Posted by NoleCC

College Game Balls is hosting this edition of the Blogpoll Roundtable. Evidently, it’s a tad bit late. I wouldn’t expect any less from a Hokie.

1. Which freshman impressed you more last weekend: the California dream Matt Barkley who quarterbacked USC over tOSU or white lightening Tate Forcier who slashed through Notre Dame? Which one would you like to have on your team? Feel free to write in another worthy candidate.

Thanks to the awful FSU / Jacksonville State game on Saturday at 6pm, I missed the majority of both games. I did see the highlights of the Notre Dame / Michigan contest, and Tate Forcier looked great. On top of that, I really hate Notre Dame, so I’d love to pick Forcier. In the end though, I have to go with Matt Barkley. I saw that one live and was amazed by the poise of Barkley, leading his team down the field on the road for a big win, in ONLY HIS SECOND START. Barkley’s poise reminded me of my all-time favorite collegiate quarterback, Major Applewhite.

2. Let’s play a game of pretend the unthinkable happened. Commissioner __________ of your conference has been forced to resign after he was caught canoodling with some harlots. Great news, you’ve been chosen to succeed him. To make your mark you decide to make a big change. What is it going to be?

1. I would realign the ACC based on North and South. This Atlantic and Coastal business doesn’t work for me. FSU should play Georgia Tech every year. Realignment would help on travel costs for the athletic departments, and keep local rivalries intact. North: Boston College, Maryland, North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia, Virginia Tech,  South: Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Wake Forest. Scheduling would remain the same, and the major football rivalries are intact, except for Miami / VT perhaps.
2. I would find a way for all ACC schools to have the same sports. I think it’s ridiculous that there are some schools without softball teams, men’s soccer, gymnastics, etc. It should be standardized across the conference so that we can name a true school-wide ACC champion every year.
3. I would immediately refer to Boston College in all official ACC releases as the Boston College Eagles Arrogants.

3. This week the quality of games is kicked up a gear. Other than your own, which game are you most looking forward to?

Who says I’m looking forward to FSU / BYU? The Noles in Provo, UT with a likely loss? Yeah, I’m not looking forward to that.

I’m ramped up for another ACC Thursday night showdown. I’m curious to find out if Miami is really any good (the FSU game tells me nothing at this point) and if GT can play 4 quarters against a quality opponent. Texas Tech at Texas ought to be entertaining too. I’ll check in on Tennessee and Florida, and VT / Nebraska too. Am I looking at the right schedule? Seriously, there’s not a lot of games that I’m thrilled to watch this weekend, especially after Thursday night. Maybe I’m just an ACC homer.

4. What mascot and/or tradition would you thieve from another school if it was socially acceptable.

Considering FSU has the tradition of Osceola and Renegade, thinking of another one is tough. First let me start with what I wouldn’t take, because I think they are endlessly stupid.

• The dotting of the I at Ohio State. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.
• Jump Around at Wisconsin. Hi, welcome to the early 90′s, that’s how we roll up here in Wiscannnsin.
• Anything having to do with Zombie Nation <insert generic school name here>
• The stupid Leprechaun at Notre Dame games. Yeah, ye little Irish guy. That’s great.
• The Hokie Pokey… yep, I saw it live at the National Championship game in 1999. It sucked then, and it still sucks.

On to what I might steal:

• Enter Sandman entrance at Virginia Tech.
• Howard’s Rock at Clemson.

… and what I would definitely steal:

• The USC Song Girls.
• The Texas cheerleaders (both cowgirl squad and chaps squad).