Salem’s Lane says he’ll sign with Virginia
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 11, 2002

VIRGINIA BEACH — Salem High wide receiver Shannon Lane, whose 52 receptions were second in South Hampton Roads this season, said Tuesday that he will sign with Virginia.
A 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, Lane is rated as the state’s No. 5 college football prospect by the Roanoke Times. Lane said he chose the Cavaliers over Virginia Tech, Maryland and Tennessee.

Lane visited Virginia last weekend and said he bonded instantly with the coaching staff.

“I like their attitude toward football,” Lane said. “But I really like the way they stress education.”

Lane is the second South Hampton Roads player to commit to the Cavaliers from the Class of 2003. Kellam defensive back Robbie Catterton committed last summer. Lane is also the fifth receiver to commit to Virginia. The Cavaliers’ leading receiver, Billy McMullen, is a senior this year.

“I think Shannon has a good opportunity to come in and play early,” Salem coach Chris Beatty said.

Lane began his high school career at Princess Anne but left after the 2001 season and transferred to First Colonial. He then transferred again, to Salem.

Lane piled up 821 receiving yards and caught seven touchdown passes in Salem’s pass-oriented offense. Despite his statistics, the district’s coaches gave Lane just an honorable mention on the All-Beach District team. He also was not selected to the All-Eastern Region or All-Tidewater teams.
 

Flair Pattern
Barber's style complements running skill
JOHN MARKON
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Dec 11, 2002
Contact John Markon at (804) 649-6892 or jmarkon@timesdispatch.com

If you didn't know that he grew up in South Roanoke, you'd swear Tiki Barber was a product of the streets of New York City.

Specifically, Park Avenue.

Running late for a postgame interview on Sunday at FedEx Field, Barber made certain he'd be stylishly late. He didn't appear until he was threaded out for a television taping, a charity dinner, an art gallery opening or whatever he may have had planned when he returned to Manhattan.

It made you wonder if there wasn't some kind of deeper significance to the 1997 NFL draft, which marked Barber's first real parting with his identical twin brother, Ronde. From Cave Spring High School they'd moved as an entry to the University of Virginia, where they were the source of numerous all-ACC cita tions and "Barbers of C-ville" themed feature stories.

After T. Barber was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round, R. Barber was claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third. They're united today only at their Web site, nfltwins.com.

"Being separated was traumatic at first," Ronde Barber once said, "but it might have been for the best. Tampa really suits my style. I'm a T-shirt, baggy shorts and flip-flops kind of guy. I'm not sure Tiki owns any flip-flops . . . unless they have $250 Italian designer ones."

It currently would take more than brotherly sarcasm to slow down Atiim Kiambu Barber, which is what you'd find under "full legal name" on Tiki's driver's license. After denting the Washington Redskins for 96 rushing yards and a touchdown, Barber had reached a new career high in rushing yardage (1,043) with three games remaining on the Giants' schedule.

"Getting the thousand isn't what it used to be," Barber said, "but it's still nice to get. Over 16 games, the really good backs pick up 1,200 or 1,300 yards and the top guys go for 1,500 or more. I at least want to be at the 1,200 level."

What appears to most satisfy Barber is that he finally seems to have convinced both the Giants and their fans that he's big enough (5-10, 200) and durable enough to be the featured running back in an NFL offense.

"Even with the thousand yards [1,006], the 2001 season was disappointing because I was hurt and missed time," Barber said. "I dedicated this whole season to body maintenance and now I feel great . . . banged up but great. I've never had legs this fresh in December."

It was entirely in character that Barber did most of his damage against Washington on three or four long runs, including a 43-yarder that set up a first-half touchdown. Even during his U.Va. career, a typical Barber game would usually see him stopped numerous times for minimal gain or lost yardage.

Against Washington, 10 of Barber's 20 carries went for 2 yards or less.

