Brian Bald
Nov 18, 2008

This blog is dedicated to promoting the ideas of the unqualified and under-informed. With that in mind, “12 Angry Homers” is a weekly feature highlighting the rants and raves of a graduate from each of the 12 ACC schools (note: eventually…we are a few homers short at the moment) as their beloved teams make their way through the football & basketball seasons…

Homer #1: E-Dubs

Clemson destroyed Duke this past weekend 31-7. “Thunder and Lightning” each had 2 touchdowns. The defense finally played man coverage most of the game only giving up 168 yards, and Aaron Kelly is now the ACC’s career receptions leader with 217. It didn’t hurt that we knocked the leading passer in the ACC out in the first quarter.

Clemson will need to carry the offensive output into next week’s game in Charlottesville against the Cavs to have any chance at a bowl game. Clemson’s weak O-line will be tested, and I expect Clemson to put in an extra TE or use a FB to block Clint Sintim, who leads the ACC with 11 sacks. All you Cavs fans will get to see CJ Spiller for the first time in person this Saturday. I know he will be looking to put on a show since Clemson needs to win out to be bowl eligable. Big Al will have had 2 weeks to prepare for “Thunder and Lightning”, so I am expecting a great game even though it is a nooner. Prediction: Clemson 24, UVA 17.

Homer #2: Moncrieffe

FSU football has once again embarrassed and disappointed it’s fans, alumni, family, and hopefully themselves. This performance against a BC team, that is far from being good, was just pathetic. Ponder turned over the ball, and the defense (especially Derek Nicholson) committed stupid penalties. And the icing on the you suck cake was McClure tearing his ACL celebrating an interception that could and should have been the catalyst for our comeback.

Now not only do we need to beat Maryland and Florida to have a glimmer of hope at participating in the ACC title game, we also need 3 monkeys and 2 giraffes to join the marching band. In other words there goes our season.

I heard Herbstreet make a point about ND on Gameday this week and it worried me. The statement was in response to ND possibly firing Charlie Weis. His response was essentially “Why fire Charlie Weis? Over the past 15 years they have become a 7-5 team consistently and that is what is going to happen this year again. So, why fire Charlie Weis?” I just hope this is not the path we are traveling down. It’s time for players and coaches to take some responsibility and get this program right.

Next week: Myron Rolle in the Rhodes Scholarshir finals in Birmingham, Alabama (we also play Maryland but I’ll mostly be watching to see if Myron won)

Homer #3: Benz



Editor’s note: GT had a bye. I hope Paul Johnson has his guys ready to play Thursday night. Go Jackets!

Homer #4: Beef & Charlie Chalupa

Which Terps team will we see next?!?!?!!?  OOOh the excitement of TERPS football.  Somehow, really not sure how this is possible, the Terps could potentially clinch the ACC Atlantic with a win over FSU and a BC loss.  Whaaaaa?  The ACC is a joke.  Turner didn’t have a great day, but he did lead a 73-yard 19-play drive to set up the game winning field goal.  Scott was beastly again and put up 130 yards with a gimpy shoulder and the D held its own.  I guess North Carolina is better than it used to be, but not much better. 

The win does put the Terps in the driver’s seat for the Atlantic division, so there’s that. 

Homer #5: Krystal

THANK YOU TERPS!!!! With Miami’s win over the Hokies and UNC’s loss, Miami might actually have a chance at the ACC Championship Game!!! (Not that the ACC is doing so hot right now.)

We are FINALLY ranked in the top 25 (#23). 1st time in 2 years!!! Who would have thought this was even a possibility???

But we still have to play Georgia Tech at their house on Thursday night. So we will see what happens. But if our defense shows up like they did against the Hokies and our offense learns how to score some TDs, we might actually win it. If not, we still made a better run this year than I thought we would. Miami is coming back ladies and gentlemen!

Oh yea and Benny, where’s my money??? You thought it was an easy bet to win against a girl, huh??? Don’t mess with Miami!

