NC State Wolfpack

Oct. 29---College Football---
NC State 21 ... Southern Miss 17---College Football---
Freshman RB Andre Brown ran for 248 yards and two touchdowns with a 61-yard dash in the fourth quarter, followed up by a three-yard Brian Clark touchdown catch, to overcome a 17-7 deficit. Southern Miss had a 14-0 lead in the second half thanks to a one-yard touchdown run from Larry Thomas and a 16-yard scoring catch from Josh Barnes, but could only manage a 24-yard Darren McCaleb field goal the rest of the way. Mario Williams came up with four sacks for the Wolfpack.
Player of the game: NC State RB Andre Brown ran 32 times for 248 yards and a two touchdowns, and DE Mario Williams made 11 tackles, four sacks, six tackles for loss and seven quarterback hurries. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Southern Miss - Passing: Dustin Almond, 15-35, 177 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Larry Thomas, 14-60, 1 TD. Receiving: Josh Barnes, 4-53, 1 TD---College Football---
NC State - Passing: Marcus Stone, 10-26, 128 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Andre Brown, 32-248, 2 TD. Receiving: Brian Clark, 3-25, 1 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Just when the team needed a spark of life, in comes freshman RB Andre Brown to rip up Southern Miss and, possibly, turn the season around. Marcus Stone wasn't great in place of Jay Davis, but he was decent when he had to be in the second half. The defensive line, particularly Mario Williams, was fantastic, while the secondary made the plays needed to keep USM QB Dustin Almond cold. The Wolfpack only committed five penalties, but Stone can't throw two interceptions if State has any hopes of winning at Florida State and at Boston College.---College Football---
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Oct. 22---College Football---
Wake Forest 27 ... NC State 19---College Football---
Wake Forest got two interceptions for touchdowns with a 23-yard pick six from Alphonso Smith putting closing out the scoring in the third quarter. In a game of streaks, Wake Forest got up 13-0 in the first quarter helped by a 34-yard interception return for a score from Josh Gattis. NC State came back thanks to QB Marcus Stone, who threw two touchdown passes. But Wake Forest overcame the 19-13 deficit starting with a nine-yard Nate Morton touchdown run. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Wake Forest RB Chris Barclay ran 36 times for 117 yards. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Wake Forest - Passing: Ben Mauk, 13-17, 140 yds---College Football---
Rushing: Chris Barclay, 36-117. Receiving: Nate Morton, 5-46---College Football---
NC State - Passing: Marcus Stone, 6-16, 136 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Toney Baker, 11-59. Receiving: Brian Clark, 5-74, 1 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: If the loss to Wake Forest doesn't signal the end of the Chuck Amato era, the coach is on double-secret probation. Coming off the lifeless loss to Clemson, the Wolfpack desperately needed a strong performance, and didn't get it. Jay Davis doesn't appear to be anywhere near the passer he was at the beginning of the season, and with the season slipping out of reach, it might be Marcus Stone's job the rest of the way. The defense did a good job of keeping the Demon Deacons to 225 yards, but it's still a loss.---College Football---
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Oct. 13---College Football---
Clemson 31 ... NC State 10---College Football---
Clemson, led by James Davis, ran for 243 yards jumping out to a 21-0 first half lead on the way to the stunning blowout. Davis ran for touchdown runs of 12 and six yards out before leaving the game with a broken wrist, but the Tiger defense took care of the rest not allowing any NC State points after a 25-yard field goal at the end of the first half. Charlie Whitehurst started out the scoring for the Tigers with two short touchdown passes. NC State got on in the end zone on an impressive 20-yard Darrell Blackman run late in the second quarter. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Clemson RB James Davis ran 12 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Clemson - Passing: Charlie Whitehurst, 22-31, 246 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: James Davis, 12-143, 2 TD. Receiving: Chansi Stuckey, 8-103---College Football---