"I keep slashing and battering at you and, sooner or later, I'll break loose for a big one," Barber said. "I can block . . . I'll go out and catch a pass for you. I've always been a little bit of a different kind of running back."

He's the kind some coaches want, and the Redskins' Steve Spurrier is probably among them. Spurrier seems very prepared to divest himself of free-agent power runner Stephen Davis during the offseason, angling to replace Davis with a smaller, faster back who can offer more big-play capability. Spurrier's best running backs at the University of Florida - Fred Taylor, Earnest Graham, Errict Rhett, etc. - always showed some speed.

Barber isn't available. The Giants finally rewarded him with a long-term contract.

"I guess I wore them down, just like a defense," Barber said. "That's my style."

Make no mistakes, the man knows style.
 

ACC NOTES
Dec 11, 2002

RISING STARS: The Sporting News' all-freshman football team for the ACC includes nine players from the University of Virginia. That group includes linebacker Darryl Blackstock, the magazine's choice as ACC defensive freshman of the year.

Of the nine Cavaliers honored, five are true freshmen: Blackstock, offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, tailback Wali Lundy, defensive end Kwakou Robinson and punter Tom Hagan. The redshirt freshmen from Virginia: tight end Heath Miller, offensive guard Brian Barthelmes, defensive end Brennan Schmidt and kicker Kurt Smith.

Maryland and North Carolina had four players apiece on the all-freshman team. The Sporting News selected N.C. State tailback T.A. McLendon, a high school senior in 2001, as ACC offensive freshman of the year.

UNPRECEDENTED: Seven of the ACC's nine football teams are headed to bowls, a record for the conference. The previous mark of six teams was set last season.

The ACC could have had seven last season, too, but Wake Forest, despite being bowl-eligible, didn't receive an invitation. The ACC has six postseason tie-ins this year, including the Bowl Championship Series, and it struck a deal with a seventh bowl, the Silicon Valley Football Classic, that needed an at-large team.

Georgia Tech (7-5), which played in the Seattle Bowl last season, will meet Fresno State (8-5) in the Silicon Valley, and Wake (6-6) will face Oregon (7-5) in the Seattle. The rest of the ACC's bowl lineup: Florida State (9-4) vs. Georgia (12-1) in the Sugar, N.C. State (10-3) vs. Notre Dame (10-2) in the Gator, Maryland (10-3) vs. Tennessee (8-4) in the Peach, Clemson (7-5) vs. Texas Tech (8-5) in the Tangerine, and Virginia (8-5) vs. West Virginia (9-3) in the Continental Tire.

UPDATE: As of 5 p.m. yesterday, U.Va. had sold about 10,000 tickets for its Dec. 28 bowl in Charlotte, N.C. Other Virginia fans have been purchasing directly from the Continental Tire Bowl, officials said. Each school received 12,500 tickets, and U.Va. immediately requested another 1,700, raising its initial allotment to 14,200.

FAST START: In men's basketball, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the ACC, which lost numerous players to the NBA after last season, including three from national champion Maryland.

In the latest Sagarin ratings, however, the ACC is the nation's top-ranked conference. Its record is 36-8, and five of those losses were to ranked opponents on the road or at least neutral sites.

Three ACC teams, led by No. 3 Duke, are ranked in The Associated Press' top 25, and three others are in the top 35. Eighteen freshmen and sophomores from the ACC are averaging at least 10 points, led by North Carolina newcomer Rashad McCants (20.1 ppg). Among ACC players, only Wake Forest senior Josh Howard (21.7) has a higher scoring average than McCants, who's shooting 63.9 percent from the floor.

NEW BOSS IN TOWN: Under first-year coach Leonard Hamilton, Florida State is 4-1, its lone setback a one-point loss to then-No. 8 Florida. The Seminoles' victims include Iowa and Miami (Fla.), where Hamilton coached for 10 seasons. Not bad for a team picked to finish last in the ACC.

