I normally do not post stuff about the Hoos on my blog, but this article caught my interest, so I thought I’d share it with all my many admirers and fans - hi dad! Anyhow, in today’s Roanoke Times there is an article titled “Sewell’s status in question.”

The article doesn’t go into a lot of detail other than to say that four Virginia Tech football players, including starting quarterback Jameel Sewell, are not currently enrolled in classes, which means they cannot participate in spring practice. That would be a huge loss for the Cavs, but what struck me as odd about the article was the following statement:

“Sewell has had academic issues in the past, most notably prior to the 2006 season, when he made two B’s and a C in summer school.”

Wuh? Since when did two B’s and a C constitute “academic issues”? Even at UVA where the snobbery and snootery are particularly pungent, I didn’t think two B’s and C were all that bad for a football player. I’m not rooting for the guy, I just think that section of the article was bit unfair and misleading. Carry on.

This weekend’s game against Miami may not mean anything in the ACC title chase, but it means something to both teams. The Hokies, particularly the guys on the team that were part of the 2005 embarrassing home loss to the ‘Canes, want this game. They remember what happened two years ago and the seniors especially are taking this game seriously - it is their final home game.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are looking at the possibility of missing a bowl game for the first time in 10 years. Granted it would be a lame bowl even if they win their final two games and finish 7-5, but you would think that they would be playing for a modicum of pride, right?

Well, judging from Randy Shannon’s quotes in the news, I am not sure the players are getting the proper motivation from the coaching staff. Don’t get my wrong, I like Randy Shannon and his story is nothing short of a miracle for all of the obstacles and trials he has overcome. But the following quote left me a little stunned:

“As I told those guys in the locker room after the game, if you shut it down now in life, when you leave college you’re always going to be a guy that’s going to shut it down and be a loser,” Shannon said. “So you’ve got two games left. Don’t go out and be a loser.”

Don’t go out and be a loser. Wow. If that doesn’t motivate you, check your pulse. Are you serious coach Shannon? That is your down-the-stretch and save-what’s-left-of-your-pride speech? Don’t go out and be a loser?

I think the key phrase in that quote is “if you shut it down.” Coach, you just suffered the worst home loss in 60 years. You got smacked around to the tune of 48-0 to a team that lost to Wyoming and barely beat MTSU, UConn and Wake Forest. UVA’s last four wins have been by a combined 5 points. And you let them score 48 in the final game ever played in your stadium? Sounds to me like your team has already shut it down.

That being said, this is still Miami and one of two things is going to happen Saturday afternoon in Lane Stadium: Either 1) Virginia Tech continues to roll on both sides of the ball and hands the ‘Canes another crushing defeat; or 2) The Canes somehow manage to salvage their pride and season and pull off a huge upset.

Initially I thought that this game would be closer than the 17-point spread, but the more I think about it, I see our players with more motivation than the ‘Canes, even though the game means nothing in terms of the ACCCG race.

The Hokies have four ACC games left on the schedule and despite the loss to Boston College, they still control their own destiny with regards to the ACC title game. Below is the remaining schedule for the top Coastal Division team and how I feel the final games will play out.

• Hokies close with GT (2-3), FSU (2-3), Miami (2-2), at Virginia (4-1):
  • VT wins 3 of 4 with a loss to FSU - finish 6-2 in ACC play
• Hoos close with Wake Forest (4-1), at Miami (2-2), VT (3-1):
  • UVA loses final three to finish 4-4 in ACC play (the loss to NCST opens the floodgates, but a 7-win season secures Groh’s job for a few more years, yeah!)
• Canes close with NCSU (1-3), Virginia (4-1), VT (3-1), BC (4-0):
  • Miami beats NCSU and UVA, but loses to VT and BC, finish 4-4 in ACC play
• Wreck close VT (3-1), at Duke (0-5), UNC (1-3):
  • GT loses to VT, but closes with wins over Duke and UNC to finish 4-4 in ACC

I really like the Hokies chances at making it to the ACCCG. Hopefully the crushing loss to BC will only piss them off and take it out on the rest of the division. And hopefully we will have Tyrod Taylor back for at least part of the game. And hopefully Brian Stinespring can find enough offense to put more than a field goal on the scoreboard.

James Madison University wants to play the University of Virginia in football. Virginia Tech wants to play JMU. JMU does not want to play Tech. UVA does not want to play JMU. Confused? Good, I am not alone.

In a Sept. 19 article in the Daily News Record, JMU athletic director Jeff Bourne said he wants to add the Cavaliers to the Dukes’ schedule, but has declined two games against the Hokies.

In the article, Bourne is quoted as saying, “We just don’t know that playing a team that’s ranked in the Top 10 is the best thing for James Madison.”

But playing the Wahoos? Well, that’s different … apparently.

So, the Dukes, who have already played a *I-A team this season (a 37-14 loss to UNC), are itching to take on the Cavaliers, but according to UVA AD Craig Littlepage, the Hoos have no interest in playing the Dukes. Specifically, head coach Al Groh doesn’t want to play ANY I-AA opponents, but Littlepage didn’t give specific reasons for Groh’s nondesire to play teams like JMU.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer believes it is important for the Hokies to occasionally schedule an in-state I-AA team because he feels it “is good for football in the state,” according to the Daily News Record article.

Everyone that follows college football has an opinion on I-As playing I-AAs. This year’s shocker in Ann Arbor wasn’t the first big upset by a I-AA team. Last season, Colorado lost at home to Montana State, 19-10. Like Michigan, it was Colorado’s first ever I-AA opponent. These big wins followed by several more close calls has led many proponents of the the interdivisional matchups to say, “see, we’re not just in it for the money!”

Meanwhile, the opponents of having I-AA teams on the schedule, like Al Groh, have more fuel for their argument, which I imagine sounds something like this, “Why take the risk? How did it work out for Michigan and Colorado? If you blow them out, people discredit the win because we were supposed to win. If you win by a touchdown, you get crucified for barely beating an inferior team. And if you lose, your job suddenly becomes a little less secure … isn’t that right Coach Carr?”

The Dukes want to play the big teams (but not too big) for the experience, exposure and, oh yah, the $300-$500 they’ll get for entering the lion’s den. It’s a win-win for the little guys and if they can actually beat a school like UVA, then it is that much sweeter.

But there are some teams like Appy State that will take on all comers. The bigger they are, the harder they’ll fall.

Virginia Tech wants to play a small in-state schools because according to Beamer, it is good football in the Commonwealth.

So many different sides to the different arguments, but no matter how you look at it, from a fan’s perspective, it is always great to witness an upset like the Mighty Mountaineers over the legendary Wolverines.

*For the record: I am aware the NCAA has changes the names of the I-A and I-AA. However, I feel these new acronyms are pointless and confusing; so just as I continued to call Prince, Prince - I am still referring to the divisions as I-A and I-AA.