NC State - Passing: Jay Davis, 15-31, 133 yds, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Darrell Blackman, 10-46, 1 TD. Receiving: Lamart Barrett, 4-78---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Talk about not being able to capitalize on momentum, NC State should've been able to take the Georgia Tech win and use it to go on a big run, instead if came up with a total clunker against Clemson with a shockingly bad defensive performance. The front seven looked out of place most of the night, while heralded front line got pushed around. This loss also showed how much the Wolfpack must find some sort of a steady running game. When Jay Davis wasn't able to get the deep passing game going, nothing else worked. ---College Football---
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Oct. 6---College Football---
NC State 17 ... Georgia Tech 14---College Football---
Down three with 33 seconds to play, Georgia Tech was on the three-yard line looking to go in for the game winning score, and appeared to have it as Reggie Ball hit a leaping Calvin Johnson in the hands, but Johnson bobbled the ball as he fell letting NC State's Garland Heath picked it off to seal the Wolfpack win. Brian Clark caught a 40-yard touchdown pass off a flea flicker in the first half, and took a slant pattern for the game-winning 80-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter. Georgia Tech was able to rally from a 10-0 deficit with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Johnson and a 12-yard P.J. Daniels touchdown run, but PK Travis Bell missed two short field goals wide right that turned out to be the difference.
Player of the game: NC State WR Brian Clark caught four passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: NC State - Passing: Jay Davis, 18-25, 230 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Toney Baker, 22-68. Receiving: Brian Clark, 4-148, 2 TD---College Football---
Georgia Tech - Passing: Reggie Ball, 21-53, 279 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: P.J. Daniels, 12-88. Receiving: Calvin Johnson, 10-130, 1 TD
What to take away from this game: O.K., NC State turned its season back around with the win over NC State, but there are still several things to worry about. It took two missed field goals and Calvin Johnson dropped pass for Georgia Tech to lose, and the Wolfpack, even after stressing all week about how it needed to play smarter, committed ten penalties for 98 yards. However, this was still an important win no matter how it happened, and now it gets a chance to really get the season rolling against Clemson next Thursday night. ---College Football---
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Sept. 24---College Football---
North Carolina 31 ... NC State 24---College Football---
Matt Baker overcame a lousy first half finishing with two touchdown passes including a ten-yards to Jon Hamlett late in the third quarter to take the lead for good. The Tar Heels got up 10-0 helped by a NC State bad snap on a punt for a Quinton Person touchdown. Tony Baker ran for two touchdowns and T.J. Williams caught a 39-yard touchdown pass for a 24-14 lead, but the defense couldn't hold as Barrington Edwards ran for a two-yard score kicking off 17 unanswered Tar Heel points.
Player of the game: North Carolina RB Barrington Edwards ran 25 times for 129 yards and a touchdown. NC State LB Stephen Tulloch made 19 tackles, one sack and six tackles for loss in a losing effort.---College Football---
Stat Leaders: UNC - Passing: Matt Baker, 13-23, 177 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Barrington Edwards, 25-129, 1 TD. Receiving: Jawarski Pollock, 5-44, 1TD---College Football---
NC State - Passing: Jay Davis, 21-35, 257 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Tony Baker, 15-58, 2 TD. Receiving: T.J. Williams, 6-77, 1 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Penalties and inefficient offense in crunch time is what NC State fans are used to. What they aren't familiar with it poor defensive play and an inability to come up with important stops when the game is on the line. North Carolina rolled up 321 yards despite a horrible first half showing too much balance against a supposedly strong NC State defense. It wasn't necessarily the fault of LB Stephen Tulloch; he was all over the field making plays.---College Football---

