Brian Bald
Nov 26, 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

Well I am glad I stayed home instead of making the trip to C-ville for the Clemson game. I stayed in my very warm house while watching the coldest game in UVA history since 1966. The weather was not the only thing cold in Charlotesville. The offense being displayed could of put to sleep a school bus of 8 year olds jacked up on mountain dew and fun dip. That was one of the boringest Clemson games I have seen in a while but the Tigers pulled out the W and have South Carolina at home this weekend. The Tigers need to win this rivalry game in order to be bowl eligable. It is going to be a tough task against a stout South Carolina D, especially coming off a bye week.

Clemson lost their best pass rusher in Ricky Sapp to a partially torn knee last week. All World true freshman, Da’Quan Bowers will have to step up bigtime and get pressure on USC’s terrible QB’s. I expect a pretty low scoring game since both offenses are not good. I dont like the fact that Spurrier has had two weeks to scheme and rest players. I got a bad feeling about this game since the Coots can keep us from going bowling for the first time in 10 years (I am excluding the year we declined a bowl invitation b/c we beat down USC in a nasty little brawl). Keep in mind Clemson has won 9 of the last 11 meetings.

Homer #2: Moncrieffe

So the roller coaster peaks again. I’m sure that last week’s game against BC was a result of distractions and nonsense and that this week’s game against Maryland is how we will show up against UF on Saturday. Everett Brown secured his first-round status in the draft this week with 3.5 sacks and the tears of Chris Turner dripping down his jersey. This was the FSU defense of old, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. We went out there and found people to hit. We attacked and they folded. Ponder came out and showed his true dual-threat status again. Running, throwing, juggling he just couldn’t be stopped. Antone and Jermaine Thomas ran their hearts and legs out from behind those young offensive linemen. Receivers caught the ball and made smart decisions. There’s not much to criticize about our performance this week.

When we come after UF like this, Tim Teabow and Percy Harvin better be on some crazy pain killers. It’s time for us to show UF why under Bobby Bowden we are 17-16-1 against them. We have been on a 4-year slide against UF and it’s time that Urb learned what a good ol’ fashioned FSU stomping feels like. Their offense is not as advertised and their defense is not that good at all. (They allowed 19 points from the Citadel, really?) They can sit there and look towards the SEC championship game and pretend like they’re heading to the Natrional Championship already, but they better not forget the band of thugs in Tallahasse they have to see first.

Next week: I GUARANTEE A WIN AGAINST (#4) UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Homer #3: Benz

Editor’s note: Ben is boycotting this space because I have spoken harshly about the Sagarin rated #2 conference in college football. As much as I enjoy Ben’s contribution, I still have nothing positive to say about the state of ACC football.

Homer #4: Beef & Charlie Chalupa

Terps: eat a bag of (fill in the blank).  No comment.  Thank god its time for basketball!

Homer #5: Krystal

So since I am speechless after the poor performance of the U on Thursday against GT, I am calling on some friends and their opinions…

Joe B is all about the “simplicity of defending the option. Which the 2001 ‘Canes did against Nebraska. Apparently our current linebackers and defensive ends have no clue who should take the pitchman or the QB (something most linebackers learn when they are 8 in peewee fb). The fact that they killed us with a fullback dive while we were in a 4-3 is nothing less than piss-poor. Maybe its a good thing, because Christian Ponder might have had 300 yrds rushing in the ACC championhsip game had we made the game… much coaching to do on the D side of the ball”

Matt is “convinced that watching the Hurricanes is like dry-humping a girl. A lot of anticipation but in the end, nothing to show for it.”

Brody thinks “its more like flirting with a really hot chick, then finding out she’s only 16. You see the potential, and get all the anticipation, but there’s nothing you can do but wait 2 years.”

I concur with all of these statements and since they said it best, they get kudos from me! The whole ACC is in disarray. So here’s to next year! Maybe the U will surprise me in basketball this year….Let’s hope so! I can’t take much more of this! However, the $50 bet from Benny bought me a new Canes jersey to show off next year! Thanks B! :)

Homer #6: Ned Ryerson

I DID NOT see that coming. After a brutal loss to Maryland in completely gut wrenching fashion, the Tar Heels simply did not show up to play NC State…our biggest football rival. This is how you can tell we’re a basketball school, can you ever imagine the basketball team not being pumped up to play Duke? It’s just unfathomable. Some feel the same about the State football rivalry to a much lesser extent. Side note, the State quarterback, Russell Wilson, is the real deal. He can run, buy time, is incredibly accurate and can take a hit. He’s not tall enough to be a great pro, but I bet that in 2 years there’s going to be some Phil Rivers hype around him. God do I hate Phillip Rivers.

So with that, the dream season that was supposed to be has collapsed in two weeks. We’ll most likely end up in the Tire bowl in Charlotte, which is awesome for me cause it’s my home town, but in general it sucks. Hopefully the taste of blowing it these last two weeks will stick with these kids through the off-season and they’ll come back hungry and ready to play all 12 games next year. Hopefully.

