Week 5 - Saturday, September 29, 2012 The Road To South 14360 NW 77th Ct. Miami Lakes, FL 33016 = 305.341.4700= www.orangebowl.org Follow Us:

Across COMMITTEE Officers Coaches Poll Movers and Shakers - For the fourth week in a row, Alabama holds steady as the number one team in college football, but there was a lot of movement by teams behind the Crimson Tide. After Oregon’s dominating defensive performance in a 49-0 win over President & Chair...... O. Ford Gibson Arizona, the Ducks move past LSU to the number two spot in the Coaches Poll while the Tigers drop to number three. Notre Dame moves Chair-Elect...... Andrew P. Hertz up four spots for the second straight week, climbing to No. 11 after a win over then-ranked Michigan, dropping the Wolverines out of the Vice Chair...... Luis E. Boué poll. Kansas State and Mississippi State climb four spots in the poll as well. Four new teams enter the top 25, with Oregon State at No. Vice Chair...... Lee E. Stapleton 21, Baylor at No. 24 and both Rutgers and Virginia Tech tying at No. 25. No. 16 Clemson and No. 15 both drop out of the top Secretary...... Ann E. Pope 10 with losses to FSU and Kansas State respectively, while UCLA and Arizona join the Wolverines as teams to drop out entirely. Treasurer...... Shaun M. Davis Past President...... Jeffrey T. Roberts One for the Books - Saturday saw two of the most impressive individual performances in college football history. Arkansas wide out CEO...... Eric L. Poms Cobi Hamilton hauled in an SEC-record 303 receiving yards and three in the Razorbacks’ 35-26 loss to Rutgers. He had collected just 126 yards all season up until the breakout performance. Over in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion Taylor Heinicke captured two Division I records in passing for 730 yards (55-of-79) and accounting for 791 yards of in a 64-61 win over New Communications Staff Hampshire. He was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, and currently 305-341-4700 leads all FCS players with 1,921 passing yards and 529 yards of offense per game. [email protected]

Miller Time - A dual-threat quarterback in the Big Ten has been generating some Heisman buzz, and it isn’t Denard Robinson. Larry Wahl State sophomore Braxton Miller has led the Buckeyes to an early 4-0 record and has been turning some heads in the process. Already, VP, Communications & Community Outreach Miller has accounted for 754 yards and seven touchdowns passing, while adding on another 441 yards and seven scores on the ground. He’s on pace to account for over 3,500 yards of total offense and 42 touchdowns when it’s all said and done. His Michigan counterpart Noah Sharfman has tallied a total of 1,178 yards and 12 touchdowns in his own right, but has thrown an FBS-high eight and coughed up Communications Associate three as well. Kristina Taylor Mountaineer Debut - West Virginia will make its Big 12 debut this weekend with a matchup against Nick Florence and the undefeated Communications Assistant Baylor Bears. In 1991, the Mountaineers lost their first game as members of the Big East in a 34-3 rout at the hands of Pittsburgh, but quarterback Geno Smith has WVU flying high into the contest with the nation’s third-ranked passing attack. Smith has thrown for 1,072 Ryan Trapp yards and 12 touchdowns so far, with no interceptions. TCU, the Big 12’s other new member, won its conference opener against Kansas Communications Assistant 20-6 two weeks ago.

Across the ACC ORANGE BOWL COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN PRESS BOXES THIS WEEK Steady at the Top - Florida State is still ranked fourth in the USA Today Coaches Poll following their win over fellow ACC member Clemson, who drops from No. 9 to No. 16 after the defeat. Virginia Tech re-enters the top-25 picture, coming in tied at No. 25 along with Rutgers. Miami (2) is the only other ACC school to receive any votes.

Charlotte Dreaming- For the past three years, the winner of the Clemson/Florida State matchup has gone on to represent the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship Game. Clemson appeared in the game in 2009 and 2011 (defeating Virginia Tech last season), while the Seminoles did it in 2010 (Florida State also appeared in the first-everACC Championship game in 2005). Considering the winner of the Virginia Tech/Georgia Tech matchup has represented the Coastal Division the past seven years, history says there is a good chance we will see the Hokies and the Seminoles squaring off in Charlotte on December 1st .

