HEAT HITS 'CANE

Next Level Scouting, Inc. is reporting that Miami U. senior defensive tackle Antonio Dixon was suffering from heat-related issues and dehydration when he was rushed to nearby HealthSouth Doctors Hospital during yesterday's practice. The weather has created several issues over the first five days of practice, but the 6'3", 325-pound senior is the first to suffer issues to this extent.

Wednesday’s practice was their first in pads and the heat index was in the 90s.

Dixon started four games as a junior, and recorded career-highs across the board—21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks (three quarterback pressures). He is a talented player who has had issues with conditioning in the past. Dixon is viewed as a critical piece to a potential bounce back season by the ‘Canes.

Photo Credit: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

CFI RANKINGS: #25 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES

2007 RECORD: 11-3; ACC: 7-1
Lost Orange Bowl vs. Kansas 24-21
LOCATION: Blacksburg, Virginia
STADIUM: Lane Stadium (66,233)
HEAD COACH: Frank Beamer
OVERALL: 209-108-4 (27 seasons)
AT TECH: 167-85-2 (21 seasons)

The Hokies are coming off a second ACC Title in four years since joining the conference—winning 42 games during that span. They have averaged 10 wins over the last nine years…so why does the 15th ranked team in the Coaches Poll barely crack our rankings? Tech had 11 players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in March (only USC had more with 12) and eight of those players were drafted. That is a lot of talent to lose.

WHEN THE HOKIES HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bryan Stinespring (7th Season/16th at Tech)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Duane Brown, Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, Justin Harper, Branden Ore (TRAN), Josh Hyman, Brandon Dillard (INJ)

Do they have two quarterbacks or no quarterback? That is the question. If Sean Glennon looked mediocre last year, how can he be expected to improve now that his top four pass catchers have used up their eligibility? He had three receivers good enough to get drafted, yet none of the trio reached even 50 receptions or 700 receiving yards. Super soph Tyrod Taylor is the heir apparent, but is he ready for fulltime duty? In addition to the losses at receiver, the Hokies must replace Branden Ore who was “asked to the leave the team” after leading them in rushing the past two seasons. On the line, they return four starters including tackle Ed Wang and guard Sergio Render. They should be better than the group that allowed 53 sacks last season, although left tackle Duane Brown, who was a first round selection by the Houston Texans, must be replaced.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) OT Ed Wang (JR), 2) OT Sergio Render (JR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bud Foster (14th Season/22nd at Tech)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 4
KEY LOSSES: Brandon Flowers, Xavier Adibi, Vince Hall. Chris Ellis, Carlton Powell, DJ Parker, Barry Booker

Despite the loss of second round pick Brandon Flowers, the Tech secondary should be just fine. In Victor “Macho” Harris and Kam Chancellor they have arguably the top corner and safety in the ACC. Harris, who put his name into the NFL Draft before deciding to return, is a playmaker who makes opposing quarterbacks look elsewhere when seeking an open receiver. Chancellor is a 6-3, 225-pound speedster and big things are expected from him as he moves from Rover to free safety. There could be problems with the front seven where only the Martin boys return—Orion at defensive end and Cam at outside linebacker. Do they have enough talent to make up for all the losses?

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) CB Macho Harris (SR), 2) FS Kam Chancellor (JR)

THE SCHEDULE

The Hokies start out with three straight at home and close with three of their last four in Blacksburg, but in between must play four of five away from home. Tech travels to Miami, Tallahassee and Chapel Hill, and while the ‘Noles and ‘Canes are marquee names, put a circle around their trip to Carolina—the Heels are the sleeper in the Coastal Division. Out of conference they make a trip to Lincoln, which is never easy. Overall, the schedule should help keep the Hokies ranked—none of their opponents are in the preseason Coaches Poll and they will avoid ACC favorite Clemson…unless they meet in the conference championship game.