Sept. 17---College Football---
NC State 54 ... Eastern Kentucky 10---College Football---
NC State freshman RB Tony Baker only ran six times, but he went for 85 yards with touchdown runs from 32 and three yards in the first quarter along with a 13-yard touchdown catch to start off the scoring. Eastern Kentucky finally got on the board late in the first half on a fumble recovery for a score, but it was already down 38-0. The Wolfpack starters were done early in the second half after Darrell Blackman scored on a 70-yard pass play.
Player of the game: NC State RB Tony Baker ran six times for 85 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 13 yards and a score.---College Football---
Stat Leaders: EKU - Passing: J. Greco, 10-32, 180 yds, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: M. Dunn, 12-44. Receiving: A. Ralston, 4-78---College Football---
NC State - Passing: Jay Davis, 12-17, 234 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Tony Baker, 6-85, 2 TD. Receiving: Tramain Hall, 4-44, 1 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: The NC State backfield is deep. Really deep. But that's no secret. Tony Baker looks like yet another good back the team can rely on, but there were problems in the blowout win over Eastern Kentucky. Maybe it was a lack of focus, but there's no excuse for four turnovers and eight penalties. Worse yet, NC State was two of 11 on third down conversions. It would be nice to se a mistake-free, sharp game from this team at some point.---College Football---
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Sept. 4---College Football---
Virginia Tech 20 ... NC State 16---College Football---
The Virginia Tech defense bent, but didn't break much allowing 438 yards of NC State offense before stopping a last gasp Wolfpack drive on an Aaron Rouse interception. In his starting debut, Marcus Vick threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to David Clowney and ran for 37 yards. NC State started off the scoring with a Darrell Blackman 25-yard touchdown run, but had problems with turnovers and penalties. Virginia Tech only gained 232 yards of total offense. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Virginia Tech DB Aaron Rouse made eight tackles, two interceptions, one tackle for loss, two fumble recoveries---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Virginia Tech - Passing: Marcus Vick, 10-21, 108 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Mike Imoh, 18-56, 1 TD. Receiving: David Clowney, 3-30, 1 TD---College Football---
NC State - Passing: Jay Davis, 27-43, 311 yds, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Darrell Blackman, 12-58, 1 TD. Receiving: Tramain Hall, 8-97---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Is it going to be another year of foul ups, bleeps and blunders? The Wolfpack outgained Virginia Tech and should've won the game with the way the defense played, but three turnovers and 12 penalties for 105 yards killed any hope of coming up with the victory. QB Jay Davis threw two interceptions, but one was on the last gasp end-of-the-game pass. He had a better command of the offense and put up great numbers under the pressure of the Hokie D.
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2005 Schedule---College Football---
Sept. 3 - Virginia Tech (9-2, 6-2 in ACC) – Offense: The offense was efficient last year, but it didn't move the ball much averaging almost 31 points per game despite only averaging 366 yards. Now this should be a devastating attack as long as Marcus Vick plays like he's supposed to. There are two great quarterback prospects (Sean Glennon and Cory Holt) also in the mix, but Vick is the type of player who can make this loaded attack special. There's too much talent at running back and receiver for one football, and the line is big and will be fine in time. Expect big, explosive numbers, but the question is whether or not someone can pick up the leadership slack left by Bryan Randall.---College Football---
Defense: While this probably won't be the killer defense it was last year when it finished fourth in the nation and second in scoring defense, it'll still be impressive with a tremendous front four, an experienced linebacking corps, and All-America corner Jimmy Williams leading the secondary. Depth is a bit of a problem in the back seven with decent, but mostly inexperienced prospects being shuffled around to find the right fit. Like always with the Hokies, expect plenty of great athletes, lots of big plays, and another good year.---College Football---
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Sept. 10 – at Temple (predicted finish: 1-10) – Offense: The loss of do-it-all QB Walter Washington is a good and a bad thing. He was the Big East's best player, but the offense became too reliant on him. Pure passer Mike McGann will retake his starting job, but there's no depth whatsoever. The backfield and offensive line will lead to a strong rushing attack, but the new receiving corps has to make the offense more explosive.---College Football---
Defense: Injuries, inexperience and inconsistency led to a miserable season from the defense allowing 439 yards and 36 points per game. Despite the loss of the two best players, LBs Rian Wallace and Troy Bennett, things should be better with a solid front wall helped by the return of Antwon Burton in the middle and an experienced secondary helped by the healthy return of CB Ray Lamb.---College Football---
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Sept. 17 – Eastern Kentucky---College Football---
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Sept. 24 - North Carolina (3-8, 3-5 in ACC) – Offense: Coordinator Gary Tranquill did a masterful job last year helping the Tar Heels to a big season finishing second in the ACC in total offense. The line is outstanding and the receiving corps is deep and underrated. There are concerns in the backfield needing new quarterback Matt Baker to be consistent, while inexperienced running backs Vince Wilson and Barrington Edwards need to pick up the slack for injured junior Ronnie McGill.---College Football---
Defense: Nine starters, not including top tackle Chase Page, return to a defense that finished 109th in the nation allowing 446.5 yards and 31.83 points per game. The most work has to be done in the run defense with the veteran linebacking corps needing to make far more plays to allow the safeties to play pass defense. The young, inconsistent line has to generate more of a pass rush and the secondary has to pick off more passes. ---College Football---
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Oct. 6 – at Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 in ACC) – Offense: The offense's job will be to simply hold serve so the fantastic defense can win games. That could be a problem. QB Reggie Ball has been too erratic over his first two years throwing 18 interceptions last season. But unlike the talented backup quarterbacks, Ball is mobile making him more valuable playing behind an infant line that needs a ton of work. The running backs are among the best in the country if P.J. Daniels can stay healthy. Sophomore WR Calvin Johnson has future first-round draft pick written all over him, but there isn't a proven number two man to take the heat off.---College Football---
Defense: It'll be a shock if this isn't one of the nation's best defenses. Nine starters (11 if you include DT Mansfield Wright who moved to offensive guard and CB Dennis Davis who returns from shoulder problems) come back from a defense that was a brick wall against the run and only allowed 18.9 points per game. The defensive front is tremendous with four starters who can do it all and four reserves ready to step into the rotation. Gerris Wilkinson leads a good linebacking corps that's missing experienced depth. The secondary will be better than ever with Chris Reis moving from linebacker to safety and Davis returning to man the corner spot opposite of Reuben Houston.---College Football---
