Meineke Car Care Bowl – Pittsburgh 19, UNC 17

* Run Baby, Run: As he has all season long, freshman tailback Dion Lewis carried the load for the Pittsburgh offense. The Albany (New York) native turned in his 10th 100-yard game of the season and eighth in a row. His season-low 79 yards came on September 19th against Navy, which was also the only game he failed to average over four-yards per carry (3.4 versus the Midshipmen). Lewis’ 159-yard day against the Tar Heels was his fourth straight over 150 yards and seventh such performance of the season.

What the freshman tailback lacks in straight-line speed, he more than makes up for with burst—when he sees the hole, Lewis shoots through it. With excellent vision and instincts the Panther does a good job of weaving between the tackles, and is stronger than you think. His patience gives his linemen the opportunity to block. His first step is where the play is designed to go, after that it’s a lot of instinct. He’s extremely dangerous when he cuts back and goes against the grain. The little guy almost gets lost in between the tackles, then finds a little sliver and emerges from the scrum. Even in small spaces, he has the quickness to take a little side step to make someone miss. The lost fumble by Lewis is very uncharacteristic, the first of his career—he went 302 carries as a collegian without a fumble.

Lewis broke the legendary Tony Dorsett’s freshman rushing record at Pitt, which stood since 1973 at 1,686 yards. His 10 100-yard games matched Dorsett’s 1973 campaign, while Lewis’ 17 rushing touchdowns and 19 total scores are new marks for Panther freshmen. The rookie ball carrier finished the season with a total of 1,799 yards, second all-time in school history, passing Craig “Ironhead” Heyward (1,791 yards in 1987), looking up only to Dorsett’s Heisman Trophy season in 1976, when the Hall of Famer ran for 2,150 yards.

Lewis isn’t the next coming of Dorsett, but could anyone ask for more from the lightly recruited three-star recruit? After the game, head coach Dave Wannstedt evoked the name of not only Dorsett but Emmitt Smith and Ricky Williams as he spoke about how great backs get stronger as the game goes on. North Carolina’s Butch Davis compared him to a former Miami Hurricane.

“He reminds me of Clinton Portis,” Davis said of Lewis. “He has that same explosiveness in the hole as Portis. He can jump straight, sideways, spin and cut. Because of his speed and because of his quickness he doesn't take a lot of blows.”

We should also recognize Pitt’s fullback Henry Hynoski, who at 6’2” and 260 pounds has prototypical size for a lead back. He did a great job much of the day taking on North Carolina’s star-studded linebacking corps, neutralizing them on most of the Panther’s positive runs. Many of Lewis’ effective runs came following Hynoski into the hole. The sophomore also has decent hands making three catches on the day. Senior tight end Nate Byham did an excellent of job of blocking at the point of attack as well. At 6’4” and 265 pounds, Byham is a legitimate tight end.

* The Arial Attack: After getting away with a potential interception early on—when Bill Stull tossed one under pressure and overthrew his receiver, dropping the ball into the hands of a UNC defensive back—the senior signal caller had a very solid performance to lead the Panther’s to the victory. The Pittsburgh native completed 17-24 passes for 163 yards. He has a decent arm, and when given time to set and throw, he’s a pretty passer. Stull has nice touch on his passes and when he’s on, the quarterback can be fairly accurate. For the season, Stull finished with 2,633 yards, 21 touchdown passes and eight interceptions (65.1 completion percentage), almost shocking numbers after such an inconsistent 2008 campaign—2,356 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions (57 completion percentage).

Leading receiver, true sophomore Jonathan Baldwin had a quiet day—three receptions for 31 yards, as did senior pass catching tight end Dorin Dickerson—four receptions for 21 yards. The duo had trouble making things happen against the speedy and athletic North Carolina secondary. Baldwin did show off his upper body strength using his stiff arm to get extra yards after the catch on his first grab of the game. Not many receivers climb the ladder like Baldwin, who always uses his hands to catch the football. He is a good and willing blocker. Typically for a man of his size—6’5” and 225 pounds—Baldwin is impressive after the catch. Dickerson who is undersized for a tight end—6’2” and 230 pounds—can line up at fullback and H-Back, in addition to tight end. Dickerson struggled to make plays after the catch and needs to work on his blocking, otherwise he will be limited at the next level. The senior also dropped a would- be touchdown—he was interfered with (flag thrown)—but Dickerson should have made the catch anyway.

Stull’s favorite target on the day came as a surprise, as freshman backup Mike Shanahan led Pittsburgh with five receptions for 83 yards. He worked the deep in route to perfection. Shanahan got deeper than the UNC linebackers on a regular basis and caught passes in front of the Tar Heels’ defensive backs. He has great size (6’5” and 220 pounds), good hands and runs his routes well. On the Panthers’ go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, Shanahan made a big catch, taking a big hit. Entering the bowl game, the freshman pass catcher had just 10 career receptions—Shanahan could emerge as a solid number two receiver taking advantage of all the attention paid to Baldwin by making plays across the middle of the field.

In addition to his run blocking, Byham was very good helping out in pass protection. Left tackle Jason Pinkston was also impressive as a pass blocker. For the most part the junior did an excellent job on North Carolina’s speedy pass rushers. On the other side of the line, sophomore right tackle OT Lucas Nix had his trouble keeping their ends out of the backfield.

* Best Pro Prospect – Pittsburgh: DE Greg Romeus, Junior – 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FF

First off, don’t leave your tight ends to block Greg Romeus. North Carolina tried and the junior end shed the block with ease and engulfed the North Carolina runner in the backfield for a loss of three yards. For a player who did not play organized football until his senior season of high school, Romeus displays some impressive instincts. He made a nice read on an end around that he attacked perfectly on the weakside–Romeus was disciplined in containment and let the play came to him. The difference-making end didn’t make the tackle but the UNC receiver retreated to get around Romeus and wound up losing 11 yards on the play. The junior also does a good job of getting his hands up. On one particular play he read the screen and batted the ball down, using his amazing wingspan. He’s really learning the game, which makes one hope he returns for his final season, even though he appears headed towards being a second round pick. Romeus can bring it off the edge, but he can also stunt and bring pressure from the inside. The Florida native keeps playing to the whistle—he doesn’t stand around if he can’t get into the backfield. He’s also very strong, ripping the football out of the hands of North Carolina’s tailback, even when the runner had both hands on the ball. He is an impressive athlete, who on occasion even dropped back in coverage. Romeus is 6’6” and 270 pounds so size is not an issue.

* More Pitt Defense: In addition to Romeus, the Panthers have one of the more talented front sevens in the country, beginning with a deep, productive and versatile defensive line. Manning the other defensive end position for Pitt is fellow junior Jabaal Sheard, who at 6’4” and 260 pounds can more than hold his own. Sheard is capable of getting off blocks, which allowed him to record two tackles for a loss, including a sack. Throughout most of the game, Sheard lined up extra wide on the strongside, outside of the tight end rather than tackle.

