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Where have the (at least current) NC State coach's remarks been heard before; uses one of Stallion's arguments to rationalize losing to Akron:

Since the ACC doesn't permit its institutions to accept non-qualifiers, Amato reasoned the playing field at Carter-Finley Stadium wasn't completely level.

"They're in a conference that allows non-qualifiers in school, non-qualifiers," Amato said of the Zips. "Y'all need to look that one up to write stories.

"The Boise States, the Fresno States, the Louisvilles -- before the new rules now -- that can allow non-qualifiers in school. ... You know what kind of players non-qualifiers are usually? They're inversely proportional to what their grade-point average is. They can make a big difference."

The schools Amato highlighted dispute the notion they've used non-qualifiers to cut corners and get ahead.

Boise State sports information director Todd Miles said the Broncos don't have a single non-qualified player on their current roster and have never had one on scholarship.

Louisville athletic spokesman Rocco Gasparro said the Cardinals have two: starting lineman Kurt Quarterman and reserve cornerback Bobby Buchanan. Those are the only two non-qualifiers Gasparro said Coach Bobby Petrino has ever taken.

"If you can build a football team on two players, let me know," Gasparro said.

Since the Cardinals joined the Big East in 2005 and the Big East recently made a rules change to prevent schools from admitting non-qualifiers -- that's the new rule Amato was talking about -- Louisville doesn't figure to receive any more help in the future.

Gasparro said Petrino -- who declined to comment -- just laughed when told about Amato's remarks.

Hill found them less humorous.

While Fresno State has had its academic misadventures in the past -- when Hill took over in 1997, the football program had the lowest graduation rate in the country, and up until five years ago, it stocked its roster extensively with non-qualifiers -- the Bulldogs haven't taken a non-qualifier since 2002. The program also boasts an APR of 950, which is one of the higher scores in the western U.S.

Fresno State still has two non-qualifiers on its roster, sports information director Steve Weakland said.

yeah but what these schools all of which have loaded up on non-qualifiers fail to tell you is that the NCAA got rid of the distinction between non-qualifiers and partial qualifiers a couple of years ago. Fresno because of its school embarrassment from NCAA revelations took the "non-qualifer" option away but it was the same year the NCAA did too. Its been well documented that Fresno. Marshall and ECU were teams that were built on non-qualifiers. I'm not so sure about Boise St but several schools in the MAC like Northern Illinois and Troy in the Sun Belt are among the worst. Today you either qualify or don't qualify. D'Mato is speaking to his North Carolina constituency because its legislature passed a law which required all North Carolina schools to refuse admission unless they met new requirements that are more restrictive than NCAA rules. I believe they require two more core courses than NCAA rules. I've documented before articles from North Carolina state school coach who have been pissed off since this rule took effect. As many as 1/4th of some of these schools recruits were ineligible to play as freshman. I know Sports Illustrated documented 26 some odd non-qualifers at Fresno when they did their big story on Fresno a few years ago. And yet they have a very high graduation rate-you figure out-its not difficult to see these schools have set up curriculm that even functional illiterates can pass. I don't favor the admission of partial or non-qualifiers-just wish the NCAA would enforce that rule so that everyone would be on an even playing field.

Quote: "D'Mato is speaking to his North Carolina constituency because its legislature passed a law which required all North Carolina schools to refuse admission unless they met new requirements that are more restrictive than NCAA rules. "

Hmmm...sounds familiar

Stallion - It's been years of ranting for you on here and the concept of separate paragraphs still eludes you

Fact: UNC almost lost to Furman a 1-AA school this year and almost lost to William and Mary, a 1-AA school two years ago. NC State has suffered quite a bit the last few years since that law came into effect. Md. and UVA seem to be falling behind as have Duke and Wake. BC and Miami must have some exceptions that allow them to get the talent they have. Va. Tech, FSU, Clemson, Ga. Tech have pretty lax admission standards.

I'm pretty sure that Georgia Tech has pretty high standards at least for football.

That's not what I heard from folks at GT, but I could be wrong on that. I don't check publications on it. Of course GT is near the bottom of that top rung of the ACC. VT, Clemson, FSU, Miami, BC, GT. Then Md., then NCS, UNC, UVA, Wake and Duke. What's interesting is that the tables are almost the opposite in basketball. That and BCS $$$$ are keeping this conference together. It would not surprise me if down the road this split creates some interesting fights in that conference.

could be I don't follow them that closely but have noted that every time that they recruit Texas-several times against SMU-they are recruiting some quality kids.