Pirates control their title fate in C-USA

An irreverent look at the weekend's action in college football, and what it means:

East Carolina

After a 1-2 nonconference start, the Pirates could have folded. After bungling a trip to SMU, and losing on a 96-yard dagger, the Pirates could have checked out. Instead, after Saturday's 37-21 pasting of UAB, the Pirates control the Conference USA East and are in position to win their second straight conference title. The defense, which reeked like hot garbage early, has been the biggest reason for the bounce-back. It has allowed 21 or fewer points in five straight games.

Connecticut

Hats off to the Huskies, who had lost three games by a combined 10 points since the slaying of cornerback Jasper Howard, for their 33-30 double-overtime win at Notre Dame. An emotional Randy Edsall called it the program's "best win."

Well put.

Michigan

Even Tom Butters says it's time for Michigan to cut bait with Rich Rod, 3-13 in the Big Ten. With Jim Harbaugh, a former Michigan quarterback, winning at Stanford, and Brian Kelly, a former Central Michigan coach, making Cincinnati an annual BCS fixture, the Wolverines can't afford to stick with the unlikeable Rodriguez, who will go down as Michigan's Matt Doherty.

LSU

Les Miles continues to date above his station in life. Even Larry Coker thinks the Mad Hatter mangled the clock at the end of Saturday's 25-23 loss to Ole Miss. Like Coker, Miles cashed in another coach's recruits for a national title and has no clue how to sustain the success of the program gifted to him.

Poor choice of words

N.C. State's season has been nothing short of lousy, and senior tackle Jeraill McCuller was understandably frustrated after Saturday's 38-10 loss at Virginia Tech - the Wolfpack's sixth loss in seven games - but McCuller needs a lesson in perspective.

"It turned out to be a tragedy today," McCuller said.

Tragedy? The death of 32 people in a shooting rampage on the same Virginia Tech campus in April 2007, qualifies as a tragedy. Losing a football game, no matter how disheartening, does not.

Ranking the ACC

1. Georgia Tech: Dawgs already in rearview mirror.

2. Clemson: Party like it's 1991.

3. UNC: Davis adds "fix economy" to defense's to-do list.

4. Virginia Tech: UNC thanks you.

5. Miami: Randy Shannon has to settle for progress.

6. Boston College: Rice-a-roni in Eagles' future.

7. Florida State: Last one turn out the lights.

8. Duke: .500 would be a big deal.

9. Wake Forest: "Pride" bowl only bowl for Deacs.

10. Virginia: A loss to VT, fitting end for Lord Groh.

11. N.C. State: "Super" Bowl against UNC, only bowl for Pack.

12. Maryland: Is the return of Jeff Jagodzinski imminent?

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