ACC Football In The News

September 2, 2010

We will learn quite a bit about the ACC during college football’s opening weekend of play. Both Virginia Tech and North Carolina have high profile openers.

Let me start by talking about the Tar Heels. We are less than a week from the opener and UNC does not seem to have a clue on who will be able to play against ranked LSU. Yes, North Carolina is in the midst of a NCAA investigation and coach Butch Davis doesn’t sound too certain of who will take the field for North Carolina.

The 18th-ranked Tar Heels are weighed down by an NCAA investigation into agent-related benefits as well as a probe into potential academic misconduct. The news has killed the preseason buzz and optimism. There is so much uncertainty that the Heels do not even have a depth chart.

Rumors making the rounds are that UNC’s defense would be hit harder than the offense if there are suspensions. Davis has stated that it is certain that the quarterback will be third year starter, T.J. Yates (right).

Yates may be without his favorite receiver, Greg Little. It has been reported that the NCAA has been to campus twice investigating Little over possibly receiving improper benefits from an agent.

Virginia Tech may just be the most popular team in the nation on Monday night when it squares off against third ranked Boise State. If Boise State can beat the tenth ranked Hokies, it has a fairly easy shot at going undefeated which means it will be in the national championship game next January. That is why every other school in the country will be cheering for Virginia Tech.

What Sid Is Watching For This Year In College Football

1) Can Alabama repeat as national champions? I believe it can and if it does, it will be the sixth straight season a SEC team wins it all.

2) Can anyone beat Boise State? I hope so because the Broncos are not the best team in the country. They are a very good team in a weak conference. If Boise State beats Virginia Tech on a neutral field and Oregon State at home, you will see them in the title game. And that would be a shame.

3) Is there life after Tebow at Florida? Yes, most likely, but not enough life to beat Alabama.

4) There are a number of high profile coaches on the hot seat. I mentioned them a month or so ago and will again. Rich Rodriguez at Michigan heads the list that includes Les Miles at LSU, and Ron Zook at Illinois.

5) Which new coach will find early success? Will it be Jimbo Fisher at Florida State? How about Brian Kelly at Notre Dame?

6) Speaking of Brian Kelly, he is Notre Dame’s fifth coach in the past nine years. How many wins do I think he will have in South Bend? I will go with eight.

7) I spoke of Florida State earlier. I will be watching for Bobby Bowden doing some TV work this fall. He will struggle to stay away from the game. After all, the last time Bowden did not coach on a fall Saturday was in 1969.

8) Speaking of legends, I will be watching how Joe Paterno (above) does at Penn State. He needs six wins to reach 400. Paterno should get those six wins. Will this be his final year?

Manny Being Manny

Have you noticed that it always ends ugly for Manny Ramirez (below)? I have. It ended ugly in Cleveland way back when. It ended ugly in Boston two years ago. And it ended ugly in Los Angeles when the Dodgers basically gave Ramirez away for nothing to the Chicago White Sox.

It has never been easy. It certainly has never been classy or professional. It has not been the kind of sweet, nostalgic, affectionate exit that true superstars, true Hall of Famers, deserve.

No, Manny has never experienced any of the above.

Perhaps it has ended badly because Ramirez seems to come up with injuries as soon as his team starts struggling. He spoke of his knee hurting in Boston but was famously recorded as saying his right knee hurt one day and then followed that up a short time later saying it was his left knee.

In LA, he complained about his calf, just as the Dodgers fell out of contention for a playoff spot. He came back on Sunday and his return to the lineup culminated in a bizarre one-pitch ejection after a strike call on him with the bases loaded. That did it for the Dodgers and Manny is now in Chicago.

Just like management in Boston felt, the Dodgers were thrilled to find someone to take Ramirez. So off Manny goes to Chicago, where he can DH for a month. He may find some motivation to play hard since the White Sox are in playoff contention. And remember, he is playing for a 2011 contract. Maybe he’ll get just enough big hits, and get some offers for next season.

And then again, maybe he won’t. I have a few questions for you. Can you truly be a Hall of Famer if you are run out of so many franchises? Not a lot of Hall of Famers get put on outright waivers -- just take the contract and he’s yours -- two different times, the first time when he’s still in his prime.

I don’t think so and that is why I don’t see him in Cooperstown even though he has the numbers.