■ Sean Renfree might not participate in all of Duke's spring football practice because of an injury, but Coach David Cutcliffe said he expects Renfree back near full speed for the 2010 season.
Renfree, a redshirt freshman quarterback, underwent surgery recently to repair a torn anterior-cruciate ligament in a knee suffered in a loss to Georgia Tech on Nov. 14.
"I'm looking at adjusting some spring practice circumstances based on information I get about him," Cutcliffe said. "I know we won't have him full speed in spring. Whether we can get anything out of him remains to be seen."
Sean Schroeder, a freshman who is redshirting, has practiced all week to be the backup quarterback on Saturday against Wake Forest should something happen to Thaddeus Lewis. Cutcliffe said an extraordinary set of conditions would have to happen for Schroeder to play in the final regular-season game and lose a year of eligibility.
■
Gary Hahn, the voice of N.C. State's radio network, is recovering from surgery for prostate cancer.
Hahn missed last week's game at Virginia Tech while recuperating in Raleigh. He is expected back for Saturday's home game against North Carolina.
Hahn is in his 20th season as the voice of the Wolfpack.
■ T.J. Yates, North Carolina's quarterback, can empathize with N.C. State's struggling defensive players.
N.C. State's defense has been hampered by inexperience in the secondary, inconsistent play and injuries, and has given up 319 points in the past eight games.
The Tar Heels' offense has sputtered for much of the season, in part because of a young group of receivers who aren't making plays, and because Yates has made crucial turnovers and missed his targets.
"I kind of know what they're going through," Yates said.
■ Beamer Ball might reach a low at Virginia Tech this season, unless a breakthrough takes place on Saturday against Virginia.
The special teams have blocked only one kick this season. The Hokies, under Coach Frank Beamer, terrorized opponents in the previous 22 seasons by blocking punts, field-goal attempts and extra-point attempts.
The previous low for blocked kicks in a season under Beamer is two, which happened first in the 1989 season, his third at his alma mater, and again in the 1999 season.
The only block this season was of a punt by Jacob Sykes in a win over Miami.
■ Coach Ralph Friedgen of Maryland declined this week to address his status and rumors that Saturday's game against Boston College will be his last.
"I don't even want to get into that," said Friedgen, whose ninth Maryland team is 2-9 and could set a school record for losses with one more. "I want to keep the focus on Boston College right now."
Friedgen has two years left on a contract extension signed in 2004, after he led Maryland to a 31-8 record in his first three seasons. In six seasons since the extension, Maryland has a 35-37 record and has played in three bowl games.
Friedgen is to be paid about $4 million for the next two seasons. James Franklin, the offensive coordinator and coach in waiting, is to be paid $1 million if Maryland doesn't offer him the job when Friedgen leaves.
■ Duke has named Thaddeus Lewis and Vincent Rey as permanent captains for the season in a vote of team members.
Lewis is a senior quarterback who has set 48 school records in his career. Rey is a senior linebacker.
"It means a lot, letting me know that what I have done around here has gained the respect of my teammates," Lewis said. "It is pretty special to be a captain going into the last game of my career on Saturday."
Named as alternate captains for the season were Re'quan Boyette, Vince Oghobaase, Ayanga Okpokowuruk and Leon Wright, all seniors.
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