College Football: Maryland, U-Va., Va. Tech, Navy and the National Scene

Post college football writers Eric Prisbell, Steve Yanda, Mark Viera, Zach Berman and Camille Powell were online Thursday, Oct. 8 to take your questions about this weekend's football match ups for Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Navy and all the biggest games on the national scene.

The transcript follows.

Full coverage of the 2009 college football season.

All things Maryland -- including coverage of Saturday night's game at Cal and beat writer Eric Prisbell's Terrapins Insider blog.

The hub of The Post's Virginia Cavaliers coverage with beat writer Zach Berman.

Everything Hokies -- from Post beat writer Mark Viera.

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Eric Prisbell: Hello, everyone. Thanks for coming again this week. We have a full house of writers on hand. Please ask any and all questions relating to college football or even college basketball, at this point.

Also, if anyone is looking forward to watching Maryland on ESPN360 this week, please email me at prisbelle@washpost.com. If you are not happy that that is the only way to see Maryland, feel free to email as well. Thanks.

Let's get started.

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washingtonpost.com: Just a reminder to all the chatters out there to make sure to log on to all our different college blogs before and after the chat: Zach Berman's Cavaliers Journal, Mark Viera's Hokies Journal, Camille Powell's Mids Insider, and Eric Prisbell's Terrapins Insider.

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New York, N.Y.: Eric,

Any update on the status of Bruce Campbell suiting up for the Terps this Saturday? In my opinion, he's the most important player on the team. If you look at the games he was out and the half he was out against Clemson, we couldn't run the ball and Turner was running for his life. If we have a chance against Wake, it hinges on his availability.

Eric Prisbell: Thanks for the question. Ralph may give an update tonight, but it will probably be a game-time decision. Does not seem like the MRI results were that bad, though. I would be surprised if he does not try to play, but that's a hunch.

I think Bruce is very important. Torrey Smith and Nick Ferrara as very important, as well.

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Clear Brook, Va.: Will Kilgore be at the game? I see the old rascal writing for the Eagles in Beantown. He was quite the character during his time covering Virginia Tech in the 'Burg.

Mark Viera: Sadly, that old rascal Kilgore will not be in Blacksburg. He wrote a solid profile on the Eagles coach, Frank Spaziani, but he's not covering the team. He currently covers the Red Sox. And judging by a recent Google search of his byline, he's out in Anaheim, Calif., for the ALDS.

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Tucson, Ariz.: Boy, what a boring chat this is going to be. U-Md, U-Va., Va. Tech, and even Navy all won. No despair, no angst, and all coaches seats have cooled down a little. Happy faces, rainbows, smiling unicorns, and bluebirds on every shoulder. How can you stand it?

Zach Berman: Good point, Tucson. Give it another week, though. Football is so interesting because each week serves as a one-week measuring stick of the team -- and in the case of U-Va., Maryland and the Redskins, a measuring stick for the coach, too.

Big game for Arizona this weekend. If you're a Wildcats fan out there, a win over Washington will make next week's Arizona-Stanford one of the biggest games of the Pac-10 season.

Steve Yanda: Man, it must be nice living out west if you think one win for Maryland and Virginia solved all their respective issues. Not sure how Al Groh has handled the victory, but I know Ralph Friedgen sure doesn't have bluebirds on each of his shoulders this week.

Eric Prisbell: Everything is A-Ok in Charlottesville and College Park now. The Oct. 17 meeting between the schools will be the first of two. They will meet again in the ACC title game. ESPN GameDay should be in College Park, right? I mean, it's a matchup of two of the nation's hottest coaches!

Seriously, I have little idea what to make of either team in terms of a longterm forecast, but neither is great.

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College Park, Md.: Will any Terps games be on an actual TV channel most cable systems get?

Kudos to the D for finally stepping up!

Eric Prisbell: The Virginia game is on ESPNU.

What does everyone think of the games not being on television? Does anyone care? Or are most people off the bandwagon at this point of the season?

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Arlington, Va.: Va. Tech. vs. Boston College worries me a little bit as a Va. Tech fan. B.C. is ALWAYS underestimated and they have given Va. Tech fits in the regular season the past five years (winning four of last five in regular season, thank goodness for ACC CG retribution!). I think Va. Tech was expectedly off last week, but I expect them to be much better this week.

However, they're also completely unpredictable. One game they can run at will, can't complete a forward pass, and the defense is a brick wall, next game they can't run, the D gets diced, and Tyrod throws for a career-high.

If this offense becomes balanced and consistent they could be incredibly hard to stop, but that's why 'if' is the biggest two-letter word in the English language.

What are your thoughts on the Va. Tech-B.C. match up specifically? And Va. Tech's prospects generally the rest of the way? I think a lot will be learned about both teams in this game.