Senior defensive tackle Mick Williams is one of the quicker linemen around, using that first step and footwork to get into the offensive backfield. Williams recorded two sacks on the day, although on one of them was completely unblocked. He is only 6’1” and 280 pounds, which is why he won’t be a high draft pick despite being co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East. Fellow senior defensive tackle Gus Mustakas (6’3” and 285 pounds) is your classic overachiever—a high effort player who finds a way to make in impact. Even with Williams, Mustakas and possibly Romeus on the way out, Pittsburgh has more than enough talent coming back. In addition to Sheard, keep an eye on sophomores Myles Caragein (tackle), Chas Alecxih (tackle) and Brandon Lindsey (end), as well as freshman defensive end Shayne Hale, who is already 6’5” and 250 pounds.

At the next level, sophomore Max Gruder and freshman Dan Mason were impressive. Gruder is very active against the pass, not allowing much after the catch. On one tackle in the short passing game, the weakside linebacker forced a North Carolina fumble. He fills in nicely and is a sound tackler. The sophomore backs up his linemen well and gets in the mix at the line of scrimmage. He was all over any pass play on the flat to a back or tight end. Gruder recorded a game-high 11 tackles. Mason had good coverage and showed solid hands on his third and goal interceptions, just outside the goal line. He fills the hole well and wraps up when he gets there. There is a lot to like about this young linebacker. Sophomore Greg Williams (three tackles) was relatively quiet, but is another piece to what should be a stellar defense in 2010. Senior MIKE Adam Gunn made seven tackles, but he’s in trouble when engaged with blockers. Gunn lacks speed and isn’t very big (230 pounds), lacking the measurables to play at the next level. Another senior, corner Aaron Berry didn’t do much to help his stock this season. He has put up decent numbers but isn’t very big (180 pounds) and he doesn’t possess the breakaway speed NFL teams look for in their defensive backs, which is why he won’t be able to play man-to-man at the next level. He did make a great read, dropping back into the end zone, making it a tougher throw for the quarterback. Berry will likely get a look as a priority free agent for a team that plays predominately zone coverage in the secondary.

* Decision Time: The North Carolina Tar Heels have four very talented juniors—defensive tackle Marvin Austin, outside linebacker Bruce Carter, middle linebacker Quan Sturdivant and safety Deunta Williams—who could be first or second round picks should they declare for the 2010 NFL Draft—all four could go, but none of the four has to go.

Most evaluators would list Austin as possessing the most potential of the group. He can be such a force at the point of attack, twice tackling Lewis after a short gain. He is so quick and explosive for a man of his size (6’3” and 305 pounds). Using that quickness, Austin exploded into the backfield and got to Lewis at the goal line, but missed the tackle—he blew up the play, which resulted for no gain, but it could have been a better play. That epitomizes Austin, glimpses of greatness, but more often than not leaving you wanting more. At times, he gets blocked one-on-one by average players, which shouldn’t happen with his ability.

Normally consistent performers, neither Carter nor Sturdivant were very impressive from their linebacker positions. Each made four total tackles—three solos by Sturdivant and one solo by Carter—with no interceptions, pass breakups, sacks or tackles for a loss. The 6’3” and 230-pound Carter is normally a big playmaker, but wasn’t very active versus Pitt. In the second half he made a great open field tackle on Pittsburgh’s Dickerson, where he got to show off his sideline-to-sideline speed. Sturdivant did a nice job of covering Dickerson on a passing play with the Pittsburgh playmaker coming out of the backfield after having lined up at fullback. He’s an effective blitzer, who plays a hard and relentless brand of football—he will make plays on the other side of the field—but more was expected of the junior MIKE. You wonder if the physical power attack of Pittsburgh was something the Tar Heels weren’t ready for and neutralized their speed and athleticism. We have been big fans of both Carter and Sturdivant, and while one game doesn’t tell the whole story, if they are thinking of making the jump, one would have expected a better effort.

Williams didn’t turn in his best performance of the season either. The junior safety allowed Dickerson to run right by him on a potential touchdown, which Dickerson dropped. Williams interfered on the play and not very well, as Dickerson still got in the open and the ball hit him on the hands. Williams was not very physical and on one missed tackle he was simply sloppy, not wrapping up on the ball carrier after attacking the line of scrimmage. He displayed good coverage ability, as he ran stride for stride with Baldwin, and positioned himself well between Baldwin and the ball, ensuring the Pittsburgh playmaker could not get to the football.

* The Senior Defensive Linemen: Defensive end E.J. Wilson had a good showing in his final game wearing Carolina Blue. The senior recorded five tackles, a sack and forced two fumbles. He is an all effort player, and his first forced fumble was due to that hustle—it came 30 yards down field at the UNC one-yard line just outside of the end zone as Lewis was headed for a score. On his sack, he blew by Pitt’s right tackle and got his hand on Stull to force fumble (Pitt retained possession). At 6’3” and 280 pounds, Wilson is also very strong and stout at the point of attack, which is why some view him as a potential 3-4 end at the next level.

Defensive tackles Cam Thomas and Aleric Mullins are rotation-type players. Thomas displayed nice pop off the snap. He is a legitimate run-stuffing space eater and a potential nose tackle at the next level. Thomas checks in 6’4” and 325 pounds. Not as big, but no small man is Mullins, who is 6’3” and 305 pounds. Mullins showed the ability to get pressure on the quarterback and he is capable of getting a push up the middle. Of the two, Thomas should get drafted, while Mullins may have to earn his way on to a roster as PFA.

* The Front Seven–Stars of Tomorrow: Maybe the brightest star on the entire Tar Heels team regardless of class is sophomore defensive end Robert Quinn, however against Pittsburgh he was a non-factor other than one hit he got on the quarterback. Quinn had trouble getting by Pittsburgh’s left tackle (Pinkston). The sophomore is athletic with prototypical size (6’5 and 270 pound) and should begin the 2010 season on many preseason All-American lists. Fellow sophomores Quinton Coples and Michael McAdoo should be back as well, with Coples the likely man to replace Wilson in the starting rotation. In the fourth quarter, he got good pressure coming off the edge to force Stull out of the pocket and on the next play, Coples picked up a sack. The end is quick and explosive getting into the backfield. Quinn, Coples (6’6” and 275 pounds) and McAdoo (6’7” and 245 pounds) would make a fine frontcourt for Roy Williams on the hardwood. Should Austin make the jump to the NFL, they still possess a former four-star recruit in red-shirt sophomore Tydreke Powell (6’3” and 300 pounds). At outside linebacker sophomore Zach Brown and freshman Kevin Reddick are two more talented defenders. Brown made two tackles, while Reddick finished the game strong, making several plays in the second half. The freshman has good size and speed; he’s a sure tackler versus the run and very comfortable near the line of scrimmage.

