Week 12 ACC Rankings

1. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1). The Yellow Jackets learned that their ACCCG opponent will be Clemson, and they are pretty happy about it; the last time these two met this season, it was a thrilling game that came down to the last minute...with Georgia Tech coming out on top. Last Week: 1

2. Clemson (8-3, 6-2). The Tigers clinched the Atlantic Division without even playing a game last week, but apparently head coach Dabo Swinney and the rest of the Clemson team didn't get the memo. The Clemson defense played lights out in the second half against UVA. Last Week: 2

3. Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2). Another easy ACC win for the Hokies as they improve their league mark to 5-2. With Virginia as the last game on the schedule, look for that win total to increase by one after this week. Last Week: 3

4. North Carolina (8-3, 4-3). Easily the hottest team in the ACC right now, the Tar Heels find themselves ranked once again in the top 25. But even with a bowl game in the offings, head coach Butch Davis is focused on avenging back-to-back losses to rival NC State this week and a chance to finish 3rd in the division. Last Week: 4

5. Miami (8-3, 5-3). After struggling with Dook for three quarters, the Hurricanes finally put away the pesky Blue Devils. Miami is playing good football of late, and will be a tough out in postseason play. Last Week: 5

6. Florida State (6-5, 4-4). The bowl streak (barely) continues for head coach Bobby Bowden, but the guy who is the happiest is soon-to-be-retired defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, whose defense gave him a great send-off in his final home game in Tallahassee. Last Week: 7

7. Boston College (7-4, 4-3). Tough loss for the Eagles, and those QB struggles we all expected to see at the beginning of the season were front and center against a very good UNC defense. Finishing against Maryland should send BC into their bowl game on a high note. Last Week: 6

8. Dook (5-6, 3-4). The Blue Devils won't be participating in this year's postseason, but you still have to be impressed with the job that head coach David Cutcliffe has done in two short years in Durham. With his 9 wins, Cutcliffe has already surpassed the career totals of the last two Dook head coaches, Ted Roof and Carl Franks, and already has half the total amount of wins of Fred Goldsmith, the last Dook coach to post a winning record, and almost half the total amount of wins that former Dook coach Steve Spurrier had in his three-year tenure in Durham. Last Week: 8

9. Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). This team has nothing to play for except pride against Dook this season. Senior QB Riley Skinner has been sporadic this year, and his performance mirrors the record of this football team. Hopefully this is not the beginning of the end of great things in Winston-Salem, where the Deacs have been very good under Jim Grobe's leadership. Last Week: 9

10. Virginia (3-8, 2-5). After getting completely shut out in the second half against Clemson, you really have to wonder when - not if - the decision to fire head coach Al Groh will come down. This team showed some flashes in the first half, but less than 50 total offensive yards in the second half won't win any ball games. Last Week: 10

11. Maryland (2-9, 1-6). The Terrapins played tough and almost spoiled Bobby Bowden's chances to continue his bowl streak, but in the end it ended the way almost every game has ended for Maryland this season - with a loss. If you are a Terps fan, you have to wonder: is offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting James Franklin really that much of an improvement over current head coach Ralph Friedgen? Last Week: 12

12. NC State (4-7, 1-6). State fans continue to wonder what might have been this season with all the injuries in Raleigh. With rival North Carolina coming to town, the only thing the Wolfpack has to play for is to continue their two-game winning streak against the Tar Heels. Last Week: 11

Week 11 ACC Rankings

1. Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1). After (officially) clinching last week, ticket sales for the ACC Championship Game started to steadily increase in the Atlanta area. The Yellow Jackets have looked virtually unstoppable all year (save for a fluke game against Miami). Last Week: 1

2. Clemson (7-3, 5-2). This team continues to do what other Clemson teams had never been able to do under former head coach Tommy Bowden - live up to expectations, win big games, and take care of business. If Clemson wins next week (regardless of what Boston College does at home against North Carolina), they will clinch the ACC Atlantic division. Last Week: 3

3. Virginia Tech (7-3, 4-2). Beating Maryland should not have been hard for this team, and the Hokies proved that they are still a force in the ACC after winning back-to-back conference games. Redshirt freshman RB Ryan Williams is a lock for the ACC Newcomer of the Year, and has been since about Week 4. Last Week: 4

