OUT OF CHOICES: GT Can't Handle BC

The best quarterback in the nation may not be at USC, or Florida, or on the field during the Louisville-Kentucky matchup.

And no, I am not talking about Colt Brennan.

It may just be Matt Ryan of Boston College.

The young man has a big arm and perfect mechanics and turned in a huge performance in a huge game over Georgia Tech last Saturday. How huge? Try 435 passing yards against one of the best defenses in the nation. We saw Notre Dame get humiliated on the first Saturday of the season, and saw Samford run into a brick wall the next week.

And then Ryan went out and threw for 435 yards against the same Georgia Tech defense.
In a conference where quarterbacks are usually filed under “inconsistent” or “incompetent,” Ryan’s brilliance blazes brighter. The Eagles will have an advantage behind center over all their ACC opponents they play from here on out. And that ACC schedule is already three games shorter as the Eagles started out the season going 3-0, all in conference games.

So while other teams are getting ready to delve into the meat of ACC play, Boston College has already tasted the juices of victory against last year’s ACC championship contestants Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. Just as delicious was a sweet revenge win over NC State and former coach Tom O’Brien who bolted for the Wolfpack in the offseason.

Besides Ryan, the Eagles boast one of the most talented defenses in the nation. Tashard Choice was shut down to the tune of 31 yards on 15 carries, and Georgia Tech was held to 267 yards of total offense.

And in fact the defense, may be improving. Wake Forest put up 28 points and 368 yards opening week against BC, while NC State put up 17 points and 407 yards one week later. If the Eagles defense can match the play of Ryan’s, then the rest of the ACC is in trouble.

Boston College can now rest up during some easy non-conference games the next few weeks.

The rest of the ACC will have to make up time while looking up at the Eagles in the standings.

—E. Blaso

IRISH STING: Yellow Jackets Hold Notre Dame to Three

The last time someone held Notre Dame to zero touchdowns was during an NCAA 08 game in “Rookie” mode on their Xbox 360.

But led by Tashard Choice and his two touchdowns, the Yellow Jackets handed the Irish the most lopsided opening season losses in their very storied history and left the fans in South Bend wondering “WTF?!”

A trio of quarterbacks vying to replace the “Golden Boy" Brady Quinn failed to make any impressions at all. Starter Demetrius Jones lost two fumbles and just looked plain lost at times.

Next.

Then, Evan Sharpley trotted onto the field, only to be sacked seven times.

Next!

Weiss finally called upon all frosh phenom Jimmy Clausen, who looked good but still has a lot to learn.

The Irish didn’t just see problems at QB, it was just a case of mediocre play, and perhaps a comedy of tragedies, that proved to be the factor of the game. Choice broke a Georgia Tech record by rushing for 100+ yards in his 8th straight game. QB Taylor Bennett was solid, and a stifling Jacket defense shut down the Notre Dame ground game forcing the inexperienced QB's to be effective.

They were not.

While Charlie Weiss still has much to prove in his 3rd season as coach, Chan Gailey's squad made a statement that they are a still a force with in the ACC. In holding the Irish to 122 total yards while gaining 386 yards of their own, either GT is the real deal or it just may be a long year for Notre Dame.

GT couldn't have started the season in a better way. But on the other side of the field, it's not quite that nice. It won't get any easier for the Irish as they make a trip to Penn State next week. And with still no starting quarterback to pencil in, Michigan is looking like it might be the easiest early game after all.

—C. Nierman