When the ACC handed out officiating assignments for its Dec. 4 football championship game, officials were notified that they wouldn't be getting any other postseason assignments, which was fine with Watts Key.

He couldn't have called a bowl game anyway, although he didn't know it at the time.

Less than a week after the championship game between Florida State and Virginia Tech, Key underwent surgery for a herniated disc.

"I remember telling the Tech doctor and trainer that my back was hurting," said Key, who serves as a side judge. "Once I had an MRI, the neurosurgeon told me that I had to have surgery as soon as possible because I was having nerve problems in my left foot."

The surgeon told Key that a piece of bone as big as a thumb had pulled loose from his spine.

"I was shocked," said Key, a lifelong Bedford resident who graduated from Old Dominion University.

Key is expected to make a full recovery and plans to return next year for his 18th ACC season. He said getting to call the first ACC championship game was one of the highlights of his career.

Referee Jack Childress headed a crew of officials that was judged to be among the best at their positions during the regular season.

Both teams were whistled for more than 100 yards in a 4-hour, 10-minute marathon, and there were a total of 29 penalties.

"I don't think I've ever been in a game with that many fouls," Key said. "And, those are experienced guys, not flag-happy guys at all. They'd rather talk them out of a foul rather than throwing stuff."

n Longtime college football official and former Maryland and William Byrd High School standout Bruce Palmer will serve as the umpire when Florida State meets Penn State in the Orange Bowl.

n New to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference football officiating scene this year was former UVa defensive lineman Elton Toliver, who also works a steady diet of high-school games as an umpire. Toliver was a football and basketball standout at Lord Botetourt.

ACC hoops

Florida State's 6-foot-6 Andrew Wilson is playing this season after receiving a rare sixth season of eligibility from the NCAA. Wilson, who played in one game in 2002 before spraining a knee and five games in 2003 before tearing a ligament in one of his wrists, is the first basketball player in ACC history to see action in six different seasons.

n David McClure, a regular member of Duke's rotation in 2004-2005, is expected to sit out the 2005-2006 season after offseason knee surgery. McClure played in the first 16 games for Duke last year, had knee surgery, played nine more games before the end of the season, then underwent surgery again after the season.

Recruiting

Preseason SuperPrep All-American Drew Gloster, a wide receiver from Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, Md., listed Virginia Tech as his favorite all season before committing to Maryland. The Terps have had back-to-back losing seasons but had the advantage of location and an H-back Gloster could emulate in Vernon Davis.

n Running back Andre Boone, rated the No. 22 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times before the season, has made an oral commitment to Akron. Boone, who rushed for 3,660 yards and scored 36 touchdowns during his four-year career at Cox High School in Virginia Beach, had an offer from Wake Forest according to rivals.com

Joining the club

Presbyterian College football coach Tommy Spangler said he is not pursuing the head-coaching vacancy at VMI but told reporter Mark Berman that his Clinton, S.C., school is considering a jump from Division II to I-AA and already has received a campus visit from Big South Conference officials.

Local angle

Tom Hagan, a multi-sport standout at Cave Spring, has been selected one of the co-captains of Virginia's baseball team.

Hagan, a punter for the UVa football team for two seasons, was a first-team All-ACC Tournament selection in baseball last season and was the leading hitter in the Valley League.

n St. Paul's defensive back Jerome Mann from William Byrd has been named to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association all-rookie team. Mann was second on the team in tackles with 56, broke up 10 passes and blocked two kicks for the Tigers, who were 4-6 in their first season of varsity play since 1987.