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Oct. 13 - Clemson (6-5, 3-5 in ACC) – Offense: Former Toledo offensive coordinator Rob Spence will take over for Mike O'Cain after the Tiger attack finished 110th in the nation in offense and averaged a mere 21.45 points per game. The key will be an improvement on the line as the talent is there in the backfield and the receiving corps, even with the loss of top pass catcher Airese Currie, to see a night-and-day improvement. QB Charlie Whitehurst has to rebound after a lousy season, but he needs time to throw. The running game will be better with the expected emergence of RB Reggie Merriweather as a star for a full season.---College Football---
Defense: New defensive coordinator Vic Koenning should be able to keep things rolling after a fantastic 2004. Plenty of experience returns, but there are some huge losses hurt most by the departure of LB Leroy Hill and CB Justin Miller. The run defense should be solid with a good front four and solid, deep linebacking corps. Even with the early defection of Miller to the NFL, the secondary will be good if CB Sergio Gilliam can play well right away. CB Tye Hill and FS Jamaal Fudge will be among the ACC's best.---College Football---
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Oct. 22 – at Wake Forest (5-6, 3-5 in ACC) - Offense: You know what you're getting from Wake Forest. It'll be another great rushing attack led by Chris Barclay and strong backups Micah Andrews and De'Angelo Bryant working behind an experienced, but inconsistent line. The passing game has weapons with most of the top receivers coming back, so now the key is finding a quarterback to get them the ball. Ben Mauk and Cory Randolph are average passers at best and will be in a battle for the starting spot up until the opener.---College Football---
Defense: The front seven will be the best in the Jim Grobe era with plenty of speed and good depth at almost every spot. The secondary will be the concern losing stars Eric King and Marcus McGruder from a group that wasn't all that great anyway. The safeties will have to be the strength early led by junior Josh Gattis, but the corners will have a hard time with several young players looking to find time. ---College Football---
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Oct. 29 - Southern Miss (7-4, 6-2 in Conference USA) – Offense: There's major turnover in the coaching staff with offensive coordinator Rip Scherer sacked and former running backs coach Jay Johnson taking over. The offense didn't move the ball with any consistency, but it put up points averaging a respectable 26 per game. The running game will be better with Larry Thomas adding more flash, but he'll need to be durable with Anthony Harris leaving the team. Antwon Courington is an All-Conference USA receiver leading a raw corps that needs to make more big plays. The starting five on the line is solid, but there's little depth.---College Football---
Defense: The defense slipped a bit last year from its normally lofty standards allowing 376 yards and 25 points per game. There are question marks in the front seven needing the tackles to step up their play and three new starters at linebacker to come through right away. Fortunately, the secondary will be rock solid with a pair of All-Conference USA caliber corners in Caleb Hendrix and John Eubanks. Trevis Coley is an all-star defender moving from safety to linebacker.
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Nov. 5 – at Florida State (projected finish 8-3, 6-2 in ACC) – Offense: Is this the weakest Florida State offense in since 1981? The starting quarterback situation is a potential mess with Xavier Lee not looking ready for primetime this spring, Wyatt Sexton suspended and Drew Weatherford hurt. The best receivers are true freshmen, and the line doesn't appear to be anything special. What the Noles do have are two fantastic running backs with Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker needing to carry the offense until Lee gets his feet wet. Talent-wise, there's enough here to be explosive after fighting through a ton of growing pains, but the jury is out on whether or not Jeff Bowden is enough of a top-shelf offensive coordinator to be able to lead the attack to a better season after finishing 61st in the nation in total offense.---College Football---
Defense: The linebacking corps is among the best in America and safety Pat Watkins is a first round draft pick, but the rest of the defense is a major question mark after finishing seventh in the nation and fourth in scoring defense. The loss of rising star NG Clifton Dickson to academic problems and CB Antonio Cromartie to a knee injury is a huge hit for the rest of the D. The secondary will turn out to be fine if the star recruits of last year can quickly progress.---College Football---
Nov. 12 - at Boston College (8-3, 5-3 in ACC) – Offense: The Eagle offense will be tough to stop in every phase if the receiving corps comes around. Larry Lester has to go from being a nice secondary target to a go-to receiver, while star corner Will Blackmon has to be a big-time threat. Quarterback Quinton Porter is back and ready to roar after redshirting last year using his experience and decision making ability to be a strong leader of the veteran attack. L.V Whitworth and Andre Callender form a strong 1-2 rushing punch behind the ACC's best line that returns all five starters.
Defense: The Eagles will once again have a stingy defense after allowing a mere 333 yards and 17 points per game. The linebacking corps is terrific with all three starters returning led by weakside star Brian Toal. The line has tremendous potential working around All-American and future NFL millionaire Mathias Kiwanuka. Size is the only concern in a very productive secondary.---College Football---
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Nov. 26 - Maryland (6-5, 3-5 in ACC) - Offense: The Terp offense was non-existent for most of last year averaging a mere 298 yards and 17.7 points per game. Take out the 45-point explosion against woeful Temple and the 55-point destruction of Duke and Maryland would've averaged a mere 10.6 points per outing. Things won't be much better unless there's more production at quarterback. Sam Hollenbach will get the first look, but mobile Jordan Steffy and last year's starter, Joel Statham, will be in the hunt. There's little proven production from the rest of the skills spots, but there's a world of speed and athleticism. The line should be far better; the coaching staff raves about this group.---College Football---
Defense: Despite some huge losses (Shawne Merriman, Chris Kelley, Dominique Foxworth), last year's 21st best defense should turn out to be fine thanks to D'Qwell Jackson and a sensational linebacking corps. The back seven can move, and there might not be a faster cornerback pair in America than Gerrick McPhearson (4.28 40) and Josh Wilson (4.35). Pass rush is a concern without a true dominator to rely on, so the D will have to manufacture pressure early until young prospects like Trey Covington and Omar Savage can come through.---College Football---
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Perspective Piece
USC vs. Notre Dame, Oct. 15
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By Matthew Zemek---college football---