* The Defensive Backs: Joining Williams in the UNC secondary were a trio of juniors—strong safety Da’Norris Searcy, along with corners Kendrick Burney and Charles Brown. Burney, a two-year starter is also considering making himself available for the 2010 Draft, but would be wise to return. He was beat one-on-one by Baldwin early on, who used a stiff arm, but otherwise had a solid night. Burney likes to play near the line of scrimmage and is an excellent tackler who his capable of getting in the backfield. Burney (4 tackles, 1 TFL) can deliver a big hit once he bursts through on a run blitz. Brown (5 tackles, 1 TFL) was also active throughout the contest. He had good coverage on a deep route by Baldwin on pass to the end zone. With Pittsburgh backed up at their own end zone (at the two-yard), the junior cover man stayed with Baldwin down the field, one-on-one, with no help. He also made a big time play getting underneath the block of the right guard on screen pass and wrapped up well on Lewis—read and react. The only blemish on the night was a dropped interception. The least heralded of the Carolina defensive backs is Searcy, who probably had the best game of the bunch. The strong safety made eight tackles, six of the solo variety to lead the team. He did a great job beating a Dickerson block to make play in the backfield going wide. Later, he had good pass coverage on Dickerson. The junior can also creep up and make a play near line of scrimmage and deliver a big hit against the run. Searcy returns kicks (93 yards on 4 returns) and punts (28 yards on 2 returns) as well for the Heels, adding value. He is an underrated football player.

* The Carolina Offense: The best offensive player for the Tar Heels was junior wide receiver Greg Little. The first offensive play for UNC was an end around to Little for a 31-yard gain. The former running back is a player the Heels can’t get the ball to enough. He made several outstanding catches, capable of going up to get the ball and catch it at its highest point. Little is an impressive athlete, who is developing as a wide receiver—he has good hands and catches the ball away from his body, which is what you want to see. Little caught seven passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns, numbers which could have been bigger with better quarterback play. Little went over 60 receptions for fifth best single-season in school history. This was the first game in which Little had multiple touchdown receptions.

“For the first time Greg Little got to play the position for a full year for the position we recruited him to play,” Davis said afterwards. “When we recruited him to play, we said this is a prototypical, big time wide receiver. He is big, he's strong, he has great hands, he has run after catch. He didn't know anything about being a receiver. We wasted a lot of time trying to make a running back out of him just to get some speed at that position.”

Freshman wideout Erik Highsmith is the up and comer on the UNC offense. He can make things happen after the catch—quick acceleration and strong running with the football. But he also had a bad fumble—when turning up field the freshman needs to secure the ball better. Another pass catcher who could have a breakout 2010 season is junior tight end Zack Pianalto. In addition to his two receptions for 26 yards, Pianalto made a nice one-handed grab for a would-be touchdown, which was negated by an illegal formation penalty. He has soft hands and is a good athlete, who can make things happen after the catch. UNC moved the junior around—he lined up at split back and in the backfield. He needs to get bigger and stronger—he had no chance to block Romeus when asked to do so one-on-one.

The running game centers around power back Ryan Houston, who is built like a brick house (6’2” and 245 pounds). Houston is limited, purely a between the tackles runner, but he is good at what he does. The junior is a physical runner and once he gets his momentum going he is difficult to bring down—he either breaks the tackle or will at the very least fall forward. Typically, he won’t make many tacklers miss in the backfield, although he made nice cutback to make Romeus miss—it looked like he surprised the Pitt defensive end. Houston is an excellent short yardage back and often gives that second effort to get the yardage that is needed. He is tough to deal with late in games as a defense gets worn down.

Photos Courtesy of University of Pittsburgh, Dennis Hubbard & UNC Athletic Communications

Bowl Projections

Breaking Down the Bowl Game schedule, and some potential match-ups

THE TITLE GAME:

1.7.10 - Citi BCS Championship Game (BCS #1 vs. BCS #2) Texas vs. Alabama - A very satisfying Championship: Two coaches with rings and 13-0 squads. What’s not to love?

THE BCS BOWLS:

1.1.10 - Rose Bowl presented by Citi (BCS/Big Ten Champ If Available vs. BCS/Pac-10 Champ If Available) Ohio State vs. Oregon - Only thing you’d need is Keith Jackson to make it complete.

1.1.10 - Allstate Sugar Bowl (BCS/SEC Champ If Available vs. BCS) Florida vs. Cincinnati - An undefeated Bearcats team could prove themselves to all the Big East haters out there by knocking off the SEC runner-up.

1.4.10 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (BCS/Big 12 Champ If Available vs. BCS) Boise State vs. Iowa - Some other candidates for this bowl game would be…Oklahoma State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Stanford or USC.

1.5.10 - FedEx Orange Bowl (BCS/ACC Champ If Available vs. BCS) Georgia Tech vs. TCU - Perhaps one of the most entertaining potential match-ups of any of the BCS games, it features pass rushers, quirky offenses and a galore of speedsters.

THE REST OF THE BOWL SCHEDULE:

12.19.09 - New Mexico Bowl (WAC vs. Mountain West) Nevada vs. Ohio - These are the glory years for Wolf Pack football…this would be their fourth consecutive bowl game.

12.20.09 - R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (C-USA vs. Sun Belt) Southern Miss vs. Troy - The Troy Trojans have been sort of a dynasty in the Sun Belt.


12.19.09 - St. Petersburg Bowl (Big East vs. C-USA) South Florida vs. Central Florida - The winner will take home a trophy and an edge in the recruiting battle. Not to mention the right to talk smack all off-season.

12.22.09 - Las Vegas Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-10) Utah vs. Arizona - Could the Wildcats make it back-to-back Vegas Bowl wins?

12.23.09 - San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-10 or WAC) BYU vs. California - Could feature two pre-season Heisman candidates in Max Hall and Jahvid Best. Get your scoreboard ready!

12.24.09 - Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (WAC vs. C-USA) Fresno State vs. East Carolina - Christmas Eve football is always fun.

12.26.09 - Meineke Car Care Bowl (Big East vs. ACC) North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh - Head Coaches Dave Wannstedt and Butch Davis once hooked up in the NFL when the Dolphins defeated in the Browns. One of the two will get their first bowl victory at their current school.

12.26.09 - Little Caesars Bowl (MAC vs. Big Ten) Central Michigan vs. Iowa State - There’s a chance a Big Ten team would be in this one, imagine Michigan? We can’t either…

12.26.09 - Emerald Bowl (Pac-10 vs. ACC) Boston College vs. Stanford - Two of the more surprising teams of the year.

12.27.09- Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (ACC vs. SEC) Clemson vs. Auburn - Getting your money’s worth. These two teams could be ranked coming in.

12.28.09 - AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl (SEC vs. Big 12) South Carolina vs. Kansas State - Two coaches who’ve seen better days (Steve Spurrier and Bill Snyder).

