ORANGE BOWL COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN ACC PRESS BOXES THIS WEEK

UVA at Georgia Tech...............Phillis Oeters / Ron StoneUCONN at Maryland.......................................Peter Pruit

*OBC members are easily identified by their Orange jackets

WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING

Mark Schlabach Brad Edwards Stewart Mandel Jerry PalmMatt MurschelBrant Parsons

Alabamavs.

USC

LSUvs.

Oregon

LSU vs.

Oregon

LSUvs.

USC

Alabama vs.

USC

USCvs.

LSU

Florida Statevs.

Louisville

Florida Statevs.

South Florida

Florida Statevs.

Louisville

Florida Statevs.

Boise State

Florida Statevs.

Louisville

Florida Statevs.

Louisville

Michigan Statevs.

Oregon

Michigan Statevs.

USC

Michigan Statevs.

USC

Michigan Statevs.

Oregon

Michigan Statevs.

Oregon

Michigan Statevs.

Oregon

LSUvs.

Oklahoma

Alabamavs.

Oklahoma

Alabamavs.

Texas

Alabamavs.

Clemson

LSUvs.

Oklahoma

Alabama vs.

Oklahoma

West Virginia vs.

Virginia Tech

Texasvs.

Clemson

Oklahomavs.

Virginia Tech

Oklahoma vs.

Louisville

Texasvs.

Virginia Tech

West Virginiavs.

Virginia Tech

DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL DISCOVER BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMEWed. Dec. 26 Team Arrivals / HC Press Conference Wed. Jan.2

Thur. Sun.

Dec. 27Dec. 30

HC/Student-Athlete Media Availability(post practice) Sat. Jan. 5

Fri. Sat.

Dec. 28Dec. 29 Coordinators Press Conferences Thur.

Fri.Jan. 3Jan. 4

N/A Media Day Sat. Jan. 5

Mon. Dec. 31 HC Press Conferences Sun. Jan. 6

Mon. Dec. 31 AvMed Orange Bowl Coaches Luncheon presented by Deloitte N/A

Mon. Dec. 31 Media Party Sun. Jan. 6

Tue. Jan. 1 Orange Bowl Game Day Fan Zone2013 Discover Orange Bowl (ESPN) N/A

N/A National Championship Game Day Fan Zone2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game (ESPN) Mon. Jan. 7

ORANGE BOWL COMMITTEE

Officers

President & Chair.............................O. Ford GibsonChair-Elect......................................Andrew P. HertzVice Chair.............................................Luis E. BouéVice Chair......................................Lee E. StapletonSecretary..............................................Ann E. PopeTreasurer..........................................Shaun M. DavisPast President...............................Jeffrey T. RobertsCEO......................................................Eric L. Poms

Communications Staff

Larry Wahl (305) 341-4718VP, Communications & Community Outreachlwahl@orangebowl.org

Noah Sharfman (305) 341-4737Communications Associatensharfman@orangebowl.org

Kristina Taylor (305) 341-4769Communications Assistantktaylor@orangebowl.org

Ryan Trapp (305) 341-4734Communications Assistantrtrapp@orangebowl.org

IMPORTANT MEDIA DATES

Sun. Oct. 16 BCS Standings Released

Thur. Nov. 1 2013 Discover Orange Bowl Online Credential Application Opens

Sat. Dec. 1 Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game (EPSN)

Across College Football

Movers and Shakers - Alabama holds on to the top spot ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll for the second week in a row, while USC and LSU flip-flop at the two and three spots. Oklahoma State fell out of the top 25 after last week’s loss to Arizona, who has moved into the rankings at No. 25 with the win. A stagnant Boise State team was replaced by UCLA, who are now ranked No. 23 following an upset win over Nebraska. The Cornhuskers fell 10 spots after the loss. Arkansas slipped 11 spots in the rankings to No. 21 after a loss to UL Monroe. Kansas State continues to climb, moving from No. 20 to No. 14 after a commanding win over Miami, while Stanford moves up five spots to No. 16 after its 50-13 win over Duke.

Pac-12 Heisman Case - Heisman favorite Matt Barkley has lived up to the bill so far, leading the NCAA with 10 touchdowns passes through just two weeks this season. But two other names in the Pac-12 have made some pretty strong cases of their own. Oregon’s big-play threat DeAnthony Thomas is tied for second in the FBS with 30 points scored, rushing for three touchdowns and catching two more, despite only 18 total touches on the season. Emerging as a darkhorse out of the group is UCLA’s running back Johnathan Franklin, who has led the Bruins to a 2-0 record with back-to-back 200 yard games to start the season. Franklin leads the FBS with 431 rushing yards.