PIVOTAL POINT

The Offensive Line: Tech must reestablish their running game and supply better protection for their quarterback—those 53 sacks were the third most in the nation. Wang makes the move to left tackle and the former tight end has the athleticism to protect the blind side, and Render gives them some powerful run blocking at right guard. Red-shirt freshman RT Blake DeChristopher could be a good one. The line needs to stay healthy and play better as a unit.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

Based on what they have coming back, the Hokies are a borderline ranked team. They have earned some benefit of the doubt, however, with their success under Coach Beamer and the stellar defense Bud Foster puts on the field, year-after-year. Tech will compete for the ACC Title and is the team to beat in the Coastal Division. This has as much to do with the sorry state of the ACC as anything else. The schedule is set up nicely and no one would be surprised if by the end of the season, Tech is among the top teams in the nation.

ACC PREVIEW

By Christopher J. Kresge - ACC Insider

I think you might have better luck solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded then predicting what will happen in the ACC this season. Two new head coaches take over struggling programs at Georgia Tech and Duke, while four second year coaches assume control at Boston College, N.C. State, UNC, and Miami. Whenever there is change for a football team, it takes a while to see results; new recruits, new offense, new defense, etc. Regardless of all the changes, the ACC does not have a dominant team heading into the 2008 season, so don’t be surprised when you see who holds up the championship trophy in Tampa.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. Clemson - Clemson has not won the ACC title since 1991. However, with the core of starters returning on both defense and offense, they have a good shot at returning to the glory years of the 70's and 80's. But…this is Clemson and they could easily find a way to go 7-4 this season The Tigers need to watch out for back-to-back road games versus Boston College and Florida State. If they get through that stretch, you could see them in Tampa.

2. Florida State - Have the ‘Noles become an afterthought in the ACC after winning 9 consecutive conference championships? Not likely. They are young up front on the offensive line, but they are extremely talented at the skill positions and return seven starters on defense. Jimbo Fisher has a better grasp of his role and duties in year two and also has the benefit of senior quarterback, Drew Weatherford. Bobby Bowden isn't retired just yet, so those ACC opponents who try and look past the ‘Noles in 2008 best beware.

3. Wake Forest - Coach Jim Grobe has to be given credit for turning this program around and turning them into—dare I say--perennial winners. They are no longer the doormat of the ACC and this year, Grobe’s squad has nine returning starters on defense and ACC rookie of the year, RB Josh Adams returning on along with QB Riley Skinner. This is a very well-coached and disciplined team.

4. Maryland - Coach Friedgen will be implementing the west coast offense this year and it will highlight one of the fastest players in the ACC, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey. The Terps’ offensive line is very experienced, but the same cannot be said of their quarterbacks. The defense will have no one in the ACC 'fearing the turtle' this year and when you combine that with a tough schedule, it looks like it might be a rough one in College Park this year.

5. Boston College - How do you replace Matt Ryan, the number 3 pick in last year's NFL draft? You don't. Unfortunately, you come back to reality this year in the ACC with a lot of young players and are forced to rely on your defense to keep games close.

6. N.C. State - The talent is just not there yet for second year coach Tom O'Brien. The running back position is extremely strong, but that doesn’t mean much when you don’t have a starting quarterback or an experienced offensive line.

COASTAL DIVISION

1. Virginia Tech - Remember them--the only ACC team to ever play in a BCS championship game? This season, the Hokies will try to complete their fifth straight 10-win season. There is good news, with senior quarterback Sean Glennon and the offensive line…and bad news, gone are seven starters from last season’s defense and all-purpose running back Brandon Ore. Coach Frank Beamer is beginning his 22nd year and will have Tech in the hunt for the ACC title come November.

2. North Carolina - As Butch Davis is starting his second year as head coach, he is beginning to put his mark on the Tar Heels’ football program. The offense will be electric with quarterback T.J. Yates, WR Hakeem Nicks and TB Greg Little and if the underclassmen--who all got plenty of playing time last year on defense--keep improving, the Tar Heels could make a run at the Coastal Division.