Mark Viera: You are right, as a Hokies' fan, to be wary of Virginia Tech's game against Boston College. The Eagles have surprised a lot of folks this year, and I like they way they're playing. Dave Shinskie is a freshman quarterback, but he doesn't play like it; at 25 years old, he also doesn't look like it. And Boston College's run defense is typically solid. I think this one will be close, but I'll give the slight nod to Virginia Tech, at home and perhaps in the rain. That would be a tough combination for most any team, as Miami found out on Sept. 26.

You are right about Virginia Tech's inconsistencies. While I think it is troubling for the coaches that the Hokies let up five more plays of 20 or more yards -- a recurring theme, no? -- I don't put a whole lot of stock in the game. The Hokies didn't look good. But players and coaches said afterward that the attitude was lax. Chalk it up to a noon kickoff in the duldrums of Dukes' Wallace Wade Stadium, although it's probably disheartening for Virginia Tech fans hoping their team would make a statement against an opponent it probably should have put to bed in by the third quarter.

On Saturday, I'm not sure if we'll learn a whole lot about Virginia Tech. Now, I think it will definitely mean something if they can convincingly put away a hot Boston College team, which is currently the favorite in the topsy-turvy ACC Atlantic Division. That would be a nice boost for the Hokies. But I think we will really learn about Virginia Tech next Saturday at Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech has only a week to prepare for their option offense and it has to go down on the road at night. Tricky. Very tricky. If the Hokies can win in Atlanta, their schedule sets up favorably for the rest of the season. Could they finish the year undefeated? It's a distinct possibility. But it's tough to overlook the Yellow Jackets. If you're a Hokies fan, I would say next Saturday will be the date to circle on your calendar.

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Annapolis, Md.: Camille,

Having covered several different teams, and sports, what differences have you noticed in the type of players that play for the Naval Academy, as opposed to some of the civilian schools you have covered?

Camille Powell: They call me "ma'am" a lot more. And not only are they always on time for interviews, in many cases they show up early.

Zach Berman: On time for interviews? Showing up early? This is a novel concept.

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Nashville, Tenn.: Why was the Navy-Air Force game not televised live on any network in the DirecTv lineup?

Camille Powell: Navy's home games are carried by CBS College Sports, which I believe is available on DirecTV, but only if you pay for special sports tier or something. It's a shame that CBS itself doesn't televise the game like it does with Army-Navy, because lately Air Force-Navy has produced much better games. Plus, Air Force-Navy is played in Colorado Springs and Annapolis -- as opposed to a neutral site -- and that gives it a pretty neat atmosphere.

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Crownsville, Md.: This is more in the form of a request: Can you possibly find out why Ivin Jaspar didn't throw the ball more often against Air Force? With Navy's offense stopped in the running game, we threw the ball only four times! And with Dobbs being Navy's best passer in 20 years, we Navy fans are puzzled.

Thanks!

Note: Johnson (the patron saint of the triple option) at Ga. Tech threw the ball 14 times last week, gaining 266 yards passing ... and winning. Help!

Camille Powell: On Monday after practice, Jasper said that the one thing that Navy should've done more of against Air Force was throw the ball.

"At the same time, we had a big interception, we weren't playing smart on offense, we weren't playing good on offense and the defense was playing good," Jasper said. "Let's just be safe on offense and hand it off here. Maybe we'll pop one. We watched the film, and we had two or three plays that we weren't that far from breaking."

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Southwest Florida: I'm a fan of Mountain West, Pac-10, and Big East football, but live here in the heart of SEC Jean Shorts Country. So I appreciate that Comcast and ESPN have (finally!) resolved their [spitting] match and made 360 available.

As a fan of quality football, I'm a little relieved that the Terps won't be one of my regional TV choices ...

Eric Prisbell: That's a good point. Thanks.

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Dunn Loring, Va.: Instead of focusing solely on what passes as football in ACC and Big East land, let's address what really matters: That's right, the SEC. How do you see the Florida vs. LSU, Alabama vs. Ole Miss and Auburn vs. Arkansas games shaking out?

Mark Viera: Intriguing games, indeed. We'll start chronologically, based on kickoff times. I like Auburn over Arkansas. Gus Malzahn, Auburn's offensive coordinator, is proving to be quite the talented football mind. He's got Auburn rolling -- although Coach Gene Chizik has seemed to earn most of the praise -- and I'm not sure Arkansas can stop it. I like Alabama to roll Ole Miss. I'm talking ugly. I think we've seen that Ole Miss has been over-hyped thanks to its finish last season. Similarly, we have seen that the consternation about Alabama has been unwarranted with the resplendent play of quarterback Greg McElroy. The Crimson Tide has a scary defense, and I like their trio of running backs: Mark Ingram, Roy Upchurch and scintillating freshman Trent Richardson. Finally, on to Florida-LSU. I like the Gators in this one, although I'd feel less confident about that pick if Tim Tebow doesn't play. If he's healthy, I think a relatively flimsy LSU team will be overmanned. If he's out, the crowd in Death Valley will make it an awfully tough go for the Gators. I'm sure the college football world will be awaiting Tebow's status with bated breath on Saturday evening.