Believe the hype. Moreover, cherish it.---college football---

Anyone not convinced of Notre Dame’s quality, along with anyone convinced of USC’s superiority, should still relish the off-the-charts buzz surrounding this game.---college football---

Why is Trojans-Irish receiving through-the-roof publicity? If you love and care about college football, you shouldn’t have to ask.---college football---

Let’s remember: lost amidst the Gerry Faust Error, Lou Holtz’s total dominance of Troy, and the sad sagas of Paul “I Can’t” Hackett and Ty Willingham, this is college football’s greatest intersectional rivalry. SC-Notre Dame has carried a deeply-rooted place in the histories of these two decorated football schools. The rivalry blossomed and flourished precisely when television coverage of the sport was beginning to catch on. When Ara Parseghian and John McKay commanded these two programs, they mesmerized a nation and defined a sport from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s. Yes, Alabama was big stuff in the same electric era of college football history; ditto for Bob Devaney’s Nebraska clubs, Darrell Royal’s Texas teams, and other great squads from Michigan State, Ohio State, and UCLA. But the rivalry that made college football from 1964-1974 was USC-Notre Dame. ---college football---

During the Parseghian-McKay Era (or was it Ara?), the American Ireland and the Tinseltown Troy played games that almost always carried a major impact on the chase for the national championship. And even when the games didn’t have title implications, you still had everything else: the great coaching personalities, the sexiness of an intersectional battle’s colorful contrasts, and the inevitable fascination that comes with wondering: just how well do the West Coast and Midwest stack up against each other? USC-Notre Dame, one could legitimately say, was—in its glory days—the regular-season Rose Bowl in college football, with one difference: every other year, the Midwest would actually get to play host. Everything else, though, was the same, and this enduring presence of color and pageantry has never left Trojans-Irish:---college football---

The Song Girls and their white sweaters, representing modern California cool. The Leprechauns and their green garb, plus plaid-wearing old-timers bespeaking old-school Catholic tradition and timeless solidity in the face of change.
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In even years, the Thanksgiving weekend pilgrimage from Irish Nation to the sun-kissed beauty and noisy largeness of LA. In odd years such as this one, the mid-October trek for the Left Coasters to the statues, marble and haunting ghosts of an Indiana town cloaked in ancient glories and echoes aching to be awakened.---college football---
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Modernity versus tradition. Suntan versus the Son known as Touchdown Jesus. Triumph and Conquest versus the 1812 Overture. The lovely ladies of Los Angeles versus Our Lady. Traveler—the mother of all Trojan Horses (forget ancient Greece)—against the Four Horsemen.---college football---
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Fight On against the Fighting Irish.---college football---
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All this is always present when USC and Notre Dame get it on. But when the boys from LA and South Bend are also highly ranked and playing well; when you have two coaches who have restored the glory, luster and aura of these tradition-drenched schools; and when you consider how forces such as the Bowl Championship Series are consistently eroding college football’s traditions, charms and romantic elements, you should be able to understand why this game is deservedly a very...... big..... deal. Even more instructively, one should appreciate why the avalanche of hype surrounding this game is good for the sport of college football. It needs larger-than-life buildups to games that capture the sporting fan’s imagination. ---college football---
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The key word is that last word: imagination. This game might live up to the hype, but even if it doesn’t, what matters is the mere fact that you can imagine the game meeting the expectations. It might not happen, but it’s intellectually honest to believe it could.---college football---
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As the sport of college football has evolved over the decades, and as the strategic machinations involved in modern football have become ever more complex, the football lexicon has come to include this particular phrasing: “Never give (insert coach here) two weeks to prepare.” This is a term that has become increasingly commonplace in college football discussions surrounding big regular-season games. For bowl games, the phrasing changes “two weeks” to “one month,” but the same principle is involved.---college football---
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Joe Paterno became one of the first coaches to be regularly associated with the “never give him two weeks to prepare” line. Penn State became a team that would pick you apart systematically if JoePa had the chance to examine (and subsequently undress) you over an extended period of time. Since JoePa, other coaches have become associated with this dynamic. Bobby Bowden’s record in bowl games made him someone you didn’t want to be scrutinized by for a terribly long while. Steve Spurrier enjoyed such success beating Georgia when at Florida because he regularly had a bye week before the Cocktail Party. In very recent years, Bob Stoops became the “it” guy among college coaches who were dangerous with extra time on their hands, and in the past two seasons, USC’s very own Pete Carroll has become Father Time, the man who maximizes extra avenues for preparation and film study.
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But now, college football will see if Charlie Weis—whose Super Bowl performances with the New England Patriots made him a damn good “two-week man” at the professional level—can put two weeks to good use against the sport’s reigning Goliath. Aside of the colorful, lavish, tradition-rich history that always soups up Trojans-Irish, and forgetting for a moment the quality of the visitors and the Christ-like resurrection of a previously floundering Notre Dame program, what makes this game sing with intrigue, drama and possibility—accounting for the justified hype—is this one question: what will Weis do with two weeks to prepare? ---college football---
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That’s the central question of this game. Weis is as businesslike a coach as there is, so when he said last week that his team will be “exponentially more prepared” for USC because of an extra week of practice, you have to take him seriously. It’s not a recklessly uttered and hyperbolic spillage of braggadocio, but a calm statement of natural football sense and reality. This game—possessing more sex appeal, color, contrasts, and superstars than any single sporting event has a right to own—is a game that isn’t just for the occasional sports fan or the interested bystander who normally wouldn’t give a hoot about sports. This game—because Charlie and the Touchdown Factory have had an extra week in their mad-scientist pigskin laboratory, intensely drawing up schemes and plays to solve USC on every possible level—is also a football purist’s game, an ultimate test of coaching intelligence and cleverness in the face of a dauntingly awesome and athletically gifted opponent.---college football---
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How will Charlie do it? How will a very Weis man try to topple mighty Troy? The question has to make any lover of football, football coaching, and football strategy go absolutely wild with intellectual and emotional ecstasy. One can barely hold in the energy associated with the anticipation of the football coaching chess match of the year: Irishman Pete Carroll in one corner, genius behind USC’s defense, versus Irish coach Charlie Weis in the other corner, mastermind of a rejuvenated Notre Dame offense.---college football---
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It’s too much for any passionate college football fan to handle.---college football---
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And oh, that’s not including the trivial little fact that USC’s national title hopes and Notre Dame’s January 1 bowl hopes are on the line.---college football---
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And oh, that’s not including all the history and color that go into this, the greatest of college football’s intersectional rivalries.---college football---
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And oh, that’s in addition to the fact that this game is the biggest SC-Notre Dame game played since 1989, with a chance to be the most remembered Trojan-Irish encounter since the Anthony Davis game of 1974.
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It’s too much: the coaching matchup, the Charlie Weis challenge, the No. 1 behemoth, the resurgent upstart on its way back to power.---college football---
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It’s all too much: The bands playing, the skirts—SC white or ND plaid—swaying, the enormity of what’s at stake, the Irish’s two-week break.---college football---
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Believe the hype. Cherish the hype. It’s all there, it’s all justified. USC-Notre Dame, in the full totality of its greatness, is back as the kind of uber-event that m---college football---akes college football the king of American sports.---college football---