BATTLE ON THE BOARDS: Virginia's Travis Watson led the ACC in rebounding last season, but the 6-8, 255-pound senior may be pressed to repeat as champion. Georgia Tech's prized recruit, Chris Bosh, has lived up to his billing. The 6-10, 210-pound freshman has posted a double-double in each of his first five games and leads the ACC in rebounds (11.8 per game). Watson (10.4) is second.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Junior guard Todd Billet, who sat out last season after transferring to U.Va. from Rutgers, tops the ACC in free-throw percentage (95) and 3-pointers made (3.4 per game). Billet ranks ninth in scoring (15.6 ppg) among conference players. - Jeff White

 

Standout wideout picks Cavs
Salem High's Lane viewed among top 10 state prospects
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Dec 11, 2002

The University of Virginia's latest football commitment is from wideout Shannon Lane, who's considered one of the state's top 10 college prospects.

Lane is a 6-1, 198-pound senior at Salem High in Virginia Beach. He transferred to Salem from another Virginia Beach high school, Princess Anne, after his junior year. Lane is a cousin of Virginia Tech running back Cedric Humes, but his teammates at Princess Anne included Parade All-American linebacker Kai Parham, who's a U.Va. freshman.

"I think his relationship with Kai had a lot to do with it," Salem coach Greg Beatty said. Also, Beatty said, U.Va. assistant coach Bob "Price did a good job of closing the deal."

Lane, who has qualified academically, also had scholarship offers from such schools as Virginia Tech, Boston College, West Virginia and Georgia, Beatty said.

At Salem, Lane starred in a spread offense similar to the one in which he'll play at U.Va. On a team that finished 7-3, Lane had 54 catches for 909 yards and seven touchdowns. He rushed for 168 yards and averaged more than 12 yards per carry.

"He's like a running back at receiver when he gets the ball in his hands," Beatty said.

 

ACC's depth makes it better than its ever been
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Gregg Doyel
Special to ESPN.com

The ACC wasn't a national player this season, with no Florida State or Maryland to linger around the Top 10 once NC State faded after a 9-0 start. So by that measure, this was a down year for the ACC. Everyone says so.

Matt Schaub and Virginia were the surprise story of the ACC.
Well, you know what? Forget everyone. Some people can't see the forest through the trees, which is too bad, because the forest looks like this: Seven of the ACC's nine teams qualified for the postseason, and this was a season when almost anyone (see 3-9 North Carolina putting a scare into 8-5 Virginia) could beat almost anyone (see 2-10 Duke missing a long field goal to allow 10-3 NC State to escape).

It was as unpredictable a year as the ACC has had since Florida State joined in 1991, and if the ACC didn't really deserve to put any of its teams into a BCS bowl, so what? For the first time in a long time, the ACC was a league where its No. 6 team (Georgia Tech or Clemson, in this case) could compete with the No. 6 team in almost any league in the country.

So, in terms of depth, the ACC has almost never been better. In terms of parity, the ACC definitely hasn't been better since becoming a nine-team league. And in terms of postseason-eligibility, the ACC has never, ever been better. Has the ACC ever had more than seven teams finish .500 or better? Heck, no.

But Florida State wasn't 11-1 this season, so blast away, critics. Down year for the league. Woe is ACC football.

We say bah to all of your narrow-minded humbug.

MVP: Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub was benched for the Cavaliers' second game, then roared back -- and dragged his team with him. Schaub had one of the better statistical seasons in ACC quarterback history (2,751 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 69.7 completion percentage) to lead Virginia to second place in the conference and earn this award over Maryland linebacker E.J. Henderson and NC State linebacker Dantonio Burnette.

Coach of the Year: Hate to be redundant, but a Cavalier has to win this, too. Virginia coach Al Groh was every bit as good this season as Maryland's Ralph Friedgen was a year ago, leading the Cavaliers -- who were picked to finish eighth in the league -- to a 6-2 conference mark, with victories against NC State and Maryland. Just as important, Groh seems to have Virginia on track to be good every year, much as Friedgen has done with the Terps.