Steve Yanda: I'll go reverse-chronological order, just to be difficult. Tebow or no Tebow, I'm taking LSU. That said, I don't believe the Tigers are a better team than the Gators. I just think the circumstances surrounding this game put LSU in good position to pull an upset.

Like Mark, I also think Alabama will crush Ole Miss and Auburn will defeat Arkansas.

Zach Berman: Are you telling me you're not pumped for the Pittsburgh- U-Conn. game?

I'll go against Viera and Yanda and pick Arkansas. Ryan Mallett has the best deep ball in college football. Give me LSU, with Les Miles again winning a big game. And I'll take the Crimson Tide, who have become a power under Saban.

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College Park, Md.: Any idea when our MVP (Most valuable punter) Travis is coming back?

Eric Prisbell: Maybe for the Virginia game. Travis is a great punter. Fortunately for Maryland, Nick has done a good job in his absence. But they are looking forward to getting Travis back after he recovers from the high ankle sprain.

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Leesburg, Va.: Mark,

Great coverage of the Hokies as always, please keep up the good work ...

So, it looks like you got the passing game you were looking for out of TT. But, what happened to the defense? Where was Ryan Williams? Thank God Oglesby was there to pick up the slack...

What do you make of last weekend? Classic letdown situation? What do you see for Saturday? I think that Boston College beating FSU, hopefully combined with the Duke performance, "snaps" this team back into place.

Mark Viera: Thanks so much, Leesburg. I appreciate the kind words.

You are right that it was a classic letdown situation, which is why I don't put a whole lot of stock in it, good or bad. Wallace Wade Stadium. At noon. After playing Alabama, Nebraska and Miami in the first four weeks of the season. Duke? Yeah, that'd be easy to overlook.

That said, I think it is a little troubling that the defense has shown such a susceptibility to those big plays. Virginia Tech allowed five for more than 20 against Duke. That should be worrisome for Hokies fans because a pattern has emerged; Virginia Tech has allowed 20 plays of 20 or more yards this season, accounting for 45.3 percent of the yards it has allowed. Yeah, that means the Hokies are otherwise playing quality defense. But good teams could really hurt with those big gains.

I have said that the Hokies could have trouble this season if teams can shut down the run, because they are a one-dimensional attack. When Duke stacked the box and made the Virginia Tech throw, Tyrod Taylor showed flashes and it was certainly the best passing performance of his career, and he showed a nice connection with some of his targets. But you have to remember this was against Duke, which has a poor secondary. Will Taylor be able to replicate the passing performance against a defensive backfield like, say, North Carolina's? Looking at the Duke game with a broader lens, it was one good passing performance amid many others that have been unimpressive. While there were definitely signs that things are starting to turn, I'm not totally sold on the Hokies' aerial offense.

As for Saturday, I'll take the Hokies over Boston College. But I think it will be a close one.

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Nittany Kittycorner, USA: Penn State played Illinois last week, and is playing Eastern Illinois this week. Is next week's opponent the Fighting Salukis of Southern Illinois?

Eric Prisbell: Penn State's nonconference schedule was laughable.

Mark Viera: Coach Joe Paterno bristled at reporters this week when asked about the Nittany Lions' schedule. His defense is that the football team funds the rest of the school's varsity sports programs. That's true. But that's the case at other major football programs, and hardly another other school has reached to the depths Penn State has to dredge up non-conference opponents. The Lions' schedule this year has become so laughable, I wouldn't be surprised if the folks in Happy Valley beef up the upcoming schedules with at least recognizable mid-major programs. Regardless of how much money it can generate by playing those teams at home, Penn State has an embarrassment of a schedule.

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New York, N.Y.: Eric,

Something is going on with ESPN with their coverage of college football. Namely, they want you to watch games on your computer on ESPN360.com. As someone who paid $130 for the ESPN GamePlan, their coverage of legit games has decreased significantly this year as they push the computer option. The only games they show now are Northeast Middle Idaho vs. No Name State. Do you know what's going on with this? Any chance you can look into this phenomenon?

Eric Prisbell: I will.

Drop me an email if you want to share your thoughts.

prisbelle@washpost.com

thanks.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Has anyone ever given a reason as to why hardly any of the U-Md. games are on TV? I subscribe to ESPNU solely to get the U-Md. games and I can't understand why they haven't really been on TV at all. Last year they were a mediocre team, too, but at least still on TV ...

Eric Prisbell: The networks pick games. There is a pecking order. And no one has picked Maryland's game four of six times this season, as of this coming Saturday. That's why it winds up on 360.

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S.C.: You guys follow college football pretty closely, I would assume. Answer me this: How many times has Tim Tebow been flagged for excessive celebration? I can't for the life of me think of anyone over the past four years who celebrates with muscle flexing, arm waiving and random screaming more than Mr. Tebow. Often, he's credited with being a great leader, rallying the home fans or showing the emotion that makes the game great.

Frankly, the man defines excessive celebration. Yet, I don't think he's ever been dinged for it, nor has anyone publicly said it's a little much.

