.004-05:00

Quarterback Drew Brees #9 and the offensive line of the NewOrleans Saints pose after the game for a photo after Brees threw a nine-yardtouchdown pass to running back Darren Sproles #43 and broke Dan Marino’s single-seasonpassing record in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons atMercedes-Benz Superdome on December 26, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. TheSaints defeated the Falcons 45-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Christmas Day ACC Basketball

2011-12-26T09:33:00.000-05:00

SMITH (Eugene Tanner/AP Photos)

Hawaii (Rainbow Warriors, 13,952 students, Honolulu, HI) 75,CLEMSON 68 – Zane Johnson made six 3-pointers and finished with 27 points asHawaii beat Clemson on Sunday in the fifth-place game of the Diamond HeadClassic.

Vander Joaquim added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Hawaii(7-5).

Andre Young scored 14 points to lead the Tigers (7-6).

Johnson finished 8 of 14 from the field, with four of his3-pointers coming over the first 13 minutes of the second half.

The Rainbow Warriors went on a 9-0 run to start the secondhalf for a 40-34 lead. They also went on a 10-3 spurt for a 59-48 advantagewith 5:43 remaining.

Clemson (7-6) used full-court pressure late to make itinteresting. The Tigers scored six in a row to get within 69-64 with 35 secondsleft.

Hans Brereton added 10 points and Jeremiah Ostrowski hadeight assists for Hawaii, which made 15 of 25 shots in the second half.

Let’s Go Bowling

2011-12-26T09:31:00.001-05:00

SHERATON HAWAII BOWL

#22 Southern Miss 24

Nevada 17

Future UNC coach Larry Fedora wins final game at SouthernMiss.

(Eugene Tanner/AP Photos)

ACC Football Links

2011-12-26T09:25:00.002-05:00

FEDORA (Eugene Tanner/AP Photos)

Virginia Tech's kicker has been suspended indefinitely forthe Allstate Sugar Bowl after he was charged with a felony for armed breaking and entering.

Playing in the ACC as opposed to the Big East does matter to some recruits.

Maryland has hired its offensive coordinator, but isdefensive coordinator Todd Bradford the next man out?

Mike Locksley's ability to recruit might be more valuablethan his ability to run the offense.

Did BC finally find some stability at its coordinatorposition?

Player development has been critical toClemson's success this year.

The Independence Bowl will be an audition for the Tar Heels andfor their new coach, Larry Fedora.

What can FSU gain from a bowl win over Notre Dame? ColeyHarvey has the answers.

Georgia Tech is hoping to change its label with a bowl win.

What were the top five individual moments of theseason?

Pictures Of The Day

2011-12-26T09:24:00.002-05:00

A competitor dressed up as Santa Claus jumps into the sea during the 102nd Barcelona Traditional Christmas Swimming Cup at the Old Harbour of Barcelona on December 25, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. The Copa Nadal is organised by the Barcelona Swimming Club. It was launched in 1908 and has only been suspended three times, in 1936, 1937, and 1938, because of the Spanish Civil War. The Christmas Cup involves swimming across some 200 metres of open water in Barcelona harbour. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images Europe)

The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders perform at half-time of their game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Photo by Mike Stone/Reuters)

Cheerleaders perform during the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors during the season opener at Oracle Arena on December 25, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Santas take part in the annual race in downtown Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Ivan Mulutinovic/Reuters)

San Francisco 49ers fans yell during the game against theSeattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field December 24, 2011 in Seattle, Washington.San Francisco won 19-17.(Photo by Jay Drowns/Getty Images)

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T22:57:00.001-05:00

The Digital Nativity Story

2011-12-24T22:55:00.002-05:00

Friday ACC Basketball Scoreboard

2011-12-24T10:26:00.002-05:00

SMITH (Eugene Tanner/AP Photo)

CLEMSON 83, Southern Illinois (Salukis, 15,137 students, Carbondale, IL) 75 -- Tanner Smith scored a career-high 26 points and freshman Rod Hall converted a three-point play with 3.8 seconds left in the second half to send Friday's second-round game in the Diamond Head Classic into overtime, where the Tigers eventually claimed a over Southern Illinois. The win improved Clemson to 7-5 on the season, and dropped the Salukis to 3-7 overall.