Newcomer of the Year: NC State freshman tailback T.A. McLendon edges Maryland quarterback Scott McBrien, a transfer from West Virginia. McLendon ran for 1,083 yards and 16 touchdowns, both league bests. He also caught 338 yards in passes, and did all of it while spending the first few games as the second-team back, missing one game with an injury, and playing the second half of the season with a cast on his right hand.

Biggest Surprise: Virginia, Virginia, three times Virginia. The Cavaliers shouldn't have been this good, not with all those freshmen in key roles (tailback, both interior lines, linebacker) and that ordinary quarterback (Schaub). The freshmen produced like veterans, and Schaub was extraordinary, and nobody saw any of it coming.

Biggest Disappointment: Florida State could blame last season's disappointment on inexperience. With almost everyone returning, what's the Seminoles excuse this season? Sure, FSU won the league title, but the Seminoles were out of the national title picture early, and almost out of the Top 25 late, and by FSU definitions that is a disappointment of epic proportions.

Clemson
It took Clemson eight games, but the Tigers might have found Woodrow Dantzler's heir -- and it's not longtime backup (and fan favorite) Willie Simmons. Charlie Whitehurst looks to be the long-term answer at quarterback, and that -- along with an unexpected Tangerine Bowl berth -- was the best news to come from a lackluster season that saw Clemson finally come up with a defense to match its offense. . . only to have its offense disappoint.

MVP: The cornerback tandem of Justin Miller and Brian Mance combined for 13 interceptions, giving the Tigers' defense the teeth it needed to set free its linemen and linebackers on blitzes and other assaults. Clemson's defense was the best it has been in years, and its stellar play at cornerback was a huge reason.

Biggest disappointment: After all that clamoring from fans for Willie Simmons at quarterback, this is what he produces? Simmons is a first-class kid and a college graduate in just three years, but he had more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (six) and was replaced by Charlie Whitehurst in the final third of the season.

Did you know: Clemson has been to four straight bowl games.

Duke
After two winless seasons the Blue Devils broke through on opening day against East Carolina and added a second victory against Navy. While the 2-10 finish wasn't enough to get many Duke fans excited for the present, it was enough to convince athletics director Joe Alleva that coach Carl Franks might be the team's future. After the season-ending loss to North Carolina, Alleva announced Franks would return for his fifth season.

MVP: Defensive lineman Shawn Johnson led the ACC in sacks with 12. Johnson was the most obvious example of a guy who got better under the watch of new defensive coordinator Ted Roof, the former Georgia Tech assistant.

Biggest disappointment: Tailback Chris Douglas battled injuries in the early going, then saw backup Alex Wade make a run at 1,000 yards. While Douglas was productive, finishing with 640 rushing yards, his excellent sophomore season (841 rushing yards, a league-best 168.1 all-purpose yards per game) hinted at a better junior year.

Did you know: Duke has lost an ACC-record 25 straight conference games.

Florida State
The Seminoles returned their top two quarterbacks, their top two running backs, most of their top receivers and their entire offensive line, plus eight defensive starters and both kicking specialists, so -- no -- another four-loss season (entering the bowl) wasn't expected. Along the way, Florida State missed beating No. 1 Miami by a botched field goal and saw Adrian McPherson beat out Chris Rix at quarterback, then get kicked off the team for his alleged role in the cashing of a stolen check. A strange season all the way around.

MVP: Tailback Greg Jones was the best thing going for the Seminoles until he suffered a season-ending injury nine games into a year he would finish with 938 rushing yards.

Biggest disappointment: The snap was imperfect, the hold was imperfect, and Xavier Beitia's last-season kick definitely was imperfect as the Seminoles just missed ending No. 1 Miami's winning streak and hopes of a national title on Oct. 12.

Did you know: The Seminoles have lost as many games in the past two seasons (eight) as in the previous six seasons combined.