With this penalty affecting teams and players around the SEC, I'd like to see Mr. Tebow's thinly vieled look at me routine put under the same microscope.

Steve Yanda: Really? Of all the things you could choose to complain about in terms of how the media/public/referees/announcers treat Tebow, you pick this?

First of all, I would argue that the excessive celebration penalty at the college football level is a rule that needs to be either abolished or revisited, because officials clearly do not have a standard by which they judge such offenses. Just this week, the SEC admitted that an excessive celebration penalty against Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green should not have been called. As a result of the penalty, Georgia kicked off from its 15 yard-line and its opponent, LSU, scored two plays later.

As for Tebow, I don't think he's any more guilty of "muscle flexing, arm waiving and random screaming" than any other excited player. When players perform well, they should be allowed to show some pride. It's not a bad thing. It's heat-of-the-moment, raw emotion. When Tebow did the Gator chomp last year while celebrating a play, it might have been his most endearing moment yet in college football, at least to this journalist.

I'd rather put the penalty itself and how it's called under the microscope, than Tebow or any other player who supposedly is guilty of excessive celebration.

Zach Berman: One of the little-known ironies when you write about college football is that you spend so much time on the team you cover you don't get to watch as many games as a fan on his couch on Saturday. That said, anyone with a pulse has seen Tebow play, and he does celebrate excessively.

My issue is more with the rule than the act. Forget the next 50 minutes; we can spend the next 50 hours discussing ridiculous NCAA rules, and we still wouldn't come close to finishing. Why the NCAA continues to let games be decided by something so ambiguous and innocent is beyond me.

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Bethesda, Md.: Sewell and Simpson got in the groove around game three of the 2007 season...which eventually lead to the U-Va. vs. Va. Tech ACC Championship game play-in the Saturday after Thanksgiving in Charlottesville. Not that I think it's going to happen, but why not this year?

The way I see it, you're missing a key ingredient in Chris Long, but you've got an improved secondary and better wide receivers this year. Why shouldn't I expect this level of performance from this team?

Zach Berman: Finally a U-Va. question! The Virginia fans were dominating this chat until the team started to struggle.

You bring up a good point, although Virginia is missing more than Chris Long from that team. Eugene Monroe and Branden Albert were both first-round picks on the offensive line, whereas this line has (surprisingly) struggled. And Simpson actually emerged a little later in that season (week 8) but I see your point.

That could still happen. Virginia's defense looked outstanding against North Carolina, although the Tar Heels might have had something to do with this. If nothing else, I think this team now realizes they need to win the way they did in 2007; tough defense, smart offense and make plays in the fourth quarter.

Virginia's next four games are Indiana, Maryland, Georgia Tech and Duke. If they can finish October 4-4 (3-1), you're looking at a November slate of at Miami, vs. BC, at Clemson, vs. Va. Tech. It will be very compelling to watch.

That said, Virginia has provided no reason why anyone should get ahead of themselves. If the Cavaliers show up against Indiana on Saturday, make sure you write in next Thursday with thoughts about playing significant football in November.

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Annapolis, Md.: What is Wilbon smoking and can I have some? His top ten is just plain absurd. I don't even know where to begin...

washingtonpost.com: World Wide Wilbon: The Wilbon Index: College Football (Washington Post, Oct. 8)

Eric Prisbell: I don't think the first seven or so are crazy at all. I would put Virginia Tech in the top 10, and I would put Cincy a little higher.

But,wait a second? I just looked at it again -- no USC?!?!?!

if you are going to put Oregon in there after the Cal win, well, USC beat up on Cal at Cal and also won at Ohio State.

Steve Yanda: I wouldn't have ranked Iowa or Oregon as high as Wilbon did, but other than that, his picks didn't seem all that absurd.

Much like Eric, I agree USC should be ranked in anyone's top 10 team. The Trojans have their yearly hiccup out of the way. Is there any team left on their schedule that's excited to face them?

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Bethesda, Md.: I can't speak for U-Md. fans, but I was pretty upset with the fact that I could only watch the No. 5 team in the nation on the internet last week, especially considering it was their second internet-only game.

The week before, the No. 5 team in the country played an unranked team ... and ESPN Gameday went there.

Eric Prisbell: That is a fair point. On the other hand, if there were no ESPN360, you wouldn't be able to watch the team at all.

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Downtown: LSU barely beat Washington and Mississippi State, probably needed an incorrectly called penalty to beat Georgia and is 10th in the SEC in rushing offense, 10th in pass defense, last in kick returns despite having a stud in Trindon Holliday and dead last in scoring offense.

How on Earth does anyone think they'll beat Florida, Tebow or no Tebow? For that matter, how on Earth are they ranked No. 4 in the country?!?!

Steve Yanda: Well, they're No. 4 in the country because they began the season ranked high in the polls and they have yet to lose.