I will say that the progress Butch Davis is making is clear and undeniable. We have a great class coming in and aren’t losing anyone of too much value, Brandon Tate not included because he’s hurt. So things are looking up, for next August anyway. Until then, the Maui Invitational kicks off tomorrow and my attention will turn to the #1 team in the nation, and I could not be more pleased to write that.

We play Duke next week and instead of writing a post about the game I may try to explain my theory that Coach K has caused the financial collapse.

Homer #7: The Steve Smith

Let me introduce you to ACC Offensive player of the year, first-team ALL-ACC quarterback, and ACC rookie of the year, Russell Wilson. If you still haven’t heard of him, well ask Butch Davis. Wilson currently has 1549 yards passing, 14 TDs to only 1 INT, along with 284 rushing yards with 3 rushing TDs. All of this while missing roughly 3 games with injury, and with one game to go against a Miami team that often forgets to play defense. I dare you to find one player more deserving of these accolades. There might be some you can make an argument to be in the conversation, but none whose resume really stacks up to Wilson’s.

So back to the game. The Wolfpack came out very aggressively and punched UNC right in their up-turned noses. Forcing several early turn-overs and hitting TJ Yates hard, the Tar Heels were fortunate to
be down only 10-3 at the half. The third quarter was when an Amato-led team would’ve given some of those turnovers back, and let the Heels back in the game… well, not a Tom O’Brien team. The Wolfpack took, and took some more, pushing the lead to 31-10 with a punishing ground game, accurate passing, and physical defense. This was when a lot of kakhi pants, button-downs, skirts, and croakies headed for the exit. Andre Brown confirmed his reputation as one of the hardest runners to bring down, racking-up loads of yards-after-contact. In one of the great BEAT DOWNS of this rivalry, the Wolfpack held UNC to 3 for 11 on third down, 203 total yards, and forced 6 turnovers. It should be noted that NC State was 8-17 on third down, with 466 totals yards, and 0 turnovers. That, my friends, is the definition of domination.

My favorite part of the game was T.O.‘s post-game comments, declaring NC State to be “clearly the most dominant team in the state of North Carolina”. Quite the recruiting message, and true if you consider his record against in-state opponents is 6-1 (4-0 this season). UNC was exposed Saturday. They are not as good as their record indicates (cupcake non-conf schedule) and frequent late-game collapses against decent opponents is more characteristic of Duke teams (Butch isn’t that good a coach) while NC State is surging at the end of an injury-plagued season (indication of getting healthy and good coaching). Maybe the best thing for UNC is take Butch’s hot shot recruits and let him hitch a ride to Volunteer country… although I hope he stays. PREDICTION: NC State 31 Miami 20. Boise, here we come!!!

Homer #8: 46 East

Move over Bill Walsh.  You had a nice run Steve Spurrier.  There’s a new offensive guru in football these days, and his name is Mike Groh. 

Fresh off a bye week, with plenty of extra time to devise new schemes, new protections, new plays, Mike Groh coordinated an offense that pumped out 3 points against a ferocious 5-5 Clemson Tigers team.  Pretty heady stuff, I know.  I have a feeling this off-season, instead of Mike Groh going to study Texas Tech’s offensive coaches, that Texas Tech’s offensive coaches are going to come study Mike Groh.  We are going to look back on this time someday and cherish the Mike Groh glory years, before all the bigtime programs came calling and swooped him away from us.

The “I’m Marc Verica, and I love turnovers” train steamrolls on with .  Next time I pull up to a toll booth and need to throw my change at the wrong coin collector, I’ll call Verica.

I just spent 15 minutes trying to think of one positive performance from the game, and I cannot think of one.

I can’t wait to end this season next week at Va Tech.  We are a lame horse, we are Barbaro.  Shoot us now.

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

Thank you Georgia Tech, good luck with the Bulldogs next weekend.

It feels good to be in the driver’s seat so late in the season.  A win over UVa will put the Hokies in Tampa, which shouldn’t (but probably will be) a problem considering it’s in Blacksburg, and the Wahoos have gone back to their atrocious play from early in the season.  Saturday’s game will be attended by yours truly and I have to admit that I am worried.  This is setting up to be a game when UVa can be the spoiler.  In years past, this rivalry has mattered for nothing except bragging rights and in-state recruiting. 

I was biting my nails watching the Duke game.  4 turnovers in the first 5 series was championship-threatening, although we pulled it out with the stellar playmaking of our defense once again.  I’m not sure that we belong in the ACC championship, or, for that matter, a BCS bowl, but somebody from the ACC needs to go.  It doesn’t seem like anybody wants to do the BCS dance for fear of getting embarrassed at the Orange Bowl.

In basketball news, Virginia Tech has played some solid games.  After handily beating Mt. St. Mary’s, we ousted Fairfeild in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in front of dozens in attendence.  We then dropped a game in overtime due to an uncontested half-court prayer that just beat the buzzer to lose by 1 to now 20-ranked Xavier.  Seton Hall, who overcame USC in the first round, went on to win a close one against the Hokies in the consolation round.

Two close losses.  We still need to learn how to finish games.  This was a large problem last season.  A lead late in the game many times gave way to stupid turnovers and wire finishes of which Tech was on the losing end.  We have a better slate of games this preseason compared to years past which should enable us to perform better come ACC play.

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.