ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Lots of good and interesting notes in the Mailbag recently, so I thought I'd do an extra edition of the Mailblog this week. Thanks for reading ... and writing:

Beth, in Atlanta, writes: Heather, normally I have no beef with your blog, but something irked me about a couple of posts the other day. The ones where you mentioned the "Coaches to Cure MD" made it sound like Dabo Swinney wasn't participating on purpose, not that Clemson was off this week and that's why he wasn't participating (perhaps even he'll be wearing his band next week against BC, who knows). It almost makes him sound like the bad guy in the situation! Anyway, thanks for all you do, and look forward to reading your future blog posts.

Heather Dinich: This is a great point, Beth. I tried to write it as straight as I could so it didn't come across like that, but I should have pointed out the bye week. Thanks for the note.

Eric, writes: You mentioned the road losses in your picks this week. Maybe you could write something up about how the ACC has been faring on the road by team. From just thinking about it, home field advantage has been huge all season, except against non-conference teams, which is weird and maybe worth noting. Thanks. Keep up the great reporting!

Heather Dinich: I love it when you guys do my work for me and come up with blog ideas. But I can answer that one right here for ya. Seven of the teams have winning overall records on the road. Only Boston College and Florida State are undefeated on the road against ACC opponents, and Georgia Tech is the only other team in the league with a winning road record against ACC teams. I probably should have looked at that before I did my Week 8 picks, huh?

Laith, in Sacramento, writes: Heather, Do you think Va Tech has what it takes to rise up after that embarresing loss to BC, or should we pack our bags for the toilet bowl? It's really tough with the worst passing offense in College Football.

Heather Dinich: Laith, don't ever count out Frank Beamer and his staff. If they found a way to win five games with that bunch, odds are they'll find a way to win a few more. I looked in the media guide and had to go back to 2003 before I found a season in which Beamer lost back-to-back games.

Brian, in Vegas, writes: I am longtime huge Tarheels fan. Can they finish this season on a high note and win some more big games with the injuries that they have had? We have some tough games coming up and need to win these.

Heather Dinich: Definitely not all doom and gloom in Chapel Hill. Shaun Draughn has found his calling at running back, and T.J. Yates will eventually be back. I think they're still capable of eight or nine wins, especially if they beat BC.

Joe, in Boone, writes: Heather, I read on a past blog that you didn't think Bryan Stinespring (the offensive coordinator at Vrginia Tech). With that said, what would be the solution for an offense ranked in the bottom ten of the NCAA overall and just amassed only 240 yards against Boston College. By the way, the defense caused five turnovers, held BC to under 300 yards, and were responsible 17 points on their own. Tech's offense in the past 3-4 years has been ranked in the 75-119th range. Why keep him? I don't think there is any argument here!

Heather Dinich: Thank you, Joe, for clarifying who Bryan Stinespring is for me. With that said, I'm not sure there IS a solution, but I know firing Stinespring isn't it. He and everyone else on that staff are doing the best they can with what they've got to work with. It's not like they can pick anyone up off waivers here guys. They can't catch the balls for the receivers, can't go make the blocks for the linemen. At some point, the responsibility has to fall on the players to execute. Same scenario at Wake.

Michael M., in Myrtle Beach, S.C, writes: Ever since Christian Ponder's performance running the ball against Miami, I've been looking for who holds the single game rushing record for a QB at FSU. Any help? By the way, FSU vs GT to win the ACC, bank on it!!!!

Heather Dinich: There is no record kept of that for quarterbacks, which is why you can't find it. However, Ken MacLean had 146 yards vs. Cumberland in 1948. Ponder came two yards -- two! -- from the record. He actually had it, but was sacked. Unreal.

Mike, in Charlottesville, VA, writes: HD: How big are these injuries, really, for Wake? I'm a Canes fan and would like to know what impact it will have on our game plan and opportunity to win.

Heather Dinich: Didn't you write me earlier? Because I specifically remember wondering, how did this Miami fan get stuck in Charlottesville? Not that it's a bad place ... Anyway, HUGE! Those injuries are huge. No tight end. No center. No kicker. Yikes.

Ted, in Brentwood, writes: Heather, What's up with Paul Johnson's offense at GT? Are they regressing? Is the OL really that bad? Have defenses figured out the weak personnel and attacking that? Can the triple option not be successful week-in, week-out in a BCS conference?

Heather Dinich: Whoa, slow down there, buddy. One at a time. No, the offense is not regressing. It looked bad against Gardner-Webb because both starting QBs were out and the o-line played poorly, and it looked OK against Clemson because Josh Nesbitt hadn't played in about four games. Yes, Paul Johnson's offense can be successful every week in a BCS conference. His record in the ACC is proof.