In the overtime period, the Tigers made only three shots, but converted 15-of-17 at the charity stripe for a 21-point outburst. It was Clemson's second overtime win under Brad Brownell, and the second straight year the Tigers triumphed in extra time in a regular season tournament. In November of 2010, Clemson beat Seton Hall in the final round of the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands.

Smith scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half or overtime. The senior from Alpharetta, GA was 8-for-16 from the field, including 2-of-5 from three and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. His 26-point effort was an individual scoring high by a Tiger under second-year Head Coach Brad Brownell.

Hall added a career-high 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 7-of-9 free throws. Devin Booker matched his career and season-best with 16, as he hit 7-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-3 at the line. A fourth hero in the game was recent graduate Bryan Narcisse, who scored seven points but delivered a career-best 12 rebounds in 31 minutes of action.

PANKEY (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

MARYLAND 65, Radford (Highlanders, 8,878 students, Radford, VA) 60 -- Ashton Pankey scored a career-high 17 points to lead three players in double figures as Maryland held off upset-minded Radford Friday night.

Pankey made 6 of 8 from the field, including a free throw followed by back-to-back dunks as Maryland broke a 45-all tie to take the lead for good with just over 10 minutes to play.

With a 13-6 run, Maryland took a 58-51 with 3:24 left.

Terrell Stoglin, the leading scorer in the ACC, made just 5 of 18 from the floor and failed to score over the game's first 18 minutes.

He finished with 16 points, however, and his three free throws in the final 32 seconds helped ice the game.

James Padgett added 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds for Maryland (7-3) which posted a season-low seven turnovers.

Lets Go Bowling

2011-12-24T10:22:00.001-05:00

MAACO Bowl

#8 Boise State 56, Arizona State 24

Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos holds up the trophy after defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils 56-24 in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Quarterback Brock Osweiler #17 of the Arizona State Sun Devils recovers the ball after it was fumbled on the snap as Tyrone Crawford #40 of the Boise State Broncos defends during the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty

ACC Football Links

2011-12-24T10:19:00.000-05:00

THE KICKER? ARRESTED? REALLY?

Virginia Tech's kicker has been suspended indefinitely for the Allstate Sugar Bowl after he was charged with a felony for armed breaking and entering.

Playing in the ACC as opposed to the Big East does matter to some recruits.

Maryland has hired its offensive coordinator, but is defensive coordinator Todd Bradford the next man out?

Mike Locksley's ability to recruit might be more valuable than his ability to run the offense.

Did BC finally find some stability at its coordinator position?

Player development has been critical to Clemson's success this year.

The Independence Bowl will be an audition for the Tar Heels and for their new coach, Larry Fedora.

What can FSU gain from a bowl win over Notre Dame? Coley Harvey has the answers.

Georgia Tech is hoping to change its label with a bowl win.

What were the top five individual moments of the season?

Jumping in "the moat" means one thing: Practices are over this year at Clemson.

David Glenn talked to Everett Withers recently about his time at North Carolina and what appealed to him about the Ohio State position.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson answered several questions recently about this season.

LOCKSLEY

Maryland is getting closer to hiring Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator, according to The Baltimore Sun.

If Virginia can't run the ball on Auburn, it doesn't deserve to win, writes Aaron McFarling.

High school running back Randy "Duke" Johnson thinks he can carry Miami back on his back.

Wake Forest safety Josh Bush has helped the Deacs' D make measurable improvement this year.

Clemson's defense is preparing for a cutting-edge offensive attack.

Virginia receiver Kris Burd takes pride in his blocking, and it shows.

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas has one game to go, and he's already had one of the best rookie seasons in school history.

We may or may not see FSU receiver Bert Reed in the bowl game.