4. North Carolina (7-3, 3-3). In the league's best game last week, the Tar Heels came out with a wild victory over Miami. The win made them bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season (something not done since Mack Brown was the coach), and current coach Butch Davis has yet to lose to his former team since his arrival in Chapel Hill. Last Week: 6

5. Miami (7-3, 4-3). Hurricanes fans have to be disappointed. Although they needed a lot of outside help, going into last week's game they still had an outside shot at a BCS berth. Now they are looking at bowl games like the Music City Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl instead of the Cotton Bowl or the Sugar Bowl. Last Week: 2

6. Boston College (7-3, 4-2). This team needs to get it together. The Eagles pulled out a victory last week, but no one should need a last-second effort to beat a Virginia team who has looked average at best all season. With a hot UNC team coming into town, BC needs to collectively improve if they want to pull out another victory. Last Week: 5

7. Florida State (5-5, 3-4). Head coach Bobby Bowden can hold out hope for one more week that his 27-season bowl streak will continue. The Seminoles play Maryland this week, and barring a cataclysmic collapse they should come out with a victory, which would catapult them into postseason play. Last Week: 8

8. Dook (5-5, 3-3). Definitely a humbling loss for the Blue Devils, but they were up 10-0 early in the game and had it under control. This program has come a long way in two short seasons, and with more talent on both sides of the ball coming in next year, Dook might not be the doormat that everyone has grown accustomed to seeing. They can also still go to a bowl game with one more victory. Last Week: 7

9. Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Though this team has been eliminated from postseason play, they can still play spoiler to a very good Dook football team, and eliminate them from bowl eligibility if the Blue Devils lose to Miami this week. That could be enough for the Deacs to steal one. Last Week: 9

10. Virginia (3-7, 2-4). Officially eliminated from bowl participation, this Cavaliers program has to be wondering what direction it's going in. They had just one quality win this year (against an injury-depleted UNC), and their only other ACC win was against Maryland. They played well against BC, but in the end this team just could not finish. Last Week: 11

11. NC State (4-6, 1-5). The Wolfpack cannot go to a bowl game this season after their loss last week to Clemson, but they can still make Virginia Tech and UNC look a little worse by winning both remaining games. It's definitely a tall task, but State has been tough to beat in November under coach Tom O'Brien. Injuries have clearly robbed this team of a chance to compete this year. Last Week: 10

12. Maryland (2-8, 1-5). No chance against a more talented Virginia Tech team last week for the Terrapins. I'm starting to run out of things to say about Maryland; they have been so bad all year, it's a wonder that there are little to no rumors about a potential coaching change in College Park. Last Week: 12

Preview: UNC vs. Valparaiso

Coming off two wins against (much) less talented opponents, the Tar Heels have a rare Sunday contest against Valparaiso, a team that has made the NCAA Tournament recently and played a tough game against Carolina last season. This could be a potential trap game for the Heels, but I don't see them struggling too much with an overmatched and less-talented Crusaders team. With their length and quality defense, UNC should win this game handily.

I want to see more production from John Henson. This guy is an all-purpose player, and had a tremendous skill set, but so far through two games he has not shown me the offensive prowess I expected to see. I hope that he can get it going, especially considering the weaknesses that Carolina has on the perimeter this season.

Why I Hate Dook: Part I

So, I was going to do this prior to the UNC-Dook football game, but with my GMAT and everything I never got a chance. So I'll do it now, in the immediate wake of the recruitment of Harrison Barnes (more on that in a minute).

Over the years, there have been a lot of words said and blood shed over the UNC-Dook rivalry, and rightfully so; there is no greater rivalry in college sports for one simple, inescapable fact - UNC and Dook are polar opposites separated by an 8-mile stretch of 4-lane state highway. Ohio State-Michigan, Oklahoma-Texas, Florida-Georgia, Alabama-Auburn...all great rivalries, none of them have that in common with the hatred reserved for next-door neighbors.

