Football Fix

TV COVERAGE ON JP SPORTS
The affiliate listing.

HENDERSON WINS ACC HONORS
..as ACC D-Lineman of the week - Congrats EH!!!

PREPARATION, HENDERSON SPARK DEFENSE
There's that man again - EH. Tell me he doesn't make a difference:

Through its first three games this season, Tech managed just three sacks. In the two games since, junior defensive end Eric Henderson returned from injury, Tech has 12 sacks.

The bottom-line is that this team is not deep and we need our stars. They make a difference. With PJ Daniels out, we struggled, With him in we have not. When EH in the game, our defense has stepped up. The players play, and we need them to.

RIVALS "FRESHMAN OF NOTE" FOR RHODES, TUMINELLO
These guys did fantastic work with their starts, and they get some nice props.

Georgia Tech was forced to play without two starting offensive linemen at No. 23 Maryland. Redshirt freshmen Kevin Tuminello and Matt Rhodes stepped in at center and guard, respectively, and helped the Jackets' offense to 131 rushing yards against a tough Terrapins defense. They were also part of an offensive line that allowed just one sack and gave quarterback Reggie Ball time to connect on a couple of crucial deep throws.

DUKE READY FOR ANOTHER GAME VS TECH
Yeah well, they dang well better bee. Because it is smackdown time. They are going to be toast. A little smack from the Duke QB:

``We know we can beat them,'' Blue Devils quarterback Mike Schneider said Monday.

DUKE'S DARGAN NEARS RETURN

TECH OUT FOR REVENGE

ROOF TAKING DEVILS DOWN TO GEORGIA
Well, how clever. I might just have to steal that line later.

NOTHING IS CERTAIN
So true. So true:

Perhaps even more head-shaking than Georgia's collapse in Athens was Georgia Tech's shocker in College Park, Md.

Granted, Georgia Tech could play games at Six Flags near any rollercoaster, what with the Jackets' M.O. being up, down and unpredictable. So the win itself isn't so earth-shattering.

But a Ralph Friedgen offense being held to 81 yards? Not 181, which is usually an accomplishment, but 81 yards. Almost two first downs less than 100.

Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta has a deserved reputation as an upper-level coach, but Tech fans are well aware - and sorely miss - Friedgen's offensive brilliance.

To do what Tech's defense did against any conference team is nice. To do it to a ranked team, an offensive mastermind, and on the road?

Of course, there's now worry on the Flats. Tech nipped Maryland 7-3 last year, then was floored 41-17 at Duke, which comes to town Saturday. No, there won't be a "you have to be this tall to watch this game" signs at Bobby Dodd, but there might as well be.

Because as been offered here since late August - almost time for t-shirts to be printed up - nobody is safe, nothing is certain.

UVA FACES BIGGEST GAME SINCE 1990
...when GT came stomping into town:

In truth, it's the biggest game this program has seen in at least 14 years. On Nov. 3, 1990, Virginia was ranked No. 1 in the nation when Georgia Tech came to town. The Cavaliers (5-0, 2-0 ACC) are ranked sixth in the nation in both polls, their highest spot since '90. A win over No. 7 Florida State (4-1, 2-1) would make Virginia ... hang on to your hat ... a legitimate contender for the national title.

"In TRUTH"!!! I'll give you some truth you forgot to mention - that GT won that game in 1990 41-38 - "The Sting" - cover of SI - here - I'll jog your memory:



BUFORD STANDOUT GRAY-SHIRTS WITH DUKE
This whole "grayshirt" practice is something you do not hear much about in the media, but it is a well-known tool used to over-commit classes, yet still retain most of the players, particularly if you are able to get a late commit from a bigtime guy.

GAILEY WARNS LOUISVILLE ABOUT MIAMI
Quote:

And Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey has some bad news for Petrino. Miami's defense is even more imposing in person.

"They are bigger and more physical than maybe you think they are from looking at film," Gailey said. "They're just the overall package."

MORE ON MARYLAND QB SITUATION

STATHAM TO KEEP QB JOB...FOR NOW
Well it turns out he will get another chance.

FRIDGE QUOTE-OF-THE-WEEK
Sorry, I had to post this one:

On last week's game against Georgia Tech:
"We went through a tough game this past weekend, and after looking at the film I felt our offense played poorly. I felt we could've done a better job of coaching, but Georgia Tech played very well on defense and gave us a lot of problems and they are to be commended. I thought our defense, for the most part, played very well."

Really, come on Ralph - you had to watch the film to draw that conclusion?????

MD FANS KICKED OUT OF MD/GT GAME
Evidently there was a big incident in the GT/MD game with some fans kicked out for standing up and cheering. I'm sure there is more to the story, but it is getting a lot of play on the bulletin boards. These are some letters-to-the-editor from the fans involved.

THE MOST AMAZING VIDEO EVER!!!
This recruiting video is shocking, eye-popping and undescribable. This is a kid - Noel Divine - who is a sophomore in high school. Per GTadamni at the Hive, this kid ran for 460 yards in 2 games this year, on only 13 carries. You do the math. He's 5'7" 170lb and from Ft.Myers FL.

GT / DUKE PLAYING ON "SCRUBS"
Didn't see it myself, but reports are there was a scene on the show where they watched a football game, and that GT helmets were playing some blue-colored team. Maybe a GT insider on the crew for the show????

ESPN: EXPANDED ACC SHOWING IMPROVEMENT
From ESPN:

Is the ACC better than it was before expansion? No question. Is the league now the best in the country? That's a hard sell, considering such non-conference disappointments as NC State's home-field loss to Ohio State, Clemson's lopsided loss at Texas A&M and Florida State's narrow escape at Syracuse, to an Orange team that had been defeated 51-0 by Purdue a month earlier.

Midseason Coach of the Year
About every third week, Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey or Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe look like they deserve this priceless honor. But fast-talking Al Groh, who left the New York Jets for a team that now has a better defense, gets the nod. He's pushed Virginia from happy-to-win-seven under former coach George Welsh to national championship contender with a mixture of solid recruiting, an NFL-style coaching approach and discipline.

ESPN INSIDER: GT MID-SEASON UPDATE
If you get the insider, check it out. Basically says GT is schizophrenic and because of that we'll probably get some wins people didn't see coming. PJ Daniels was named as our mid-season MVP because of how we seem to play with him in the line-up.

CLEMSON ON THE "BOTTOM 10" WAITING LIST
Almost on ESPN's bottom 10.

TARHEELS SUSPEND 3 KEY PLAYERS
...for possession of the whacky weed. What are these kids thinking?