Ah, it's Friday, but let's not rush it. There are only two of these precious regular season Saturdays remaining. Speaking of running out of Saturdays ...
Alex in Miami writes: HD..what do you think...if Bobby comes back for one last season at FSU would that increase or decrease ticket sales for home games at Doak.
HD: My initial answer is that it would decrease, as the program has already seen a decrease in sales. But if fans actually knew that they were seeing history come to an end -- if indeed every game turned into a farewell tour, which is exactly what Bowden said he didn't want -- then odds are more people would show up to see it. Heck, when I was in high school I drove from Pennsylvania to Indiana with a bunch of friends to see Lou Holtz's last home game.
Kristina in Boulder, Colo., writes: Clemson fan here...What happens if both Clemson and Boston College lose on Saturday? Who'll go to the ACCCG from the Atlantic Division?
HD: Now there's a scenario most of us haven't been thinking about. Clemson would still win the head-to-head tiebreaker. Clemson will clinch the Atlantic Division a win over Virginia OR a Boston College loss to either North Carolina or Maryland. There's always that other scenario, though ...
Chris in Satellite Beach, Fla., writes: If Clemson loses to Virgina, and BC wins out, what do you think the chances of them beating GT in the ACC championship game? I think all of these circumstances would have to go under 5% how about you?
HD: BC's defense is good, but I don't think its offense could keep up with the Jackets and eventually Georgia Tech would pull away. Then again, nobody ever gives the Eagles enough credit ...
Greg in New York, N.Y., writes: Thanks for keeping us going with your constant posts! As a BC alumnus and fan, I was wondering, since you cover so much ACC football, why do you think BC perennially overachieves it's preseason outlook, however when it comes time to win a big game, they come up JUST SHORT. Just look at the past couple of years, beating Va Tech during the season but losing the big championship game. Is it just the lack of talent but the will to play hard as a team that gets them to the 15-30 rankings every year but hardly ever higher?? Thanks!
HD: Thanks for reading, Greg. Well, the first part is easy -- BC constantly exceeds the preseason expectations because the media (myself included) usually underestimates the team to begin with. As for coming up short in the big game, this year, the big game was Clemson, and that was a difference of talent, speed and experience. As for the previous championship games? Talent is hard to argue when you have Matt Ryan at quarterback, but overall, the Hokies were just the better team. Speaking of the Hokies ...
Nathan in Roanoke, Va., writes: From this point provided there are no injuries Ryan Williams is pretty much guaranteed to break Darren Evans freshman rushing record at Tech. With NC State, UVA, and a bowl game TBD what do you think are the changes that he will also break Kevin Jones school record?
HD: Well, I'm assuming you're talking about the school record for most net yards in a season, which Kevin Jones holds at 1,647. Williams needs 412 just to tie it. Even if he finishes with three straight 100-yard rushing performances, I still think he'd come up short. That's based on his average of 123.5 yards per game.
Alex in Miami writes: HD..what do you think...if Bobby comes back for one last season at FSU would that increase or decrease ticket sales for home games at Doak.
HD: My initial answer is that it would decrease, as the program has already seen a decrease in sales. But if fans actually knew that they were seeing history come to an end -- if indeed every game turned into a farewell tour, which is exactly what Bowden said he didn't want -- then odds are more people would show up to see it. Heck, when I was in high school I drove from Pennsylvania to Indiana with a bunch of friends to see Lou Holtz's last home game.
Kristina in Boulder, Colo., writes: Clemson fan here...What happens if both Clemson and Boston College lose on Saturday? Who'll go to the ACCCG from the Atlantic Division?
HD: Now there's a scenario most of us haven't been thinking about. Clemson would still win the head-to-head tiebreaker. Clemson will clinch the Atlantic Division a win over Virginia OR a Boston College loss to either North Carolina or Maryland. There's always that other scenario, though ...
Chris in Satellite Beach, Fla., writes: If Clemson loses to Virgina, and BC wins out, what do you think the chances of them beating GT in the ACC championship game? I think all of these circumstances would have to go under 5% how about you?
HD: BC's defense is good, but I don't think its offense could keep up with the Jackets and eventually Georgia Tech would pull away. Then again, nobody ever gives the Eagles enough credit ...
Greg in New York, N.Y., writes: Thanks for keeping us going with your constant posts! As a BC alumnus and fan, I was wondering, since you cover so much ACC football, why do you think BC perennially overachieves it's preseason outlook, however when it comes time to win a big game, they come up JUST SHORT. Just look at the past couple of years, beating Va Tech during the season but losing the big championship game. Is it just the lack of talent but the will to play hard as a team that gets them to the 15-30 rankings every year but hardly ever higher?? Thanks!
HD: Thanks for reading, Greg. Well, the first part is easy -- BC constantly exceeds the preseason expectations because the media (myself included) usually underestimates the team to begin with. As for coming up short in the big game, this year, the big game was Clemson, and that was a difference of talent, speed and experience. As for the previous championship games? Talent is hard to argue when you have Matt Ryan at quarterback, but overall, the Hokies were just the better team. Speaking of the Hokies ...
Nathan in Roanoke, Va., writes: From this point provided there are no injuries Ryan Williams is pretty much guaranteed to break Darren Evans freshman rushing record at Tech. With NC State, UVA, and a bowl game TBD what do you think are the changes that he will also break Kevin Jones school record?
HD: Well, I'm assuming you're talking about the school record for most net yards in a season, which Kevin Jones holds at 1,647. Williams needs 412 just to tie it. Even if he finishes with three straight 100-yard rushing performances, I still think he'd come up short. That's based on his average of 123.5 yards per game.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