College Truth & Rumors

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was crowing in August that this year's team could be as good as the 2000 group. That team found its stride in October and zoomed to the national championship. As it turns out, these Sooners might not even win six games to qualify for a bowl. Stoops is not willing to dissect OU's remaining schedule, at least publicly anyway. But he acknowledges the reality of the Sooners' plight. - College Football -
-- Dallas Morning News

Running back Adrian Peterson's right ankle was sore after limited action against Texas. But coach Bob Stoops said the sophomore is further along in his rehabilitation this week and should be closer to 100 percent Saturday against Kansas.
-- Dallas Morning News - College Football -

Chris Leak's sprained throwing shoulder will not limit him in practice or prevent him from playing in No. 11 Florida's game at No. 10 LSU. Offensive coordinator Dan Mullen said Monday that Leak, who barely practiced last week and needed a pain-killing injection to play against Mississippi State last Saturday, should have no lingering effects from the injury that coach Urban Meyer said he aggravated against Alabama on Oct. 1.
-- Florida Times-Union - College Football -

Tennessee offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, speaking yesterday to the Knoxville Quarterback Club, said he expected Erik Ainge to play Oct. 22 against Alabama. Sanders said he was unsure whether Ainge would start or whether he would enter the game three or four series in, but added, "He's too good a football player to be standing on the sidelines." Rick Clausen has been the quarterback since bringing Tennessee back to win at LSU.
-- The Tennessean - College Football -

USC linebacker Dallas Sartz returned to practice Monday, but the senior acknowledged that he might consider redshirting if a shoulder injury prevents him from playing against Notre Dame on Saturday or in the games that follow. Sartz, the Trojans' most experienced defensive player, dislocated his left shoulder against Arkansas and has sat out three games. He said he hoped to play against the Fighting Irish but would wait to see how his shoulder felt as the week progressed. Coach Pete Carroll said Sartz was "questionable at best" to play on Saturday and that redshirting might be an option if the shoulder does not heal soon.
-- Los Angeles Times - College Football -

Notre Dame center Bob Morton (leg) is expected to play against USC. Wide receiver Rhema McKnight (knee) -- who has been out since Sept. 10 -- is probable.
-- Chicago Sun-Times - College Football -

UCLA players do not have to search hard for motivation this week in preparation for Saturday's game at Washington State. The Bruins have lost four in a row to the Cougars and haven't won in Pullman since 1993. UCLA's last trip there ? two years ago ? ended with taunts from Washington State fans who got inside the Bruin locker room after the Cougars' 31-13 victory.
-- Los Angeles Times - College Football -

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NOTEBOOK: Bulldogs in top 5; Tech player out

Without any effort at all, Georgia moved back into the Associated Press top five on Sunday. It will take something else entirely to stay there. - - College Football - -

The No. 5 Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0 SEC) play No. 8 Tennessee (3-1, 2-1) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn. The game will be televised by CBS. - - College Football - -

"We're going to find out Saturday if we belong there," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "That's the thing about the polls this early, regardless of where you are, you have to keep winning to move up or stay up. I don't know if we're worthy of that yet. We'll find out a little more this weekend."

