Are you ready for some football???

Well, I'm about to hop on a plane to Cincinnati, but I am getting pumped about football season. You can feel the excitement building. Yesterday you saw the links to the Sunday press conference with the players. Monday the coaches had their turn to speak. Here are some links for your reading pleasure.

Macon Telegraph - Curry leading by example
Just an outstanding article, including this:

"Nate has overcome so much to get to where he is now. He is an unbelievable worker, an unselfish guy," Tech head coach Chan Gailey said. "He commands so much respect because of that."

Said All-ACC safety James Butler, "He's a leader. We all look up to Nate."

Curry wasn't about to walk away from that. So after a summer of working for a general contractor and helping lead the team's workouts, Curry is back to school for a second degree.

"Football is temporary, you're not going to have it all of your life. If I have a chance to go to school for free, then I'm going to do it, take advantage of the situation," Curry said. "Go ahead and get the most out of the situation, it's a win-win situation.

Macon Telegraph - ACC Notebook. More nice comments on Calvin Johnson, from James Butler.

"Calvin is going to be good, he's going to be real good," senior All-ACC safety James Butler said.

Johnson bested Butler in the team's vertical jump competition, jumping 43 inches to Butler's 41.

"It's not his athletic ability, but his persona that stands out to me," Butler said. "He's humble. If you're going to be good, you have to be humble. You have to be able to listen to what coaches tell you."

Charleston.net - The ACC's Family Tree is Growing.

FL SunSentinel - ACC shows its muscle as nations best conference

Ramblinwreck.com - Quotes from Chan Gailey
Nice to hear this about the WR core:

[Wide receivers] "We did lose a very good receiver in Freddie (Jonathan) Smith, but Nate Curry is back and Levon Thomas is back, and we have a couple of very talented freshman coming in. And I think the guy who is really going to surprise people this year is Damarius Bilbo. He made the transition physically last year, and now he's made the transition mentally.

Virginia Sports - Inbounds - around the ACC. This on GT:

Georgia Tech was picked 8th and remains a mystery. Chan Gailey, the Yellowjackets head coach, is a 30-year veteran who has placed Tech in two bowl games the past two years. He is also 4-0 against UNC and NC State, 2-2 versus Maryland and Virginia.

NCST Site - pictures of the headcoaches (with an error on Gailey).

theState.com - Tigers/Seminoles Rivalry a Family affair
This on the GT/FSU game from B.Bowden:

"I don't know the exact moment that I knew (Clemson had won)," Bobby said. "I thought we could still win in the fourth quarter. Georgia Tech had us down 13-0 late, and we won that game. I don't know how, but I thought it could happen again."

Charlotte.com - ACC Teams to Miami: Don't take us lightly.

Fredricksburg.com - Something's Gotta give in beefed up ACC

DailyPress.com - Friedgen finds a way

St.Petersburg Times - New blood, Challenges excite ACC Stalwarts

Baltimore Sun - Maryland ranked 5th in fortified ACC

Rocky Mount Telegram - Expansion continues to be the buzz
Check out the funny story on Bill Dooley recruiting J.Bunting, UNC's head coach:

North Carolina coach John Bunting remembers a few things about his recruitment from then-Tar Heel coach Bill Dooley.

Mainly, Bunting recalls how Dooley promised to turn the current UNC coach into a formidable fullback.

"He said he promised me I was going to be a great fullback," Bunting said. "But after two days he said, 'You're the slowest back to ever come here. I'm moving you to defense, son."

PilotOnline - With Elton Brown, UVA ready to make a run

Herald Sun - Bowden - No time like the present
A lot of good notes in this article, including the fact that Marion Jones's ex-husband who is accusing her of steriod usage, is the current assistant strength / conditioning coach. Also mentions Marcus Vick.

Herald Sun - Noles and Devils in familiar spots in polls

Washington Times - Statham gets edge for Terrapins QB

AJC - ACC Coaches bask in post-expansion profile

AJC - Winning brings changes for Terps