Coaches still believe in pep talks Web-posted 9/5/97   SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A few minutes before this afternoon's kickoff, George O'Leary will stand at the front of a hushed visitors locker room at Notre Dame Stadium. Every Georgia Tech player will look straight at the silver-haired head coach and wait. For instruction. For inspiration. For motivation.

Tech line concerns O'Leary Web-posted 9/5/97   SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Georgia Tech has arrived here with concerns about a young offensive line and key players coming off injuries, but no fear of Notre Dame's fabled ghosts.

Mike Berardino: Rockne was master of locker-room emotion Web-posted 9/5/97   SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Knute Kenneth Rockne did not invent locker-room pep talks, but he almost certainly perfected them. When it comes to pre-game and halftime theatrics, nobody else - before or since - even comes close to the stone-faced Norwegian.

Georgia sits out weekend to prepare for Gamecocks Web-posted 9/5/97   ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Georgia has the weekend off after a workout Friday to prepare for the Southeastern Conference opener against South Carolina on Sept. 13.

Auburn topples Virginia Web-posted 9/4/97   CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Dameyune Craig threw two touchdown passes to Karsten Bailey and scored on a 17-yard scramble as No. 16 Auburn defeated Virginia 28-17 Thursday in the season opener for both schools.

Childhood duo clicks for Tech Web-posted 9/4/97   ATLANTA -- Cousins by marriage, Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton and split end Harvey Middleton developed their timing in pickup games played on various fields and parking lots near Macedonia (S.C.) High School.

Mike Berardino: Two Rudys share in legend of Irish Web-posted 9/4/97   SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Gather round, campers, it's time for an old football story. Call this one: A Tale of Two Rudys.

William & Mary ready to test Georgia Southern Web-posted 9/4/97   William & Mary wasn't ready to rejoin the Southern Conference, but it isn't backing down from league competition.

College notes: Kirtsey heads to Middle Tennessee Web-posted 9/4/97   Torin Kirtsey has found a home in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The embattled tailback, who left Georgia after last season, is enrolled in classes at Middle Tennessee State, Blue Raiders coach Boots Donnelly said Wednesday.

Auburn, Virginia get ready for offensive battle Web-posted 9/3/97   Led by senior quarterback Dameyune Craig, 16th-ranked Auburn brings a seasoned offense into tonight's game (8 p.m., ESPN) at Virginia, a team rebuilding its defense. But that hasn't kept Craig's Tigers from worrying about the Cavaliers' zone blitz.

ACC/SEC insider: ACC reveling in Wolfpack's upset victory Web-posted 9/3/97   If Mike O'Cain thought North Carolina State's 32-31 overtime win over Syracuse last Saturday would impact only his own program, the Wolfpack coach needs to listen to his Atlantic Coast Conference counterparts.

Player diary: Sprague earns way for FSU Web-posted 9/3/97   I haven't thought about how far I've come in two years. I've put on about 40-50 pounds since I came here from Augusta (now 6-foot-5, 260 pounds) and I'm on scholarship. I have been on TV before, but just when the camera was panning the sidelines and got a picture of the back of my shirt.

Mike Berardino: Crazy summer lands Epperly at Limestone Web-posted 9/3/97   Larry Epperly didn't last long at Tennessee-Chattanooga. One month, to be exact. The former USC-Aiken basketball coach started this week as the head coach at Limestone College, a Division II school in Gaffney, S.C. He even hired former Pacers guard Jermaine Scott as his assistant.