As for how anyone could think LSU will beat Florida, Tebow or no Tebow, I think you're putting too much thought into LSU's lackluster stats and not enough into how the Tebow situation will affect the Gators. If Tebow plays, he won't be at 100 percent. I don't care whether he gets a clean bill of health from every doctor in the state of Florida, there's no way a player who suffered a concussion two weeks ago can step onto a football field with limited practice time and be at his best. Tebow is a very good player, but contrary to popular belief, he also is human. If Tebow doesn't play, you have to consider the challenge the rest of the Florida offense faces in adjusting to a new voice in the huddle and a new style of quarterback in the pocket. John Brantley is a skilled and capable quarterback; that's not the issue. Rather, the issue is how quickly the Gators can adjust to being led by Brantley, instead of Tebow.

I'm taking LSU in this one. Feel free to mock me mercilessly next week if the Gators make me look like a complete idiot.

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Blacksburg, Va.: As a Tech fan, I don't approve of the way Va. Tech hopped Boise State in the polls last week. Do you think this is some sort of concerted effort to ensure that BSU or any similar "mid-major" team never has a shot at the national title game?

Eric Prisbell: I don't. As much as i like Boise State, I don't see any way they could play for the national title with that schedule. A BCS game? Absolutely. But the only real opponent is Oregon. BYU, I thought, had an outside chance at the national title game because of nonconference games against Oklahoma and Florida State.

Zach Berman: I'm as impressed with Boise State as anyone, but if you want to play for the national title from a "mid-major" conference, you can't schedule Cal-Davis.

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College Park Hot Seat: I don't understand how Saturday's win is being even looked at as a positive by the Terp faithful. If Clemson didn't implode in the last five minutes, they could have/should have won by at least three. And what would the faithful have thought of the great fourth down call deep in your own territory? Or is everyone just saving the ammunition for the eventual loss to Virginia, one of those teams that "like Duke, Maryland should beat (once every four years at least)."

Eric Prisbell: Beating both Virginia and Duke will be tough for Maryland.

I have not gotten one email from a reader who says I've been too hard on the team. The only person I see getting a little cocky after the Clemson win is Ralph Friedgen, who said, "If they don't want me here, I'll go somewhere else."

interesting comment

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Fusheezi, Md.: You gotta take the Deacons -11 right? Wake doesn't impress me all that much, but then again neither did Rutgers. Wake has won the games they were supposed to and hasn't lost by more then three all year. Plus their second straight home game and a Terps team coming into town which has won one game against the spread all year. Please help me out here! I don't need Spider Ricco coming to my door to collect money I don't have and my job requires use of all my fingers!

Eric Prisbell: I think it will be a close game, one way or another. I have Wake winning 26-23, but it think it will be close.

What's your prediction?

Clubber Lang: "Pain!"

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Kensington, Md.: I don't know why I never noticed this before, but I find it pretty ironic that The Fridge touts sportsmanship in an ACC commercial when his players, instead of meeting the opposing team at the 50 after a victory, run over to the student section.

Have they always done this? The Clemson players all mingled around midfield while only a handful of Terps met them there.

Eric Prisbell: They have done this as long as I can remember, at least since 2004, for the most part.

I don't have an issue with it after big wins. But it was interesting to see the team celebrate after beating James Madison.

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Boston: After being picked dead last in a weak ACC and currently sitting at 4-1 with wins over Wake and FSU, does B.C. go to a bowl this season? I peg them at 8-4 at the end.

Here is the rest of their schedule: at Virginia Tech, N.C. State, at Notre Dame, Central Michigan, at Virginia, North Carolina, at Maryland.

Eric Prisbell: BC has a decent chance to win the division. But all six teams in the Atlantic do.

Personally, I am leaning toward NC State winning the Atlantic. But I think BC is a bowl team, and I did not see that coming before the season.

Zach Berman: I need to hand it to BC. Just like in basketball, they refuse to be an afterthought in the ACC even with less heralded recruits and a geographical disadvantage. It's a shame they're barely noticed in Boston.

I covered a BC-Va. Tech game last season in Boston -- a HUGE game with significant implications on the ACC -- and the Red Sox were playing on the same night. The average sports fan in Boston probably couldn't have told you who BC was playing. If they reach the ACC title game for the third consecutive season, it would be a shame if people don't notice.

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S. Rockville, Md.: Camille,

Has Navy announced an investigation into the series of NCAA extra benefit violations you reported on this week? Twenty minutes of extra sleep? Overlooking a missing button during inspection? If the NCAA hammered Dez Bryant at Oklahoma State, I fear they're going to put Navy on three years' probation for these violations!

Camille Powell: Ha. I was worried that Buckley was going to get in trouble for telling the paper that he missed a button during inspection.

One of my favorite parts of Navy home wins is hearing what all the Midshipmen (not just football players) get in return -- sometimes they get to stay out until 11 or 1 a.m. The cheer that went up when it was announced they got overnight liberty after the Air Force victory was one of the biggest of the night.

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Fairfax, Va.: Earlier this week Rich Rodriquez said he didn't like night games in an answer to a possible night game at the Big House. He said it gave the players all day to get anxious.