Little known fact about me: I actually applied early decision to Dook. I was set on going to Dook for their stellar academic reputation and what a Dook degree could afford me after graduation. However, after choosing UNC to go to school, I can honestly say I made the best decision. Within two weeks of being at Carolina, I realized that I had been a Tar Heel all along...I just needed to realize it for myself.

And it starts with hating Dook. For me, hating Dook is like inhaling, and beating Dook is like exhaling: both are necessary for me to continue to live on this earth. In this Heel's opinion, Dook represents all that is wrong with the world: arrogance, snobbery, entitlement, and the resulting complacency, indifference, and perceived superiority. Dook fans are insufferable, vindictive, fair-weathered, often times ill-informed, and generally incredulous when anyone presents them with a thought different from "Dook is the best." Ever wonder why in this blog, I will never tag "Duke" or spell the name of that institution "correctly"? That's why - because I am already spelling it correctly. That will never change.

And I'm not alone. GQ recently rated Dook the 2nd-douchiest college in America (only behind Ivy League institution Brown University) - ahead of Harvard, Princeton, and Notre Dame. Websites like this one and videos like this one and this one are Internet sensations for a reason - they're all true. It's one thing for one fan base to hate another, but there is no institution in America who is more universally hated than Dook.

So back to Harrison Barnes. Barnes is the number 1 basketball recruit for the 2010 class, and he recently made his college choice, between amongst others Dook and UNC. Dook fans were sure that he was coming to Durham; there was no doubt in their mind that he would be a perfect fit for their system and that he was for sure on his way to being another great Dook basketball player.

Until Barnes committed to Carolina today.

The meltdown that has ensued in the wake of Barnes' commitment, along with the recruitment of Barnes himself, only further proves my point about Dook, their fans, and the ideals that their institution stands for: that they are the single-worst school in the country, with the worst fans, and that I have no shame in hating them almost as much as I love Carolina.

Part II to come soon...addressing the head of the evil enterprise going on in Durham, the one they call Coach K. Until then...

...GO HEELS!

Agassi

So the NBA and NHL seasons are boring (as usual), the college basketball season is just starting up (a.k.a. no meaningful games of note), MLB is in recovery mode after the World Series, and the NFL only has one good game this weekend (Patriots vs. Colts).

So what to write about?

Easy. Andre Agassi.

Why? Because in case you've been living under a rock for the last week or so, Andre Agassi (easily one of the best American tennis players of all time) recently took his career, threw it in a blender and hit "Lindsay Lohan".

In his new autobiography "Open", Agassi admits to trying (and succeeding) to lose tennis matches on purpose. He admits to being married to the wrong woman, actress Brooke Shields, who tried to compare herself to Agassi's future wife, Steffi Graf, in order to be "the perfect woman" (AWKWARD). Agassi admits to hating his father, and being generally depressed throughout his professional career. He admits to having used crystal meth, then lying to the ATP about the circumstances surrounding his use, claiming a positive test came as a result of accidentally drinking a soda of his assistant. He even admits to having worn a weave. Seriously.

As an American male who follows tennis at a level a little more intense than "casually" (which is more than 90% of the American population), I can honestly say that hearing about Agassi was a shock to me. I remember buying Agassi's shoes to play tennis at my school. I watched him on television whenever he was playing. I will always remember his signature kiss-blowing celebration after his matches, his victory at the 1999 French Open where he came back from 2-love to win in the final. This guy was one of the best to ever play tennis.

But obviously multiple issues surrounded Agassi during his career. Looking back at his career in its totality (from 1986-2006), it was clear that it had its ups and downs, highs and lows, glorious triumphs and crushing defeats. Yet Agassi's tell-all account of what his life had been like during his 20-year professional career should be celebrated, not rebuffed, if not only because of its captivating content but its brutal and startling honesty. The courage and commitment that it takes to lay it out like Agassi has done is amazing, yet I'm sure many will look at it as a cautionary tale rather than what it is: a story of American tennis, for better or for worse.

And though my perception of Agassi will forever change because of this autobiography, you better believe I will be first in line at the bookstore to buy it.

Along with the latest edition of Star to catch up on my Lindsay gossip.

Preview: UNC vs. NCCU

After watching parts of the game against FIU, a few things became abundantly clear with this team.

