This is a story about a guy named Hank. Hank is a UNC fan. Hank is feeling on top of the world right about now. Hank also is delighting in the fact that Will Muschamp likely wouldn’t be coming to Clemson any time soon. Hank got a free eMachine with the purchase of his double (that’s what the trailer cognoscenti call a doublewide these days) and felt like he would lay into that site he heard about that was built around the premise of Muschamp to Clemson. Hank posts. Hank waits. Hank gets verbally dismissed brilliantly.

SolidBOOM!ed, motherfucker.

These answers are admittedly half-assed, but Chili has been sick and/or busy lately and Willy Mac has been AWOL, so we’re doing this just to get our contribution in to the Roundtable and hopefully do a bit better for the next one. Here’s a link to Tar Heel Mania’s responses. VT blog CollgeGameBalls’ responses. Legacy x4, From Old Virginia, BC Interruption, Gobbler Country.

1. Okay, first things first: could someone please explain what the hell just happened this past Saturday?

Well…. didn’t catch too many other games in the league. Clemson had a hell of a TUMULTUOUS week in which preparation for Saturday’s game took a backseat to a coaching change for a while. The team played better in some areas, but the offensive line still is pretty bad and that was reflected in the lack of running  game (plus, Spiller was out) and the beating our QBs took, which led to some INTs. Penalties also screwed us, and the chorus of boos in the stadium evidenced the fact that the average Clemson fan still does not grasp the fact that you can be blocked into the kicker and flagged for it, as long as you weren’t illegally blocked into the kicker, and that a ref is going to flag it no matter how bad the kicker was acting. Coach Swinney and Billy Napier called plays a bit better than did Rob Spence, but you aren’t going to change up the entire offensive system in 96 hours.  We now can be pretty sure the Tigers aren’t going to make a bowl this year, which is just fucking pathetic, regardless of how poor our line play is.

2. Good Maryland, Bad Maryland, we.ve seen a fair share of both in 2008. Good Maryland may be the best team in the ACC, while Bad Maryland could probably lose by 20 to anyone left on their schedule. Which Maryland do we see for the rest of the season and where do you expect the Terps to finish?

Well, personally, I won’t see any Maryland for the rest of the season. I guess they’ll continue to vacillate between dangerous and a danger to themselves, but overall have a respectable season and go to a decent bowl game.

3. Injuries are a part of college football, but they seem to have ravaged ACC offenses this year. Wake Forest has been without Sam Swank, Clemson is without C.J. Spiller, UNC is without T.J. Yates and Brandon Tate, Virginia Tech is without Kenny Lewis Jr., and NC State is without?just about everybody. Which team misses their fallen star(s) most and why?

I think that UNC will suffer the most. The loss of two key components of their offense in Yates and Tate will be a blow to a very special season that was in the makings for the Tarheels. However there is still some good talent in Chapel Hill and they could make it into the Championship Game.

Clemson, without a doubt, misses their linemen. The line was not terribly strong coming into this season, but nobody could’ve predicted that we’d see five different lineups in seven games and four different linemen missing playing time with injuries. Without a line making holes, Davis and Spiller have had reduced production. Without good blocking up front, our QBs have gotten injured and made hurried passes that derail our air attack. With an unproductive offense, our comparitively stout defense has had to be on the field way too much. A healthy offensive line wouldn’t have made this season as bountiful as some thought, but it certainly would’ve made it less miserable than it is now.

4. Last one: the pretty much unanimous division champs were Virginia Tech and Wake Forest last week. Given all the craziness that just happened, give us your updated ACC Championship scenario.

Florida State and either Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech.

The liveblog will begin here tonight at 6:45ish with Chili, Willy Mac, and guest blogger Zach from Old Gold & Blog.

It’s been a while since we’ve done a “Know Your…” so blow the dust off the books, pull up a chair and let’s start.  This week, of course, we play Wake Forest and here to help us out with the questions is Old Gold & Blog author Zach Smith.  Check out our responses to his questions here.

