The hammer dropped, well kind of.

The NCAA penalties are as follows:

1. Public reprimand and censure.
2. Three years of probation from March 12, 2012, through March 11, 2015.
3. Three-year show-cause penalty for the former assistant football coach prohibiting any recruiting activity. The public report contains further details.
4. Postseason ban for the 2012 football season.
5. Reduction of football scholarships by a total of 15 during three academic years. The public report includes further details.
6. Vacation of wins during the 2008 and 2009 seasons (self-imposed by the university). The public report includes further details.
7. $50,000 fine (self-imposed by the university).
8. Disassociation of both the former tutor and former student-athlete who served as an agent runner (self-imposed by the university).

Here's the complete summary from the NCAA.

Over the course of three seasons, six football student-athletes competed while ineligible as a result of these violations, and multiple student-athletes received impermissible benefits totaling more than $31,000.

Original photo is via the terrific Ivan Morozov.

Georgia Tech's NCAA appeal was denied. The Bees 2009 ACC Championship remains vacated, but their 222-0 victory over the Frat Bros of Cumberland remains.

According to a report by TigerIllustrated, "The ACC is in discussions with ESPN about bringing Friday-night football to the conference". In 2001 the ACC unanimously voted to ban Friday night games.

"We feel strongly that Friday nights should be reserved for high school football and we want to do everything that we can to cooperate with the high schools and protect their game," Swofford said. "High school football is extremely important to college football and it is vital that we work together on matters such as this."

During the postgame presser, a reporter asked Greenberg about the Hokies reaching only one NCAA tournament (2007) in his nine seasons. Greenberg fired back rapidly.

"I'm proud of what we accomplished," he said. "Prior to this season, we won 20 games four of the last five years. We won nine games twice in the ACC, 10 games twice, got to the semifinals of the ACC tournament (three times). If you don't think that's good, that's your problem."

A few moments later, without prompting, Greenberg returned to the subject.

"What we've done the last four years? It's pretty remarkable," he said of 2008-11. "Pretty remarkable. Just as remarkable as we weren't in the tournament any of those years. ... If you want to define those kids' careers and say it's a failure, that's your problem, because what those kids accomplished, what they built in a basketball program where there was no basketball program was pretty special. Forget about me. Don't take anything away from those kids."

via Teel, one of the best.

I guess it's my problem then.

That was a back and forth game for 35 minutes. Then Zo and Erick Green hit back-to-back threes that spurred a 9 point run which broke a 52-all tie. The Hokies were up 61-52 with 2:21 left. I thought it was over. Jarell Eddie did too.

I see you, I see you at 2x zoom.

But it wasn't. Of course not, that's not this season or team. Close games are their thing. They either figure a way to scrap and fight out of a deficit to the finish, or implode.

Clemson did the only thing they could and pressured. They forced turnovers. They raised my blood pressure, made my chocolate milk less enjoyable. The Hokies gave them a hand and fouled. Seth's reaction to Doe-Doe's foul while trying to rebound a missed free-throw said it all, "This shit's happening again?"

With how the season had gone, I laughed too.

Now it seemed the pooch being screwed was merely a formality.

I'm glad I was wrong. The Hokies banged home five of their final six free-throws to seal the victory. We usually don't do that. Wins in a one and done situation build confidence.

Three more Ws for an improbable tournament berth. Duke tomorrow, let's go!

The Hokies don't begin spring practice until March 28, but other teams on their schedule have been pitching around the oblong. Here's a look at their opponents that are already popping pads.

Boston College

Start: Feb. 18
Game: March 31

Montel Harris re-aggravated his left knee injury after BC's first spring practice. He's being held out for the rest of spring, a move that seems more precautionary than anything.

The Eagles have a brand new offensive coaching staff, so getting the new system installed is the highest priority.

Andy Bitter caught up with Torrian Gray who dropped some knowledge regarding the starting secondary this spring, a move "that gives us our best four."

Antone Exum will move from rover to corner. That's a bit of a shock to me. In my mind, Exum staying at rover was the one given in the defensive backfield. Bud Foster had confirmed as much back in February.

"At the safety spot when we looked at our cut-ups, when 'Tone was just able to go out and play, he was unbelievable," Gray said. "When things moved around for him, sometimes it slowed him down. We just want to kind of see if he can do it, 'Hey, you're out here on No. 1 and just play ball.'

"We think it's something worth looking into to see what he can give us out there."

"I'm trying to free your mind, Neo." -- Morpheus

1. Will Vinston Painter step up?

Tackle Vinston Painter is 6-6 303. He was a 4-star recruit. He benches 430, cleans 336, front squats 500 and runs a 4.8 40. Physically, I don't think you could want anything more in an offensive lineman. However, the senior has yet to earn meaningful playing time. If Painter can get it together to have a Cris Hill like final season, it would go a long way to solidifying the depth along the o-line.

2. How will the abundance of D-line talent be used?

Defensive line is arguably the deepest position on the roster. Tackles Derrick Hopkins, Luther Maddy, Corey Marshall and Antoine Hopkins along with ends James Gayle, J.R. Collins, Tyrel Wilson and Zack McCray round out an athletic and battle tested two-deep. The coaches are also very high on Dadi Nicolas and Kris Harley who redshirted at end and tackle respectively in 2011. However, they all can't be on the field at once.