Assorted Linkage

While a cynic might say that the Wolfpack merely took advantage of the worst defense in the ACC -- yes, Boston College even ranks below North Carolina in yards allowed per game -- Brown was encouraged by the offensive production.

Especially since it came from both expected and unexpected sources.

"We know we're good," he said. "It's just everybody around us that's seen us struggle, the media -- you're all bashing us, bashing our coach.

"Together, it's up to us. We're going into the ACC refreshed, 1-0. Hopefully we can keep these 'Ws' coming."

From the "Probably Won't See This on a Sunday" department: I witnessed a feel good moment from N.C. State's dramatic 17-15 win over nationally ranked Boston College that you wouldn't catch while watching the highlights.

N.C. State's sophomore QB Daniel Evans, a former walk-on in his collegiate game start, threw a dramatic 34-yard TD pass in the final seconds to secure the win. Sure, that's gonna make the national highlights. However, who was one of the first guys (first, I think) to embrace Evans coming off the field? Marcus Stone, the junior QB that had lost his starting job to Evans just this week. Right after the final gun sounded, ESPN2 also got a great shot of Stone in Evans' ear offering congrats, and that's the kind of stuff I like to see in college ball that you don't see very often in the pros. Heck, on Sundays, you'd probably see a guy in Stone's spot sulking until his trade goes through, while on Saturdays, you usually see guys in that position wondering how fast they could fill out their transfer request forms.

Sometimes, it seems like the 18-22-year-old dudes playing this sport show more maturity than those of us that cheer them on (or root against).