The Volunteers knocked Georgia out of the top five last season. The Bulldogs were 4-0 and ranked No. 3 in the nation heading into last year's game, which Tennessee won 19-14 in Athens. Georgia hasn't been ranked that high in the AP poll since. - - College Football - -

The Bulldogs moved from No. 7 to No. 5 at the expense of two other SEC schools. LSU fell from No. 4 to No. 11 after a week in which it lost to Tennessee and beat Mississippi State. Florida fell from No. 5 to No. 13 after it was whipped Saturday by Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Georgia had its first open date of the season this weekend, meaning it will have two weeks to get ready for the Volunteers.

"If nothing else, it gives you a little more time to think through what you want to do," Richt said.

The Bulldogs also are No. 5 this week in the Harris Poll. - - College Football - -

TECH'S HENDERSON OUT

Georgia Tech senior defensive end Eric Henderson is expected to miss his third consecutive game when the Yellow Jackets host North Carolina State on Thursday. - - College Football - -

Henderson, hampered by a right ankle injury, has not played in the Yellow Jackets' last two games.

"I doubt we'll have Eric," Tech coach Chan Gailey said. "It hasn't responded as quickly as we all hoped, him and us." - - College Football - -

Gailey said he did not believe the injury would end Henderson's season.

"It used to be frustrating but I realize now that I'm at peace with myself," said Henderson, who missed three games last season with a hamstring injury. "I just put my faith in God and let Him direct my path. If he allows me to play, then I'll play. If not, then it's His will."

Henderson has six tackles, including one sack, and one forced fumble in two games this year.

Tight end Michael Matthews (left ankle) is doubtful, and reserve offensive linemen Salih Besirevic (undisclosed) is questionable for Thursday's game. - - College Football - -

Compiled by Josh Kendall and Brian Murphy, Telegraph staff writers

College football: St. Norbert defensive coordinator to miss season

Press-Gazette

DE PERE — Randy Marsh, the defensive coordinator for the St. Norbert College football team, will miss the rest of the season for what the school described as health-related issues.

“Everyone is looking out for the best interests of Randy and his family,” athletics director Tim Bald said in a press release. March, who may eventually return to the job, was in his first year as a full-time assistant after four years as a part-time assistant. - College Football -

Tim McGuire was named interim defensive coordinator for the rest of the season. He spent the last seven seasons as head coach at Indiana State, an NCAA Division I-AA school, compiling a 24-55 record. His contract was not renewed after last season. - College Football -

Cashing in on 12th game
For the most part, major powers will just schedule another pushover starting in '06

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - This time next year, college football fans everywhere will be planning an extra trip to campus.

For Florida-Miami? Maybe Pitt-Penn State? How about Texas-Arkansas? They wish.

Even though the NCAA made the 12th game an annual event beginning in 2006, marquee matchups will be rare because schools are unwilling to trade a lucrative home game for a home-and-away series. They also don't want to fill what would have been an open week with a tough opponent.

"Everybody thinks automatically that now Florida is playing USC, and Oklahoma is playing Michigan and that kind of stuff," Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said. "I don't see that happening. The 12th game is a significant source of revenue for every program in America. I think that's going to be a driving force in the way a lot of these schedules come down."

Before the NCAA passed the rule in April, Division I-A programs were allowed to schedule a 12th regular-season game in 2002 and 2003, when the calendar provided 14 Saturdays between the first weekend in September and the last weekend in November. The next time that's going to happen is 2008, then again in 2013.

With that in mind, Florida and Miami already have agreed to play in '08 and '13. In other years, Florida has Florida Atlantic, Florida International and Hawaii on tap.

It's about the same everywhere else, with the 12th game providing only a few enticing matchups so far. LSU and Tulane signed a 10-year contract. Georgia and Colorado have a series set.

Marshall and West Virginia have a seven-game agreement starting next year.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier wants to play North Carolina, but the Tar Heels have been cool on the idea.

A blockbuster deal hasn't happened - and might not.

The additional game undoubtedly will bring a financial windfall to athletic departments from coast to coast, but it also has sparked controversy. Some view it as abusive to student-athletes and merely another step toward mirroring the NFL.

It's a mixed bag for many coaches.

"Twelve games is too many, especially in the short period of time that they are jamming all those into," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "Next year we'll be playing 12 games in a row. That means I'm not going to play a Michigan or a Michigan State. You just can't do it. It's not feasible right before I play Georgia and Alabama."

The changing landscape of college athletics has caused schools to search for additional revenue sources. An extra game was the perfect solution, providing millions of dollars for premier programs and more bargaining power for major conferences in the profitable and expansive television market.

When asked to explain the reason for adding a 12th game despite pleas from the Knight Commission, The American Football Coaches Association, the ACC and an NCAA task force seeking ways to decrease an athlete's time on the field, NCAA Board of Directors chairman Robert Hemenway said, "It was not just about money." Most coaches and athletic directors disagree.

