Thoughts of the Week . . .

Philip Thompson: (Lawrence Jordan)

• NC State Hoops- As good as it feels to have upset Florida St on Tuesday, it is still hard to get over the painful loss to Virginia last Saturday. This season is showing that the Pack has the ability to hang in the game with anyone in the conference, and then lay an egg in less than 24 hours. By the way, Sidney’s whistling has somehow gotten louder this season. (Losing to woeful UVA and beating a good FSU team...sounds like the ACC this year. It will be nothing if not entertaining.)
• Lane Kiffin – Did I miss something? What is the big deal about a coach who was 7-6 last season leaving a school? Was he such a good coach that students needed to riot and burn their mattresses in the middle of campus? Imagine if he had actually beat Alabama or Florida. Lets be honest, would you rather coach at the fifth best job (at best) in the SEC and live in the Tennessee mountains, or control the west coast and live in sunny Southern California. I thought so. (UT football is a religion in eastern to middle Tennesse so I am not surprised the zealots are uprising. Kiffin's career has thrived because he's not afraid to put on a show. Perfect for Southern California.)
• Mark McGwire – First off he needs to send Lane Kiffin a bottle of Champaign for taking the spotlight off him. This was a classic case of a story that really was not one. Is there any one in America that thought that he was clean? Just look at him. What is next, OJ admitting he murdered Nicole? (Worst kept secret ever? McGwire is old news. Sosa is old news...err Sosa's HR's are old news. His current skin is still an oddity.)
• Gilbert Areanas – Has there ever been an athlete quite like him who just doesn’t get it? He apologizes one day and the next he is making the hand pistols in the pregame introduction. I wonder what it feels like to know that you contract with over $90 million left on it is about to be voided. (Stupid is as stupid does...)
• Roy Williams vs the State of South Carolina - I bet Roy is a fan of South Carolina flying the Confederate Flag over its state capitol. The NCAA has stated the as long as the state continues to do so, no NCAA Tournament game will be played in South Carolina. And after what has happened in the last two weeks against College of Charleston and Clemson, Roy must be elated about that. (Where's Darrin Horn's call? Surely this is the year for the Palmetto State to challenge the Heels. Roy's got some rethinking to do with the '09-'10 team. Harrison Barnes isn't coming to town for awhile.)