Homer #6: Ned Ryerson

Homer #7: The Steve Smith

I’ll give some credit to the Wake defense for being resilient. Wake ran 6 plays in the first quarter. Their D spent a ridiculous amount of time on the field in the first half, and still managed to keep it together and not give up the back-breaking big play that would’ve broken the game open. Conversely, Owen Spencer needs to have a HELL of a game against UNC to get back out of my dog house. With the Wolfpack ahead 7-0, Russell Wilson avoided the rush and layed a beautiful throw 40 yards down the middle of the field. It hit Spencer in the “bread-basket” with enough distance on the defender to be a
touchd-.... guh! Drop. In the second quarter, crucial third-down pass deep into the red-zone… guh! Dropped. Third quarter, crossing route with lots of room to run… DROP! All totalled, he left about 130 yards slip through his fingers and positioned himself to be public enemy number 1 in Raleigh. Thankfully, Russell Wilson is amazing. His 2 tds give him 12 passing touchdowns to just ONE int on the year. He’s gone 175 throws without a pick. He did have a fumble deep in NCSU territory, but the defense came up big and held for a field goal.

Andre Brown also continues to run hard for the Pack, and the defense is playing better and better every week. The team continues to avoid costly penalties and turnovers. Tom O’Brien is 5-1 against the state of North Carolina. All of this bodes well for the match-up against the Tar Holes this weekend.

Next up: Maryland showed the blue-print for beating the Heels. State stops the run for the third straight week, makes UNC one-dimensional and forces Hakeem Nicks to run underneath routes, and puts pressure on an antsy Cam Sexton and rusty TJ Yates and wins 3rd straight: Wolfpack 31 Tar Holes 27.

Homer #8: 46 East

The Hoos had a bye week, but Roger Mason Jr hit the game winner last night for the Spurs. So that’s pretty cool.

Also, this just in, Wade Phillips is a tub of lard. I would love to see Wade and Ralph “55 inch waist” Freidgen sitting down at a Five Guys. The thought of them shoveling and slopping food into their faces makes me want to vomit.

And Tech lost, which is always fun because it causes Beamer’s neck goiter to act up on him.  Poor man, there’s really no hiding the fact that you have a huge neck goiter.  I dont think turtlenecks or treadmill sessions are going to help that thing.

Homer #9: Benny-Who!?!??

Miami’s only touchdown was caused by a BS roughing the passer call.  Marve should be playing soccer with those theatrics.  I am pissed about the game because I now owe Krystal $50, a bet I made 3 months ago.  But how bout that catch by Jarrett Boykin in the 2nd half (David Tyree-esque) to set up a 51-yard field goal that we missed.  And the fumble gods were watching over Miami Thursday.  Twice the Ibises coughed up the ball only for it to conveniently fall into another Hurricane’s hands, for first downs no less.  And hasn’t Beamer learned to take the points on our first drive. Come on gobblers!!

I’m no mathmetician, but I’m sure that there is a way that Miami can choke and pave the way for the Hokies to Tampa.  If Georgia Tech beats Miami next week, the Hokies still have a chance to compete for the ACC Championship.  I believe a similar scenario happened a few years ago.  Tech needed GaTech to beat Miami to get into the championship and I remember calling GT pundit Benz to thank him.  In a conference that anybody can win, but nobody wants to win, anything is possible.

Hokie basketball opened up this week against Gardner-Webb with a victory.  Big man Jeff Allen, who came on strong toward the end of last season, and AD Vassallo both scored 19.  Malcolm Delany and Hank Thorns split time at the point scoring a combined 17 points and limiting turnovers.

In other news, Michael Jordan heads an elite basketball camp, usually attended by celebrities, CEO’s, etc.  They sign up to get a chance to play Jordan one-on-one.  One lucky CEO, John Rogers, did just that, and what a sweet lefty layup.  Awesome Damon Wayans cameo.

Homer #10: Erik the Red

Homer #11: _________

Do you know someone who went to Boston College? Because I don’t. If you, or someone you know, wants to be the BC Homer, e-mail thebaldspot@inrich.com

Homer #12: ________

Even Duke grads admit they do not pay attention to football. I doubt anyone wants to read about Blue Devil football any more than anyone wants to write about it. So, we will spare everyone involved and hold this space open for b-ball season.