Representatives of the Bowl Championship Series announced yesterday the teams they are considering for spots in the nation's top four bowl games. Florida State, which has already clinched the ACC title, already has sewed up one of the eight bids.
The seven remaining slots will be filled by two at-large bids and the champions of the five other major conferences. Notre Dame is the only independent team under BCS consideration.
Seventeen schools are still in the running for the five automatic conference bids. They include four from the Big Ten (Purdue, Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan); four from the Big 12 (Oklahoma, Kansas State, Nebraska and Texas); two from the Big East (Miami and Virginia Tech); three from the Pac-10 (Oregon, Washington and Oregon State); and four from the SEC (Florida, Auburn, Mississippi State and Louisiana State).
To qualify for an at-large selection, a team must have at least nine wins and be ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS standings.
Still beaming in Blacksburg
While admitting Monday he has been contacted by Alabama officials about their soon-to-be vacated coaching position, Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer gave no indication he would be leaving the Hokies to take over the Crimson Tide.
Speaking before the Birmingham Touchdown Club, Beamer reaffirmed his dedication to the Virginia Tech program.
"In this business there are always possibilities," Beamer said. "I've said all along I have no desire to leave Virginia Tech. ... To me, Alabama is one of the great programs in the country. But I think Virginia Tech is one of the great programs in the country."
Alabama athletics director Mal Moore has not interviewed Beamer or any other candidates for the job, which will be vacated by Mike DuBose after the Tide plays Auburn Saturday.
The mourning after
Four days after rolling up an astounding 627 yards of total offense in a dominating 35-0 win over Virginia, two members of the Georgia Tech offense received ACC weekly awards Monday.
Junior quarterback George Godsey, who passed for 323 yards and two touchdowns against the Cavaliers, was named Offensive Back of the Week. Godsey completed 29 of 37 passes without an interception, extending to 103 his string of passes since he last threw an interception.
Yellow Jacket left tackle Chris Brown earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after helping Georgia Tech pile up the second-most total yards in program history. Brown graded out at a stellar 90 percent with five domination blocks.
Two Tar Heels earned weekly awards as well. Senior linebacker Brandon Spoon was named Defensive Lineman of the Week for his 23-tackle performance against Maryland, the most stops by a UNC player in 13 years. Placekicker Jeff Reed was tabbed as the Specialist of the Week after he booted a pair of field goals to give Carolina a 13-10 win.
Florida State cornerback Tay Cody is the Defensive Back of the Week, while N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers grabbed the Rookie of the Week award, the conference-record seventh time he has captured the award this season.
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