Air war develops over embattled Al Golden
Friday’s game
Boise State at Virginia, 8 p.m., ESPN
Saturday’s games
Georgia Tech at Duke, noon, ESPN2
LSU at Syracuse, noon, ESPN
Delaware at North Carolina, 12:30 p.m., Fox Sports South
Indiana at Wake Forest, 12:30 p.m., WUPA
Northern Illinois at Boston College, 1 p.m.
Virginia Tech at East Carolina, 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN2
Samford at Louisville, 6 p.m.
N.C. State at South Alabama, 8 p.m., ESPNews
With Miami at 3-0 and Brad Kaaya developing into one of the better quarterbacks in the ACC, it would seem coach Al Golden’s detractors would back off a bit.
You’d never guess that by the escalating air war over Florida.
Planes have flown anti-Golden banners at each of Miami’s three games.
A sign supporting former Hurricanes coach Butch Davis (Make Miami Great Again — Butch Davis 2016) was flown over Miami’s game at Florida Atlantic on Sept. 11, appearing to draw the attention of Golden, who looked up when it flew past.
Another banner stating “Cmon, #FireAlGolden these banners are expensive” was flown over Sun Life Stadium during Miami’s 36-33 overtime win over Nebraska on Saturday.
Now, Florida State fans are raising money to fund a banner in support of Golden, the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday.
The group had $810 by noon Wednesday, surpassing its goal of $500.
The Seminoles are 4-0 against the Hurricanes under Golden, who is 31-22 at Miami since he was hired in 2010.
“Al Golden has done a terrific job in keeping Miami irrelevant, Cane fans want him gone,” states a message on the GoFundMe page. “However in Tallahassee we love Coach Golden, that’s why we want to show our love in 3 weeks when the canes come to Tallahassee, with a banner that will fly over the stadium … for an hour.”
Miami is off until it plays at Cincinnati on Oct. 1 and Golden wasn’t available to speak during his predetermined time on the ACC coaches teleconference, which is held every Wednesday.
The Hurricanes play at Florida State on Oct. 10.
Kaaya, a sophomore, leads the ACC with 839 yards and has thrown five touchdowns with one interception this season.
Unblemished Orange: Syracuse is 3-0, matching last season's win total.
“It’s the first time we’ve done this in 24 years, being 3-0,” coach Scott Shafer said after the Orange defeated Central Michigan 30-27 in overtime Saturday. “It wasn’t pretty. We have a lot of things to work on, but at the end of the day, 1991 was a long time ago.”
Syracuse, though, now must rely on its third- and fourth-string quarterbacks against No. 8 LSU (2-0) on Saturday.
Starter Terrel Hunt was lost in the opener and backup Eric Dungey likely won’t play against the Tigers after suffering a head injury Saturday.
Also, A.J. Long, who started five games last year, is recovering from a broken bone in his throwing hand.
That means Austin Wilson and walk-on Zack Mahoney will receive the playing time against LSU, which had seven tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception in a victory over Auburn on Saturday.
“So when I look at (LSU’s) defensive side of the football, they are big and strong up front. They can run and get off blocks,” Shafer said. “Their linebackers are probably the most physical linebackers we’ve seen since I’ve been coaching here.”
Smith shining: Linebacker Terrance Smith (Southwest DeKalb) has had several big moments at Florida State.
He had 13 tackles against Clemson in 2014, and later last season, intercepted a pass and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown against Florida.
He added to that list when he forced a fumble that teammate Jalen Ramsey returned for a touchdown in the Seminoles’ 14-0 victory over Boston College.
Smith also had six tackles, including 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage, and is the ACC’s linebacker of the week.
No stopping Switzer: North Carolina's Ryan Switzer was shut out last year when it came to his specialty.
After tying the single-season NCAA record by returning five punts for touchdowns in 2013, he didn’t reach the end zone with a punt return in 2014.
Switzer ended the drought Saturday, when he scored on an 85-yard return, which tied the career ACC mark of six, held by former Maryland receiver Steve Suter.
“I got a big hug from coach (Larry) Fedora,” Switzer told the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer after the Tar Heels’ win over Illinois. “I could sense that he was relieved, as well, to finally get one.”
He said it: "I think this kid is the best tailback in my 26 years (of coaching). I think this kid is the most talented tailback we will have gone against. He's special. When you watch him, he's 6-foot-1, 230, but he moves like he's 5-foot-9. … He's got unbelievable vision and physicality. Remember Earl Campbell? That's who he reminds me of." — Shafer on LSU running back Leonard Fournette
Etc.: Former Georgia safety Josh Harvey-Clemons (Lowndes), who is at Louisville, has 33 tackles, which is tied with teammate Keith Kelsey for the ACC lead. … Virginia Tech has blocked 135 kicks and punts under coach Frank Beamer and has scored a combined 108 defensive and special-teams touchdowns since 1996, second-most in the FBS behind Kansas State. … Boston College is No. 1 in the FBS against the run (37.3 yards a game) and is tied for eighth in sacks, with an average of 3.67 a game (11 total). … Duke's Will Monday (Flowery Branch) is averaging 49.9 yards a punt, second in the FBS. He averaged 55 yards on 11 punts in Saturday's loss to Northwestern. … Pittsburgh receiver Tyler Boyd has 21 catches in two games after he was suspended for the opener. … Louisville receiver James Quick (ankle), who was injured in the opening loss to Auburn, might play Saturday, coach Bobby Petrino said. He had 36 catches in 2014. … N.C. State quarterback Jacoby Brissett has thrown 156 consecutive passes without an interception, which is tied for the 12th longest streak in ACC history. … Virginia Tech has won its past five games against East Carolina in Greenville, N.C.
More Stories
The Latest