Isn't this what holds the Big Ten back from competing with the SEC? SEC recruiters can pitch prime time games every visit. Wouldn't it behoove the Big Ten to follow suit?

Eric Prisbell: Let's be honest, SEC recruiters can and, frankly, have pitched a lot more than night games to attract recruits. The conference's reputation speaks for itself. Who has not been on probation in the SEC the past 25 years or so?

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Pac-10: So what happened to Cal? Really, wasn't expecting them to implode this season.

Eric Prisbell: Agree. I thought Cal and Jahvid Best were very very very overhyped all summer long. I was shocked they beat Maryland and shocked they went to Minnesota and won. Not surprised at all by the results against Oregon and USC.

Just kidding.

I have been on the Cal bandwagon since day one this season and got duped again. This team can't deal with expectations and hype. They do it every year. Never fails.

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Anonymous: What was so bad about what Dez Bryant did? I know Neon Deion is not my first choice to hang out with, but to suspend him for the whole season? Seems excessive for me.

Eric Prisbell: There could be more than what everyone knows. Or maybe not. The NCAA has interesting rulings all the time. One thing you cannot do is lie to the NCAA. So when Sanders acknowledged that Bryant was over his house, it would have been wise for Bryant and Sanders to get the story straight and for Bryant to say the same.

But if that's the only misstep by Bryant, I agree, it does seem excessive.

Steve Yanda: Based on the information that's been released so far, it certainly seems excessive. It also calls into question the severity of the penalties the NCAA hands out to student-athletes, as opposed to coaches. John Calipari won't be suffering too much from his indescretions at Memphis this season when he's on the sidelines at Kentucky. And you could argue that his offense(s) while at Memphis were much greater than Bryant seemingly panicking and lying to the NCAA about an interaction with a former NFL player that might not even have been illegal in the first place.

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Birmingham, Ala.: With the loss of Mr. Heise, who are the most prominent Terp boosters?

Do you think that they have the same position on boosters influencing hiring/firing decisions as Mr. Heise?

Eric Prisbell: There are a handful in both men's basketball and football, but I'd prefer not to mention their names here.

Jack Heise was unique because he came to football practice at least once a week. I recall seeing him at Maryland basketball scrimmages. He would be all over the place. That is why they called him Mr. Maryland. He will be missed a great deal.

I don't see the same fervor among Maryland football boosters as you see at, say, an SEC school. If this season unravels, that will work in Ralph Friedgen's favor.

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S. Rockville, Md.: Zach,

What happened to U-Va.'s offensive line? Sure, they lost a first round pick to the League, but more sacks in four games this year than in all of last year? Doesn't seem like a good way to keep QBs healthy, much less win games.

Zach Berman: Another week, another great question from S. Rockville.

You bring up a good point. The struggles through the first two weeks had a lot to do with the offense. They were passing so frequently and the TEs, RBs were not used for blocking. Against UNC, they were undone by better players. It was that simple.

The line has surprised me; I thought it would be a strength of the offense. Landon Bradley needs to play better on the left side. Indiana has two outstanding tackless, so this week will be a good test. I've been impressed with Austin Pasztor at guard, but the line has been underwhelming overall. If Virginia rebounds this year, improved play up front is a must.

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Colorado: Philosophical question. When SEC teams all lose to each other, it's because the conference is so strong. When Pac-10 teams all lose to each other, it's because the conference is so inconsistent. Why?

Steve Yanda: A lot of it has to do with reputation. The SEC has a lot of traditionally strong teams, several more than does the Pac-10. Also, in recent history, the SEC has been the strongest conference in the country. The past three national champions have come from the SEC. In the Pac-10, meantime, USC is the only team that has been consistently good since the start of the decade.

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: Could Notre Dame get any more breaks? What a bunch of frauds. They whine about the refs while they benefit from 99 percent of the calls because they are Notre Dame. Join a conference already!

Steve Yanda: I can tell by your location that no bias at all went into formulating that question.

Wait, Matt Rennie, is that you?

Anyway, Notre Dame might not be as good as its record would indicate and it certainly has benefitted from a few calls. But the one thing you can't deny is how well junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen has played this season. Clausen has completed 67.6 percent of his passes, averages 308.8 passing yards per game and has thrown 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions. And if Notre Dame is the fraud you claim they are, that makes Clausen's performance all the more impressive.

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Bethesda, Md.: So, if I did the math right, the first-place Maryland Terrapins can run the table in the Atlantic Division and lose every other ACC game to finish 6-6, with the opportunity to land a BSC bowl spot with a 7-6 record. The chances of that happening are slim, but how great would that be?

Had Maryland not squeaked by James Madison, there was a possibility that they could have run the table in the Atlantic Division and finish 5-7 and potentially earn a BCS bid with a 6-7 record. Is there any provision that would not allow Maryland to appear in a BCS Bowl with a losing record? And again, how great would that be?

Eric Prisbell: That would be pretty interesting, wouldn't it?

How about an Orange Bowl matchup between mighty 7-6 Maryland and undefeated Cincinnati?