Pictures Of The Day

2011-12-24T10:16:00.001-05:00

New York Ranger fan Glen Jacobson of Holbrook, NY rides the Long Island Railroad dressed as the main man prior to the game between the Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers at MSG. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Which begs the question, why fire your head coach BEFORE the bowl game? Head coach Dennis Erickson of the Arizona State Sun Devils walks on the field before playing the Boise State Broncos in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Fans of the Boise State Broncos react as the team takes on the Arizona StateBroncos in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 56-24. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Justin Cobbs #1 of the California Golden Bears passes around Karam Mashour #20 of the UNLV Rebels during their game at the Thomas & Mack Center December 23, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 85-68. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Kyle Kuric #14 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots the ball while defended by Kahlil McDonald #3 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during the game at KFC YUM! Center on December 23, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 70-60. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Thursday ACC Basketball Scoreboard

2011-12-23T09:49:00.004-05:00

C.J. LESLIE IN TRAFFIC. (Photo by Ethan Hyman/News & Observer)

UTEP 61, CLEMSON 48

Mercer 65, GEORGIA TECH 59

VIRGINIA TECH 71, Eastern Michigan 50

N.C. STATE 88, Northeastern 59

Florida 82, FLORIDA STATE 64

For game recaps, click here.

Happy Holidays!

ACC Wednesday Night Basketball

2011-12-22T08:24:00.003-05:00

BARNES (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

#5 NORTH CAROLINA 82, Texas (Longhorns, 38,463 students, Austin, TX) 63 -- Harrison Barnes hadn’t cracked double figures for two straight games while North Carolina’s performances ranged from flat to disinterested against overmatched opponents.

On Wednesday night, against a team that had beaten them the past two years, the fifth-ranked Tar Heels displayed the talented, fast-paced and—most importantly—focused form that everyone expected this season.

Barnes scored a season-high 26 points to help North Carolina beat Texas for its fifth straight win. The Tar Heels (11-2) avenged last season’s last-second loss to the Longhorns in their last major non-conference game before opening ACC play against Boston College on Jan. 7.

WAKE FOREST 87, UNC Wilmington (Seahawks, 11,743 students, Wilmington, NC) 78 -- C.J. Harris scored 23 points and six Wake Forest players reached double figures in a victory against UNC Wilmington on Wednesday night.

Tony Chennault added 15 points for the Demon Deacons (8-4). They let an 11-point lead slip away in the second half before holding UNC Wilmington without a field goal for nearly 5 minutes as part of their 21-6 run.

Freshman Adam Smith had season highs of 32 points and seven 3-pointers, and Keith Rendleman added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Seahawks (3-7).

BOSTON COLLEGE 83, Sacred Heart (Pioneers, 4,192 students, Fairfield, CT) 73 -- Junior Matt Humphrey scored a career-high 18 points to lead Boston College past Sacred Heart Wednesday night in front of 2,263 fans at Conte Forum.

SCOTT (Joe Nicholson/AP Photo)

Humphrey went 5-for-10 from the field and 5-for-7 from the foul line. Freshman Dennis Clifford also scored a career high with 16 points and had six rebounds and three blocks. He was 6-for-7 from the floor. Freshman Ryan Anderson had 13 points and seven boards, and classmate Lonnie Jackson scored 12 points, all in the second half.

VIRGINIA 83, Seattle (Redhawks, 7,900 students, Seattle, WA) 77 -- Senior forward Mike Scott scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the No. 24 Virginia men's basketball team to an 83-77 victory over Seattle University Wednesday night (Dec. 21).

It was the second game of a two-game road trip to the Pacific Northwest for the Cavaliers. UVa opened the trip with a 67-54 win at Oregon on Sunday (Dec. 18).

The victory was the eighth in a row for the Cavaliers and improved their record to 10-1 on the season. It was the sixth consecutive loss for the Redhawks who now have a record of 2-8. The game marked the first time this season a UVa opponent scored more than 58 points.

The double-double was the second in a row for Scott, his fifth of the season and the 29th of his career, tying him for third on Virginia's career list with Scott McCandlish (1970-72). Scott was 12-14 from the field and 9-11 from the free-throw line in the game. He had 19 points and seven rebounds in the first half.

Things That Make You Go...

2011-12-22T08:15:00.001-05:00

A.D. HUNTER YURACHEK, MOGLIA & PREZ DAVID DeCENZO
(Photo by Charles Slate)

Hmmm...

Coastal Carolina, a Div. 1-AA (FCS) school that announced Tuesday the hiring Joe Moglia as its new head coach.

