(UPDATED at 4:31 p.m.)

I go away for a few days, and the whole world changes

Wow! I thought we'd beat the Gamecocks, but I didn't know we'd destroy them. Coach Tommy Bowden is now a fan favorite, and he's currently in the process of negotiating a contract extension with athletic director Terry Don Phillips. (More here.) And, we are going to the Peach Bowl.

I'm very happy. We are set to have a great season next year. We've got 57 lettermen returning, the most in school history. Eighteen of those lettermen are starters, which, if it's not the most in school history, has got to be close. (And again, I think we can thank Bowden for that. He's been redshirting players since 1999.)

On a personal note, the trip to Dallas was great. Unfortunately, the Panthers lost, but we had a good time. All the Dallas fans we encountered were very friendly, and let me just say this: I love Shiner Bock (I'd never drank it before).

Texas Stadium is a bit schizophrenic. The concession areas are really crappy, reminiscent of the dying days of old Fulton County Stadium. But the seated area is really nice. There are literally no bad seats anywhere, and the semi-dome cut down a very cold wind that was blowing outside. The old stadium may not be around for long, though. The Cowboys want to move to a new state-of-the-art stadium in a few years.

We also took in a Dallas Mavericks game at the new American Airlines Center. What a space!

ALL-ACC PICKS: Here's one I'm just now catching up on. Clemson had four All-ACC performers: Leroy Hill on the first team, and Donnell Washington, Derrick Hamilton and Gregory Walker on the second team.

And quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, who was an honorable mention All-ACC pick, was named the league's offensive back of the week for his outstanding performance against South Carolina.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Tigernet has posted some video from the defeathering of the Gamecocks. Check it out.