The Navy game was rough, but it was actually the second week in a row where the offense played terribly. Although the FSU game the week before didn’t have as many turnovers, the offense has been anemic for two straight games, and to be honest I’m not sure it has been fixed. The Deacs have no running game at all, and although I keep hearing about how we’re committed to running the ball better, I’ll definitely have to see it to believe it. I think Riley Skinner will have a much better game this week, but I’ll save my thoughts on him for question #2…

There’s no doubt in my mind that Skinner will have a much better game tonight. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll “tear you a new one” but there’s no way he throws a bunch of interceptions again. He may go back to playing a bit more conservatively and just managing the offense, but we’ll see. At this point in his career I definitely think he has the ability to put a game like the Navy game out of his mind and focus on the task at hand. He’s got plenty of gumption (great word, by the way), and is still the leader of the Wake offense

I honestly have no idea if he’ll play tonight. This situation isn’t one where you just say “oh he’ll tough it out” because a kicker with a leg injury just isn’t going to be able to perform. I definitely hope he plays, but I can’t say one way or the other if he will. The unfortunate thing is that this definitely seems like the type of game that could come down to a field goal here or there, and Swank is definitely one of the best kickers in the nation. The backup, Shane Popham, has never actually played in a college game, but I’ve seen him in practice and he’s definitely capable. He punts as well as Swank does, but doesn’t have quite the range on field goals. I would definitely hate to see him in a pressure situation, though, given his lack of experience.

One thing I think we may see is Popham doing kickoffs, punts, and extra points, while Swank still kicks field goals, just so that Swank doesn’t aggravate the injury any more than necessary. We’ll see.

You’ve always got to keep an eye out for #2 Alphonso Smith and #59 Aaron Curry. Those two are the heart and soul of a very, very talented Demon Deacon defense. I think both are likely to go in the first three rounds of the upcoming NFL draft. Curry is a linebacker who flies to the ball no matter where it is on the field, and loves to lay a big hit on people. Smith can cover receivers as well as anyone in the country, despite his small size. I expect these two to have a big impact tonight.

It’s hard to identify one guy who’s really been a break out player, but if I had to pick one I think I’d go with Boo Robinson at DT. He leads the team in sacks and always causes problems in the middle. He’s not the first guy you think of when you think of this Wake defense, but he’s definitely a key component

5. Are you aware of the small contingent of slightly mentally unstable Clemson fans who travel to WF and tailgate under the auspices of a “gee-haw’d” (he-haw meets Jihad, naturally)? If not, be glad. If so, what’s your take?

It’s a group I’ve heard of, but never seen. I don’t know a lot, so my take on them is probably worthless, but I don’t see any problem with a having a group of slightly crazy fans who like a good tailgate, even if they may draw the hatred of those they tailgate around. There may be more to this that I’m missing though, so feel free to fill me in!

I’m looking forward to a good one tonight, and I hope to hear many cheers of “Fire Bowden!” afterwards!

Hey, you, here’s some Clemson blogs that we enjoy, and you should to. If I forgot any, mention em in the comments.

Sporting Gnomes - This might be the oldest Clemson blog I’m aware of. Sometimes scarily accurate predictions of seasons/games. The place to get your ACC and SEC helmet schedules.

The AntiBowden - Tom, who often comments here, runs this blog that’s been anti-Bowden since before you were anti-Bowden. Picks apart Tommy’s press conference quotes with glee.

SolidBOOM! - This humorous site is dedicated to making Will Muschamp the next Clemson football coach. Has more contributing authors than the New Testament. BOOM! I like it, although I am a little disappointed in this post. The video titles are great, but it’s just sort of rehashing EDSBS memes like the LSU/Corn dog thing, Mangino/Orange Bowl mascot, et al. C’mon guys, hacky broad based college football humor is oversaturating the blogoshpere already.

Comprehensive Clemson Blog - Not updated all that often, but worth reading when it is.

Chicken Curse - Laughing at Sakerlina’s many foibles. Pointing and laughing. Loud.