Football-wise, Moglia is probably best known as either the executive adviser to the Nebraska football program in 2009-10 or as the former head coach/current president of the United Football League’s Omaha Nighthawks.

Financial-wise, the 61-year-old Moglia is known as a billionaire businessman who was the CEO of TD Ameritrade from 2001 until becoming the chairman of the board of the same company in 2008, a title he will still hold even as he continues on as the president of a professional football league team and head coach of a college football team. This job at Coastal Carolina will actually be a continuation of Moglia’s coaching career; Moglia coached at programs such as Lafayette and Dartmouth before embarking on a second career in the financial sector in 1983.

What will turn out to be nearly three decades later, however, Moglia will be back at the collegiate level in 2012.

PRIOR TO THE SANDUSKY MESS, WE WOULD NOT
HAVE FOUND THIS PHOTO TO BE A LITTLE CREEPY...

“Having a hand in helping 18-22 year-olds become men through football has always been important to me, and I couldn’t be more excited to do that at Coastal Carolina,” Moglia said. “Being part of our Nighthawks team has been an honor for me.”

Going back to his time with the Cornhuskers, Moglia was effusive in his praise for athletic director Tom Osborne and head coach Bo Pelini. In fact, Moglia said if it weren’t for the time he spent in Lincoln, he wouldn’t be where he’s at in his life right now, which is apparently a very rich man with a really, really cool third job.

“Had it not been for the opportunity I had with the University of Nebraska, none of this would have become a reality,” said the new coach. “I will be forever appreciative to Bo and Tom for allowing me to do that. I’m continuing as Chairman of TD Ameritrade and Omaha has become my home and will always have a place in my heart.”

News Flash: The Suits In Indiana (Formerly Kansas) May Have Gotten The Ohio State Punishment Right

2011-12-22T08:11:00.002-05:00

(Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Look, we don’t want to get to far out on a holiday limb concerning our friends at the NCAA, but the punishment for Jim Tressell’s Tattoo-gate seems reasonable from our perch over here in T.A.H. Worldwide Media’s glass house...er...um, headquarters.

The NCAA hit Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban and additional penalties Tuesday for violations that started with eight players taking a total of $14,000 in cash and tattoos in exchange for jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia.

The question is were the penalties fair and reasonable considering the nature of the infraction and the current environment of craziness in which they are now framed?

First off, the disaster at Penn State puts Tatoo-gate into perspective. Seriously, how wound up can you get about kids selling some stuff in exchange for services render. A far cry from Jerry Sandusky in the shower with a ten-year-old...

That said, we always find the punishment phase to be tricky. If you come down hard on Ohio State and ban them from multiple bowl games, ultimately you punish a bunch of college kids (student athletes) that didn’t do anything wrong. That situation is true at Penn State as well. The current Nittany Lions didn’t abuse any kids.

If you penalize the institution by allowing them to play in a bowl, but require them to re-allocate their payday (as did Penn State which is contributing their bowl revenue to victim’s rights organizations) that seems altruistic and a reasonable solution until you consider the negative impact on the kids that play non-revenue sports. That bowl pay day is funding for wrestling, cross country, golf and field hockey to name a few.

So it always seemed logical in our view that the offending coach should bear part, if not most, of the burden. It seems absurd that the institution and the student athletes are punished while the CEO of Football University takes his millions and strolls off to his next job. Of course, the Pete Carols of the world can run USC aground and then head off to the NFL, but kudos to the NCAA for directing part of the penalty at the offending coach.

Tressell, who doesn’t seem like a bad guy, and, quite frankly, we don’t expect every coach to run to their compliance officer and the NCAA every time they get wind of college kids breaking some rule. Seriously, who needs the aggravation and all the red tape when in most cases a simple “knock it off” will suffice.

(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

We also presume even without consulting our poorly-paid stable of highly-esteemed attorneys, that the NCAA can’t legally ban anybody from coaching at a member institution. However, they can have rules that make it much more difficult.

To that end, the NCAA hit Tressel with a “show-cause order” and that seems to make sense. Under a show-cause order, any school that hires Tressel would have to present its case for why it needed to employ him, and would risk severe penalties if he were to commit any further infractions after that.

As a result, Tressell, who like Carol, has found refuge in the pros, is unlikely to coach again at the D1 NCAA level, and almost most certainly he will be out of commission for five years.