12.29.09 - EagleBank Bowl (ACC vs. Army/Conference USA) Duke vs. Marshall - The Blue Devils are one win away from becoming eligible, an amazing turn around from 1-11 in 2007.

12.29.09 - Champs Sports Bowl - (ACC vs. Big Ten) Florida State vs. Michigan State - Could be Head Coach Bobby Bowden’s final game.

12.30.09 - Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl (WAC vs. Mountain West) Idaho vs. Middle Tennessee State - Idaho A.D. Rob Spear refused to fly on Horizon airlines because their planes featured Boise State colors (and logo), now his team is likely to play on the Smurf Turf. Can anyone offer him a ride?

12.30.09 - Texas Bowl (Big XII vs. Navy) Texas Tech vs. Navy – Would Coach Mike Leach be more likely to twitter on the sidelines or run Navy’s triple-option?

12.30.09 - Pacific Life Holiday Bowl (Pac-10 vs. Big XII) USC vs. Oklahoma - Pete Carroll vs. Bob Stoops.

12.31.09 - Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Mountain West vs. C-USA) Air Force vs. Southern Methodist – Classic contrast: Run and Shoot vs. Triple Option.

12.31.09 - Burt Sun Bowl (Pac-10 vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Oregon State vs. Notre Dame - A Notre Dame coach once got fired right before a bowl game facing Oregon State. Tyrone Willingham right before the 2004 Insight Bowl.

12.31.09 - Insight Bowl (Big 12 vs. Big Ten) Missouri vs. Minnesota - Gophers looking to end their Insight Bowl woes – lost in both 2006 and 2008.

12.31.09 - Chick-Fil-A Bowl (SEC vs. ACC) Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech – Expect bigger things in 2011…

1.1.10 - Outback Bowl (Big Ten vs. SEC) Wisconsin vs. Georgia - Two underrated teams, two hardnosed running games.

1.1.10 - Capital One Bowl (SEC vs. Big Ten) LSU vs. Penn State - Daunting defenses and classic jerseys, however a potential one-sided match-up.

1.1.10 - Konica Minolta Gator Bowl (ACC vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Nebraska vs. Miami (FL) - 1984, 2001, 2010?

1.2.10 - International Bowl (Big East vs. MAC) Rutgers vs. Temple - It used to be a battle for the basement in the Big East, now is a contest between programs on the rise.

1.2.10 - Papa John.com Bowl (Big East vs. SEC) West Virginia vs. Kentucky - Sounds more like this year’s Elite Eight in the NCAAs.

1.2.10 - AT&T Cotton Bowl (Big 12 - SEC) Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss - Features two exciting quarterbacks in Jevan Snead and Zac Robinson. Remember, in the pre-season these two teams were considered to be national title sleepers…

1.2.10 - AutoZone Liberty Bowl (C-USA vs. SEC) Houston vs. Arkansas - Over/Under around 83?

1.2.10 - Valero Alamo Bowl (Big Ten vs. Big 12) Northwestern vs. Texas A&M - For only the second time in school history Northwestern will be heading to back-to-back Bowl games. Now can they get their first post-season win since 1948?

1.6.10 - GMAC Bowl (ACC or WAC) Northern Illinois vs. Wyoming - The Wyoming Cowboys are just one win away from being bowl eligible.

Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media, Jaren Wilkey/BYU, FSU Sports Information, Dave
Stluka/Wisconsin

CFI Countdown: #15 North Carolina Tar Heels

2008 Record: 8-5 (AAC: 4-4)
Bowl Game: Lost Meineke Car Care Bowl to West Virginia 31-30
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Stadium: Kenan Memorial Stadium (60,000)
Head Coach: Butch Davis
Overall: 63-33 (9th season)
@ North Carolina: 12-13 (3rd season)
Link to UNC Football Page

After going 4-8 in Butch Davis’ first season back in college football after a stint with the Cleveland Browns, the architect of the great Miami teams from earlier this decade began building the foundation in Chapel Hill. Davis reversed the 4-8 record of 2007 to 8-4 in 2008 (in the regular season), and you can expect steady improvement from the Tar Heels under Davis until they become national title contenders.

When the Heels Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: John Shoop (3rd season)
Scheme: Pro Style
Starters Returning: Six
Key Losses: WR Hakeem Nicks, WR Brandon Tate, WR Brooks Foster, TE Richard Quinn, OT Garrett Reynolds, OG Calvin Darity

Junior T. J. Yates made strides as quarterback in his sophomore season and he should continue to improve as a junior. As important as his ability to read defenses and make decisions under pressure is, staying on the field is the key for Yates and the Heels, especially with backup Cameron Sexton having transferred in the off-season. They will also have to deal with losing the explosive pass catching troika of Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and Brooks Foster to the NFL, as well as the loss of starting tight end Richard Quinn. Former tailback Greg Little appears ready to break out as their number one target, sophomore Dwight Jones has oodles of talent, and tight end Zack Pianalto is primed to step into the starting lineup, so Yates won’t be alone as the Heels try to improve their passing attack. On the ground, they have found the answer to their woes in junior Shaun Draughn, who was impressive down the stretch last season. Fellow junior Ryan Houston is a barreling 250-pounder who provides punch and excels in short-yardage situations. The line returns three starters, including senior left tackle Kyle Jolly, who has 25 starts under his belt, and senior center Lowell Dyer. As a unit there is room for improvement along the offensive line.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) RB Shaun Draughn (JR), 2) WR Greg Little (JR), 3) TE Zack Pianalto (JR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Everett Withers (2nd season)
Scheme: 4-3
Starters Returning: Nine
Key Losses: S Trimane Goddard, LB Mark Paschal

It is no exaggeration to say nine of the Tar Heels starting 11 will one day hear their name called at the NFL Draft. Linemen Robert Quinn, Marvin Austin, and Tydreke Powell (backup); linebackers Quan Sturdivant, Bruce Carter, and Zach Brown; and safety Deunta Williams all have day one talent and none is a senior. The linebacking corps of juniors Carter and Sturdivant, and sophomore Brown may be the fastest unit in the country. It will be a challenge for any back to get by the trio, particularly the sure-tacking Sturdivant. Carter is also a kick-blocking machine. Williams leads the secondary with junior Kendric Burney developing into a solid coverman. What could allow this defense to take the next step is the defensive line. The three seniors—end E. J. Wilson, as well as tackles Cam Thomas and Aleric Mullins—are solid, but it’s the kids who could be special. Quinn should be a pass-rushing demon from his end position, with sophomores Michael McAdoo and Quinton Coples each capable of contributing off the bench. The two players who ultimately may end up having the most impact are Austin, a junior, and his backup, the sophomore Powell. The 300-pounders move in a way that 300-pounders just aren’t supposed to move. If they turn the corner as players, all bets are off when taking on this defense.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) DT Marvin Austin (JR), 2) LB Quan Sturdivant (JR), 3) DE Robert Quinn (SO)

The Schedule

The Tar Heels face an uphill battle in the Coastal Division race as they not only have to visit Blacksburg to take on ACC favorite Virginia Tech, they must face the other top challenger, Georgia Tech, on the road. UNC also closes out the season with back-to-back road games, the finale in Raleigh against in-state rival North Carolina St. They should be able to handle their out of conference slate, although they would be wise to be wary of East Carolina. Not only did the Pirates knock off Virginia Tech and West Virginia last season, they handled the Heels in Davis’ first season.

