(UPDATED at 6:40 p.m.)

2004 football schedule announced

The Tigers will play six home games, but must make three difficult road trips; to Texas A&M, Florida State and Miami. Top home games include South Carolina, Georgia Tech, N.C. State and Maryland. Here's how it looks:

Sept. 4 WAKE FOREST
Sept. 11 GEORGIA TECH
Sept. 18 at Texas A&M
Sept. 25 at Florida State
Oct. 2 OPEN DATE
Oct. 7 at Virginia
Oct. 16 UTAH STATE
Oct. 23 MARYLAND
Oct. 30 NC STATE
Nov. 6 at Miami (FL)
Nov. 13 at Duke
Nov. 20 SOUTH CAROLINA

And here's a look at the composite ACC football schedule.

RECRUITING UPDATES: With National Signing Day almost here, there were a couple of recruiting-related stories out there this weekend. The Anderson Independent-Mail has a story on the importance of recruiting to a strong program. The State examines Clemson's recruiting class so far, and also looks at the S.C.-based prep stars who could sign with Clemson or USC.

PANTHERS FALL SHORT: Man, but what a great game. At least we didn't get killed out there.

Although they didn't win, I'm very proud of the Panthers, and my home town.