Georgia Tech
The Jackets managed not only to become bowl eligible, but to pull off victories against Virginia and NC State after losing their best player on offense (tailback Tony Hollings) and defense (end Greg Gathers) to injuries. The season-ending disaster against Georgia notwithstanding, the Jackets had an encouraging first year under coach Chan Gailey, who held it all together despite the devastating injuries to Hollings and Gathers. On the down side, quarterback A.J. Suggs -- last in the ACC in pass efficiency -- didn't exactly wrap his fingers around the starting job. Backup QB Damarius Bilbo could make the spring interesting.

MVP: Offensive tackle Nat Dorsey was as big a reason as any that the Jackets got 100 rushing yards, or right at it, in a single game from four different running backs. Dorsey will be in the NFL in a year or two.

Biggest disappointment: Hollings' knee injury cut short one of the more remarkable stories around the country. The former backup safety asked to be moved to tailback, then was leading the country in rushing after four games before going down.

Did you know: Kicker Luke Manget holds the ACC record for consecutive extra points at 155.

Maryland
The Terps proved last season was no fluke, and that coach Ralph Friedgen has the ability not just to pull of a one-year wonder, but to elevate this once-lowly program into the ACC's upper level. Even with new starters at quarterback and tailback, the Maryland offense began to hum in midseason as the Terps made another run at an ACC title. With Scott McBrien returning at quarterback and Bruce Perry back at tailback, look for the Terps to make another run next season, too.

MVP: Despite offseason back surgery that set him behind in preseason conditioning and workouts, linebacker E.J. Henderson had another All-America season and repeated as ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Biggest disappointment: Maryland would have earned a share of the league title and the ACC's BCS bowl bid had it defeated Virginia on Nov. 23, but the Terps were wiped out 48-13, a loss Friedgen couldn't explain even a week later.

Did you know: Maryland has five 10-win seasons since 1953 -- and two have come in Friedgen's first two seasons.

North Carolina
Before the season coach John Bunting said 2002 would be among the greatest professional challenges of his football career. No kidding. The Tar Heels were awful on defense and, after quarterback Darian Durant went down with a broken thumb, they had an offense to match. The result was a season that saw the Tar Heels suffer historic loss after historic loss -- worst loss to Wake Forest, worst ACC loss at home, etc.

MVP: With Durant, North Carolina won at Syracuse, Duke and Arizona State. Without him, North Carolina won. . .nowhere. The team was 0-4 when Durant was out, 3-5 when he played.

Biggest disappointment: We've got to narrow it down to one? The UNC defense was among the worst in college football, and among the worst in ACC history. The Tar Heels allowed 452 yards and 35 points per game.

Did you know: The Tar Heels suffered nine losses for just the third time in the last half-century.

NC State
Before the season, NC State would have gladly taken a 10-3 mark and a spot in the Gator Bowl. After starting the year 9-0, though, those accomplishments feel a bit hollow considering the Wolfpack was once in contention for a BCS berth and a spot in either the Orange Bowl or, possibly, the Fiesta Bowl. Still, NC State had never won 10 games before this season, and while the schedule included two Division I-AA teams and Navy, no Wolfpack fan with an Internet connection seems inclined to throw the 2002 season back.

MVP: Defense won games for the Wolfpack this season, and linebacker Dantonio Burnette was the best player on the defense -- and, with the exception of Maryland's E.J. Henderson, the best player in the league. Burnette was a double-figure tackle machine who played hurt and excelled on goalline stands.

Biggest disappointment: The Wolfpack's three losses were by a touchdown or less. They were pretty darned close to 13-0.

Did you know: Quarterback Philip Rivers is on pace to break every major ACC record for quarterbacks.

Virginia
Virginia started more freshmen than any team in the ACC, and won more league games than any team other than Florida State. Those two facts should never be in the same sentence, but that's how good the freshmen are at Virginia -- and how good Groh, Schaub and Co. did in melding the young talent with the veterans. The Cavaliers showed some major heart in bouncing back from an 0-2 start to win their next six games and have a bowl bid wrapped up by mid-October.