Battered and Bruised - Several national championship contenders are going to have to chase their BCS dreams without some impact players lining up on the field. Florida State defensive tackle Brandon Jenkins, a Preseason All-American candidate, was lost for the year after suffering a Lisfranc injury to his left foot in the first half of the Seminoles’ week one victory. John Boyett, Oregon’s star safety, underwent surgeries on both his knees last week and will have to miss the remainder of the season. Alabama’s backfield took a hit this past weekend when junior running back Jalston Fowler injured his knee in the Crimson Tide’s win over Western Kentucky, and will likely miss the rest of the 2012-13 season.

Big Shoes to Fill- Replacing a Heisman candidate is no easy task, but Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins and Baylor’s Nick Florence have shown they’re up to the task. In the absence of star sophomore Sammy Watkins, Hopkins has gone on to pull down 224 yards and four scores in the Tigers’ first two games, and he ranks among the top-10 FBS players in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Florence, taking over under center for the Bears following Robert Griffin III’s ascension to the Heisman trophy and NFL, had one of the most impressive aerial assaults of the young 2012 regular season, throwing for 341 yards and four touchdowns on 70-percent passing, good enough for an FBS-high rating of 209.5.

Across the ACC

ACC Teams Climbing - Still no newcomers to the party, but two of the three ACC teams move up in the USA Today Coaches Poll for the second week in a row. Both Clemson and Virginia Tech jump up one spot with wins over Ball State and Austin Peay, respectively. The third ACC-member of the top 25, Florida State, stays at number six for the second straight week. Georgia Tech (24), Virginia (11) and Wake Forest (six) all received votes.

ACC Moving Up - After the first two weeks of the sesaon, the ACC has picked up a few marquee wins against FBS teams. After picking up just two wins against FBS-automatic qualifiers at this point last year, the boys from the Atlantic Coast Conference have won four during the first two weeks of 2012, and are 15-3 out of conference altogether. A pair of marquee nonconference wins against Auburn and Penn State highlights the group of victories.

Conference Play Heats Up - The ACC hosts a pair of conference matchups with big implications this week. Florida State will try and avenge last season’s loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, kicking off in Tallahassee this Saturday at noon. Wake Forest has taken four of the last six meetings against the Seminoles. Later, Virginia and Georgia Tech will vie for an early advantage in the ACC Coastal, meeting in Atlanta for the afternoon game at 3:30. The Cavs and Yellow Jackets have split their last six meeetings.

Sun. Dec.2 BCS Selection Show / Coaches’ Teleconference

Sat. Dec. 15 Credential Application / Media Hotel Reservations Closed

Sat. Dec. 29 2012 Metro PCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic (FSN)

14360 NW 77th Ct. Miami Lakes, FL 33016 = 305.341.4700= www.orangebowl.org

The Road To South Florida

Week 3 - Saturday, September 15, 2012

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Weekend Watch ListRutgers at South FloridaThursday, Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m.

The Scarlet Knights travel to South Florida to take on the Bulls in the opening conference game for each team. Both Rutgers and South Florida enter the game at 2-0 and will look to keep pace with Cincinnati, who has an early edge in the Big East standings.

Wake Forest at No. 6 Florida StateSaturday, Sept. 15, 12:00 p.m.

No. 6 Florida State hosts Wake Forest in an ACC Atlantic Division game. The Seminoles look to avenge last season’s loss against Wake Forest. Wake Forest has won four of the last six meetings against Florida State, but the Seminoles are 16-3-1 at home against Wake Forest.

No. 1 Alabama at ArkansasSaturday, Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.

The top team in the country travels to Fayetteville to take on an Arkansas team looking to upset a title contender. The Crimson Tide’s re-tooled defense will look to slow down a high powered Razorback offense that could be without starting quarterback Tyler Wilson.North Carolina at No. 20 LouisvilleSaturday, Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.

Louisville has looked like the class of the Big East in their first two games this season, but the Cardinals get a strong test as they host the Tar Heels. UNC beat UL 14-7 last season. Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewarter will look to keep rolling in his sophomore season after throwing for a career-high 344 yards last week.