This Saturday is a huge game for Maryland, a pivotal contest, and I felt that before the season. Maryland has a long road just to become bowl eligible, but it has a chance. I think Maryland has to win two of the next three games to stay in the hunt for bowl eligibility. The latter stages of the schedule, pretty tough.

if they were 5-7? Interesting. My hunch would be that they would go, but I can't say that for sure.

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Bethesda, Md.: Who poses the bigger problem for Maryland this weekend? Riley Skinner or the Wake defense? Wake hasn't looked great, especially in that opening loss to Baylor but they are tough at home and are usually able to minimize mental errors.

Eric Prisbell: I would be more concerned about Riley Skinner. He has surpassed his career high in passing yards each of the past three games. He threw for 361 against what was supposed to be a good NC State defense. Wake's defense is young. So is Maryland's entire offense other than Chris Turner. I expect a shootout featuring two senior quarterbacks.

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Alexandria, Va.: Steve, on the Monday piece with the newest AP Poll, you wrote the following:

"The No. 11 Hurricanes still must navigate through an unpredictable ACC, but with its third win against a ranked opponent in four weeks, Miami remains in the hunt for a Bowl Championship Series bid."

Excuse me? Miami is now one game back in the ACC Coastal and Virginia Tech holds the tie break!

Further, Va. Tech has only lost to the No. 3 team in the land. So why in the world is Miami in the "hunt" and Va. Tech isn't?

Steve Yanda: I don't recall writing that Virginia Tech wasn't in the hunt. I know it's hard for fans of ACC teams to believe this, but it is possible for more than one team from a conference to play in a BCS bowl, especially when said conference already owns an automatic bid.

Virginia Tech certainly is the ACC's best shot to represent the ACC in a BCS bowl as of now. My point was that Miami could find a way to earn such a bid, as well.

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Mt. Lebanon, Penn.: Will Pitt get into the AP Top-25 with a win this weekdend against U-Conn. or do we all wait another week for another W(in)?

And don't you just love Pitt's two freshmen runner/receivers? Go ahead: name them for the uninitiated.

Go Panthers.

Thanks much!

Camille Powell: Dion Lewis! Ray Graham!

I thought Lewis was really good when I saw him against Navy, and linebacker Ross Pospisil said that Lewis was almost as good as LeSean McCoy was last year.

I'm not making any more predictions about Pitt in this chat, because the last time I did, the Panthers promptly went out and lost to N.C. State.

Mark Viera: Mt. Lebanon, Pa.? You wouldn't happen to know Mt. Lebanon native and esteemed Nationals' reporter for this very publication, Mr. Chico Harlan, would you?

Anyway, I don't see Pittsburgh leaping into the top 25 this weekend. Too many people ahead, and Connecticut won't help ya with that. But a win over South Florida on Oct. 24? Now you're in business.

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Atlanta: The Bobby Bowden situation is quickly devolving into a confused state of recriminations and disgust. It is also not clear that Jimbo Fisher is the answer as the next head coach but the $5 million buyout is a significant sum. What does not seem to have been discussed is that Bowden took over a non-descript FSU program, made it into a national power for over a decade and has now presided over its decline. That time in the national spotlight is the only instance when FSU has achieved anything in football.

Why is it that everyone thinks FSU will continue to dominate in the future? Many programs have been very ordinary, had a flash of success (K-State, Univ. of Washington, Texas A&M) and then faded back to commonplace. What will make FSU different? The competition for talent is Florida is fierce - especially with USF on the rise. There does not seem to be any innate reason that FSU should be one of the yearly powers in college football.

Eric Prisbell: I disagree. There is enough talent in the state of Florida to load up rosters at Florida, Miami, FSU and South Florida. And I have a hard time comparing FSU's success in the 80s and 90s to that of Washington, Texas A&M and K-State, of all teams. FSU dominated the national landscape. Most years it would come down to the Miami-FSU game. FSU finished in the top 3 almost every season and won two national titles. They almost won several more.

Bowden does not want 10 more years. But is it too much to ask to give him one more before Fisher takes over? I'm surprised by the reaction and outrage down there.

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New York, N.Y.: Eric,

Have you had a chance to ask Fridge why Morgan Green is so deep in the doghouse? When Fridge talked about his RB depth chart, he didn't even mention Green but mentioned two freshman that have been on campus for two months. The only time I saw him get some serious run was the Humanitarian Bowl when I thought he performed well. At the least, he is a change of pace power back for the smaller, more shifty Meggett/Douglas? By the way, I need to post my predication for last week's Clemson game here from the blog:

"This prediction is not based on previous performance, fact, or anything justifiable in any way: Terps 24-Clemson 21. " Just to gloat.

Eric Prisbell: Wow, way to go on the prediction!

Ralph said nothing has changed with Morgan, which is not a good sign for Morgan. He has not made a move at all in practice, and coaches are clearly higher on the potential of D.J. Adams and Caleb Porzel. They like them a lot. At least one may play Saturday.

