I watched that game last night and came away with a few thoughts:
1) Herbie and Tirico as a pair are bettered only by Musburger and Danielson. The thursday night broadcast could feature a pair of Div III teams and Herbie and Tirico would make the game enjoyable. Kirk has such an enthusiam for the game, and he's extremely clever. I loved his remark near the end of the half when NC State got hit with two 15-yard personal fouls on the same play, Herbie said, "Well, NC State only has three penalties up to this point, so I guess they're trying to make up the difference and maintain their average."
2) Mark May has been replaced by a thinner, wiser person who looks suspiciously a lot like Mark May. This Mark May impersonator was talking up the Buckeye defense, the play of the linebackers, and the total team speed during the half time break.
3) The ACC, from teams 2-12, sucks more than my girlfriend on GHB and a bottle of Beringer White Zinfandel. This season, I have watched five "showcase" games featuring ACC powers. (1) Va Tech/NC State (2) Va Tech/Ga Tech (3) NC State/Ga Tech (4) FSU/Miami (5) FSU/BC. I have seen portions of two Clemson games as well as parts of other non-conference games Va Tech, Virginia, BC, and FSU have played. Va Tech is so clearly better than everyone else it's laughable. The margin might even be greater than what USC commands over everyone else in the Pac-10. I don't know if everyone in the ACC is a defensive juggernaut or if 11 of the 12 offenses are absurdly inept. It's probably a little of the first with a healthy helping of the second. Outside of Clemson's much-maligned kicker nailing those 5 FGs in the nationally televised game, and of course 'BeamerBall', special teams apparently aren't taught at ACC schools. Long snappers can't hit their holders, the holders bail on the kickers, and the kickers miss completely. Everyone in the ACC is an all-world punt returner because nobody can punt-cover, or punt at all. I have never seen a collection of players from teams in one league get nailed with more deserving, disgusting unsportsmanlike calls, the taunting, showboating, undisciplined play isn't just restricted to Moobs' team, it started at the top of the ACC coaching tree under Bowden, and it's slowly filtering its way into every ACC team aside from maybe VT and BC.
A few months ago, we all read The Sporting News' article quoting an anonymous Big Ten coach's opinion that Michigan kids were over-recruited and spoiled. No way. I see six or seven teams in the ACC alone that have Michigan beat in that department. Does the phrase 'Act like you've been there before' hold any meaning for some of these kids?