ACC Report: 'Just Another Game'

It's just another game.

So says Miami head coach Randy Shannon about Saturday's road trip to No. 2 Ohio State. Of course, Shannon knows differently. He's trying his best to downplay the hype, instead focusing on the premise that the Hurricanes understand the importance of preparation -- no matter the opponent.

Just like the UM teams of old.

"The great teams always have the mentality of, 'I got to play to my standards.' It doesn't matter if you're playing FAMU (last week), or you're playing Boise or Virginia Tech or Ohio State," Shannon explained. "You've got to be ready to play week in and week out. You play to your standards and your level."

This week expects to grade UM in both categories. But this is nothing new for the Hurricanes.

UM's showdown kicks off a three-game road swing that also includes trips to preseason Big East favorite Pittsburgh and defending ACC Atlantic Division champion Clemson. Miami follows that up by playing host to No. 17 Florida State. That's four bowl teams from last season in its first five games.

Last season, the Hurricanes opened against Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. UM managed to win three of those first four games on its way to a 9-4 finish that included a Champs Sports Bowl appearance.

"People want to say this (Ohio State) is a measuring stick of where your program is at," Shannon said.

"You know I agree, but year in and year out you want to improve all the time. You know this game is just another game that you play -- and you want to win the game -- but you still have a long season to go."

Westward Bound

After beating Richmond -- a Football Championship Subdivision team -- in head coach Mike London's debut last Saturday, the Virginia Cavaliers meet a team their own size this week.

The Southern Cal Trojans, in California.

It will mark just the second time the two programs have tangled. The Cavaliers are hoping things go better this time around. The Trojans pounded the Cavs 52-7 at Scott Stadium in 2008.

The Cavaliers experienced a great deal of success running the ball against Richmond -- 205 yards, 5.9 yards per carry, four touchdowns -- but London knows those yards will be more difficult to come by against USC. The Trojans allowed Hawaii to rush for 129 yards and one touchdown in their opening victory.

"I do know this -- you'll have to take some time off the clock against Southern Cal," London said.

"USC is a team that plays fast and that tries to capitalize on the things that you don't do. So we need to make sure that we can keep the clock running, with the running game, short passes that are caught, keep the clock moving, keep the chains moving."

Brotherly Love

We're talking history here.

When Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops faces younger brother Mark, Florida State's defensive coordinator, on Saturday, it will be the first time any of the four Stoops brothers have been on opposing sidelines.

"My mom says she torn, but I bet you she's wearing some Sooner gear," Mark Stoops said and laughed during FSU's media day last month. "He (Bob) makes a lot more money. I think she will probably go to the game but sit there quietly somewhere, maybe in Bob's office."

When asked who might have the edge in Saturday's game, Mark answered diplomatically.

"I grew up learning from Bob and (brother) Mike, football and defense," Mark said. "We pull for one another more than there is a rivalry. I think we both have a pretty good feel for what we like to do. Getting out there and stopping it is another story."

Sweet Music

Da'Quan Bowers' father would have been proud.

Bowers had a strong opening game for Clemson against North Texas, registering seven tackles and two sacks. Bowers has dedicated this season to his father Dennis, who died suddenly in early August. Father and son were close. Da'Quan was a guitarist in his father's gospel band (the Legendary Singing Stars) and the pair traveled all over the country this past summer.

"This was probably one of the most memorable summers I've had," Da'Quan said. "I got to tour all across the country."

Quotables

• "I think this is a test for our whole organization. By the whole organization, I mean that is the head coach, the assistant coaches, our players, our administration, the way we prepare, the way we do things and just our mindset at Florida State. It is about where we want to go and how we want to get there." -- FSU coach Jimbo Fisher on the Seminoles' Saturday road trip to Oklahoma.

• "I'm just glad that those folks from St. Louis are really smart. I've got some friends on that staff, and I thought they were smart, but now I know they are." -- Duke coach David Cutcliffe on former Blue Devils quarterback Thaddeus Lewis making the St. Louis Rams.

• "We think we have a good offense, let's end the game right here." -- Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer on the decision to call a pass and not run the ball on third-and-8 in closing minutes against Boise State.

By the Numbers

Miami went 8-2 in road games against teams ranked in the AP poll from 2001-05, but the Hurricanes are 1-7 in those situations since the start of the 2006 season. Here's the list

2006: No. 12 Louisville L, 31-7
2006: No. 21 Georgia Tech L, 30-23
2006: No. 24 Maryland L, 14-13
2007: No. 6 Oklahoma L, 51-13
2007: No. 10 Virginia Tech L, 44-14
2008: No. 5 Florida L, 26-3
2009: No. 18 Florida State W, 38-34
2009: No. 11 Virginia Tech L, 31-7

Quick Hitters

For the first time in its history, the ACC won 10 football games on a single weekend last Saturday. The ACC went 10-2, with the two losses to ranked teams -- No. 3 Boise State beat No. 10 Virginia Tech and No. 21 LSU beat No. 18 North Carolina ... After finishing 120th nationally in rushing last season (63.5 ypg), Duke gained 192 yards in its season opener against Elon ... UNC sophomore wide receiver Jheranie Boyd has six receptions for 221 yards against LSU. His yardage total was seven more than he had all of last season ... Navy ran 32 plays in the red zone against Maryland on Monday but was only able to come away with points twice in seven trips ... How young is Boston College? The Eagles had 25 players who were either freshmen or sophomores on the two-deep depth chart against Weber State ... Georgia Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt was one of just six quarterbacks nationally to rush for 100 yards and one of just three to rush for three touchdowns last Saturday. ... Wake Forest redshirt running back Josh Harris made quite an impression in his first collegiate game against Presbyterian College. Harris had six carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns. It was the second-best debut by a Wake Forest running back. Micah Andrews carried 17 times for 125 yards and three scores in 2004 against North Carolina A&T.

Contact Jim at jim.henry@teamaol.com or following him on Twitter: jimhenryAOL