Pivotal Point

Finish…finish…finish. In the very-tight ACC, the ability to win close games will likely decide which teams advance to the ACC Championship Game. Other than the 41-10 beating at home to NC State, UNC’s other four losses came by a combined total of nine points. They dropped a three-point contest to Virginia Tech, blowing a 17-3 third quarter lead after Yates went down. Their second loss came in overtime at Virginia (16-13) after giving up the game-tying touchdown in the final minute of regulation, and their third loss was by two points at Maryland (17-15), on a Terps’ field goal in the game’s waning moments. Finally, they lost their bowl game by a single point (31-30) to West Virginia after taking a 30-24 lead into the fourth quarter. Even in 2007, six of their eight losses came by a touchdown or less.

CFI Final Analysis

The defense is almost there, and it’s already one of the best in the ACC, perhaps the nation. If they can do a better job of getting to the opposing quarterback and protecting fourth quarter leads they will be at a championship level. The offense is a little further away. They don’t have to be prolific, but if they can keep Yates healthy, protect the football, and help keep the defense off the field for long stretches they may arrive ahead of the schedule. They’re not yet in the National Championship picture, but a run at the ACC title is not out of reach. One thing is clear—Butch Davis is building something special.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos

Photo Credit: UNC Athletic Communications

WR BROOKS FOSTER On All Access Football Radio

Player Spotlight host Bo Marchionte talks with former North Carolina wide receiver and NFL Draft Prospect Brooks Foster.

Along with fellow wide outs Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate, Foster was a key cog in the Tar Heel’s resurgence under Butch Davis as UNC made back to a bowl in 2008. Since then, the South Carolina native has been preparing for the NFL Draft at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. While Foster will miss “putting on Carolina blue on Saturdays”, the senior is looking forward to suiting up on Sundays.

*** CLICK TO LISTEN ***

Photo Credit: College Press Box (UNC)

MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL NOTES: WEST VIRGINIA 31, UNC 30

I Believe I Can Fly

Pat White has glided on the gridiron throughout his career as a Mountaineer, but he never took to the air they way he did Saturday versus North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. We knew he was fleet of foot – White is the all-time leading rushing quarterback in FBS Football – but no one saw his first career 300-yard passing game on the horizon in his finale.

White showed off his newly-found rifle on the opening drive, connecting with Jock Sanders on a 22-yard frozen rope – a pass with some giddy-up on it – on a sideline route. The southpaw completed all four of his passes on the drive for 37 yards, setting up an 18-yard scoring scamper by Noel Devine and a 7-0 Mountaineer lead. On West Virginia’s next two possessions, White found Alric Arnett in the end zone from 44 yards out, then tossed his second touchdown pass of the first quarter, a 35-yard strike to Bradley Starks.

Was this the same Pat White we’ve seen for four years? Good pass protection led to time in the pocket, which led to good footwork and stronger throws. Not only did White complete passes of 22, 35 and 44 yards in the first quarter, but that’s how far his completions went through the air – there were no yards after the catch.

Even with White’s spectacular opening stanza, the Big East school trailed heading into intermission. White came out of the locker room as he went in – slinging the football. He completed all five of his pass attempts for 54 yards as WVU regained the lead on a 25-yard Pat McAfee field goal.

Midway through the fourth quarter, with North Carolina back in front 30-24, White was sacked on fourth down, turning the ball over to the Heels in Mountaineer territory. After a 10-yard run by Shaun Draughn to the West Virginia 30, it appeared UNC was going to extend their lead and make it a two-possession game…until Draughn fumbled on the ensuing play.

White wasn’t going to wait to take advantage of this golden opportunity and he immediately connected with Sanders for a 40-yard pass play. After White used his legs for a nine-yard run to the UNC 20-yard line, it was back to the air as the senior signal caller hit Arnett for his third scoring pass of the day and the game-winning touchdown.

The Mountaineer star, already the all-time leading rushing quarterback, became the first FBC quarterback to start and win four bowl games. White topped 300 passing yards for the first time in his career – 332 yards to be exact – while completing an impressive 26-of-32 attempts.

Does this mean White will play quarterback at the next level?

I don’t think so. However, he may have earned himself a chance to take some snaps under center at the Senior Bowl. His best chance to play for pay is a move to wide receiver or as a return man. He can also be one of the more dangerous “wildcat” weapons or resurrect the role of “slash”. The second, third and fourth quarterbacks on that all-time rushing list are Brad Smith, Antwaan Randle El and Josh Cribbs – all three play wide receiver in the NFL.

Others like Don McPherson and more recently Eric Crouch weren’t been able to take the quarterback out of the player in order to play on Sundays. You can’t blame White if he still fancies himself a quarterback. You would too if you’ve been as successful as he has.

Which way White will go, only he knows…

Noel…Noel…

Noel Devine is magical in the open field – he used a little shake & bake to get by linebacker Quan Sturdivant – he of 87 solo tackles (122 total) – and then powered his way to break free from another would be tackler for an 18-yard touchdown run.

Devin possesses great speed, which allows him turn the corner. He has a low center of gravity when he runs the ball – meaning more than an arm tackle is required to bring down this 5’ 8” dynamo. Once he hits the pile, the sophomore tailback keeps his legs going to pick up extra yards. He’s not your typical “scat-back”.

Two other “stars of tomorrow” for the Mountaineers are center Eric Jobe and wide out Bradley Starks. Jobe, a sophomore, is an impressive athlete for a center, while Bradley showed good hands versus the Tar Heels. The freshman has good length at 6’ 3”, but needs to bulk up some in the off-season.

In the Nick of Time

If not for White, the game MVP would surely have been North Carolina junior pass catcher Hakeem Nicks. The Tar Heel caught eight balls for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Nicks displayed big, strong reliable hands. He is also a precise route runner who is physical after the catch, making him dangerous with the ball in hands.

Before people get carried away with the numbers and anoint him a first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, let’s not forget that on his 73-yard touchdown reception, the ball bounced off of West Virginia defensive back Ellis Lankster. The cornerback was running stride for stride with Nicks, had excellent timing in making his leap, and should have come up with the interception. Instead he deflected the pass to Nicks and showed the world why he belongs on the defensive side of the ball. Nicks’ second scoring snag came from a trick play with wide out Cooter Arnold doing the passing honors. Nicks did run away from Quinton Andrews, but that was more about the West Virginia safety’s lack of make-up speed than Nicks’ breakaway speed.