Working Overtime - Georgia Tech’s 42-36 overtime loss to Miami on Saturday marked the second time this season that the Yellow N.C. State at Miami...... Art Hertz, Don Kubit, Jackets have gone into extra time, the first coming in their week one loss to irginiaV Tech. Over its history, Georgia Tech is 4-6 in overtime Peyton Lumpkin games, and just 2-5 in such games against ACC opponents. The contest also marked the 60th time in conference history an ACC team has been involved in an overtime game. *OBC members are easily identified by their Orange jackets

IMPORTANT MEDIA DATES WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING

Sun. Oct. 16 BCS Standings Released Sun. Dec.2 BCS Selection Show / Coaches’ Teleconference Matt Murschel 2013 Discover Orange Bowl Online Credential Application Thur. Nov. 1 Sat. Dec. 15 Credential Application / Media Hotel Reservations Closed Opens Mark Schlabach Brad Edwards Stewart Mandel Jerry Palm Brant Parsons

Sat. Dec. 1 Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game (EPSN) Sat. Dec. 29 2012 MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic (FSN) Oregon Oregon Alabama Alabama Alabama Oregon vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL DISCOVER BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Alabama Alabama Oregon Florida State Texas Alabama Wed. Dec. 26 Team Arrivals / HC Press Conference Wed. Jan.2 Florida State Florida State Florida State Notre Dame Florida State Florida State Thur. Dec. 27 HC/Student-Athlete Media Availability Sat. Jan. 5 vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. Sun. Dec. 30 (post practice) Rutgers Louisville Louisville Boise State Rutgers Louisville

Fri. Dec. 28 Thur. Jan. 3 Coordinators Press Conferences Sat. Dec. 29 Fri. Jan. 4 Michigan State Michigan State Nebraska Nebraska Michigan State Michigan State vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. N/A Media Day Sat. Jan. 5 Stanford USC USC USC Oregon USC Mon. Dec. 31 HC Press Conferences Sun. Jan. 6 Mon. Dec. 31 AvMed Orange Bowl Coaches Luncheon presented by Deloitte N/A Georgia Georgia Georgia LSU Notre Dame LSU vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. Mon. Dec. 31 Media Party Sun. Jan. 6 Texas Kansas State Texas Louisville Georgia Kansas State

Orange Day Fan Zone Tue. Jan. 1 N/A 2013 Discover Orange Bowl (ESPN) West Virginia Texas Kansas State West Virginia Kansas State West Virginia vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. National Championship Game Day Fan Zone N/A Mon. Jan. 7 Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Oregon USC Notre Dame 2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game (ESPN) Weekend Watch List Clemson’s Rodriguez nominated for No. 9 Stanford at Washington Discover Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award Thursday. Sept. 27, 9:00 DALLAS (FWAA) – Clemson’s Daniel Rodriguez is the first weekly nominee for the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the season. Rodriguez, a redshirt freshman receiver from Stafford, Va., is Pac-12 rivals face-off against one another as playing for the Tigers after earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star in Afghanistan. Stanford looks to continue its impressive climb up the polls against division foe Washington and Rodriguez, 24, was wounded Oct. 3, 2009, during a battle near Kamdesh, Afghanistan, while serving in the U.S. Army. Combat Outpost Keating, in a mountainous region near the Pakistan border, was ambushed by nearly 300 Taliban insurgents. quarterback Keith Price. The Huskies will try to slow Eight Americans were killed; 22 were injured. Rodriguez was shot and wounded in the leg, neck and shoulder. down a Cardinal offense that has put up a combined 105 points in the teams’ past two meetings. Once recovered and discharged from the military, Rodriguez kept a promise to his friend, Pfc. Kevin Thompson, who was No. 24 Baylor at No. 7 West Virginia killed during the initial moments of the attack. Rodriguez had told Thompson if he made it home from Afghanistan, he would Saturday, Sept. 29, 12:00 p.m. find a way to play college football.