Not a perfect solution in an imperfect world, but a pretty good attempt. Of course, North Carolina, Miami, Oregon and Penn State among others, are waiting to see where the other shoes drops.

Let’s Go Bowling

2011-12-22T08:06:00.004-05:00

By the way, according to a television advertisement seen just last night during the UNC v. Texas broadcast on ESPN2, Dos XXs' Most Interesting Man In The World bowls overhand...

Nice, Dos XXs, NICE!

POINSETTA BOWL

#16 TCU 3, Louisiana Tech 24

Louisiana Tech Bulldog wide receiver Jacarri Jackson can’t make the catch while being defended by TCU’s Devin Johnson. (Photo by David Hood/Cal Sport Media)

It’s Official: Withers To Ohio State

2011-12-22T08:05:00.000-05:00

(AP Photo)

Penalties, schmenalties...

North Carolina interim coach Everett Withers is heading to Ohio State to become Urban Meyer’s co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

Withers had acknowledged he was a candidate to join the Meyer’s new staff last week and confirmed it was a done deal Wednesday.

“We’ve known each other for a couple years,” Withers said of Meyer. “A few years ago we talked when the Florida defensive coordinator job came open. So we’ve got a little bit of a past and I’m looking forward to the future with coach Meyer.”

Withers will coach the Tar Heels through their Independence Bowl against Missouri on Dec. 26, and soon after head to Columbus to start his new job.

North Carolina hired Larry Fedora away from Southern Mississippi to be the Heels coach after the Golden Eagles play in the Hawaii Bowl against Nevada on Dec. 24.

FSU Running Back Ineligible For Champs Sports Bowl

2011-12-22T08:03:00.000-05:00

(Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Dude, you gotta go to class!

Florida State senior running back Jermaine Thomas has been declared academically ineligible for the Champs Sports Bowl and will not play in his final college game.

The Seminoles finished the regular season with the nation's No. 99 rushing offense, and Thomas is FSU’s second-leading rusher.

Freshman Devonta Freeman has 531 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and freshman James Wilder Jr. (150 rushing yards) will likely get Thomas’ carries.

ACC Football Links

2011-12-22T08:01:00.002-05:00

HILL #5 (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

By Heather Dinich/ESPN

Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill and guard Omoregie Uzzi have both submitted paperworkto the NFL draft advisory board.

Will Utah be without its offensive coordinator in the Sun Bowl?

Maryland hasn't made a habit out of recruiting junior college players, but the Terps might have gotten some help on defense with this cornerback.

Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris has already had his contract upgraded, but coach Dabo Swinney is still waiting.

Will incoming UNC coach Larry Fedora bring most of his old staff with him?

It's good to be FSU punter Shawn Powell.

There was some controversy about the Sugar Bowl's invites this year.

Georgia Tech is trying to avoid its seventh straight bowl loss.

Virginia isn't expecting any dramatic changes to Auburn's defense.

UNC’s Jones Reinstated

2011-12-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

(Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

North Carolina senior receiver Dwight Jones has been reinstated by the NCAA and will play in the Independence Bowl, according to a school spokesman.

Jones was declared ineligible by the university after it learned that he allowed his name and picture to be used on a flier promoting a party.

Jones caught 79 passes for 1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. His reinstatement means that the Tar Heels don’t have to depend on true freshman kick returner T.J. Thorpe.

Best Unis Of The Day

2011-12-22T07:58:00.003-05:00

Ben Laughlin of the Hurricanes dives to field a drive from Dwayne Bravo of the Sixers during the T20 Big Bash League match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Sydney Sixers at Bellerive Oval on December 21, 2011 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Idiotic Quote Of The Day

2011-12-22T07:57:00.000-05:00

(Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

“If he was hurt so bad I don't know why they let him back in ... two plays later. Something should be done to them, I would think. I don't know. I got a game, what should they get?”

-- Serial helmet-to-helmet hitter LB James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers on the Cleveland Browns being punished for his illegal hit on QB Colt McCoy.

Dude, stop talking.

What next? Jerry Sandusky’s attorney saying grown men should take showers with under privileged kids to teach them how to clean their bodies...

No, wait...that already happened...