Lankster, WVU’s best coverman, did have trouble staying with Nicks when he had to cover him one-on-one. Nicks made a circus catch that would make P.T. Barnum proud. On a pass thrown behind him, Nicks held on by the tip of the football and switched hands behind his back, much to the shock of Mountaineer defenders.

Building Blocks

Butch Davis was handed his first ever bowl loss, but can be proud of his bunch. After all, the Heels were 4-8 last season and were one of the youngest teams in the country this season. They featured some of the nation’s best underclassmen and should be better for it in 2009 as Davis is building something special in Chapel Hill.

Freshman defensive end Robert Quinn (6’ 5”/260) is an impressive athlete for a man of his size and was able to use his speed and quickness to get into the backfield more than once. Junior defensive tackle Cam Thomas (6’ 4”/330) was very active with sophomore Marvin Austin (6’ 3”/300) and freshman Tydreke Powell (6’ 3”/300) possessing oodles of potential at the position. Freshman ends Michael McAdoo (6’ 7”/245) and Quinton Coples (6’ 6”/245) saw the field as well.

Sophomore linebacker Quan Sturdivant led the way with 11 tackles, as he usually does, and looked comfortable when asked to drop back in pass coverage. Making several nice stops was Bruce Carter, another athletic second year linebacker, who even displayed the speed to run wide with Pat White. Carter recorded two sacks among his seven tackles.

Getting extra playing time was sophomore Da’Norris Searcy, a natural strong safety, who played a hybrid-defensive back/linebacker position with starting MIKE Mark Paschal out with an injury. Searcy flourished playing near the line of scrimmage, recording 10 tackles including a pair of sacks of White. He showed athleticism that not only rivaled White’s in the open field, but Noel Devine’s as well. He also made a good read on a third down screen pass. Searcy was very effective coming in as a blitzer, possibly creating a role for himself in 2009.

In the secondary, sophomore free safety Deunta Williams was their top playmaker. Williams did it all, stuffing Devine in the end zone for safety and later picking off a Pat White pass in the end zone as the Mountaineers were going in for the score. Those were significant plays that directly impacted the scoreboard. At the corner position, sophomore Kendric Burney can tackle with the best of them, using sound technique to make plays in the open field. Two of his seven stops were for a loss.

Other than Paschal, UNC only loses strong safety Trimane Goddard from their defense, as there was only one other senior even on the depth chart for the bowl game. Expect big things from the Heels in 2009.

Photo Credit: UNC Athletic Communications, WVU Sports Communication

Game of the Week: UNC vs. WVU

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON

Mieneke Car Care Bowl
December 27, 2008 * 1:00 * ESPN
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina

BUTCH DAVIS AND Bill Stewart hope to leave a mark on their respective programs with a win in the 2008 Mieneke Car Care Bowl – Davis as a program builder and Stewart as a sustainer. Stewart earned the headman’s job by upsetting the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl taking over for his former boss Rich Rodriguez. Davis’ reputation was made in South Beach, where he revitalized the Miami Hurricanes before handing over the reins to Larry Coker. Davis enters this contest with a career bowl record of 4-0.

When the Mountaineers Have the Ball

The West Virginia offense is running best when their quarterback is running the football. Senior Pat White, the NCAA’s all time leading rusher as a quarterback, finished the year with 919 yards on the ground and a team leading eight touchdowns. He has posted a 200-yard, three-touchdown performance in a victory at Louisville, as well as a 109-yard effort on the ground in a win at Connecticut. His big play ability is uncanny and defenses must always be aware of him on the field. The 2007 Big East Offensive Player of the Year has improved his passing efficiency after a very shaky start to the year. Sophomore Jock Sanders has helped solidify the passing attack, catching a team leading 48 balls. Keep an eye out for wide receiver Alric Arnett who has emerged as a big play threat, finishing the year with 373 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Noel Devine possesses the ability to be a game breaker at any time, just ask Oklahoma (108 yards, 8.3 yards per carry in the Fiesta Bowl). Devine finished his sophomore season with 1,228 yards, 21st in the country. Devine is a home run back and has posted five 100-yard games this year, including a 207 yard performance versus Auburn. He has averaged over 10 yards per carry in three games and is threat catching passes out of the backfield. With an experienced offensive line, White and Devine running the pigskin, the Mountaineers have the players to win this game in the trenches and on the ground.

North Carolina's pass and rush defense are both ranked near the bottom in the nation (pass defense 79th, rush defense 57th). However, it is a patient defense, one which doesn’t give up the big play very often. The Heels front four isn't dominating and are not known for sacking the quarterback (87th in sacks) but the quickness and speed of the rest of the defense give them the ability to shut down a spread offense. North Carolina did well against mobile quarterbacks earlier in the season in games versus Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. Safety Trimmane Goddard and cornerback Kendric Burney make up an elite secondary. If White is forced to throw the ball expect the Heels to create some turnovers – they have come up with a total of 19 interceptions, eighth best in the nation. Goddard, a senior, leads the nation with seven interceptions including one returned for a touchdown versus Boston College. Linebackers Mark Paschal, Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant will be key early in the game. Just a sophomore, Sturdivant is the nation’s leader in solo tackles with 81 and the winner of the ACC's Piccolo Award. If they can contain the Mountaineers’ rushing attack early, West Virginia will struggle to score points.

West Virginia Mountaineers Offense:
Pass: Pat White – 1,510 Yards, 18 TDs
Run: Noel Devine – 1,228 Yards, 3 TDs
Catch: Jock Sanders – 393 Yards, 7 TDs

North Carolina Tar Heels Defense:
Tackles: Quan Sturdivant – 111 Tackles (5.5 TFLs)
Sacks: Bruce Carter – 3 Sacks (9 TFLs)
Interceptions: Trimmane Goddard – 7 INTs (12 PDs)

When the Heels Have the Ball

Quarterback play will be important in sustaining an offense that can be erratic and inept. T.J. Yates, who missed six games this year, looked great on the road versus Duke at the end the year. He completed 78 percent of his passes and threw for three touchdowns. Yates' replacement, Cameron Sexton, has been very inconsistent. He has the arm strength, but was down right awful down the stretch of the season, especially in road games at Virginia and Maryland. North Carolina might not have great depth at the receiver position with stellar senior Brandon Tate out, but they do have a stud in Hakeem Nicks. The All-Conference wide out finished the year with 1,005 yards and nine touchdown grabs on 60 receptions. The junior posted four games with a 100 plus receiving yards including 133 yards at Miami, 141 versus Notre Dame and 139 yards with three touchdowns versus Boston College – all bowl teams. He hasn't been shut down once all year, and managed to at least get three receptions in every game and 50-plus yards in eleven of twelve games (38 versus Duke was his season low). Senior Brooks Foster is one of the fastest players in the nation and a big play just waiting to happen. Sophomore running back Shaun Draughn emerged as the Carolina starter after his 109-yard performance versus Connecticut. Draughn is a speedy back and his 90 yards versus Georgia Tech and 100 yards at Duke were crucial in North Carolina victories. Executing in the red zone will be a major factor in getting the bowl victory and sophomore running back Ryan Houston is the Heels’ man around the goal line. The big back is tough to take down and leads the team with eight touchdowns.