Virginia at Georgia TechSaturday, Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.

The 18th ranked Virginia rushing defense gets a strong test as the fifth ranked rushing offense of George Tech plays host to the Cavs. The winner of this game could have a leg up in the ACC Coastal as both teams finished last season at 5-2 in conference play.No. 17 Florida at TennesseeSaturday, Sept. 15, 6:00 p.m.

For the first time since 2007, Florida and Tennessee meet as both teams are ranked in the AP Poll (UF 18, UT 23). The Gators opened their SEC schedule last week with a 20-17 victory over Texas A&M. Tennessee opens their SEC slate this week.No. 3 USC at No. 16 StandfordSaturday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m.

The Trojans look to snap their three-game losing streak against the Cardinal as USC visits the Farm to face Stanford. Heisman front runner Matt Barkley leads USC’s dynamic offense that includes receiver tandem Marqise Lee and Robert Woods, who’ve combined for 668 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns through two games.

No. 19 Notre Dame at No. 10 MSUSaturday, Sept. 15, 8:00 p.m.

Notre Dame looks to go 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 2002 as the Fighting Irish travel to East Lancing to take on Michigan State. A win against the Spartans would help the Irish continue their hot start, as Notre Dame face five ranked teams in their next six games.

USA Today Coaches Poll

1. Alabama (42)2. LSU (5)3. USC (11)4. Oregon (1)5. Oklahoma6. Florida State7. Georgia8. West Virginia9. South Carolina 10. Michigan State11. Clemson12. Texas13. Wisconsin14. Kansas State15. TCU16. Stanford17. Florida18. Michigan19. Notre Dame20. Louisville21. Arkansas22. Wisconsin 23. UCLA24. Nebraska25. Arizona

ACC Accepts Notre Dame as New Member

Notre Dame has appeared in five Orange BowlACC schools have played in 38 Classics

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) - The Atlantic Coast Conference Council of Presidents has unanimously voted to accept the University of Notre Dame as a new member. The Irish will compete as full members in all conference sponsored sports with the exception of football which will play five games annually against league programs.

“We are committed to keeping the Atlantic Coast Conference a vibrant and competitive league dedicated to ensuring the appropriate balance of academics, athletics and integrity,” said the ACC Council of Presidents in a joint statement. “The addition of Notre Dame further strengthens the rich tradition and culture of the ACC as well as allowing for future academic collaboration and we enthusiastically welcome them into the league.”

“The ACC was founded on the cornerstones of balancing academics, athletics and integrity,” said Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford. “Our partnership with Notre Dame only strengthens this long-standing commitment. Notre Dame enhances the league’s unique blend of public and private institutions that are international in scope. The collective alumni and fan bases cover the entire country with exceptionally strong roots up and down the Atlantic Coast. This is a terrific milestone in the evolution of the ACC and showcases tremendous solidarity and vision by our Council of Presidents.”

Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance Kicks off 14th Season

The Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance presented by Sports Authority kicked off its 14th season this past month. The Orange Bowl YFA serves more than 16,000 young football players and cheerleaders across nine leagues from north of Lake Okeechobee to Key West. The Park of the Week program recognizes select youth football parks across South Florida each Saturday during the fall. At the weekly caravan style celebration, Orange Bowl staff members present each park with a commemorative plaque and financial contributions for park improvements

Since its inception in 1999, the Orange Bowl has invested approximately $5 million and countless volunteer hours in youth sports across South Florida. In addition to its continued support of the Orange Bowl YFA presented by Sports Authority, the Orange Bowl directly supports locally-based festivals and events, including those that provide participatory opportunities to youth from all over the world, such as Junior Orange Bowl, Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series and the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships.

Photo of the Week

During Week two of its Park of the Week program, the Orange Bowl recognized the dedication and hard work of the Moore Park Generals’ coaches and volunteers. A member of the National Youth Football League, the Moore Park Generals play at Orange Bowl Field at Moore Park, a state-of-the-art facility built in an effort spearheaded by the Orange Bowl in celebration of its 75th anniversary in 2009. Pictured (L to R): OBC member Ron Albert, Kadreana

Jones, Coach Tony Jones, Assyria Gabriel, Moore Park Commissioner Christopher Everette, OBC member Salomon Sredeni, OBC member Xavier Gonzalez and OBIE.