I have no idea if Kevin Gilberston is a good coach or not, but losing Neuheisel has to have been a distraction.  You'll hear "Pickett to Williams for six!" called at least a dozen times this year, but playing at the shoe is a tough debut for any coach.  Too much, too soon.

Carson Palmer may be gone, but he's not the reason the Trojans won 11 games last year.  Nope, that was their defense.  USC didn't allow a single 100-yard rusher last year.  Wow.

Strength vs. strength.  As it should be.  Strap it on ladies, it's clobberin' time!

Clemson needs this win.  OK, Clemson doesn't, but Bowden the Younger probably does.  Mediocrity isn't what the boosters paid for, and it may take 9 or 10 wins to keep the job for 2004.  But the cold hard truth is that the only thing "need" gets you is government cheese, and it sure as heck doesn't win ball games.  I think Tommy's sunk...

Late update: The line is moving ... in Clemson's favor!  Oy, Gawgia isn't getting a lot of respect for a top-10 team!

Tennessee's been sliding a bit.  I mean they're still great, but a smackdown at the hands of Maryland in last year's bowl game has affixed the label "Also Ran" firmly to Casey Clausen's forehead.

Virginia?  Yeah, we all know abut them.  Oh the hype!  For a head coach, AlGroh makes a great recruiting coordinator.  I'll certainly give him that.  But somebody wake me up when they start winning more of the big games, ok?

WVU surprised a lot of people last year, and there's no reason to expect them to drop off too much in 2003.  Quincy Wilson's the man now, and he's going to run through a lot of defensive lines this year.

Truly, we live in remarkable times.

Look, there's nothing I can tell you about this game that you don't already know.  The VT Hokie News links give you all the down and all the dirty that you need.

So what am I here for?  The tailgate!  I like the 3:00 game.  I do.  I think it may actually be the best time slot.  I don't like the nooner.  I just don't.  It's too early.  I hate having to make the choice between staying out the night before and waking up early to pregame.  And I never know what to do with myself immediately after the game is over.

Now the night game is good.  The night game is special ... maybe TOO good.  The eight hour tailgate that ensues brings about a level of craziness that should be reserved for only the biggest of big games.  I like it, but no more than once or twice a season.

The 3:00 game tho, it's niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.  Plenty of time to get groovy in the Burg the night before, and still make it out in the AM in time for 4-5 hours of top drawer tailgate entertainment.  AND, there's the added bonus that the game will end at the perfect time.  Go hit Mike's for some burgers, and roll on down Main Street for the postgame festivities

Yes siree, I like the 3:00 game :)

Oh the game itself?  45-17 ... book it!