3. Miami - Randy Shannon and his coaching staff had a top-five recruiting class and seem to be getting things in order down in South Florida. But, the most important number is zero--the total number of snaps the ‘Canes quarterbacks have in Division I football. The speed is back on defense and the skill positions are stacked, but how long will it take for a starting quarterback to emerge and be ready to handle the pressures of ACC defenses? This, combined with a brutal out of conference schedule, will take its toll on young ‘Canes.

4. Virginia - This team is in a state of transition, with no quality quarterback and too many key losses on both sides of the ball. However, the returning lettermen are very talented and Coach Al Groh will have his team ready to compete every Saturday. Watch out for their trio of talented LB's on defense and All-America candidate Eugene Monroe on the offensive line.

5.Georgia Tech - The Ramblin’ Wreck will be doing its best Barry Switzer-era OU impression this year as they adopt Coach Paul Johnson's triple option on offense. It worked with much less talent at the Naval Academy, now let's see if it can work in the ACC. The defense is very experienced and will be called upon to keep them in games, as the offense is still a work in progress. Tech, its new coach, and offense will face some growing pains in 2008.

6. Duke - Beware ACC--Duke will end their 25-game losing streak against ACC opponents this year! First-year head coach David Cutcliffe might be longing for his days in the Tennessee Mountains, but with All-ACC QB Thaddeus Lewis and WR Eron Riley he will start to get this program on the right track.

Georgia Tech fires Gailey after disappointing season

By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Tech fired coach Chan Gailey on Monday, two days after his sixth straight loss to rival Georgia ended a disappointing season.

Athletic director Dan Radakovich called an afternoon news conference to discuss the football program. A person familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made, told The Associated Press that Gailey would be dismissed after six seasons as the Yellow Jackets coach.

The move was widely expected after Georgia Tech (7-5) came up far short of another run at the Atlantic Coast Conference championship one year after winning its division. Also, Gailey never beat the school's biggest rival, dropping to 0-6 with a 31-17 loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday.

Overall, Georgia Tech has lost seven in a row to Georgia, its longest drought in the series.

Throughout the season, Radakovich steadfastly declined to give Gailey a vote of confidence, merely saying he would evaluate the program after the season. It wasn't immediately clear who would coach Georgia Tech in its expected trip to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco.

After Saturday's loss, Gailey, a former NFL head coach with the Dallas Cowboys, brushed off questions about his future.

``I'm not in charge of that,'' he said. ``My job is to do the best job I can do.''

Under Gailey, the Yellow Jackets never lost fewer than five games in a year. His downfall can likely be traced to the end of last season, when Georgia Tech dropped its final three games - all by a field goal - after winning the Coastal Division. That stretch included losses to Georgia in the regular-season finale, Wake Forest in the ACC championship game and West Virginia in the Gator Bowl.

Gailey has four years left on his contract at $1 million annually. There was some speculation that Georgia Tech's financially strapped athletic program would be reluctant to buy out the coach, but Radakovich clearly decided that it would be more damaging to offend the big-money boosters by keeping Gailey.

The fans grew more and more impatient with Gailey, which was evident in the closing minutes of a 27-3 loss to Virginia Tech. When the coach was shown on the video board delivering a public service announcement, the crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium booed loudly.

Gailey had a record of 44-32 at Georgia Tech.

His players seemed to sense that the end was near. After Saturday's game, senior running back Tashard Choice passed up a chance to lobby for his coach when asked what he would do.

``I don't know,'' Choice said. ``I have the utmost respect for coach Gailey because he gave me the chance to come to Georgia Tech. Having said that, it's up to everybody else.

``I like coach Gailey. He's helped us out with more probably than just being a football player, what's important in life. That's something I'll take with me when I graduate next semester.''