The West Virginia defense hasn't allowed more than 26 points in a game all season and is ranked ninth in the country in scoring defense. Senior linebacker Mortty Ivy leads the team with 86 tackles and named First Team All-Conference. Ivy also recorded three interceptions this season and is strong at defending the pass – a solid three-down linebacker. His 10 tackles versus Connecticut helped stop Big East Offensive Player of the Year Donald Brown. Cornerback Ellis Lankster will play a key role in this game guarding wide receiver Hicks. The senior recorded three interceptions this season and broke up seven additional passes for the Mountaineers’ secondary. Sophomores Scooter Berry and J.T. Thomas are strong tacklers, especially against the run. Thomas led the team with 9.5 tackles for a loss among his 64 total tackles from his linebacker position, while Berry did his damage in the trenches and was named Second Team All-Big East.

North Carolina Tar Heels Offense:
Pass: Cameron Sexton – 1,261 Yards, 9 TDs
Run: Shaun Draughn – 801 Yards, 3 TDs
Catch: Jock Sanders – 393 Yards, 7 TDs

West Virginia Mountaineers Defense:
Tackles: Mortty Ivy – 86 Tackles (6 TFLs)
Sacks: John Holmes – 4 Sacks (6 TFLs)
Interceptions: Brandon Hogan – 3 INTs (7 PDs)

Final Analysis

West Virginia senior kicker Pat McAfee has a strong leg, is clutch from long distance and was named First Team All Big East. North Carolina's freshman kicker Casey Barth has been erratic. If it comes down to the kicking game, West Virginia has the advantage.

The CFI Prediction: WVU 27, UNC 21

Photo Credit: UNC Athletic Communications, WVU Sports Communication

LISTEN NOW! CFI Radio: CFI Weekly

CFI WEEKLY - MONDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2008

The latest on the BCS, what a playoff mess might look like, the worst year ever in Michigan, the worst four years ever at Syracuse and a welcome back to the Miami Hurricanes. Plus a look back at Week 12 and ahead to Week 13.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Head Coach Butch Jones, Central Michigan
Christopher Mogollon, Big East Insider
(On Location from Syrcause on the
Greg Robinson Firing)
Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald

Click to Listen to Monday's Show

Photo Credit: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

No. 7 South Carolina downs UNC, 21-15

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Chris Smelley threw a career-high three touchdown passes in the first half and No. 7 South Carolina withstood a late rally to beat North Carolina 21-15 on Saturday.

The redshirt freshman improved to 4-0 as a starter, helping South Carolina (6-1) build a 21-3 lead through three quarters and successfully defend its first top 10 ranking since 2001.

But the Tar Heels (2-5) made things interesting late. T.J. Yates threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Greg Little on the first play of the fourth quarter, then ran 3 yards for another score to make it a six-point game with 3:03 remaining.

The Gamecocks gave North Carolina one last chance, after Ryan Succop's 48-yard field goal bounced harmlessly off the right upright with 46 seconds left.

Yates threw three quick completions to move the Tar Heels to the South Carolina 31, but misfired on his last two throws toward the end zone, with his final pass deflected away by Kenny McKinley at about the 1.

Yates finished 22-of-42 for 285 yards against the nation's best pass defense, and Hakeem Nicks had eight receptions for 114 yards for the Tar Heels.

North Carolina had 398 total yards to South Carolina's 282, had nearly a 10-minute advantage in time of possession and stopped the Gamecocks on 12 of 13 third-down chances. But the Tar Heels couldn't overcome three interceptions - one thrown on a trick play in the fourth by quarterback-turned-receiver Joe Dailey in the red zone.

Smelley completed 17 of 26 passes for 172 yards with scoring passes to three different receivers, covering 3 yards to Dion Lecorn, 30 yards to McKinley and 12 yards to Jared Cook.

Cory Boyd rushed 20 times for 95 yards for South Carolina, helping Steve Spurrier remain unbeaten in four games against the Tar Heels. His previous three wins came when he was at Duke from 1987-89, and his last - a 41-0 rout - was memorialized with a team photo by the scoreboard, a snapshot that still hangs in his office.

The Gamecocks clicked early in jumping out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead. They scored on two straight possessions, with Smelley's 20-yard pass to Cook setting up his 3-yard strike to Lecorn.

Then, Smelley and Cook hooked up again for 23 yards one play before he found McKinley behind cornerback Jermaine Strong, and the receiver spun toward the right sideline and pulled down his team-leading sixth touchdown of the season.

South Carolina made it 21-3 at halftime when Captain Munnerlyn's 38-yard punt return in the final minutes of the half set up Smelley's scoring pass to Cook with 15 seconds left.

North Carolina's Connor Barth missed a field goal for the first time since 2005 when he pulled a 49-yard attempt wide left in the first quarter, snapping a streak of 19 straight conversions. He made a 45-yarder on his next try early in the second.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: SEC Sports

CFI: THE ACC REPORT

BY CHRISTOPHER J. KRESGE
ACC COASTAL INSIDER

MIAMI 27 - UNC 33
This game was indicative of two teams going in complete opposite directions. The Butch Davis regime is starting to take form as the young Tar Heels, a roster that has 42 freshmen on it, played hard and focused shutting down a Miami team that looked lost and disinterested for at least the first half of the game. Coach Randy Shannon kept saying in his post game presser that the players still have the mentality instilled in them from the last coaching staff at Miami. Weren’t you the Defensive Coordinator from that last coaching staff Coach Shannon? Let me speak for Coach Shannon and let you know how bad the Canes are without making excuses. The defensive secondary not only does not cover man-on-man well, but do not make any big play tackles, and most of the time give a lackluster effort by trying to arm tackle opponents. In addition, when your strong safety, Kenny Phillips, leads your team in tackles, there are major breakdowns on your defensive line and linebackers. UNC’s team is starting to mature anDavis is making his mark in the Carolinas. Anthony Elzy ran for 95 yards and one touchdown and sophomore Hakeem Nicks had five catches for 76 yards. The ‘Canes have plenty of talent on this team, but it will be interesting to see if the coaching staff can get them going in the right direction because their season can get real ugly with future road games against Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College.
NEXT WEEK: Miami vs. Georgia Tech
NEXT WEEK: UNC vs. University of South Carolina