Two of the nation’s top air attacks meet in After enrolling at Germanna Community College, he began training for football. He sent a video of himself catching passes, spliced with video he’d shot during combat, to four-year schools. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney offered Rodriguez a spot on Morgantown for West Virginia’s Big-12 debut. the team. Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith is second in the nation with a 191.2 , but Baylor’s “I was mesmerized by his video,” Swinney told the New York Times. “I’m watching and thinking, ‘Holy cow, he’s amazing.’” Nick Florence brings 1,004 passing yards and 11 touchdowns of his own to the fight. Rodriguez enlisted in the Army after high school shortly after the unexpected death of his father, also an Army veteran. He Ohio State at No. 18 Michigan State served from 2006-10, spending 18 months in Iraq and a year in Afghanistan. He is attending Clemson on the GI Bill. Saturday, Sept. 29, 3:30 p.m. The 5-8, 175-pounder has played on kickoff coverage in the Tigers’ first four games, and saw action at receiver against Furman and Ball State. Heisman hopeful Braxton Miller will look to continue his impressive sophomore campaign on the road “You always dream of that second chance to play football again,” Rodriguez said. “I’m in that position. I have that second against Michigan State and one of the conference’s opportunity that so many people have said, ‘I wish I could get one more shot.’ Well, now it is my shot. I have that opportunity.” top defenses. Spartan running back Le’Veon Bell will try and exploit the youth in the Buckeye’s front seven For the seventh straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the Discover Orange Bowl will announce a and lead MSU to their second straight win over Ohio weekly nominee each Wednesday during the season. A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. State. The winner of the Discover Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy during the week of the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game. No. 25 Virginia Tech vs. Saturday, Sept. 29, 3:30 The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine’s senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select FedEx Field - Landover, MD group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. Virginia Tech rebounded from its loss to Pitt well in a 37-0 shutout of Bowling Green last week, but it will have to go through a Cincinnati defense that has Quick Hits allowed just 17 points all season if it wants to hold In its 42-36 win over Georgia Tech, Miami had a running back score four times for the second straight week. After on to its spot in the rankings. It is the first meeting freshman Duke Johnson accomplished the feat in week three, senior Mike James collected 124 all-purpose yards to between the two teams since the . go along with his four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) over the weekend. Tennessee at No. 5 Georgia Saturday, Sept. 29, 3:30 p.m. South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw missed on his first pass attempt of Saturday’s blowout win over Missouri, but was perfect after that. The junior completed a school-record 20 consecutive passes, finishing 20-of-21 for 249 Georgia’s 48-3 drumming of Vanderbilt last week yards and two touchdowns. Running back Marcus Lattimore leapt into the Gamecocks’ history books himself, was the Commodore’s worst loss in almost 10 becoming the school’s all-time rushing leader with a two-yard score in the second quarter. years. However, the Bulldogs will need to contain gunslinger Tyler Bray and the nation’s eighth-rated Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel threw for over 380 yards and rushed for over 102 more in Florida State’s 49-37 passing game if they want to make it three straight win over Clemson. The last Seminole quarterback to post at least 300 passing and 100 rushing yards was Heisman over the Vols. Trophy winner Charlie Ward back in 1993. No. 4 Florida State at South Florida Saturday, Sept. 29, 6:00 p.m. Photo of the Week USA Today Coaches Poll Fresh off a top-10 win over ACC Atlantic rival Clemson, Bjoern Werner and the Florida State 1. Alabama (57) defense hit the road for the first time this season, 2. Oregon (5) traveling to South Florida for an in-state matchup 3. LSU (1) against B.J. Daniels and the Bulls. South Florida 4. Florida State (1) upset the 18th-ranked Seminoles in the only prior 5. Georgia meeting of the two teams back in 2009. 6. South Carolina No. 10 Texas at No. 22 Oklahoma State 7. West Virginia Saturday, Sept. 29, 7:50 p.m. 8. Kansas State 9. Stanford Texas runs into its first conference test of the season 10. Texas in a meeting with the top scoring offense in college 11. Notre Dame football. Questions surround whether it’ll be Wes 12. Florida Lunt or back-up J.W. Walsh under center for the Cowboys, but both have shown the 13. USC ability to put up big numbers this season. 14. TCU 15. Oklahoma No. 23 Wisconsin at No. 20 Nebraska 16. Clemson Saturday, Sept. 29, 8:00 p.m. 17. Louisville In a matchup of ranked Big Ten opponents, 18. Michigan State Nebraska’s deadly ground game that has racked 19. Mississippi State 20. Nebraska up a combined 1,270 yards on 6.6 yards per carry This week’s matchup between Virginia Tech and Cincinnati is the first time the two will try and break through a Wisconsin defense have met since the 2009 Orange Bowl. Virginia Tech won the contest 20-7, and 21. Oregon State that has surrendered just 323 yards all season. tailback (pictured above moving past Cincinnati Ryan 22. Oklahoma State However, the Badgers face several questions on Manalac) ran for 153 yards and a touchdown en route to Most Outstanding Player 23. Wisconsin offense: like whether quarterback Danny O’Brien can honors. The Hokies defense held all-Big East quarterback and the 24. Baylor reclaim the starting job and whether or not Montee Bearcats to just 137 yards of offense on the game. 25. Rutgers Ball will be able to suit up for the contest. 25. Virginia Tech