"I am absolutely against it. It's not fair for the kids," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "We are playing a 12th game for strictly one reason - to create revenue so we can support the other programs. That's fine, but let's say it."

COLLEGE FOOTBALL '05: This time, Wannstedt said yes to Pitt
ALAN ROBINSON

PITTSBURGH - Maybe he still needed time away from football after the Ricky Williams fiasco. Or, perhaps he felt too far removed from college football after being away for 15 years. So when Pitt athletic director Jeff Long first tried persuading him to return to his alma mater as coach, Dave Wannstedt said no. After 30 consecutive seasons as a football coach, Wannstedt's only game planning early last winter was deciding whether to play 18 or 36 holes of golf. He wasn't totally detached from football after resigning as the Miami Dolphins' coach six weeks before, working some late-season NFL games as a Fox TV analyst. But once he started thinking about the job he turned down, the one he had been contacted about four times previously but had never taken, Wannstedt questioned if he had made the wrong decision. This was Pitt, this was home, this was the job that, as a young coach in the 1970s, he considered the job of a lifetime. He also knew this was almost certainly the last time he would be offered it. So when Long called back a second time, supposedly to get Wannstedt's thoughts on a possible hire but in reality to gauge his interest, Wannstedt said yes. Maybe it was because a couple of other coaches, Southern Cal's Pete Carroll and Georgia Tech's Chan Gailey, were proving the NFL-to-college football move could be a successful one. Or maybe, just maybe, this time Pitt just felt right. "I had to take the emotion out of it," said Wannstedt, the former Bears and Dolphins head coach who grew up in suburban Pittsburgh and played at Pitt. "Once I realized this was what was best for me and my family, I knew I needed to pursue it again." There's another reason, too. Just like Long, Wannstedt thinks a national championship can be won again in Pittsburgh, even if it's been 30 seasons since it last happened. He was a graduate assistant coach when it last occurred in 1976 - and the next time it does, he wants to be the man in charge. The Pitt team Wannstedt inherits from Walt Harris, now at Stanford, is the polar opposite of what Harris took over in 1997. Then, Pitt had won just 12 games in four seasons during Johnny Majors' second and far-less-successful stop; now, Pitt brings back 18 starters and skill aplenty from an 8-4 Fiesta Bowl team. The Panthers have won 25 games in three seasons, or one more than they won in seven seasons from 1990-96 before Harris arrived. The pitch-and-catch combination of Tyler Palko to Greg Lee is one of college football's best. The defense has the potential to be excellent. The kicker (Josh Cummings) and punter (Adam Graessle) both made All-Big East last season. And the coach who initially didn't know if he wanted to go back home? Once he took the job just before Christmas, Wannstedt moved quickly to rebuild Pitt's uneven recruiting in its western Pennsylvania home base. As a result, he's landed 13 quality recruits for his second team even before he's coached his first. Though Wannstedt's background is as a defensive coordinator - a job he once held at Oklahoma State, Southern Cal and the University of Miami - he's also brought the run back to an offense that was one of the nation's best in passing and worst in rushing a year ago. Palko is an excellent scrambler and playmaker, but Wannstedt felt Pitt's offense was overly reliant last season on the only quarterback in Pitt history to throw for more than 3,000 yards as a sophomore. That should mean a lot of carries for star-in-the-making Rashad Jennings and fullback Tim Murphy, who has enough speed that he challenged Jennings at tailback during training camp. "We're still going to throw the ball," said Lee, the latest in a recent line of Pitt star receivers that includes Biletnikoff winners Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant. "Being able to run is going to make it a lot easier for us to throw." Jennings, an incoming freshman who enrolled at Pitt in January and had 119 yards on 19 carries in the spring game, is the younger brother of former NFL players Butch and Bryan Jennings. He weighs 235-240 pounds but runs like he's 220, and looks to be exactly the kind of power back that can carry an offense when the passing game isn't going. Even if that rarely happened a year ago when, after a shaky first month on the job, Palko averaged 303.5 yards passing and had 17 touchdown passes and two interceptions in his final six games. Wannstedt only wishes he had a QB during his days with the Bears and Dolphins who produced like that. The worry is what happens if either Palko or Lee (68 catches, 1,297 yards, 10 touchdowns) goes down with an injury. Palko's only backups are a pair of incoming freshmen, and no other receiver is remotely close to Lee in talent. But with players such as offensive tackle Charles Spencer, linebacker H.B. Blades and defensive lineman Thomas Smith back, Pitt seems to have plenty enough talent to be a power in the reconfigured Big East. Palko also sees no difficulty in shifting offenses, even though he was a perfect fit for Harris' version of the West Coast system. "This isn't calculus, this isn't aeronautical engineering, there's only so many ways you can run a play," Palko said. "The terminology may be different, but it's not that hard to pick up. We'll be fine." Maybe more than fine, especially if the Panthers get through a stretch that matches them against Notre Dame and Nebraska in the first three weeks of the season. "Do I like the excitement? Sure," Wannstedt said. "It's getting our football team to catch up with the excitement, and that's tough to do."

Associated Press