So here we go, playing UNC tonight.  At Cassel.  They aren't ranked and they may be sitting at the bottom of the ACC totem pole, but these guys are still UNC.  Sure they're 2-4 in conference play and 13-8 overall.  They're still UNC.  We can't sleep on them.

Honestly, this is a very winnable game.  But if we put out a similar display of doo doo butter like we did against Miami, we will get owned.  Mark my words.

However, we still have the help of our hero for this game.  We're going to go a different direction than the path CGally usually chooses.  Sig Hansen, while badass, has not been helping us as of late.  That's why we're going with:

Phil Harris, Captain - Cornelia Marie.  First off, just look at the picture.  If I were UNC, I would back the fuck off.  Quick.  Second, he goes crab fishing in Alaska.  He's obviously on his boat.  I'm going to assume he is on his boat while it is in Alaska.  He's wearing a fucking sleeveless t-shirt on the ocean in Alaska.  Third, he just got taken out of his medically induced coma the other day after he had a stroke while doing some fishing stuff.  He's going to recover and get back to chaining cigs, tearing through waves, and making those pussy-footing crabs his bitch in no time.  Why?  Because the guy is built like a brick shithouse and tougher than proper grammar is to West Virginians.  Guy is a manbearpig.

Gobble gobble, bitches.

We don't make much of National Signing Day around these parts. Personally, we think ranking recruiting classes is ridiculous.

Here's a look at the schools with the top recruiting classes in 2005 (per Scout):

1. Tennessee
2. Michigan
3. Florida State
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma

How'd that work out for you guys? Judging recruits based on their play against high school kids that will grow up to be accountants may not be the best system. Not that those of us in the accounting field aren't badass. We totally are. But if another person sends me a video of some recruit tearing up a AA team from the middle of Nebraska, I'm going to audit their ass so hard it'll make their ears bleed.

The Northerner may have put it best, in an email about signing day:

Shits overrated anyways.  Cody Grimm wasn’t recruited.

Bingo.

But should you feel the need to check out the signings from people that actually know this stuff, check out Gobbler Country or HokieSports. They will fulfill all your fantasies concerning 18 year old boys.

One tidbit per ESPN:

Despite signing a class that will be ranked near the bottom of, or just outside, the top 25, Virginia Tech will continue to be a serious contender in the ACC and will get the most it can out of the 2010 recruits. Look for physical safety Nick Dew (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) to flourish in defensive coordinator Bud Foster's system; we feel he landed in an ideal situation to showcase his strengths.

So there you have it. Nick Dew is the new Grimm Reaper. Or he will be, when he finally gets to start in 2012.

Schadenfreude – noun, satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.

Last weekend, Brett Favre threw the interception we had all hoped for. For 59 minutes, we sat waiting to see if the ‘Ol Gunslinger would make an abomination of a toss and blow it for his team.

We often root hard against someone or some team, not because we have any affinity towards their opponent, but because we simply want the team to lose.

Unfortunately, truly great schadenfreude moments are rare. Sure, it’s great when your team beats a rival, but what about just rooting for that rival to lose a huge game? It always seems they some how pull it out. This is probably because UVA doesn’t really play in big games any more.

So after the jump, your humble editor lays out his most joyous celebrations caused by someone else’s anguish…

On RSN: 1pm

The Hokies go to The U this afternoon in a big road contest. Let’s see how The U does at home since they have been one of the worst road teams in recent memory. Now for the Hero today, only one man can be just as dirty as the Miami athletic program and look so good doing it.

Mike Rowe

The only man to inpergnant a cow and sell you a Ford at the same time.

Also just as surprising, Tech beat UVA again last night.

Down by 12 with about 5 minutes left, Tech rallied to take the lead. It took a desperation three pointer by Virginia guard Sammy Zeglinski to send it to OT. (Zeglinkski? Really? Shocker: he's an awkward white guy.)

In OT, Tech took control, once again letting the Cavs know they're forever our bitch. The final score was 76-71.

Delaney had 27 points, clearly making up for a lackluster performance against Boston College. Jeff Allen was ejected for being too much of a badass. His response?

Three of the last five games against UVA have gone to overtime. Tech has won all three. Apparently, we just like to screw with their emotions before crushing their souls.

I think there's a chess match coming up, so maybe UVA can finally beat us in something.

But until next time, Cavaliers...

Who's ready for an ACC road win??

We all are.

It's UVA. Just make it happen.

LET'S GO HOKIES!!

A must win game, last second victories, a seat behind a legend, and alcohol induced memory loss. It’s all standard fare in the North End Zone’s winter trip to Blacksburg…

The Miz over at FFODC made a wager with your humble editor regarding the outcome of the Pens/Caps game last Thursday. As per the rules of the bet, I will now allow him to guest post over here about his favorite player. The views expressed in the rest of this entry do not represent those of The North End Zone. In fact, they are pretty much exactly the opposite.

As an avid reader of The North End Zone, I know that the end of college football season can be a little tough for some of us. Fortunately for me, I have hockey to break my fall once bowl season comes to an end. So does C Gally. While he and I have the same taste in college football greatness, hockey is a bit of a sensitive subject between the two of us. You see, C Gally tends to support Pittsburgh franchises, and that includes one of my least favorite teams of all time, the Pittsburgh Penguins. How anybody can support a bunch of whiners with horse teeth is beyond me, but I digress.

More after the jump...

Another HUGE game this weekend, folks. Boston College comes to town, soaring on the wings of gay eagles.

Winnable ACC games don't just grow on trees, you know. One might go so far as to say this is a must-win, being at home an all. Dropping a game like this only makes the road to the big dance that much tougher.

Your humble editor is heading to Blacksburg for the game. We thought about getting tickets for $50, but decided that the money would be better spent on rails while we watch on TV. There's nothing like some early afternoon drinking.

But if any of our tens of readers has an extra ticket or two, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I promise to be a wealth of information and pointed commentary during the game. Or at the very least, a provider of powerhour prior to tip-off.

/end of desperate plea for cheap tickets

-----------------

Since the odds of your humble editor seeing this game in person is higher than zero, we won't screw around. We need to win, and win by a lot. The NEZ demands to be entertained. So let's take care of these birds with another bird we're familiar with...

When there's trouble, you call DW.

-----------------

Here's hoping this goes just like football.

LET'S GO HOKIES!!

Today is a banner day here at the NEZ: our first cross-blog wager.

The Miz over at Fight for Old DC is a Washington Capitals fan. Your humble editor is a fan of the STANLEY CUP CHAMPION Pittsburgh Penguins.

The first of four regular season match-ups between the two goes down tonight. The winner will be given a grand opportunity: the chance to guest-post on the other's site, praising any player they like.

So get ready, Miz. FFODC is about to be invaded by Sid's Army.

LET'S GO PENS!!