Gene Deckerhoff had two games on two continents, 65 1/2 hours apart, requiring 9,000 miles of air travel last weekend.
That’s how it goes for one of the most recognizable voices in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The longtime play-by-play radio announcer for Florida State athletics, Deckerhoff’s epic road trip started last Thursday night when the Seminoles visited North Carolina. Then it was off to London for his other football job – calling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ game against the New England Patriots.
“A typical football weekend,” Deckerhoff said. “But it covered a lot more distance, mileage-wise.”
M on the flight home.
ibilities. He travels with reams of notes and anecdotes that he’ll tap during broadcasts.
Deckerhoff has called Florida State football since 1979, Buccaneers games since 1989, and has seen those teams score 2,170 touchdowns – without ever missing a game, although there’s been a fair share of close calls along the way. He also calls Seminoles basketball and baseball.
This will be a much-needed easy week for Deckerhoff: The Bucs are off, and the Seminoles stay home to face North Carolina State.
—
SCARY SIGHT: Clemson’s game Saturday with Coastal Carolina may look like a Halloween tribute. The Tigers will wear orange uniforms, the Chanticleers will be in black.
The Chants will play their second game against a Football Bowl Subdivision team since starting football in 2003.
Coastal Carolina can only hope it fares better at Death Valley than Wake Forest did in perhaps Clemson’s most memorable Halloween contest. The Tigers set records for points and yards (756) in an 82-24 win over the Demon Deacons on the way to the 1981 national title.
—
ECONOMIC OPTION?: Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has an idea for cash-conscious NFL teams: Try his spread-option offense.
ice of one.”
Johnson is proving the spread option – triple option, most call it – works at college football’s highest level. His 11th-ranked Yellow Jackets lead the ACC’s Coastal Division, top the nation in time of possession and rank second in rushing.
He’s convinced the offense would work in the pros, but said he never expects an NFL team to try it.
—
BENEVOLENT HOST: Miami quarterback Jacory Harris found a positive out of throwing three interceptions against Clemson.
He was just being a good host.
DeAndre McDaniel intercepted Harris twice and is tied with UCLA’s Rahim Moore for the national lead with seven picks this season.
“I helped him out a little bit,” Harris said. “I gave him a little leeway into the NFL.”
—
KICKERS. GO FIGURE: ACC kickers are much better from 50-something yards than 40-something yards.
ACC kickers are 25 of 39 this year from 40-49 yards, or 64.1 percent.
From 50 yards or more, ACC kickers are 6 of 8, or 75 percent.
Here’s a real oddity: Clemson’s Richard Jackson is 4 of 9 from 40-49 yards – and a perfect 3 of 3 from 50 or more.
—
SKINNER’S RECORD WATCH: Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner’s pursuit of the ACC’s career completion percentage record is getting interesting.
Skinner is connecting on 65.3 percent of his passes this year, putting his career rate a smidge behind Virginia’s Matt Schaub.
How close are they? Try 0.0593 percent.
Schaub was accurate 66.9784 percent of the time. As of now, Skinner’s completion rate is 66.9191.
—
QUARTERBACK COMEBACKS: ACC quarterbacks are finding the end zone more this season.
Only nine QBs threw for 10 touchdowns last season, none collecting more than Russell Wilson’s 17 TDs for North Carolina State.
This year, Wilson and Wake Forest’s Riley Skinner have thrown for 16 scores apiece, while Duke’s Thaddeus Lewis (14), Miami’s Jacory Harris (13), Florida State’s Christian Ponder (12), Boston College’s Dave Shinskie (10) and Maryland’s Chris Turner (10) are in double digits.
Since 2004, only six ACC quarterbacks have had 20-touchdown seasons. It’s possible the ACC could have that many this year alone.
—
AROUND THE ACC: Despite coming close at Notre Dame last weekend, Boston College has lost five straight away from Chestnut Hill by a combined 139-63. Not good for the Eagles, who still have ACC games at Virginia and Maryland remaining. … Unless Maryland wins out, the Terps will miss a bowl game for the first time in four seasons. … North Carolina has been outscored 70-37 in three ACC losses, but outscored foes 125-45 in four nonconference wins. … North Carolina State has allowed at least 30 points in all three of its ACC games this season, the first time that’s happened to the Pack in a three-game ACC span since 2000. … Sam Shields hasn’t been a go-to receiver for Miami since 2007 – he’s a defensive back now – and still ranks seventh among active ACC players with 75 receptions.
—
AP Sports Writers Pete Iacobelli in Clemson, S.C., Charles Odum in Atlanta and Aaron Beard in Chapel Hill, N.C. contributed to this report.
Add A Comment