1. UNC is incredibly long.
2. UNC is incredibly young.
3. UNC will absolutely rely on the play of Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard, and Ed Davis all year.

If the Tar Heels are going to be successful this season, they will absolutely have to cut down on the turnovers. 26 giveaways will chap any head coach, but Roy Williams especially due to his up-and-down style of play and the frenetic pace with which he wants to play. I don't think this is going to be a close game against NC Central, but against tougher opponents to come, Carolina must cut down on the unnecessary turnovers if they are going to get where they want to go this year.

Preview: FIU at UNC

All right, Tar Heel fans. The basketball season is finally here. Tonight your Heels get their first chance to defend their NCAA title against FIU.

Media types will hype this matchup because of the head coaches (UNC's Roy Williams against new FIU head man Isiah Thomas...yes, that Isiah Thomas), but let's be honest here: UNC should run away with this game. The Heels simply have too much length and experience to lose to a team like FIU, and I would be surprised if this game were close when it's all said and done.

I'm excited to get my first look at the UNC team tonight. I was unable to see the exhibition contest against Belmont Abbey, but with the talent on this team, you can guarantee that I'll be excited to watch. Enjoy the game everyone!

World Series Recap: Yankees Win, 4-2

I told you so.

I predicted Yankees in 6, and look what happens. Yankees in 6.

I must be pretty good at this stuff.

Seriously though, I liked the Yankees for a few reasons, and they proved it against the Phillies all series. The chemistry on this team, coupled with outstanding production from some of the usual suspects (C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez) and some unusual ones (MVP Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon), helped the Yankees put away Philadelphia for their twenty-seventh World Series title.

Give the Phillies credit; Cliff Lee might be the best pitcher in baseball, and he certainly looked like it against a tough Yankees lineup, and players like Jayson Werth and Chase Utley proved that Philadelphia is for real. However, in the end it simply wasn't enough to beat the Bombers.

This was a captivating World Series as well, something Major League Baseball was hoping for. And while it wasn't the matchup they necessarily wanted to happen (imagine the ratings on a Dodgers-Yankees series...yeesh), the Phillies proved that they belonged in the same conversation with the Yankees and both teams gave the audience a great show.

Congratulations to the New York Yankees, and hopefully next year's World Series will be as good as this year's was.

Week 10 ACC Rankings

1. Georgia Tech (9-1, 6-1). Back-to-back weeks that the Yellow Jackets have dodged a bullet. For a team that is 7th in the latest incarnation of the BCS rankings, they must play better, no question. However, they clinched the Coastal division with this win, and that deserves a ton of credit. Last Week: 1

2. Miami (7-2, 4-2). This is the Miami team we're all used to seeing. Granted, last week's demolition came against a weak UVA team, but Miami has proved all season that they were worth the preseason hype. The Canes will be out for blood against UNC this week, looking to get their first win against former UM head coach Butch Davis. Last Week: 3

3. Clemson (6-3, 4-2). Down at halftime to FSU had everyone in Tigertown a little worried, but Clemson behind (who else?) RB C.J. Spiller produced a furious comeback and beat the Seminoles to move into sole possession of the top spot in the Atlantic division. Spiller has legitimate Heisman potential, but the Tigers will have to turn heads the rest of the year if that is going to gain any more momentum. Last Week: 2

4. Virginia Tech (6-3, 3-2). Good for the Hokies to get back on track against ECU. RB Ryan Williams especially needed to atone for his game-changing fumble the week before, and his 179 yard performance certainly made up for it. Tech won't win the ACC this year, but there is no reason to think that this season is a failure by any stretch. Last Week: 4

5. Boston College (6-3, 3-2). The Eagles had a bye week last week, but they didn't need any extra preparation to face a struggling Virginia team. What BC does need, however, is to take care of business the rest of the year if they want to make it to the ACC championship game. Last Week: 6

6. North Carolina (6-3, 2-3). This season has been a little disappointing for the Heels this year due to the inordinate amount of injuries, but it is always nice to beat your biggest rival when you have the opportunity. The toughest game left on the schedule is this week when the Hurricanes come to Chapel Hill. Last Week: 8

7. Dook (5-4, 3-2). Tough loss for the Blue Devils, but this season still has to be considered a vast improvement over what they've been watching in Wallace Wade Stadium for the last decade. It doesn't get any easier with Georgia Tech coming to town, but if the Blue Devils are for real an upset might not be out of the question. Last Week: 5

8. Florida State (4-5, 2-4). Seminole Nation: it's time to start worrying about any postseason chances this team might have left. With this loss the Seminoles need to win at least two of their next three to make it to a bowl game, starting this week against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, and remember the Deacs have had FSU's number the last two or three years. And did I mention that QB Christian Ponder is out for the rest of the season with a separated shoulder? Last Week: 7

9. Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4). The Demon Deacons almost pulled out a miracle win last week, but unfortunately it was not to be as they fell to Georgia Tech in overtime. This team has been up and down all season, but it looks as though they will be staying home this postseason unless they can beat both FSU and Dook. Last Week: 9

10. NC State (4-5, 1-4). The first conference win for the Wolfpack happens in Week 10. Hardly what coach Tom O'Brien and his staff had in mind for this year, especially with QB Russell Wilson returning and high preseason hopes for the rest of the team. It doesn't look good for the immediate future either, with Clemson, Virginia Tech, and UNC left on the schedule. Last Week: 11

11. Virginia (3-6, 2-3). Coach Al Groh and the rest of the Cavaliers staff should be a little nervous for what is going to happen the rest of the season - and after the season - after getting thoroughly embarrassed by a more talented Miami team. With BC, Clemson, and VT left, UVA could be looking at a 3-9 campaign, and possibly a new head coach. Last Week: 10

12. Maryland (2-7, 1-4). Maryland is the first ACC team to be eliminated from postseason play, and it really should come as no surprise; this team has been awful. There was little to no offensive production for the Terps last week against an injury-depleted NC State team, and Maryland couldn't stop State from racking up over 400 yards of offense. This team will be lucky to win another game all year. Last Week: 12

Back Again

Took the GMAT on Saturday, and everyone will be pleased to know that I did very well. I placed in the 71st national percentile with a 620, which I am obviously very excited about. I will now be applying to graduate programs, including those where I will be eligible to receive both my MBA (masters in business administration) as well as my MSA (masters in sports administration).

Just thought you guys would want to know. But the more important thing is that I'm blogging again (...okay, so maybe not the more important thing, but I figure that's what you sitting out there in the blogosphere are thinking). More posts to come shortly, including reaction to this week in ACC football, my World Series recap, and a preview of tonight's contest between UNC and FIU in men's basketball.

Stay tuned, everyone. It's good to be back.

MIA

Hey everyone.

Just wanted to quickly explain to everyone that I will most likely be MIA the next few days. I'm taking the GMAT on Saturday and have been preparing for it all week. After Saturday, I will be sure to give my reaction to the World Series as a whole (the Yankees are up 3-2 going into tonight's game in the Bronx), the week in ACC football (as usual), and possibly talk about other big topics in the world of sports.

And who knows? Maybe a little more pop-culture for those who seek a little variety. You know...just to keep it interesting.

Thanks for being so patient guys, and I promise I'll be back with a vengeance after Saturday.

Week 9 ACC Rankings

Lots of surprises this week (welcome to the ACC, where no one does what they're supposed to) and the race for a berth in the ACCCG just got a lot more interesting.

1. Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1). Let's face it, Georgia Tech is the class of the league. But what does that say when they went into the half tied with Vanderbilt? Either Vanderbilt is better than their 2-6 record said going into the game, or GT dodged a huge bullet. I'm more inclined to go with the latter. Last Week: 1

2. Clemson (5-3, 3-2). Okay, so Coastal Carolina isn't the most difficult opponent, but the Tigers did what they were supposed to do: go in and dominate a much weaker team, and that's saying something for a program that has struggled to live up to expectations for the last two seasons. Losing DE DaQuan Bowers is a big loss going into this week's game against FSU. Last Week: 3

3. Miami (6-2, 3-2). It wasn't pretty, but the Canes snuck out of Winston-Salem with a win and that's all that matters. This team is essentially mathematically eliminated from the ACCCG, but winning games like the one last week will do a lot to help this program remember how to win (consistently) again. Last Week: 4

4. Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-2). Soul-crushing defeat for the Hokies last week to Carolina. The offense looked anemic, and the defense couldn't stop the Heels when it mattered the most. This is still a very good football team and will likely win out to finish the season, but Tech fans have to be disappointed. Last Week: 2

5. Dook (5-3, 3-1). The Blue Devils are in a great position; they control their destiny in the ACC, and they have a chance to defeat their most hated rival in their building after they are coming off a huge emotional win. If the Blue Devils catch UNC sleeping, they will be in great position for (gasp) a bowl game. Last Week: 6

6. Boston College (6-3, 3-2). Central Michigan hasn't lost in MAC play, but Boston College soundly defeated the Chippewas and became bowl-eligible in the process. If David Cutcliffe wasn't in the ACC, I could make a very strong case for Frank Spaziani for ACC Coach of the Year. Last Week: 5

7. Florida State (4-4, 2-3). It was closer than the experts thought, but the Seminoles still defeated an NC State team that gave them a lot of trouble. This week's game against Clemson is huge for FSU; if they can beat the Tigers, it gets them back to .500 in the league and they will be one win away from becoming bowl-eligible. Last Week: 9

8. North Carolina (5-3, 1-3). Biggest win in the last four years for the Tar Heels. Going into Lane Stadium on Thursday and coming out with a win rarely (if ever) happens, and yet Carolina got the win that absolutely saved their season. If they can get past hated rival Dook this week, they will be one win away from becoming bowl-eligible. Last Week: 11

9. Wake Forest (4-5, 2-3). Tough loss for Wake Forest, as they simply couldn't hold on against Miami. This team has definitely taken a step back this season, albeit a small one, and needs to regroup if they are going to become eligible for postseason play. Last Week: 8

10. Virginia (3-5, 2-2). Losing to Dook is never a good feeling, but Virginia fans had to know that the success this season wasn't going to last forever. The Cavaliers need to win out to go to a bowl, but with Miami, Clemson, and VT left on the schedule it doesn't look likely. Last Week: 7

11. NC State (3-5, 0-4). It was closer than the experts thought (so give coach Tom O'Brien a little credit for a productive bye week) but with half the ACC season gone the Wolfpack still has not tallied an ACC win. If they lose to a putrid Maryland team then they don't deserve to go to a bowl this year, plain and simple. Last Week: 12

12. Maryland (2-6, 1-3). The Terps didn't lose last week because of the bye week, and that's a good thing for Ralph Friedgen. Why? Because it gave him an extra week to clean out his office and put his house on the market. The Terps have been awful this year, and except for a gift from Clemson it is very possible that this team could only have 1 win this year. This week's game against NC State is huge for both teams; a loss for either team eliminates them from postseason play. Last Week: 10

More Soon

My reaction to Game 3 of the World Series is all I have for you guys today. Tomorrow I'll give my weekly recap of the ACC, a look at the new BCS rankings, maybe some commentary on Brett Favre's return to Green Bay as a visitor, and of course reaction to tonight's Game 4 between the Yankees and Phillies.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and a fantastic sports Sunday.

Game 3: Yankees 8, Phillies 5

Even the rain couldn't delay the inevitable.

The Phillies did their best to protect their starter Cole Hamels, including two home runs by Jayson Werth, but in the end it just wasn't enough as the Yankees came from down 3-0 to win the game 8-5. Alex Rodriguez hit his first home run of the World Series, Nick Swisher had some timely hits including a home run, and the Yankees took advantage of Hamels' struggles, breaking him down in the middle innings to take the lead for good.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel tabbed Joe Blanton as the Game 4 starter, while the Yankees will pitch ace C.C. Sabathia on 3 days' rest (and why wouldn't you; he's been absolutely unstoppable on short rest in the last two postseasons). If Blanton can out-duel Sabathia, it would be a massive victory for the Phillies, who desperately need to avoid going down 3-1 going back to the Bronx. If the Yankees pull it out though, you can go ahead and cue the Sinatra - the Series is essentially over.