MVP: Matt Schaub threw 27 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, and a team is going to win a lot of games every year when its quarterback does that.

Biggest disappointment: Even with the No. 2 record in the league and victories against Maryland and NC State, Virginia was passed over -- in favor of Maryland, NC State and Clemson -- for the Peach, Gator and Tangerine bowls.

Did you know: Five of Al Groh's 13 victories in two seasons at Virginia have been against ranked teams.

Wake Forest
The Deacons posted their second consecutive non-losing season under coach Jim Grobe, who might be coaching himself right out of Winston-Salem. Baylor already came calling for Grobe, who said no thanks, and Alabama was said to have been considering him. Why not? Grobe has taken the talent at hand and made Wake Forest the kind of team Florida State coach Bobby Bowden says "nobody wants to play." The Deacons won another six games this season despite spotty kicking and the unavailability in the early going of returning 1,000-yard rusher Tarence Williams.

MVP: Defensive end Calvin Pace was a dominant player, recording eight sacks among his 19 tackles for loss. He also had 72 tackles, a ridiculously high number for an end.

Biggest disappointment: The Deacons' season always had a what-if feel after special-team bumbles led to a season-opening, 42-41 loss at Northern Illinois.

Did you know: Until Grobe arrived, the Deacons had posted back-to-back six-win seasons just twice since 1953.


 

Friedgen Asks Boosters to Buy Peach Bowl Tickets
By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 11, 2002; Page D01

With Peach Bowl ticket sales slower than anticipated, Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen has sent an e-mail urging members of the athletic department's primary booster club to buy tickets whether they plan to attend the game or not, saying, "Our future bowl participation may be determined by our fans' attendance."

Friedgen yesterday said that Maryland has sold 7,100 of the 20,000 tickets it purchased for the Dec. 31 game against Tennessee in Atlanta. Sales to the general public begin today.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Maryland told Peach Bowl officials it would guarantee the sale of 20,000 tickets -- 2,500 more than was required -- as an inducement to eliciting the invitation. To fill the ACC half of its lineup, the Peach Bowl also considered Virginia, which tied Maryland for second place in the conference and beat the Terrapins, 48-13, on Nov. 23. The Cavaliers were invited to the Continental Tire Bowl, which had the fifth choice of teams from the ACC.

Last season, Maryland sold 22,000 tickets for the Jan. 2 Orange Bowl in Miami, the Terrapins' first bowl game since 1990.

Asked yesterday about the importance of selling bowl tickets, Friedgen said that maintaining a reputation is important.

"The word gets around," he said. "I'm sure for the people of the Peach Bowl, that was a factor in their decision."

In his e-mail to Terrapin Club members, Friedgen stressed the importance of being known as a school that, in bowl vernacular, "travels well."

"Your support of my vision for Maryland Football has been heartwarming and encouraging, but I need your continued backing," the e-mail read. "The bowl representatives will be watching the Terps to see if our fans turn out in Atlanta as they did for the Orange Bowl and the Kickoff Classic.

"Our future bowl participation may be determined by our fans' attendance. Bowls select teams whose fans have a track record of traveling to support their team. If you don't think it's important, ask the University of Virginia, who were selected to play in the 5th pick bowl for the ACC."

The game is considered a sellout, but after Maryland and Tennessee bought tickets beyond what was required, plenty of tickets are available at both schools. Required to sell 17,500 tickets each, Maryland bought 2,500 extra and Tennessee 4,500.

"This week is a critical week," said senior associate athletic director Larry Leckonby, who is overseeing the team's bowl participation. "Right now, I'd say it's probably a slower pace than everyone anticipated. . . . I'm not ready to panic at all. Maybe talk to me Friday night, about 7 o'clock."