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Colorado: I understand that it's hard to justify Boise State's ranking when they play teams like U.C.-Davis. But how much of their scheduling decisions do you think is their fault? I just don't see big time teams being eager to schedule a team like Boise State as one of their non-conference opponents when they could instead pick a 1-AA school.

Eric Prisbell: It's not their fault. Not at all. Boise will play anyone, anywhere.

But at the end of the season, when you compare resumes, an undefeated Boise State team will not have the resume of an undefeated Alabama team, etc.

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Falls Church, Va.: Virginia Tech and Boise State play at FedEx in Oct 2010, which can't come soon enough!

(In reference to the question about Va. Tech jumping BSU in the polls)

Mark Viera: Wouldn't it be wonderful if Virginia Tech and Boise State didn't have to worry about this silly poll-jumping issue in October and could just wait to settle it on the field at the end of the season. You know, like a playoff or something . . . ah, sorry. You caught me daydreaming.

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Washington, D.C.: "Maybe for the Virginia game. Travis is a great punter. Fortunately for Maryland, Nick has done a good job in his absence. But they are looking forward to getting Travis back after he recovers from the high ankle sprain."

You might want to rephrase that one. Nick is a GREAT punter. He bombed 2 50-plus yard punts and created a turnover by avoiding the rush on his bobbled snap. He also pinned the Tigers deep once inside the 5 (should have been twice if the coverage was there). I personally would rather see Nick punting right now, especially the way Baltz has been punting early in this season (only one 50-plus punt this year and way too many in the 30-40 yard range).

I'd have to say that Ferrara is the MVP of the Terps right now.

Eric Prisbell: Nick has done a great job. You're right.

Nick and Torrey Smith have been the team MVPs.

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Montgomery Village, Md.: Dear Team Blogger

Any chance the Badgers go into the Horseshoe and take down Brutus and the Buckeyes? If that happens, what's then up in the not so Big 10/11?

Mark Viera: The 'shoe is a tough place to play. I don't like Wisky's chances to come out with a W. Thus, I think all will stay the same in the Big Ten. Ohio State is the team to beat.

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Anonymous: What's your take/prediction on tonight's game: Nebraska at Missouri?

Zach Berman: Two ranked opponents on a Thursday night, big rivalry in that part of the country -- good recipe for a great game. I spent a week in Omaha during the College World Series and took a liking to the region.

I'm picking the Huskers. The defense is stout. I'm impressed by Blaine Gabbert, but this is why you schedule tough out of conference. Nebraska visited Lane Stadium and is prepared for a tough game on the road. Mizzou has had a weak early-season schedule.

Steve Yanda: I'm taking Mizzou. Yes, Missouri's nonconference schedule wasn't great, but in the one tough game Nebraska has played so far (against Virginia Tech), Cornhuskers quarterback Zac Lee looked awful. Missouri's defense is nowhere near as stout as that of the Hokies, but it should provide more of a challenge for Nebraska than the Cornhuskers faced against Louisiana-Lafayette.

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Penn Quarter, Washington, D.C.: RE: Excessive Celebration. Come on guys, I can understand the coast-to-coast loudmouths and ESPN talking heads (which, sadly, includes your erstwhile Post colleagues) buying into the "bad call which probably cost Georgia a win" line, but I expect better from you. I fully agree that the call on Green was, or should be, wrong on the merits, and feel the same way about the call against LSU's Charles Scott after his TD a short while later.

But, how can this call be considered outcome determinative when it did not put points on the board or take them away ; did not change possession of the ball, or even extend or shorten a drive; was followed by three possessions; and was followed by the same equally dubious call against the opponent yielding precisely the same opportunity for advantage. If it so stunned Georgia that they were discombobulated on the ensuing kick-off, shame on Mark Richt.

There was plenty of time (the break before the following conversion attempt and then the typcial interminable CBS telecast break before the kickoff) to regain theier composure. Georgia had enough time to come up with their gadget alignment for the kick-off, which by the way, drew another flag. I believe the outcome was more impacted by the decision to kick to the NCAA 100 meter champ and only have 3 defenders on the side where the kick was going than by the 15 yards of field position involved. LSU had time to score a touchdown, incur the same penalty in equally dubious circumstances, run a successful two-point conversion, kick off from the same spot as Georgia did, cover the kick much more effectively, and then hold Georgia (who got the ball with more time left than it had taken LSU to score). Unfortunate call--absolutely yes. But did it "cost Georgia the game?" That's, at best, muddled analysis.

Zach Berman: Great point, Penn Quarter. It didn't cost Georgia the game; the Bulldogs can still make those stops.

My issue is more with the impetus of the call than the effect of the call. Emotion is natural. A player scores a big TD, he's celebrating with his teams -- that's sports. If it's taunting or offensive, I can understand a flag. But if you prevent a player from being human, it seems like an excessive penalty -- not an excessive celebration.

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Mark Viera: That's going to do it for me this week. Thanks for the great questions, folks. Look forward to it again next Thursday. Enjoy the games Saturday. Take care.

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