Spring Break
Week eight: Ranking the Carolinas
Ronnie Woodward, Asst. Sports Editor
Issue date: 10/16/08 Section: Sports
1. North Carolina
Record: 5-1
Last week: Won vs. Notre Dame, 29-24
UNC beat Notre Dame despite its best player, Brandon Tate, not playing for most of the game. Tate hurt his knee on a punt return in the first quarter, but fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks and quarterback Cam Sexton willed the Heels to yet another win. They will have to get used to playing without Tate, however, as the senior's career is now over with a torn MCL and ACL. UNC will get tested now, as the ACC's best player will be on the sidelines watching the rest of the season. That test starts this week with Virginia, a team we all know is hitting on all cylinders right now.
2. South Carolina
Record: 5-2
Last week: Won at Kentucky, 24-17
South Carolina is about as quiet as a 5-2 football team can be. After losing to Vanderbilt and Georgia in back-to-back weeks last month, USC has ripped off three straight wins-including two straight SEC wins on the road. Quarterback Stephen Garcia led USC's comeback win at Kentucky despite not starting. The talented freshman replaced Chris Smelley in the third quarter and finished the game 10-of-14 for 169 yards and one touchdown. Keeping that momentum will be tough this week when LSU comes to town, however. The Tigers, fresh off a beating from Florida, should be playing with revenge on their minds-not good, Gamecock fans.
3. Wake Forest
Record: 4-1
Last week: Won vs. Clemson, 12-7
All the talk about the Clemson-Wake Forest debacle last Thursday has been about Tommy Bowden-and rightfully so. The Tigers' loss was so bad that Bowden stepped down as the head coach Monday afternoon and wide receivers coach Dabo Swinney will be the interim coach for the rest of the season. The Deacons' win over Clemson looks less credible now, as it is evident that the Clemson's players were not willing to fight for Bowden's job, which showed in their game against Wake. With that said, Wake did its job and won the game. It will have to continue to do that on the road now, as it plays at Maryland and at Miami the next two weeks.
Record: 5-1
Last week: Won vs. Notre Dame, 29-24
UNC beat Notre Dame despite its best player, Brandon Tate, not playing for most of the game. Tate hurt his knee on a punt return in the first quarter, but fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks and quarterback Cam Sexton willed the Heels to yet another win. They will have to get used to playing without Tate, however, as the senior's career is now over with a torn MCL and ACL. UNC will get tested now, as the ACC's best player will be on the sidelines watching the rest of the season. That test starts this week with Virginia, a team we all know is hitting on all cylinders right now.
2. South Carolina
Record: 5-2
Last week: Won at Kentucky, 24-17
South Carolina is about as quiet as a 5-2 football team can be. After losing to Vanderbilt and Georgia in back-to-back weeks last month, USC has ripped off three straight wins-including two straight SEC wins on the road. Quarterback Stephen Garcia led USC's comeback win at Kentucky despite not starting. The talented freshman replaced Chris Smelley in the third quarter and finished the game 10-of-14 for 169 yards and one touchdown. Keeping that momentum will be tough this week when LSU comes to town, however. The Tigers, fresh off a beating from Florida, should be playing with revenge on their minds-not good, Gamecock fans.
3. Wake Forest
Record: 4-1
Last week: Won vs. Clemson, 12-7
All the talk about the Clemson-Wake Forest debacle last Thursday has been about Tommy Bowden-and rightfully so. The Tigers' loss was so bad that Bowden stepped down as the head coach Monday afternoon and wide receivers coach Dabo Swinney will be the interim coach for the rest of the season. The Deacons' win over Clemson looks less credible now, as it is evident that the Clemson's players were not willing to fight for Bowden's job, which showed in their game against Wake. With that said, Wake did its job and won the game. It will have to continue to do that on the road now, as it plays at Maryland and at Miami the next two weeks.
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