VIRGINIA TECH 41 – CLEMSON 23
Two words best describe this game, Beamer Ball. An interception returned for a touchdown, a returned punt for a touchdown and a return kickoff for a touchdown. Two more words best describe the state of Clemson football, Fire Bowden. Tommy Bowden is in his ninth season as head coach and it is a lot of the same, mediocre, inconsistent play and the biggest one, no championships -- ACC or BCS. The Clemson’s fan base have had enough of this and anything short of a BCS bowl bid, this will be Bowden’s last year in Tiger Town. Defensively, Clemson is playing at a very high level and they were able to contain freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor for most of the game. Branden Ore is without a doubt a step slower this year and linebacker Vince Hall broke his wrist. As for Clemson’s “Thunder and Lightning” combo of C.J. Spiller and James Davis -- they were non-existent. The main reason is that opposing teams are stacking eight men in a box, daring Clemson to beat you with the pass. Which Cullen Harper has been doing a good job of, but again, the multitude of special team mistakes and turnovers are too much too overcome. Maybe Coach Beamer will share some tips on special teams play with Bowden before he gets fired.
NEXT WEEK: Clemson – Bye Week
NEXT WEEK: Virginia Tech vs. Duke

GEORGIA TECH 26 – MARYLAND 28
Fans that came out to watch the top two rushing offenses collide in College Park were treated instead to an air attack. The two teams combined for 550 passing yards compared to only 263 rushing yards. Maryland’s combination of Lance Ball and Kenny Lattimore, Ray Lewis’s half brother, is both punishing and efficient. Tashard Choice returned to form by rushing for 135 yards and one touchdown. It is going to be very interesting to see how both teams fair the second half of the season in the ACC. Maryland is starting to gain momentum while Georgia Tech is still trying to figure it out.
NEXT WEEK: Georgia Tech vs. Miami
NEXT WEEK: Maryland Bye Week

DUKE 36 – WAKE FOREST 41
Good news for Duke fans is quarterback Thaddeus Lewis continued lighting up ACC defenses and threw for 291 yards and four touchdowns against Wake Forest. Lewis continued to find his favorite target, Eron Riley, who caught two touchdown passes and totaled 143 yards. Bad news for Duke fans, their defense still cannot stop anyone. Wake is good team, but 41 points? My bold prediction for this year is that Duke will win an ACC game this year. I am not ready to predict the week, but any team that can consistently put up this many points a game will get a big W this year.
NEXT WEEK: Duke vs. Virginia Tech
NEXT WEEK: Wake Forest vs. FSU

VIRGINIA 23 – MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 21
News flash for UVA…HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THE UPSETS THIS YEAR IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL? Once again this year we almost saw a nationally recognized program fall to a lesser known mid major. There are officially no off weeks now in Division I college football. UVA is starting to resemble Wake’s football team last year. They are very underrated, have a solid defense, which is lead by All-American Chris Long, and a productive, but not flashy offense. They showed that they have depth at running back as both Keith Payne and Andrew Pearman stepped up in the absence of Cedric Peerman who left with an injury. Tight end Tom Santi continues to put up good numbers; he blocks well and has soft hands. Santi is a good NFL prospect.
NEXT WEEK: Virginia vs. Connecticut

Photo Credit: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

THE ACC REPORT: THE COASTAL DIVISION

BY CHRISTOPHER J. KRESGE
ACC INSIDER

Virginia Tech 28 - Ohio 7: I think the jury is still out this year on whether the mid major conference teams are really that good or are the perennial ranked powerhouse football programs are that overrated? The Hokies once again struggled all afternoon with their offense as true freshman Tyrod Taylor got his first start of what the Hokies faithful hope is a brilliant career. He is definitely not Michael Vick yet, but has tons of potential. Taylor went 18/31 for 287 yards and showed flashes of greatness at times, but this team’s strength is its defensive unit. All-American linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi combined for 25 total tackles and three of the Hokies four sacks. Coach Frank Beamer won his 200th game on Saturday. Tech is not a top ten team as of now, but if the offensive line and Brandon Ore can return to form, the Hokies will be in the hunt this year.
NEXT GAME: William and Mary

Miami 23 - FIU 9: After three games, the 2-1 Canes seem to be turning the corner offensively. Kyle Wright was reinstated as the starter by Coach Shannon and had good game. Wright was 10/19 for 224 yards and connected with Lance Leggett for an 80-yard pass, the longest for the Canes in nearly two years. The offensive line is starting to improve and the running game continues to be their strong point, with both Javarris James and Graig Cooper leading the way. Wide Receiver Darnel Jenkins also had a breakout game with five catches for 108 yards. If, and that is a big IF, Wright and his wide receivers can get it going, the Canes might be able to make some noise in the ACC this year. As expected, the defensive secondary was outstanding, with two interceptions. One minor concern for the Hurricanes was 12 penalties for 93 yards, and that is something Coach Shannon will not tolerate. This Thursday, they are back to the Orange Bowl for a nationally televised game against Big 12 opponent Texas A&M.
NEXT GAME: Thursday vs. Texas A&M

Virginia 22 – North Carolina 20: If you could combine the Tar Heel’s passing game with the Cavalier’s ground attack, this would be one of the highest scoring teams in college football. Cedric Peerman rushed for 186 yards and one touchdown for Virginia as he increasingly solidifies his stock as a legitimate NFL prospect. For North Carolina, T.J. Yates continues to light up secondaries as he threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns (one interception). The most surprising part of Yates’ success, is that Butch Davis is known as a run first, pass second coach. Potential first round pick, Chris Long, had one interception that he returned for a 25-yard touchdown. Mediocrity is the best way to describe both teams.
NEXT GAME: UNC: at South Florida; UVA: Georgia Tech

Boston College 24 – Georgia Tech 10: Boston College is no longer flying under the radar in the ACC; they are actually now the odds on favorite to win the whole thing. What a statement game for the Eagles to go down to Atlanta and basically “beat up” the Yellow Jackets. Boston College was ranked fourth nationally against the run and Tashard Choice found this out the hard way. The Eagles held Choice to just 31 yards on 15 carries after he was seeming unstoppable in his first two games. The real story of this game is newly anointed “Heisman” hopeful, Matt Ryan, who threw for 435 yards and one touchdown. Ryan lit up Georgia Tech like a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Can a team north of the Mason Dixon line win the ACC? So far it looks that way, stay tuned…
NEXT GAME: BC: ARMY; GT: at Virginia

Duke 20 – Northwestern 14: Well Duke fans, I know you were waiting 22 long games for this, but it is finally here for you…a WIN!!!! Yes, Thaddeus Lewis threw for three touchdowns and 246 yards as Duke beat Northwestern 20 – 14 to snap a 22-game losing streak. This team is not scared to throw the ball, as evident by Lewis’ statistics this year, they obviously are not the Steve Spurrier Duke squad of the early 90’s, but this team should not be overlooked by anyone in the ACC.
NEXT GAME: at NAVY