Gailey was hired by the Yellow Jackets in January 2002 after George O'Leary left to take the coaching job at Notre Dame, then was hastily dismissed by the Fighting Irish because of inaccuracies in his resume.

Under O'Leary, the Yellow Jackets were a high-scoring team that beat Georgia three years in a row from 1998-2000, a streak that hastened the firing of Bulldogs coach Jim Donnan.

Mark Richt took over at Georgia in 2001 and quickly turned things around, handing O'Leary a loss in his final game at Georgia Tech. While the Bulldogs quickly rose to prominence, winning two Southeastern Conference titles and putting themselves in position for a major bowl this season, the Yellow Jackets languished in mediocrity.

Gailey had a pair of 7-6 seasons and went 7-5 three other times. The only break in that troubling trend was 2006, when the Yellow Jackets went 7-1 in the ACC and 9-5 overall.

After his success last season, Gailey was mentioned as a possible candidate for NFL coaching jobs in Pittsburgh and Miami, two teams for which he served as offensive coordinator. He stayed at Georgia Tech, but his flirtation with the pros further damaged his standing with Georgia Tech fans.

The 55-year-old Gailey, a native of Gainesville, Ga., played quarterback at Florida in the early 1970s and got his first head coaching job at Troy State, leading the Trojans to the NCAA Division II championship in 1984.

He also had brief stints with the Birmingham Fire of the short-lived World League of American Football and Division I-AA Samford before getting his big break in 1998, when Jerry Jones hired Gailey to coach one of the NFL's most glamorous teams.

The Cowboys won the NFC East in Gailey's first season, and made the playoffs as a wild-card team the following year. But Jones fired the coach after Dallas lost its opening playoff game each time.

Gailey then spent two years as Miami's offensive coordinator before landing another head coaching job at Georgia Tech.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Gene Galin
For more Acc Photos: http://www.accfootballphotos.com

Hokies win fourth straight over Virginia, 33-21

By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Sean Glennon threw for 260 yards and the other half of Virginia Tech's quarterback rotation, Tyrod Taylor, ran for two touchdowns, as the No. 8 Hokies won the biggest game in the history of its rivalry with Virginia 33-21 on Saturday to advance to the ACC championship game.

The Hokies (10-2, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) also got a season-high 147 yards rushing from Branden Ore and six catches for 147 yards and a touchdown from Eddie Royal. They won their fourth straight in the series and eighth in the last nine meetings.

The victory earned Virginia Tech a rematch with No. 15 Boston College in next Saturday's conference title game in Jacksonville, Fla. The Eagles rallied with two touchdowns in the final 2:11 to stun the Hokies 14-10 in Blacksburg on Oct. 25.

No. 16 Virginia (9-3, 6-2) led late in the second quarter before an interception by Brandon Flowers with 40 seconds to go turned into a three-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that left the crowd of 61,711 stunned. Up 20-14, the Hokies never trailed again.

Taylor scored on runs of 9 and 5 yards, the second with 11:50 remaining to give Virginia Tech a 30-21 lead. After Virginia was forced to punt, the Hokies drove to the Cavaliers 9-yard line, and Jud Dunlevy's fourth field goal completed the scoring.

Dunlevy also kicked a 29-yarder early in the second half to make it 23-14, capping a short drive set up when Davon Morgan blocked Ryan Weigand's punt from the Cavaliers 38.

The stakes had never been so high in the previous 88 meetings between the teams. Late in the third quarter, Virginia seemed poised to make it go down to the wire.

Lombardi Award finalist Chris Long, quiet up to that point, sacked Taylor at the Hokies 28. The freshman fumbled, and Antonio Appleby recovered for the Cavaliers.

Jameel Sewell, who ran for two touchdowns, kept the ensuing drive alive with a 17-yard pass to a diving Jonathan Stupar on third-and-12 from the 19. He then ran it in on the next play to pull Virginia within 23-21 and fire up the home crowd. But the Cavaliers never got any closer

After an exchange of punts, the Hokies struck again.

