It wouldn't be much of a surprise if John Swofford is wearing this shirt underneath his suit this week.
Swofford is a North Carolina guy, so it probably pains him just a little to root for N.C. State.
But hey, money talks. And the ACC figures to rake in more of it if the Wolfpack wins at Maryland on Saturday and claims the Atlantic Division.
N.C. State vs. Virginia Tech. Imagine how quickly the tickets would get devoured if this were the matchup a week from Saturday in Charlotte?
Granted, Florida State vs. Virginia Tech wouldn't be all bad. The Seminoles would bring some fans for their first ACC title trip since 2005, and it would be a compelling matchup.
But N.C. State vs. Virginia Tech would stuff Bank of America Stadium to the gills and give the ACC its first sellout in six championship games.
Last year's game featuring Clemson and Georgia Tech was more marketable than usual, but still there was a bunch of empty seats.
N.C. State fans want another piece of the Hokies after what happened Oct. 2 in Raleigh. Virginia Tech won 41-30, but those numbers didn't come close to telling the story.
The Wolfpack was up by 17 points and 14 points late in the first half, but Russell Wilson threw two interceptions deep in Virginia Tech territory before halftime.
Virginia Tech scored 34 points in the second half and it hasn't lost since, having won nine consecutive games since that awful loss to James Madison on Sept. 11.
On to the rankings:
1. Virginia Tech (last week-1)--One more win, and the Hokies have seven consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins. Amazing.
2. Florida State (LW-2)--Whatever bad luck the Seminoles suffered against N.C. State and North Carolina, it evened out the past two weekends against Clemson and Maryland.
3. N.C. State (LW-4)--Tom O'Brien has earned the right to be addressed as "Uncle Tom" by Butch Davis.
4. Miami (LW-3)--You'd think Randy Shannon would be in trouble. Then again, Miami's president seems to have no problem with underachievement.
5. Maryland (LW-6)--Yes, they move up a spot after a loss. They more than held their own against the Seminoles.
6. Clemson (LW-7)--Hold South Carolina to a touchdown, and Kevin Steele will have earned his $575,000.
7. North Carolina (LW-5)--Tar Heels were up nine at home against the Wolfies. Are they running out of gas?
8. Boston College (LW-8)--Bowl eligibility. Thanks, Weber State and Kent State (not to mention Wake Forest and Duke).
9. Georgia Tech (LW-9)--Can the Yellow Jackets hang with the Doggies in Athens?
10. Duke (LW-10)--Don't discount the possibility of the Blue Devils pulling off an upset of the Tar Heels in Durham.
11. Virginia (LW-11)--Cavs have lost to Virginia Tech six straight times and 10 of the last 11. Make that seven and 11 of 12.
12. Wake Forest (LW-12)--Jim Grobe doesn't appear to have cashed in on recruiting off of the immense success enjoyed from 2006-08.
On to some Tuesday linkage...
Here are Heather Dinich's power rankings (she has N.C. State second above Florida State).
And Rob Daniels of The ACC Sports Journal presents his.
Going back to the ACC title game possibilities, I'm not sure either of the matchups would make much of a ripple nationally.
The Hokies will be forever branded by the loss to James Madison, fair or not. And if the Wolfpack ends up in the game, the critics will point out that they lost to East Carolina.
Basically, this game is still pretty much irrelevant nationally because 1) there are no BCS title game implications, and 2) the ACC isn't a candidate to get an at-large BCS bid (13 years and counting).
Dinich mentions that a Virginia Tech-FSU matchup would be reminiscent of the 1999 BCS title game.
I'm thinking ... no.
Ron Morris ranks the intrastate rivalries in college football, top to bottom.
He puts Tigers-Gamecocks at No. 8 behind Cal-Stanford, Michigan-Michigan State and Oklahoma State.
Have to disagree there.
Also have to vehemently disagree with Duke vs. North Carolina at No. 13 for two reasons:
1) This isn't basketball.
2) N.C. State-North Carolina is infinitely better.
Looks like we might not have seen the last of Joshua Nesbitt just yet.
So according to this blog, Les Miles is 25-9 in games decided by a touchdown or less.
Since early 2005, Clemson is 8-21 in games decided by a touchdown or less.
Oh, what might have been.
At Nebraska, outright thuggery from the Cornhuskers' coaching staff.
Carl Pelini should be suspended for this crap.
And Bo Pelini should face a harsh reprimand for lying about this crap.
Randy Shannon vows he "won't lose this team."
He's already lost the fans, if last week's pathetic attendance of 40,000 is any indication.
It's all about The U(noccupied seats).
LW
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