Georgia Tech taking aggressive approach

Georgia Tech is piling up yardage in its first season in coach Paul Johnson's trademark option attack. The Yellow Jackets (412 yards per game) rank second among ACC teams in total offense, behind Florida State (418.6).

Johnson said his offensive philosophy isn't complicated.

"From a play-calling standpoint, if it's working, you are going to have to show me you can stop it," he said. "We are not going to stop running the play because we already ran it twice. We don't mark through that one and say, 'We did that one.' If we get 10 yards, then it's coming at you again and again and again. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. It's like I always said: 'Physical superiority cancels all theories.'"

The Associated Press' latest Top 25 includes three ACC teams: No.18 Virginia Tech, No.21 Wake Forest and No.22 North Carolina.

The Jackets are 4-1 overall, their only setback a three-point loss to the Hokies in Blacksburg.

"I think they're a top-25 team," Wake coach Jim Grobe said. "I don't think there's any question about it."

Crane stepping out of Ryan's shadow

The finest performance of Boston College senior Chris Crane's career earned him the league's offensive-back-of-the-week award. Crane, best known before this season as Matt Ryan's backup, passed for a career-best 428 yards and two touchdowns in BC's win over N.C. State. Crane also rushed for 42 yards and three TDs.

Asked about the impact of that game on Crane's development, Eagles coach Jeff Jagodzinski said, "I think it was huge. I think a quarterback needs to play with confidence, and he's got a better feel for where our receivers are. People forget that was his fifth start as a college quarterback."

Beamer trying not to think too much

Six ACC teams are idle this week, including Virginia Tech (2-0, 5-1), which leads the Coastal Division.

"I think it comes at a good time," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. "We're beat up a little bit. The only thing bad about this off week is you got to think about what's ahead."

The six teams left on Virginia Tech's regular-season schedule -- BC, Florida State, Maryland, Miami, Duke and Virginia -- are a combined 19-12.

Wilson has fan in Wolfpack coach

After Tom O'Brien arrived at N.C. State, it didn't take long for him to become a Russell Wilson fan.

"When you met him as a person, you knew he was a special kind of a guy," O'Brien said yesterday. "Tremendous confidence in himself. He might end up being president some day."

Wilson, a redshirt freshman who starred at Collegiate School, is the Wolfpack's starting quarterback.

"He just exudes confidence," said O'Brien, State's second-year coach. "Anywhere you're with him, he goes up, he introduces himself to everybody, and he's Russell Wilson. He's always so positive in what he does. I think he certainly could be mayor. Maybe governor. Maybe president."

Another big chance for Heels

Given a chance to make a statement to the college football world, North Carolina blew it last month, losing 20-17 to Virginia Tech at Kenan Stadium.

Another such opportunity is at hand for No.22 UNC (4-1), which hosts Notre Dame (4-1) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

"You can't hardly have played football at any level and not appreciate what Notre Dame's place in history has been . . . and even with today's generation, I think it carries a certain level of mystique and anticipation," said Butch Davis, the Tar Heels' second-year coach.

Hurricanes' Benjamin turning heads

At Miami, true freshman Travis Benjamin is looking like the next Devin Hester.

Benjamin, a 5-10, 160-pound wide receiver from Belle Glade, Fla., leads the ACC with 29.9-yard average on kick returns, and he's second in punt returns with a 17.7-yard average. He has six catches for 95 yards and one touchdown and has carried three times for 29 yards.

"He's come around dramatically for us, and we're excited," said Randy Shannon, the Hurricanes' second-year coach.

Hester, a former Miami star, now plays for the Chicago Bears. He's one of the NFL most explosive return men.

ECU receiver to miss U.Va. game

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina suspended receiver Jamar Bryant indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team policy.

Bryant will miss Saturday's game at Virginia. He had started 18 consecutive games, and was second on the team with 19 catches for 216 yards and three touchdowns. -- Jeff White