Glennon hit Josh Morgan for 25 yards, and Ore went off left tackle for 25 more, putting the ball at the Cavaliers 16. Five plays later, Taylor replaced Glennon at quarterback and took off on a delay for the left corner of the end zone.

The Cavaliers appeared to have momentum late in the first half, leading 14-13 and driving into Virginia Tech territory. Then Flowers intercepted Sewell.

Glennon completed a pass to Josh Morgan for 26 yards on the next play, moving the ball to the Cavaliers 39. After an incompletion, he hit Royal in stride deep in Virginia territory. Royal silenced the crowd by beating a tackle and taking it into the end zone.

Virginia Tech scored on its first two possessions on a 9-yard run from Taylor and a 20-yard field goal by Dunlevy before Virginia got anything going.

Consecutive completions for 22 yards by Sewell finally got the Cavaliers into Hokies territory, and Mikell Simpson broke off a 27-yard TD run to make it 10-7.

Glennon's 56-yard pass to Royal set up another field goal by Dunlevy from 37 yards. The Cavaliers went three-and-out before a trick play backfired for Virginia Tech.

On second-and-3 from the Virginia 45, Royal took a lateral from Taylor and had tight end Greg Boone open deep downfield. But his pass was intercepted by Chris Cook. Seven plays later, Sewell ran it in from the 7.

The Hokies didn't get another first down until the big one just before halftime.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Virginia Tech Athletics Communications

Va. Tech embraces opportunity; Virginia sees it as another game

By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Virginia coach Al Groh was meeting with the media Tuesday, talking about the No. 16 Cavaliers' game against No. 8 Virginia Tech, when two students who looked like they'd been in a rousing Cheetos fight walked in with an envelope.

``Hi, fellas,'' Groh said cheerily, taking the envelope from the orange-painted students and reading an appeal that Cavaliers fans wear orange for the big game.

Groh and his captains also penned a letter to the school newspaper making a similar request. But amid their own efforts and much other hype for the game, the coach and the Cavaliers tried all week to insist they can't afford to consider its magnitude.

``Obviously it's the biggest game of the year,'' tight end Tom Santi said with a wry smile, ``because it's the only one we have this week. We're excited about it.''

The Hokies, meanwhile, take an entirely different approach, even celebrating the fact that an improved Virginia program could give them a stiff test after Virginia Tech has dominated the series in recent years.

``That's the whole point of having an in-state rivalry,'' Hokies linebacker Vince Hall said. ``The whole rivalry thing doesn't really go good if only one team wins the whole time and the other team's not winning.''

The Hokies have won three in a row in the series and seven of the last eight. But the rivals are playing for much more than bragging rights. The winner moves on to face Boston College for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a BCS bowl berth.

The Cavaliers still insist that the game has no special meaning.

``We're not even thinking about what's at stake,'' right guard Ian-Yates Cunningham said. ``We're just thinking about winning a game. It's just one extra game. It was on our schedule at the beginning of the season.''

Groh noted that coaches and players aren't the ones who tailgate and cheer.

``We're the ones who play, and ... this is a different event for the participants than the other people. ... Everybody's got a role to play, and ours is to prepare to play and to play well, so if something helps us, then we embrace it,'' he said. ``If it doesn't, then we try to keep it at arm's length.''

Virginia Tech was an overwhelming favorite to win the ACC's Coastal Division and has three straight victories to put it in position to do so after a stunning loss to Boston College. In that game, the Eagles scored two touchdowns in the final 2:11 to win 14-10.

Now the Hokies can force a rematch with Boston College.

``We've been talking about it since (a 27-3 victory against) Georgia Tech,'' Hokies left tackle Duane Brown said. ``Since that game, we've gone out and practiced our tails off, went out and executed and now we're at this point. Our last game of the season, our in-state rival. It doesn't get any better than this, really.''

Source: ncaafootball; Photo Credit: Virginia Tech Athletics Communications