I tolerated the Open date reasonably well. With Tech off, preparing for a Thursday night date with Texas A&M and ESPN, as well as perhaps allowing Isabel time to turn the game into Orange Poncho night [it is not often I say this to a young lady making advances, but Isabel, please go away], I was left to my own devices for the first time this season.

I had given thought Saturday morning to making the short jaunt from Danville to either Winston-Salem or Durham to observe football as it is played by some of the lower levels of the food chain, but not a lot of thought, and I decided against it. While I had interest in observing Wake Forest and their wunderkind coach Jim Grobe I wasn�t all that attracted to watching them play in the drizzling rain I noticed falling, and besides, a time is coming when I will be traveling to Groves Stadium to watch the Deacons tangle with a team in which I have a far greater rooting interest than Purdue. As for Duke and Rice, it took concentrated thought of about a second or two to determine that there was no earthly reason for me to desire to watch that. I chose my den and recliner.

Armed with my remote control, a refrigerator bursting at the seams with frosty adult beverages and a cigar whose possession would be declared illegal by the United States government were any evidence of it still in existence other than a wrapper, I settled in to watch multiple football games on television.

Among the many nooners, NC State�s epic battle with Ohio State proved the most engrossing, even over the Purdue-Wake game I had entertained notions of attending and where, as it turned out, the Deacons came up a touchdown short of becoming this year�s ESPN Cinderella. The Wolfpack and Buckeyes put on quite a show that took three overtimes to reach a conclusion. I often wonder why otherwise sane men enter the coaching profession where one�s emotional stability and job security depends on decisions made by twenty-two year old kids to audible out of what had been wildly successful in order to twice fling themselves into the stone wall of the Ohio State defensive line. Two straight QB sneaks? Bad idea, Rivers.

Following the game between the States, I listened to the post game on the NC State radio network and marveled at football�s ability to reduce strong men such as Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato to blubbering like a baby. This thing that interests us so is indeed more than just a game. It also crossed my mind that hopefully there will come a time in the future when actions taken by the Tech team can again have Amato weeping like a woman. Crushing defeat can be tough, eh, Chuck? All who follow football can empathize. I still have not gotten over that McNabb pass.

Perusing the scores of the other early games convinced me that next year�s battle for the championship of the L�il E between Louisville and Cincinnati should be a good one. Television executives will no doubt be thrilled, and one can only imagine the jubilation on the part of the executives of whatever BCS bowl selects last in '04.

The choices narrowed for the 3:30 games. South Carolina found the going a little tougher than they did in their previous week�s chess match with the Hoos, as Georgia's Dawgs were made of sterner stuff and dispatched the Gamecocks with relative ease. Things were no closer on ABC, as Michigan had their way with Notre Dame. The Irish did demonstrate that they will probably again steal one of the BE�s bowl bids, as even a team that looked as lousy as did ND and possesses their tough schedule should be able to achieve six wins and take a spot from a conference that did not exactly distinguish itself Saturday. It will be the last time we will have to concern ourselves with such larceny.

It also crossed my mind that should this year�s Virginia Tech team defy the odds and emerge from the schedule undefeated, chances are good that the Wolverines would be the opponents in the Sugar Bowl. It will be very difficult for Oklahoma to get through the rigors of a Big XII schedule unscathed; Michigan will have a much easier row to hoe.

Due to the lack of a compelling contest, my mind wandered and I began thinking about the information in last Friday�s TSLMail that informed me that once again Frank is going to screw around with what I consider the outstanding uniform color combination of maroon jerseys and white pants. This sort of behavior has to me a distinct small time flavor about it that is rarely practiced by the major powers within whose ranks we desire inclusion. Michigan never changes their familiar uniform unless it is to apply a maize streak to the middle of the back of the jersey whenever the subject of scheduling a football game with Virginia Tech is broached. Quit messing with our uniforms, Frank.

The evening games rolled around and I quickly lost interest in watching Miami sleepwalk its way through an easy win over East Carolina other than to note that it is scary that the Canes can display as little interest in playing as they did against the Pirates and still win by thirty-five. It is safe to assume that their levels of enthusiasm will be considerably higher when they roll into Lane Stadium November 1. When Miami gets it together, and they will, they will provide imposing opposition.

Georgia Tech and Florida State provided a more compelling contest. This gave a solid demonstration of why North Carolina�s defense collapsed following the exit of former UNC and current GT Defensive Coordinator John Tenuta, who ended after one year his association with Carolina coach John Bunting, a coach I have heard is a very difficult man for whom to work ["It�s 3 a.m. Why aren�t you in the office?"]. Tenuta had an outstanding game plan, one that would have won had the Yellow Jackets had someone other than a true freshman at quarterback and had FSU not been in possession of a terrific Strength and Conditioning program. The �Noles finally wore down the Jackets and snatched the game at the end. The Georgia Tech defense will in our future be a force with which we will have to reckon.

The final game of the evening, some clash between PAC 10 teams, proved to be one game and one adult beverage over the line, and I packed it in.

If the schedule does not allow one to be in Lane Stadium, watching many games from the comfort of home is not a bad way to while away a Saturday. I am ready, however, to drop the remote, grab the tickets and cooler, and head back to Tech and observe some Hokie football in person. Let�s hope Isabel cooperates.

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