In a postscript to the e-mail, Friedgen addressed Terrapin Club members who are unable to attend the game but want to buy tickets "in support of the University of Maryland." Those individuals can purchase tickets that would be designated for use by "disadvantaged youth, law enforcement or military personnel in the Atlanta area," he wrote. ". . . And, you will receive the full tax benefit of donating the tickets to charity."

The ACC budgets money to assist schools that will not be able to sell their bowl ticket allotments. For Maryland, once the school sells 8,000 tickets, the ACC will assume the cost of any unused tickets up to the 17,500 tickets Maryland was required to purchase, ACC assistant commissioner Mike Finn said. However, Finn said, the conference will not assume the cost of any extra tickets purchased, making Maryland liable for the cost of the 2,500 tickets -- at $55 apiece -- it purchased from the Peach Bowl.

"Certainly, that would be significant," Leckonby said. "But we have some provisions in the [$1 million] bowl budget for some tickets. We'll have to see how it actually plays out."

Terrapins Notes: Offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe said that he has had informal conversations with Wyoming representatives regarding that school's head coaching vacancy. Taaffe and Wyoming Athletic Director Lee Moon coached together at Virginia in the 1970s. . . .

Friedgen said senior fullback Chad Killian, who started the season's first five games but has been out since then because of a knee injury, is not expected to play in Atlanta.
 

Bowl sales melting ice in Charlotte
Mike Cherry <mikecherry@dailymail.com>
Daily Mail sportswriter

Charlotte has been hit with another storm this week.
Last week, it was ice and snow. Thousands in the Carolinas are still without power as a result.

This week, an electronic deluge shut down both the phone system for the Continental Tire Bowl and the computer of that first-year game's executive director, Ken Haines.

Monday was ticket-selling opening day for the Dec. 28 meeting between neighbors West Virginia University and Virginia.

You would have thought they were turning North Carolina into South Virginia with all the response the Charlotte-based game received.

"We had that many calls," Haines said. "West Virginia fans, I don't know. You better talk to the governor. There may not be anybody in that state the day of the game."

The bowl office eventually stopped selling tickets Monday for a game to be played in an NFL stadium seating more than 73,000. Haines said his employees needed to regroup and decipher what was left to sell in the lower deck.

In Morgantown, ticket sellers stayed busy. Even at Virginia, there was "excellent response" to ticket sales, Haines said. That despite what Haines said were about "2,000 e-mails" from Virginia fans mistakenly suspecting he kept the Cavaliers out of greater bowls.

All of which is building to a crescendo of ringing registers for Haines. Several weeks ago -- before Notre Dame was trounced at Southern Cal -- he was looking at Virginia Tech against Georgia Tech in his game.

Then WVU was pushed from the Gator by the falling stock of Notre Dame. And Virginia was bypassed by a team (Maryland) it beat for a slot in the more- established Peach Bowl.

Suddenly, Haines had two schools that share part of a name, had not played since 1985 and that finished surprising seconds in their respective conferences. And both are within driving distance of Charlotte, not exactly the type of warm-weather, college-football hotbed that would attract the neutral.

"If you told me at the start of the year, ‘Ken, you might have the number two finishers of both leagues ...,' " Haines said. "We were looking at fourth or fifth in the ACC, third or fourth in the Big East."

The Continental is a regional bowl. It is region-backed -- Continental's North American headquarters, with 2,000 employees, are located in Charlotte.

The bowl wanted a tie with the ACC because of geography. The game wanted the Big East because WVU and Virginia Tech are the closest from that conference and they travel with the most fans.

What is distinctive about his bowl, Haines said, is that most everything is located downtown (although that sounds like Nashville and the Music City Bowl). The team hotels are within walking distance of Ericsson Stadium. The night before the game, Tryon Street with its blend of hotels, clubs and restaurants will be closed to traffic.

Last spring, Haines said he hoped for between 40,000 and 50,000 fans for the game.

"Now, I think we'll reach the high-end," Haines said.

Meaning a storm of currency.