The Friday Five.....

At least, but not limited to, five random observations of dubious origin. It's Cinco de Friday!!! Lots on the buffet today:

• A nice piece on CPJ by Mark Bradley. This statement certainly struck close to home: "All their lives Tech people are outnumbered by Georgia backers, and Georgia backers aren’t just many — they’re loud. Tech people feel no need to apologize for the Institute’s academics or starting salaries in the real world, but they have over the decades developed an inferiority complex regarding football." I won't go so far as to say inferiority complex; after all we have four National Titles & they have one (and our last one is 10 years more recent). But the constant barking & losing eight of the last nine has certainly gotten old. Easy on the Robert Lee Dodd comparisons. We adore CPJ but there will only ever be one Bobby Dodd.
• Everyone's favorite ESPN blogger, Heather Dinich, asks if Tech can win another National Title? The answer is of course yes. We CAN win a BCS championship. Is it imminent? Maybe not yet, but we're certainly trending that way. Even Senator Blutarsky feels for us where Dinich is concerned. And we agree with his sentiments regarding balance versus efficiency and recruiting. But the bottom line is we can win it all. To suggest otherwise after playing in a BCS game last year is ridiculous. Will we win it all & when is a far more reasonable question.
• Speaking of Dinich, she's ranking the ACC's top 25 players & has Anthony Allen at #23. Pretty fair for a guy who only carried the ball 50-something times last year & is switching positions (although he did lead the nation wth a ridiculous 9.7 yards per carry). We'll lay even money that Allen will be ranked more highly after his big year this year. Somewhere around 1350 yards & 12 TD's sounds about right to us.....
• Tech ranked 40th nationally in licensed merchandise sold in the 2nd quarter of 2009-10. UNC, FSU, Miami, & Virginia all ranked ahead of us as far as ACC schools. Not too bad considering our size & strict licensing guidelines.
• Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops weighs in on players leaving early for the NFL. Very interesting thoughts from someone right in the middle of the issue. While it may be somewhat self-serving (for both Stoops & myself), I for one agree with the "don't play for a discount" idea. Of course 1st or 2nd round money isn't a discount in my world....
• A super interview with former Tech head man Pepper Rodgers. A bit before our time but many we know speak very highly of Coach Rodgers. That 1952 team is widely regarded as our best ever. It's great to get a sense of our history....
• Clemson defensive tackle Jamie Cumbie, a key part of the Tiger's defensive line rotation, has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules; beating the hell out of some poor guy in the middle of the street. Looks like Cumbie might be in line for some jail time with the injuries he inflicted on the victim. We love the line from the police report, "striking him in the face with his fists without his consent". I guess suicide by defensive tackle is legal in Kakerlina. Who knew?
• Former Tech recruit Dontae Aycock, he of the "don't go to Auburn this weekend" fame, is looking to land at South Florida after being given the heave-ho by Auburn. Aycock had terrific potential as an option QB but seems to have lost his way. Maybe going home to Tampa will help.....
• Finally, I'm as guilty as anyone of propagating expansion hype/talk/supposition. But we've reached the point where it all sounds like this to us: