20 -- Soapbox moment
To every Miami honk wondering why the Hurricanes aren't ranked higher in the BCS rankings, we've got three words for you, Sparky: McNeese State, Washington.

Play a Division I-AA team such as McNeese and you're going to get zapped in the strength of schedule portion of the computer polls. Then get beat at Washington and you're going to take another BCS hit.

Butch Davis has Miami ranked No. 2 and primed for an Orange Bowl bid. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Miami beat then-No. 2 Florida State. Beat them at the Orange Bowl. Beat them fair and square. But a three-point win at home against an FSU quarterback playing on one good ankle (who still threw for 496 yards) guarantees nothing in the BCS world.

Last week, while Florida State was beating a good North Carolina State by 44, Miami was giving up 31 points to Louisiana Tech. And yes, Miami took care of business against Virginia Tech at the Orange Bowl, but does anyone really believe the Hokies could play like a No. 2 without Michael Vick?

This isn't Hurricane bashing. Miami has won two vital games and it has lots of time to make a BCS move. And before UM fans get their shorts in a bunch over trailing the Seminoles in the BCS poll, remember this: Washington beat Miami, as well as Colorado on the road, Oregon State, Arizona State on the road, Cal, Stanford on the road and Arizona. And the Huskies' only loss was to an 8-1 Oregon team .

19 -- Miami 41, Virginia Tech 21
Vick wore a $500 ankle brace during his brief, gutsy, Heisman-killing appearance against Miami. Hope the Hokies saved the sales receipt.

18 -- Worst prediction
Me. I picked Virginia Tech to beat the Hurricanes and I did it on Tony Kornheiser's ESPN radio show. The next day Mel Kiper Jr. was on the same show and detailed about 194 reasons why Miami would win.

In my defense, I took a huge chance on Vick's sprained ankle. How was I to know that Tech's punter and secondary would play as if they were wearing the same $500 ankle braces. Plus, I was still a little woozy from the anastethia administered during the kidney donor operation. (Not really; just looking for cheap medical excuse.)

By the way, is there anybody who can't get a sideline pass for a Miami game? Former UM quarterback Bernie Kosar was there, which makes sense. Zo Mourning was there playing with his kid. And Puffy Combs was so interested in the game that he was spotted making cell calls.

17 -- Low tide
Alabama finally canned Mike DuBose, but not before soft-selling it as a "resignation." Athletic director Mal Moore threw a few crumbs DuBose's way -- DuBose gets to coach through the remainder of the season -- but facts are facts: there was no resignation. DuBose was handed a pink slip with a golden parachute attached.

DuBose says he is the same coach who led the Tide to the SEC Championship last year. He might be the same coach, but it isn't the same program. Morale is lower than ankle tape. There is DuBose-created tension and confusion among Bama's offensive coaching staff. There is talk of assorted player transfers.

This is a team that began the season ranked No. 3. DuBose himself said the program was capable of challenging for a national championship. Then came a key injury or two, the disappearance of preseason Heisman candidate Freddie Milons, the bonehead decision involving coaches Charlie Stubbs and Neil Callaway, and the numbing losses to Southern Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and UCF.

Bama can sugarcoat it any way it wants, but the timing of DuBose's dismissal had less to do with taking the pressure of the players, as Moore suggested, and more to do with sending a message: to Bama's movers and shakers, to Bama's recruits, to prospective coaches on its short list.

The short list odds
500-1 -- Tommy Tuberville, Auburn
A Bama power broker contacted a Tuberville rep not long ago to inquuire about salary considerations. For Tuberville to make that jump (and the heat that would come along with it), the money would have to be huge, close to the $2 million mark. Moore says money won't be an object, but here's guessing he doesn't have that kind of jack to spend.

100-1 -- Jackie Sherrill, Mississippi State
Sherrill played and coached for Bear Bryant, but it's time for Bama to look outside the Houndstooth Mafia. Sherrill has done a wonderful job in Starkville, and that's where he ought to stay. And from a public image standpoint, can a program still on NCAA probation from the Gene Stallings era hire a guy who has had his prickly moments with the same ruling organization?